FRANKFORT: LAWMAKERS REFORM UNEMPLOYMENT, DISCUSS NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS, CAR TAXES AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.

KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBERS KEEP DROPPING AS TALK OF DROPPING SOME RULES PICKS UP.

MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN TAXES ROLLED INTO THE STATE TREASURY IN FRANKFORT.

IN JANUARY.

AN ESTIMATED $7 BILLION WILL B BET ON THIS WEEKEND'S SUPER BOWL, BUT SPORTS BETTING IS ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY AND THE DISCUSSION IS RENEWED.

COLDER WEATHER RETURNS FOR A WEEKEND THAT LEADS TO VALENTINE'S DAY.

P "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT AND A ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCK TONIGHT ARE: JOE RAGUSA, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

OLIVIA KRAUTH, EDUCATIO REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN WESTROM DROPS HER BID FOR RE-EL.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT SO IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER LET'S GET TO IT UNIVERSITY.

OF KENTUCKY COACH JOHN CALIPARI IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXCITING BASKETBALL SEASON, BUT WEDNESDAY HE MADE THE SCENE IN FRANKFORT TO TALK ABOUT NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS, A BILL THAT'S PROPOSED THERE.

HE SAYS KENTUCKY CAN SET THE STANDARD ON HOW PLAYERS CAN MAKE DEALS AND HAVE REWARDING COLLEGE CAREERS ON THE COURT.

>> AND KENTUCKY BASKETBALL IS THE GOLD STANDARD.

IT IS.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO US, WHAT ARE WE DOING, AND I HATE TO TELL YOU, YOU, WHAT IS YOUR STATE DOING?

>> Bill: MARK, PLAYERS ARE MAKING DEALS RIGHT NOW UNAN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

THIS BILL WOULD LIKE AT A PERMANENT LAW AND SET UP A FRAMEWORK FOR PLAYERS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR SPONSORS AND THE UNIVERSITIES.

>> Mark: BILL, THERE ARE PLAYERS THAT 3rd HAVE VERY LUCRATIVE DEALS.

NOW, THEY CANNOT PROMOTE ANY KIND OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, SPORTS BETTING OR ADULT ENTERTAINMENT.

THEY HAVE TO RUN ALL OF THEIR DEALS PAST THEIR SCHOOL JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT VIOLATING ANY OF THEIR SCHOOL'S POLICIES, AND THIS LAW ALSO SAYS THAT THE SCHOOLS CAN'T USE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS DEALS AS SOME KIND OF INDUCEMENT TO ATTRACT RECRUITS.

>> Bill: SO THOSE RULERS SETS FORTH IN THIS BILL THAT'S EMERGING AS WELL?

>> Mark: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT IT COULD BE A MODEL BILL, INCLUDING COACH HIMSELF.

HE THINKS IT'S ONE THAT OTHER STATES MIGHT ACTUALLY LOOK TO.

>> Bill: THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THIS CERTAINLY, JOE.

IT AFFECTS A HANDFUL OF ATHLETES BUT THEY'RE HIGH-PROFILE FOLKS.

>> Joe: AND IT DOES AFFECT A LOT MORE ATHLETES THAN YOU THIS.

I COACH CLAPP IS THE MEN'S BASKETBALL AND THAT GLEETS THE HIGHLIGHT BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENDORSEMENT DEALS AND EVEN SOCIAL MEDIA DEALS AS WELL.

PEOPLE CAN MON FI THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND YOU SEE A LOT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETES ESPECIALLY AND OLYMPIC SPORTS WELL AS WELL.

THEY'RE NOW GETTING A REVENUE STREAM THAT THEY WEREN'T PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED TO GET UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSECLY TOLD THE CNA YOU HAVE TO LET THESE PLAYERS MAKE SOME MONEY, AND YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO LET THE UNIVERSITIES PAY ATHLETES DIRECTLY, WHICH SENATE BILL 6 DOES NOT DO, BUT THERE'S NO REASON TO PROHIBIT STUDENT ATHLETES FROM EARNING MONEY OFF THE QUARTER OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE NCAA ON OUTSIDE THE SCOPE COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

>> Bill: BUT THOSE UNIVERSITIES DO WANT SOME SAY IN WHAT KIND OF SPONSORSHIPS THAT THE ATHLETES CARRY.

