♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THE 2022 SESSION OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOW DAYS AWAY AND CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE IT WILL BE HISTORIC AND BUSY.

REDISTRICTING IS EXPECTED TO BE TACKLED EARLY BUT MAY REQUIRE THE FILING DEADLINE TO BE PUSHED BACK.

HUGE BUDGET SURPLUSES GIVE LAWMAKERS A RANGE OF OPTIONS.

AND THE NEW YEAR COMES AS KENTUCKY DEALS WITH ANOTHER ESCALATION IN COVID CASES.

HEADING INTO A BRAND NEW YEAR, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

WE WELCOME YOU TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF COMMENT ON KENTUCKY AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2022.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER," MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND RYLAND BARTON, CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN BOWLING GREEN, RICH MANNED.

WE TAPED THIS PROGRAM TUESDAY DECEMBER 28 TO ALLOW THE STAFF HERE AT KET AND OUR PANELISTS A CHANCE TO ENJOY THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY.

WE'LL RETURN LIVE FRIDAY JANUARE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE ROLLING.

SO WILL THE COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE WAKE OF THE CAN HEEDLY TORNADOES BE REPLACED BY ELECTION YEAR POLITICAL REALITIES AND SQUABBLING?

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT TONIGHT.

BUT FIRST THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID IS PUSHING THE NUMBERS UP AGAIN.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS URGED CAUTION WITH NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS.

>> DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO OUTSIDE.

IF YOU CAN, TEST EVERYBODY AS THEY COME IN OR AT LEAST ASK THEM TO GET TESTED THE DAY OFF OR THE DAY BEFORE.

>> SO MELISSA, CLEARLY RENEWED CONCERNS ABOUT COVID AS WE CLOSE OUT UNR ONE YEAR AND GET READY FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAD SUCH HOPE THERE FOR A MONTH OR SO WHEN THINGS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY DOWN, BUT RIGHT NOW CASES ARE STILL HIGH IN KENTUCKY.

HAVING OVER 2,000 A DAY, BUT THEY'RE STEADY BUT THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT WHICH IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND CAN DOUBLE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST WAITING ON IT TO HIT KENTUCKY AND THE CALL IS FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND TO GET BOOSTED.

THAT'S STILL THE ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

WE STILL HAVE A ONE THIRD OF OUR POPULATION WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED NOT VACCINATED.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW PREVALENT OMICRON IS IN KENTUCKY AT THIS POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ASKED YESTERDAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE ANSWER WAS WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT YET BUT THE CDC HAS SAID ABOUT 72, 73% OF ALL NEW CASES ARE OMICRON.

SO THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO EXPECT THAT IN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

>> GOOD NEWS-BAD NEWS ON TESTING.

MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT DONE BUT THE SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING LOW.

>> THE SUPPLIES ARE VERY LOW.

YOU KNOW, THE REPORTING IS PHARMACIES AND ANYWHERE THAT YOU CAN BUY THESE AT HOME TESTS, WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO BEFORE GATHERING AND THE GOVERNOR YESTERDAY ASKED PARENTS TO TEST THEIR KIDS BEFORE SENDING THEM BACK TO SCHOOL AND SO THERE IS A BIG DEMAND FOR THEM IN THE SUPPLIES AND THE SUPPLY IS TOO LOW.

AND THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID HE HAS ORDERED ABOUT A HALF BILLION TO SEND FREE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES IN JANUARY.

BUT YOU KNOW, JANUARY IS A WAYS AWAY.

SO IN THE MEANTIME, PEOPLE CAN GO TO PLACES THEY HAVE NORMALLY BEEN TESTED AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

IT'S NOT PERFECT BUT IT'S STILL AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> THE CDC HAS CHANGED ITS RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW LONG PEOPLE SHOULD ISOLATE AFTER TESTING POSITIVE OR BEING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS.

I KNOW WE ARE ALL CONTINUING TO LOOK INTO THAT.

BUT THAT IS A MAJOR CHANGE.

>> IT IS A MAJOR CHANGE, YOU KNOW, WITH-- IT WILL IMPACT EMPLOYMENT, FOOTBALL GAMES, YOU KNOW, JUST, IT WILL HAVE HUGE IMPACT BUT THEY HAVE ALLOW ALLOWED PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE BUT NOT HAVING SYMPTOMS TO ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF 10 DAYS AND THEN TO WEAR A MASK AFTER THAT.

AND NOW FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED BUT EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS, TO QUARANTINE FOR FIVE DAYS AS WELL INSTEAD OF THE 10 DAYS.

IT BASICALLY CUTS IN HALF FOR MOST PEOPLE THE LENGTH OF TIME TO ISOLATE AND QUARANTINE.

>> FOOTBALL FANS ARE NOTING SOME GAMES ARE NOT HAPPENING THAT WOULD HAVE.

>> IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THAT BECAUSE THE PLAYERS WILL ONLY HAVE TO STAY OUT OF THE GAME FOR FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF 10.

>> AND JUST TO ADD, IN LEXINGTON, I THINK SOME COMPANIES ARE REPORTING FOUR TIMES JUMP IN COVID TESTS FROM NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER.

SOME OF THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS BUT IT'S DRAMATIC FOR THE COMPANIES AND THE ENTITIES PROVIDING TESTS.

>> AT LEAST PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT, RIGHT?

AS THEY WORK TO CLEAN UP FROM THE TORNADO DAMAGE AND PLANNING A WAY FORWARD IS CERTAINLY UNDER WAY IN EARNEST IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND RYLAND, I KNOW YOU HAVE SPEND SOME AGONIZING DAYS OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THAT AREA.

YOU HAVE COVERED THE HEART BREAKING DAMAGE AND THE DEATHS AND THE LOSSES.

LET'S START THERE.

HOW ARE THING COP AGO LONG IN TERMS OF THE CLEANUP.

>> IT'S COMING ALONG BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS THERE OVER THE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND AND EVERY AREA THAT WAS IMPACTED AND THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NEXT TO OURS THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TOTALLY MOWED OVER AND THERE IS STILL PILES AND PILES OF DEBRIS AND PEOPLE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUSHING DEBRIS OUT TO THE CURB.

THERE IS STILL, YOU KNOW, CLEANING OUT ROADWAYS, CLEANING OUT EASEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE SECTION ALONG KENTUCKY LAKE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DOC DOCKS AND HOUSES AND OTHER DEBRIS THAT IS ROLLED UP.

THERE IS GOING TO BE-- THIS IS GOING TO BE A MULTI-MONTH IF NOT WELL OVER A YEAR-LONG CLEANUP PROCESS.

AND PEOPLE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL LIVING IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.

THE OUTPOURING OF THE SUPPORT R SUPPORT IS STILL THERE AND OVER THE WEEKEND IT WAS SPECIAL TO SEE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER OUT IN THIS DIFFICULT TYPE.

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE HELP GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT LONG, LONG WHILE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT FAMILIES HOME AND THAT'S THEIR MEMORIES, BUT THIS IS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S ONE THING TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF HOMES THAT WERE DESTROYED, THE NUMBERS OF BUILDINGS THAT WERE DESTROYED, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT FROM THERE, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT THESE ARE PLACES FOR PEOPLE.

I MEAN THIS IS THEIR HOME.

THIS IS WHERE THEY DO LIFE.

AND I MEAN TAKE THE GRAVES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT CUNGD OF BECAME A SIM-- KIND OF BECAME A SYMBOL WITH THE TORNADO WITH THE TORN DOWN CLOCK TOWER.

THAT'S THE SIDE SITE OF AN OLD CIVIL WAR FORT , WHERE FOR EXAMPLED ALLEGEDLY THE FIRST ELECTED FEMALE SHERIFF IN THE NATION HELD OFFICE.