>> Joe: AND THAT MAKES SENSE.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO STUDENT ATHLETES TO GET INTO A DEAL THAT IS EMBARRASSING ON ARE BAD LOOK ON THE UNIVERSITY AND I THINK SENATE BILL 6 ADDRESSES THAT.

REALLY THERE'S NO FEDERAL POLICY OUTED, CONGRESS HAS BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THIS AND THE NCAA HE'S HASN'T STEPPED UP AND PUT ANY FRAMEWORK FOR THEMSELVES IN THIS REGARD, SO KENTUCKY IS ONE OF A FEW STATES THAT'S LOOKING AT THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION.

>> Bill: MARK, CALIPARI AND UK ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MITCH BARNHART ARE BOTH PRAISING THE FLEXIBILITY THEY I THINK SAY THIS BILL GIVES, AND THEY COMPARE TO IT OTHER STATES BECAUSE THIS IS, AS JOE WAS SAYING, KIND OF A STATED-BY-STATE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, THERE'S NO FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

THERE'S NO STET OF RULES FOR THE WHOLE NATION, AND WE'RE SEVEN MONTHS INTO THIS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS HOW THIS IS GOING TO EVOLVE AND IT SEEMS TO BE EVOLVING QUICKLY.

THERE'S ALREADY A DEAL THAT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAS WHERE AN ENERGY BAR MAKER HAS PROMISED ALL OF THEIR FOOTBALL PLAYERS $1,000, AND IT KIND OF SKIRTS THE INDUCEMENT RULE, THE IDEA OF NOT USING THIS AS AN INDUCEMENT, BUT IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE MIGHT BE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE EVOLVING.

>> Bill: SIGHT PIERCE THIS IS MOVING FORWARD AND ULTIMATELY WILL BE LAW.

ALL RIGHT.

JOE, UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT REFORM BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE THIS WEEK SETS SOME LIMITS ON HOW LONG KENTUCKIANS CAN BE ELIGIBLE TO BENEFITS.

THERE WAS SOME CONTENTIOUS DEBATE AND SOME BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.

ULTIMATELY IT WILL PASSED.

>> Joe: AND THE BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION THAT YOU MENTIONED REALLY COMES FROM A LOFT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO ARE IN RURAL AREAS.

THE WAY THIS BILL IS SET UP, IT TIES THE -- IT TIES UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF THE ENTIRE STATE, SO IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS EXTREMELY LOW, THEN THE LOWEST PART OF THE BILL KICKS IN, ONLY 12 WEEKS OF BENEFIT.

RURAL KENTUCKY HAS A MUCH HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TRADITIONALLY THAN THE STATE'S AVERAGE, SO IF THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE IS LOW, BUT RURAL KENTUCKY IS SEEING UNEMPLOYMENT RATES MAYBE 10% HIGHER EVEN -- THAT'S JUST AN ARBITRARY NUMBER -- BUT RURAL KENTUCKY IS GOING TO SEE THOSE BENEFITS SLASHED WHEN THEY NEED THEM THE MOST EVEN THOUGH STATEWIDE THE NUMBER MIGHT LOOK GOOD.

>> Bill: YOU MIGHT HAVE A 3% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN FAYETTE OR WOODFORD COUNTY AND 15% SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> Joe: YEAH, AND THE LOWEST I THINK IS 4.5%.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT IS 4.5% OR BELOW THAT'S WHEN THE 12 WEEKS OF BENEFITS KICKS IN, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A CUT IN BENEFITS REGARDLESS BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT ITS WORST IT'S GOING TO BE 24 WEEKS BENEFITS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S 26.