SO THESE ARE IMPORTANT PLACES AND A LOT OF HISTORY JUST REALLY ISN'T THERE ANYMORE.

>> MELISSA, WE WERE TALKING.

WE KNOW KENTUCKIANS, ARE PLACE BOUND.

WE LIKE OUR HOMETOWNS AND OUR AREAS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT , DESPITE ALL OF THE DESPAIR AND THE CHALLENGES HERE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CLING TO THEIR HOME.

>> THEY ARE.

AND THAT'S AS HEART BREAKING AS ANYTHING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SO TIED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR GREAT GRAND PARENTS, YOU KNOW, GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES LIVING IN THE SAME AREA, THAT'S VERY TYPICAL IN KENTUCKY.

AND PEOPLE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT MOVING, YOU KNOW, THEY THINK ABOUT REBUILDING AND SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THESE RAVAGED AREAS ARE FACING AND, UNFORTUNATELY, PROBABLY FEELING VERY OVERWHELMED WITH IT.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE HARD WORK AND THE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND THE REBUILDING AND THE PHYSICAL WORK, BUT THERE IS AN EMOTIONAL TOLL THAT WE ARE SEEING AS WELL, OBVIOUSLY.

IS THAT BEING ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED FROM WHAT WE ARE HEARING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE IS ONE OF THOSE WORDS THAT I'M NOT SURE I CAN SAY IT IS BEING ADDRESSED.

THE GOVERNOR YESTERDAY SAID THERE WERE IS 48 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THE AREA-- 148.

AND THEY HAVE DONE OVER 4,000 VISITS SO IT IS BEING ADDRESSED.

THE CHALLENGE WITH ANY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, IT'S NOT LIKE A BROKEN BONE THAT HEELS IN SIX WEEKS.

IT'S ONGOING AND TAKES A LONG TIME TO FIND YOURSELF TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT CHALLENGE, AND SO THE NEED FOR THAT WILL GO ON FOR A LONG TIME, THE MENTAL HEALTH NEED WILL GO ON FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND THERE ARE STRINGENT EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

WE SEE THE RIDICULOUS REPORTS OF THIEVERY THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THAT AREA AND PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED AND THEN THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT MAYBE I CONTRACTORS ARE MAY NOT BE ON THE UP AND UP.

>> IN GRAVES COUNTY, THE EPICENTER OF ONE OF THE TORNADOES THAT WENT THROUGH WESTERN KENTUCKY, THE LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE REQUIRING CONTRACTORS TO REGISTER AT A CENTRALIZED LOCATION AND PUT UP PLACARDS AT SITES THAT THEY'RE WORKING AT AND IN THERE I CARS AS WELL.

THERE WERE REPORTS A WEEK OR TWO AGO FROM STATE POLICE THAT COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE POSING AS FEMA OFFICIALS FROM FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS OR CONTRACTORS AND OTHER FOLKS, BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY SCAMMING PEOPLE STRUGGLING IN THE HARDEST MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS COMES AT THE SAME TIME THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS AND WORRIES ABOUT PEOPLE GOING THROUGH DEBRIS AND STEALING FROM PEOPLE'S PROPERTY BECAUSE-- THERE IS JUST MASSIVE FIELDS, NEIGHBORHOODS, JUST GIANT SWATHS OF AREA THAT IS COVERED IN DEBRIS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO MONITOR ALL THIS.

BUT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL GUARD AND ALSO LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE STEAK STAKING OUT TO PREVENT THE THEFT FROM HAPPENING.

>> LOTS OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE EVENING STORMS THAT ROLL THROUGH AND THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN.

YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING HOW IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES TO WIN LAWSUITS REGARDING THE TORNADO-RELATED INJURIES AND DEATHS THAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

>> YEAH, SO WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A RAFT OF LAWSUITS FROM THE MAYFIELD CONSUMER PRODUCTS CANDLE FACTORY WHERE 110 PEOPLE WERE THERE WHEN IT WENT COMPLETELY DOWN.

AND EIGHT PEOPLE DIED.

A WEIRD KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT RULING FROM ABOUT 17 YEARS AGO ANDREW WOLFSON FROM THE "COURIER JOURNAL" HIGHLIGHTED 9 FACT THAT THEY RULED THAT YOU COULD NOT SUCCESSFULLY SUE YOUR EMPLOYER UNLESS YOU COULD PROVE INTENTION TO HARM YOU.

SO THAT MIGHT BE A HIGH BAR FOR SOME OF THOSE WORKERS THAT HAVE SUED SO FAR.

I THINK THE COL PAIR SON-- COMPARISON IS THAT YOU MAY NOT WIN UNLESS YOUR EMPLOYER LITERALLY SHOT YOU.

NOT GREAT NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE SUING.

>> WELL, OUR THOUGHTS CONTINUE TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS NEXT TUESDAY JANUARY 4 WITH THE TORNADO RESPONSE STILL ONGOING.

SO THE QUESTION IS, AUSTIN, IT WILL HAVE BEEN LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THIS DISASTER WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ROLLS INTO FRANKFORT, THEY HAVE A LONG TO DO LIST.

DO YOU GET HINTS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO LET THIS BE SOMEWHAT OF A POLITICAL RESET OR DO WE RETURN TO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BACK INTO RAW POLITICS AS SOON AS THEY HIT THE CAPITOL DOORS?

>> WELL, POLITICS IS POLITICS.

SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THEY DO GO BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMAL, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SAY A LITTLE COMBATIVE HERE AND THERE.

BUT PEOPLE RIGHTLY PRAISE THE UNITY AFTER THIS REALLY DESTRUCTIVE STORM AROUND THE RELIEF FUND, AROUND PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN HE CAME AND THE FIRST THING COULD BE CONTENTIOUS OR IT COULD NOT BE.

THE FIRST THING, I THINK, WILL BE THE FILING DEADLINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO EXPEDITE THAT ON JANUARY 4 OR 5 OR 6 OR WHENEVER IT IS, AND THE CURRENT FILING DEADLINE IS JANUARY 7.

SO THEY HAVE TO EXTEND THAT.

THE QUESTION IS ONCE IT GETS TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S DESK, WILL HE ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO EXTEND IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT'S AN OBVIOUS MOVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE COULD SHAKE THINGS UP AND MAKE THINGS MUCH HARDER ON REPUBLICANS.

IF HE MAKES THAT DECISION.

>> THE FILING DEADLINE IS UP FOR QUESTION BECAUSE THE REDISTRICTING ISN'T DONE AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE IN WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE BEFORE THEY FE, RIGHT?

SO HERE WE GO.

HOW MUCH DO REPUBLICAN LEADERS ESSENTIALLY CONTROL THIS PROCESS, HAVE TO WEIGH POTENTIAL COURT CHALLENGES AGAINST WHAT THEY MIGHT DESIRE TO DO FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE-- IT'S BEEN IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND THIS WHOLE TIME BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST AN INEVITABILITY THAT A LAWSUIT WILL COME OUT ONCE THESE MAPS GET PASSED AND EITHER SIGNED INTO LAW OR OVERRIDDEN, A VETO OVERRIDDEN INTO LAW.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AROUND.

MAPS WERE CHALLENGED FOR HAVING DISPARITIES IN POPULATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS AND THE LAWSUIT WAS SUCCESSFUL, DELAYED THE MAPS.

SO AFTER THE 2010 CENSUS, THE LEGISLATURE RAN ON OLD MAPS AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WERE OLD MAPS FOR ONE ELECTION CYCLE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORRY AS REPUBLICANS ARE DRAWING THEIR MAPS RIGHT NOW THAT IT WILL BE CHALLENGED.

THEY'RE TRYING TO AVOID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF IT GETS CHALLENGED, TRYING TO AVOID THAT CHALLENGE BEING SUCCESSFUL.