>> Bill: MARK, THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER, AND THEY'RE VERY POWERFUL IN FRANKFORT, PUSHED HARD ON THIS ONE.

BUSINESSES, THEY SAY, HAVE HAD A HARD TIME HIRING, AND SOME OF THEM BLAME THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE BENEFITS.

>> Mark: AND IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

SOME FOLKS WILL POINT TO STATES THAT HAVE TIGHT RESTRICTIONS AND HIGH LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE, AND THEY'LL SAY, SEE, IT WORKS.

IF YOU TIGHTEN THE RESTRICTIONS, IT FORCES PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

BUT JASON BAILEY WITH THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY, HE HAS A STUDY OUT IN WHICH HE FOUND THAT NINE OF THE TEN STATES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE ACTUALLY HAVE THE FULL 26 WEEKS.

>> Bill: INTERESTING, BUT AGAIN THAT HAS PARTIALLY PASSED.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK REMEMBER RIGHT?

>> Joe: I WOULD CERTAINLY SAY THE PROJECTS OF THIS BILL WOULD LOOK GOOD IN THE SENATE.

IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE IN THE HOUSE BOUGHT CLEARED THAT VETO OVERRIDE THRESHOLD, SO IF IT DOES GET A VOTE IN THE SENATE, AND IT COULD CHANGE NOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED BILL WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES TO IT, SO SENATORS MIGHT HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.

BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALSO WORKED ON OVER THE INTERIM WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REFORM TASK NORSE, SO THERE WERE SENATORS ON THAT PANEL THAT ALSO ENDORSED SOME OF THESE IDEAS.

>> Bill: STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON TALKED ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION THIS WEEK AND HOW FRAUD ISSUES IMPROVED BUT CONTINUED IN 2021.

PEOPLE SAYING THEY WERE ELIGIBLE WHEN THEY WERE NOT.

THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION, I QUICKLY REMINDED PEOPLE THAT HARMON IS A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AND THEN HARMON'S OFFICE CAME BACK AND SAID, WELL, THE AUDITOR HIMSELF WAS NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED, SO IT GOT INTO ALL OF THAT, BUT INTERESTING FINDINGS.

>> Joe: NAW,.

>>> YEAH AND IT'S MORE OF AN EXTENSION OF WHAT HARMON'S OFFICE LAST BEEN FINDING THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WITH CASES FRAUD EVEN WITHIN BESHEAR'S OWN LABOR CABINET OR THE PREVIOUS CABINET THAT WAS HANDLING IT, AND THERE IS THIS POLITICAL FIGHT THAT IS BREWING.

OBVIOUSLY MIKE HARMON IS REALLY THE ONLY CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR THAT HAS FOUND HIMSELF.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ELECTION IN A YEAR PLUS FROM NOW.

BUT IN THAT REGARD, REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN HAMMERING BESHEAR ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS NOW, UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SKYROCKETING AND UNRESOLVED UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS REALLY RISING ALONGSIDE THOSE, AND BESHEAR HAS MAINTAINED THAT HE INHERENT A BROKEN SYSTEM FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR, AND THEY'RE ACTIVELY DOING WORK ON THAT SYSTEM NOW.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT OVERHAULED AND UPGRADING THE SECURITY FEATURES ON IT.

IT'S ABOUT AN A VERY SLOW PROCESS BECAUSE OF THOSE SECURITY FEATURES THAT HAVE BEEN NEEDED.

AND HOUSE BILL 4, THE UNEMPLOYMENT BILL, MIGHT ADD SOME CAVEATS TO THAT SEARCH AS WELL BUT IT'S BEEN A VERY SLOW PROCESS THAT HE AND THE STATE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO OVERHAUL THAT SYSTEM.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION THIS WEEK ON A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE THE RULES AND MAKE A STATE LAW REGARDING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.