SO THEY'VE GOT TO BALANCE THOSE BIG BROAD THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT POPULATION SHIFTING FROM MORE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE TO URBAN PARTS OF THE STATE MUCH THAT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO MEAN THERE ARE FEWER LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS REPRESENTING THOSE AREAS.

THEY WILL BE CONSOLIDATING TO A LITTLE MORE OF THE URBAN AREAS.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE PRETTY CREATIVE WITH HOW THEY DRAW THE MAPS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AS AUSTIN WAS SAYING EARLIER, IT'S A BLACK BOX.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AT THIS POINT AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE THE FIRST WEEK PROBABLY.

>> IN 1932, THE KENTUCKY CONGRESSIONAL RACES HAD TO BE RUN AT LARGE BECAUSE THE DISTRICT LINES WEREN'T READY AND IT REALLY CHANGED THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE FOR A TIME, TO HAVE IT DONE THAT WAY.

>> IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING MOMENT IN KENTUCKY HISTORY, PROBABLY MORE LIKELY IF THAT HAPPENED-- IF A CHALLENGE WERE SUCCESSFUL THIS TIME AROUND, THEY WOULD PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING WHERE THEY RAN ON SLIGHTLY OLDER MAPS BUT BOY, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES RUNNING AT-LARGE ACROSS THE STATE, THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE SPECTACLE.

>> AND ONE THING TO ADD, REPRESENTATIVE JOE PHISHER RUNNING FOR THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT TWICE CHALLENGED THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE HIM TO CHALLENGE AGAIN GIVEN THAT HE IS RUNNING AND THAT HE IS A REPUBLICAN AND BOTH CHAMBERS ARE SUPER MAJORITY REPUBLICAN BUT WE'LL SEE IF A DEMOCRATIC ANALOGUE OF REPRESENTATIVE PHISHER POKES THEIR HEAD OUT.

>> AS WE MENTIONED COVID, AN ONGOING THREAD, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR LAWMAKERS TO COME TO FRANKFORT AND GET ADEQUATE INPUT ON ISSUES WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMCAN TO THE STATE CAPITOL?

>> IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN STILL MAKE APPOINTMENTS, THEY CAN STILL WRITE LETTERS, THEY CAN RALLY OUTDOORS.

THERE ARE STILL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM ABOUT YOU IT'S NOT THE SAME AND IT HASN'T BEEN.

I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES IS THIS IS THE SECOND FULL SESSION WHEN THESE TIGHT RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN PLACE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE-- WILL HAVE HAD TWO YEARS WHERE THEY HAVE HAD LESS ACCESS AND IT IS LESS ACCESS.

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN THE HALLWAYS OF THE CAPITOL WHEN YOU CAN'T HARDLY GET THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE RED T-SHIRTS OR EVERYONE IN A HAT THAT REPRESENTS A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU FEEL THAT ENERGY AND YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO THEIR LAWMAKERS IN THE HALLWAY AND THEIR PRESENCE IS SEEN AND HEARD, THAT'S JUST NOT HOW IT IS OR CAN BE RIGHT NOW FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AND SO IT'S JUST-- ONCE AGAIN, HERE WE ARE IN A PLACE WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> ANY LEGISLATION THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING THAT COULD AFFECT HEALTHCARE?

>> >> I'M SURE THE WORKFORCE ISSUES ACROSS KENTUCKY ARE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED ON MANY LEVELS BUT WITH THE STAFFING SHORTAGES IN HEALTHCARE FIELDS, THAT WILL BE A VERY PREVALENT TOPIC, IT WILL IMPACT THINGS LIKE THE BOARD OF NURSING, IMPACT SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY-- HOW MANY SLOTS THEY HAVE OPEN FOR STUDENTS.

IT WILL IMPACT GETTING IN THE BUSINESS AS FAR AS ACADEMICS AND FACULTY AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.