I DON'T HAVIA, THAT BILL APPEARS TO HAVE -- OLIVIA, THAT BILL CONSIDERS TO HAVE A CAN BE MOMENTUM, A LARGE NUMBER OF SPONSORS TO THE BILL BUT THERE WERE SOME PLEAS FROM HELMS FAMILIES AT THE HEARING.

>> Olivia: SURE.

WE'VE SEEN BILLS FILED LIKE IN THIS PREVIOUS SECTIONS AND THEY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

THEY CAUSED A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT THEN DIDN'T ACTUALLY ADVANCE IN FRANKFORT.

SO IT WAS NOTE WORTH THAT'S THIS BILL IN PARTICULAR, SENATE BILL 83, GOT EVEN JUST A COMMITTEE HEARING, BUT THEN ALSO PASSED OUT, LIKE YOU SAID, OVER THE CRIES OF THE FEW TRANS GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS, AND A SIMILAR BILL THAT ACTUALLY GOES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THE HOUSE HAS 48 SPONSORS AS OF 15 MINUTES AGO.

>> Bill: WHAT WAS THAT HEARING LIKE?

>> Olivia: IT WAS RATHER JARRING, HONESTLY, BECAUSE THE BILL SPONSOR, SENATOR ROBBY MILLS WAS SAYING THAT HE WAS REALLY STOKING A LOT OF FEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE TRANS GIRLS HAVE COMPARED TO THEIR TEAMMATES, AND THEN YOU BRING UP THE TWO TRANS GIRLS WHO JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE HAVING FUN WITH THEIR FRIENDS ON THEIR TEAM AND THEY'RE EIGHT AND OBVIOUSLY 2 YEARS OLD AND THEY'RE NOT AT ALL PHYSICALLY IMPOSING THEIR PARENTS EVEN ADMITTED, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NO STAR ATHLETES BY ANY MEANS.

SO IT WAS QUITE A JUXTAPOSITION.

>> Bill: THE VOTE WAS OVERWHELMING TO ADVANCE, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: IT WAS 9 TO 3 PARTY VOTE.

>> Bill: THE ORIGINAL BILL WOULD DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BOYS AND COED TEAMS BUT THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

SO A LOT OF SPORTS IN KENTUCKY ALREADY ARE DIVIDE BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS, SO THIS BILL KIND OF SIMPLIFIES WHAT IT WANTS TO DO AND JUST SAYS IF IT SAYS YOU'RE A MALE ON YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE, YOU CAN'T PLAY ON A GIRL'S TEAM.

>> Bill: YOU COVER EDUCATION.

IT'S YOUR BEAT.

HAS THIS BEAN A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SCHOOLS AND TEAMS?

>> Olivia: NOT AT ALL.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY POINT IN TIME WHEN A FAMILY CAME TO SEE AND SAID, HELP, CAN YOU COVER THIS?

AND I THINK MILLS REALIZED THAT HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE HEARING, AND HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW OF ANY EXAMPLES, INCIDENTS.

I HAVE NO PROOF OF ANYTHING IN KENTUCKY, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED."

AND SO HE SEES THIS MORES PRECAUTIONARY.

>> Bill: PREEMPTIVE.

MARK, BOTH SIDES TALKED FAIRNESS ON THAT DAY AT THAT HEARING.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> Joe: I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW THE REPUBLICANS AND THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL SEEMED TO ADOPT THE LANGUAGE OF SOME LIQUOR IN SAYING THINGS LIKE TRUST THE SCIENCE WHERE THEY CITED STUDIES THAT FOUND THAT BIOLOGICAL MALES WERE STRONGER OR FASTER THAN BIOLOGICAL FEMALES, AND THEY BOTH USE BOTH -- BOTH SIDES USED THE WORD "FAIRNESS."