SO I WILL BE COVERING THAT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS.

>> THE MOST IMPACT FULL DISCUSSION OF THE SESSION WILL BE THE BUDGET, THE BASIC SPENDING PLAN, ESSENTIALLY THAT DEFINES WHAT STATE GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THERE ARE MANY, AUSTIN, WHO ARE SEEKING RAISES.

THERE IS TALK OF TAX REFORM WHICH HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST DECADES.

SO WHERE IS THE BUDGET DISCUSSION LIKELY TO BE HEADED AND WHO WILL CONTROL IT?

>> WELL, WHO WILL CONTROL IT IS A PRETTY CLEAR ANSWER.

I'D SAY THE REPUBLICANS IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE ONE OF THE FIRST ORDERS OF BUSINESS TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, TO BE WRITING RULES THAT KIND OF LIMIT HOW BESHEAR CAN SPEND ANY OF A HISTORIC SURPLUS THAT WE ARE SEEING.

AND THAT'S $2 BILLION PLUS.

LIKE YOU SAID, RAISES, THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN FLOWEDDED FOR SEVERAL GROUPS THUS FAR.

AND TAX REFORM IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I WILL BE CURIOUS TO WATCH AS WELL.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO TEENING AREA ROUND WITH IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS SOME MOMENT UM AND THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONED ABOUT THIS BEFORE TO MOVE TOWARDS A SALES TAX BASED SYSTEM THE ARGUMENT BEING THAT IT IS BOOED FOR BUSINESSES TO HAVE LOWER INCOME TAXES AND THE ARGUMENT IS THAT IT IS A REGRESSIVE TAX AND IT HURTS THE POOREST AMONG US ANOTHER THING TO LOOK OUT FOR IS DO THEY JUST DUMP A BILLION DOLLARS INTO A RAINY DAY FUND?

DO THEY DUMP THAT MONEY INTO MENTIONS?

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.

>> DO THEY ALLOCATE MORE STATE RESOURCES TO WESTERN KENTUCKY FOR THE TORNADO CLEANUP?

>> THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT I HAVE HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS ON.

I THINK FROM A REPUBLICAN STANDPOINT, WE HAVE SEEN THE WEST KENTUCKY RELIEF FUND GET OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT WHICH EVERYBODY AGREES IS A GREAT THING.

WE HAVE SEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO TOWARDS IT BUT THE LEGISLATORS HAVING ALL THIS MONEY, I'M SURE THEY WILL WONDER WHAT CAN WE DO.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALSO, RYLAND, HAVE SAID THAT THE SYSTEM IS ANTIQUATED FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE VERY FEW OPTIONS TO GET THE MONEY THEY NEED TO OPERATE THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WE EXPECT THAT THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO GET THIS AS A PART OF ANY OVERALL TAX REFORM AS WELL.

>> JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RALLY AROUND THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, WHICH WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SO VOTERS STATEWIDE WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THIS TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TO ADD UP TO 1% ON TO THE 6% SALES TAX.

AND THEN BE ABLE TO USE THAT 1% FOR LOCAL PROJECTS AND THEY COULD USE IT ON A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS.

THIS HAS GOTTEN SOME SUPPORT IN RECENT YEARS.

PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO BUT WAS NEVER TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE.

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IT HAS A HIGHER BAR TO PASS OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND HAS TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS IN A REFERENDUM ON ELECTION DAY.

SO IT JUST HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE LINE.

WHO KNOWS?

ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH TAX REFORM, YOU COULD SEE IT BEING PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, TAX REFORM IS THE THI THAT COMES UP EVERY YEAR THAT THEY SAY THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T END UP HAPPENING.

>> MELISSA, IT SEEMS CLEAR LIKELY TO BE DISCUSSIONS OF NEW ABORTION ISSUES.

THE STATE WILL FULLY TRIGGER IF THE SUPREME COURT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE UNDER ROE V. WADE?