SUPPORTERS OF BILL, THEY TALKED ABOUT COLLEGE ATHLETES, EVEN THOUGH THIS BILL DOESN'T COVER COLLEGE ATHLETES DUTY THEY BALKED COLLEGE ATHLETE LEAH THOMAS AND SEE SEE WHO WAS BIOLOGIC MALES WELL FROM BASICALLY LAST FACE PLACE WHO AS TRANSGENDER FEMALES MOVING UP TO FIRST PLACE.

AND THEY SAID THAT'S NOT FAIR.

BUT THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAD THESE VERY ELOQUENT YOUNG LADY WHO GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THE SPORT MEANT TO THEM AND THEIR PARENTS SAYING, HOW COULD IT BE FAIR FOR YOU NOT TO LET THESE GIRLS PLAY?

>> Bill: SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL COME TO A VOTE HERE PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> Olivia: I WOULD SAY SO.

>> Bill: MARK, KENTUCKY'S TAX RECEIPTS WERE $1.2 BILLION IN JANUARY.

THAT'S THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH THAT THEY'VE TOPPED $1 BILLION THAT HAS ROLLED IN.

IT'S A JUMP OF MORE THAN 12% FROM THIS JANUARY TO THE PREVIOUS JANUARY.

IS THERE A FEELING THAT THIS STRONG ECONOMY IN KENTUCKY WILL CONTINUE?

>> Mark: BILL, I USE THIS PHRASE WITH YOU SO MUCH, IT DEPEND ON WHO YOU ASK.

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THEY THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED BY ALL THE STIMULUS MONEY FLOATING AROUND IN THE ECONOMY, BUT KENTUCKY HAS A 3.9% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RIGHT NOW AND BE LOUISVILLE'S GOT A 3% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AND LOUISVILLE IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF KENTUCKY.

THOSE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD FIGURES, AND LOUISVILLE HAS ALREADY REPLACED 99.5% OF THE JOBS THAT IT HAD PRE-PANDEMIC.

THOSE FIGURES TELL ME THAT THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL.

>> Bill: AND A LOT OF JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT ARE STILL TO COME.

PRESIDENT STIVERS MADE A STARK ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY AND HAS SAID THIS PREVIOUSLY BUT HE REALLY PUT NIGHT A SENTENCE TODAY ABOUT, BE PREPARED TO VOTE BECAUSE SOME OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE GIVEN BACK.

WHAT EXACT DOES HE MEAN?

TO THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Mark: NO ONE I DON'T KNOW BUT THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TEASE TO TAX REFORM.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TAX REFORM AND WHAT A BIG PRIORITY IT'S GOING TO BE AND A BIG CENTERPIECE OF THAT IS AN INCOME TAX CUT, ALTHOUGH YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER IF THAT FOLLOWS THE RULES THAT THESE FEDERAL STIMULUS BILLS LAID OUT WHERE THEY SAY, YOU CAN HAVE THIS MONEY BUT YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR TAX CUTS.

>> Bill: IT'S LIKE $3 BILLION IN THE BANK, JOE.

>> Joe: YEAH, IT'S OF A LOT OF MONEY, AND YOU MENTIONED KIND OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS, AND YOU IT DENIED DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK AS FAR AS THE QUALITY OF THE ECONOMY BEING ARTIFICIALLYING NATED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX REFORM THEY ALSO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL.

THEY HAVE THIS MASSIVE SURPLUS.

THEY'RE PUTTING 911 INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THEY CAN COULD THIS SORT OF THING BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY COMES UP.

THE INCOME TAX CUT FOR PEOPLE IS ONE THING THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED A LOT AND I IMAGINE WE'LL GET A LOT OF ATTENTION LATER IN THIS SESSION AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED, SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO PEOPLE A POCKETS.

>> Bill: CLEARLY A LOT OF LAWMAKERS HEARD ABOUT CAR TAXES AND THOSE IT LOOKS LIKE WILL BE GOING DOWN.

THERE ARE SEVERAL APPROACHES THAT ARE OUT THERE BEING TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

BUT THIS IS BECAUSE THE LOW SUPPLY OF NEW CARS HAS MADE THE VALUE OF THE OLDER CARS GO UP.

WILL PEOPLE GET REFUND OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

>> Joe: REFUNDS ARE POSSIBLE AND LIKELY UNDER MULTIPLE BILLS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

YOU HAVE HOUSE BILL 6 WHICH TALKS ABOUT HOW CARS ARE SPECIFICALLY VALUED.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99, WHICH TALKS ABOUT ESSENTIALLY FREEZING VEHICLE TAXES AT THE RATE THEY WERE AT PRIOR TO VEHICLE, USED CAR VALUATION SKYROCKETING 40%, WHICH IS THE CATALYST FOR ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION.

IN JANUARY THERE CAME A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE CAME OUT AND SAID, HEY, WE HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR TAX BILLS BY 40% BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE CALCULATE IT, BASED OFF OF THE VALUE OF THESE CARS, SO A LOT OF LAWMAKERS, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, REALLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE EFFORTS ARE GETTING A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THAT REGARD.

I BELIEVE THAT'S YR 99 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TODAY.

SEE IT'S NOTE AN ISSUE THAT'S CONTENTIOUS IT'S ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: THROUGHOUT THERE'S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING ABOUT IT.

>> Joe: I THINK IT'S BECAUSE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING THAT THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS AFFECTTIVELY RAISING TAXES, WHICH IS NOT TRUE, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO PIN IT ON HIM.

>> Bill: HE CAN'T RAISE TAXES, RIGHT?

>> Joe: HE CANNOT.

THE THE LEGISLATURE CAN.

THAT'S SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS BEEN GOING ON THAT THEY'VE BEEN QUICK TO DISPEL, BUT AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED THERE'S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING EVEN GOING WALK TO THE PREVIOUS BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION WITH HOUSE BILL 6, THE BILL POINTED TO HOW THEY CALCULATED THE PROPERTY TAX ON VEHICLES AND HOW THEY MADE A CHANGE TO THAT THAT THEY WANT TO CHANGE BACK.

IT CAN GET COMPLICATED.

>> Bill: BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME RELIEF IS COMING.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT $7 BILLION WILL BE BET ON THE SUPER BOWL OUT IN LOS ANGELES THIS WEEK.

NOT A DIME OF THAT CAN BE LEGALLY WAGERED FROM KENTUCKY.

AND, OF COURSE, THE CINCINNATI BENGALS ARE ALMOST LIKE A HOME TEAM HERE AND A LOT OF SUPPORT.

IS THAT DRIVING MORE DISCUSSION OF REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG'S BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING?

>> Joe: I THINK IT'S DRIVING THE DISCUSSION NOW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE SUPER BOWL IS HAPPENING NOW, AND CINCINNATI BEING SO CLOSE AND A LOT OF LAWMAKERS SHOUTING WHO DEY ON THE FLOOR TODAY IN REGARDS TO THE BENGALS' SUPER BOWL APPEARANCE.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH A DISCUSSION THAT HAS BEEN VERY EVERY SUPER BOWL THE WEEKEND THAT I CAN REMEMBER EVEN GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS STOPS, AND WE'RE EVEN SEEING MORE NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE OHIO THAT ARE PREPARING TO LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING.

>> Bill: MARK, CLEARLY SPRONG OPPOSITION TO IT IN KENTUCKY THOUGH POLLING WOULD INDICATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC SEEMS TO SUPPORT IT.

>> Mark: YEAH, THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF KENTUCKY AND OTHER GROUPS LIKE THAT HAVE -- THEY HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY WITH RURAL CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS, AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH ARE DECISION-MAKERS AND THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER A BILL LIKE REPRESENTATIVE KOENIG'S EVER EVEN GETS A COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> Bill: JOE, REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN WESTROM THAT IS REPRESENTED A PART OF LEXINGTON SINCE 1999, DROPPED IDENTITY RACE THIS WEEK ENDING HER RE-ELECTION BID.