>> SO ALREADY IN 21,-- IN 2019, OUR LEGISLATIVE PASSED A BILL THAT WILL TRIGGER AN IMMEDIATE ABORTION BAN WITH ROE V. WADE IS OVERTURNED.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, DURING THE NEXT ELECTION, IN 2022, VOTERS WILL BE ASKED IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION WITH LANGUAGE CLARIFYING THAT THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROTECT THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

AND SO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IN ONE, JUST IN ONE WAY, IT WOULD IMPACT THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO CHALLENGE ANY ABORTION LAWS THAT ARE PASSED.

AND SO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE AND WILL CERTAINLY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY.

>> SOME ARE NOT RUNNING, STATE SENATOR MAT CASLAN WILL NOT RUN AGAIN.

HE IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

HE IS CHOOSING FAMILY TIME OVER COMMITMENTS IN FRANKFORT.

>> A 35-YEAR-OLD STATE SENATOR WHICH, AS YOU NOTED, IS PRETTY RARE BUT HE HAS A FAMILY OF FIVE.

HE SAYS HE IS JUST TAKING TIME OFF FROM POLITICS TO KIND OF FOCUS ON HIS THREE CHILDREN AND HIS WIFE IN OWENSBORO.

WE'LL SEE IF HE FOLKS HIS HEAD OUT AGAIN.

HE CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF TIME.

>> INDICATED HE WILL BE BACK IN A WAY, IS WHAT HE SAID LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING THE COMMONWEALTH AGAIN SORT OF THING.

2022 WILL BE A BIG YEAR IN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

WE'LL HAVE A U.S. SENATE RACE AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE LIVELY AND DRAW NATIONAL ATTENTION IF IT ALL COMES DOWN TO RAND PAUL VERSUS CHARLES BOOKER AND THAT DISTINCT LINE THAT WILL YOU SEE BETWEEN THE POSITIONS THEY'LL TAKE?

>> WE WILL SEE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO PREDICT THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDRAISING THAT WE SAW WITH AMY McGRATH'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL.

BUT CHARS BOOKER HAS PROVEN HE CAN BE A LIGHTNING ROD BEFORE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE GUESSED THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD HAVE WON IF NOT FOR DELAYS WITH ABSENTEE VOTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AGAINST AMY McGRATH.

AND RAND PAUL, SIMILAR TO MITCH McCONNELL IS A NATIONAL FIGURE THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE STATE DON'T LIKE VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, HE IS A FOX NEWS MAIN STAY AND I THINK THE LIBERALS AROUND THE COUNTRY SENSE THAT BUT THAT SAID, HE IS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN KENTUCKY SO WE WILL SEE HOW IT MEASURES UP.

>> WE ARE WATCHING WASHINGTON.

THERE IS A DEADLINE COMING FROM A FEDERAL TRUST FUND THAT PAYS FOR BLACK LUNG FOR MINERSES.

>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON DECEMBER 30, THE RATE THAT THE COMPANIES PAY TO THE BLACK LUNG TRUST FUND WILL REVERT BACK TO THE LOWER LEVEL.

FUND.

THIS IS BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN.

THE BIG SOCIAL WELFARE SPENDING BILL THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WON'T PASS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR THERE IS A LINE IN THAT TO BE INCLUDED, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR BUT THEY WILL BE TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN EARL NEXT YEAR.

>> KENTUCKIANS ARE REMEMBERING BLUEGRASS MUSIC LEDGE EAND J.D.

CROW, ONE OF THE BEST TO EVER PICK UP A BANJO AND INFLUENCED COUNTLESS OTHER PLAYERS OVER THE YEARS, KNOWN FOR LIVELY STYLE FOR DECADES LEE FRONTED J.D.

CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH.

CROW WAS A GRAMMY AWARD WINNER, MEMBER OF THE BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND ALSO HEAD AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM U.K. J.D.

CROW WAS 84.

THAT'S COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.