SHE WHAT IS ONCE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR.

ANY SPECULATION ON WHY?

>> John: PERSONALLY I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY BUT IT DOES FOLLOW IN LINE WITH A LOT OF MOVEMENT WE'VE SEEN FROM A LOT OF PROMINENT LAWMAKERS, WOMEN LAWMAKERS THAT ARE DECIDING NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION EVEN AFTER THE FILING DEADLINE.

YOU SAW MINORITY LEADER JONI JENKINS IN THE HOUSE DECIDE TO BACK OUT OF HER RE-ELECTION RACE.

SHE'S BEEN IN THERE SINCE '95, I BELIEVE, AND HER RATIONALE WAS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT HER DISTRICT, HER NEW DISTRICT, WHICH IS NO MAJORITY MINORITY, TO BE REPRESENTED BY A WHITE WOMAN, AND I THINK IN YOU IF YOU ASKED EVERY SINGLE LAWMAKER YOU CAN SAY THEY'RE NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, YOU MIGHT AREA HEAR A NUMBER -- SO MANY OF DIFFERENT REASONS IN REGARDS TO THAT.

SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE TRYING GET OUT BE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AND ARE LOOKING FOR FOR DIFFERENCE THINGS.

REDISTRICTING IS A RATIONALE FOR A LOT OF THEM.

>> Bill: IT'S A GROWING LIST.

SENATOR ALICE FORG I KERR, JONI KEN JENKINS, MACKENZIE CANTRELL, OTHERS.

>> Mark: MACKENZIE CANTRELL WAS ONE OF TWO SETS OF FEMALE INCUMBENT LAWMAKERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WHO WERE BASICALLY PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THESE NEWLY DRAWN MAPS.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO BASICALLY SHAKE UP A LOT OF THESE UP-AND-COMING DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO ARE WOMEN, AND THAT WOULD LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH A LOT OF INEXPERIENCED LAWMAKERS OR MAYBE NO LAWMAKERS AT ALL.

>> Bill: ON A LIVE YEAH, KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS OFFERED UP AN OPINION PIECE WHERE HE SOUNDED AN ALARM WITH THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

HE SAYS WE'RE LOSING MORE THAN 6,000 TEACHERS A YEAR AND THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE OWNER OF THE RIGHT.

THIS IS SOMETHING TEACHERS EVERYBODY RAISING ALARM BELLS ABOUT FOR YEARS, THIS EDUCATOR SHORTAGE, AND I THINK THIS YEAR IS REALLY MADE INNINGS WORSE ON A LOT OF FRONTS.

A LOT OF TEACHERS HAVE TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN THEIR WORST YEAR IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS FOR THAT, BUT FINDING A SOLUTION IS JUST SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE REASONS ON TOP OF THE UNDERLYING SHORTAGE.

>> Bill: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WATCHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> Olivia: DEFINITELY ALL THINGS CRITICAL RACE THEORY, ALL EYES ON THAT, ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW RACE AND RACISM SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS.

DEFINITELY TOP OF MIND.

>> Bill: THERE I WAS BIG DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.

WE DIDN'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, BUT THE BILLS ARE COMING BACK.

>> Olivia: I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT I'LL BE READY FOR THEM WHEN THEY DO.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THAT THAT DISCUSSION WILL AT LEAST CONTINUE ON THAT.

FINALLY SOME ENCOURAGE NEWS ABOUT KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBERS TO REPORT AS THE OMICRON SURGE APPEARS TO BE LOOSENING ITS GRIP.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATED THIS WEEK THAT IF THAT TREND CONTINUES, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, EVEN FOR SCHOOLS, COULD CHANGE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD BE IN A PLACE IN SEVERAL WEEKS, PROBABLY TWO TO THREE, WHERE I THINK SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN REALLY LOOK AT THAT QUESTION, NOT REQUIRING MASKS AND NOT SEEING OUTBREAKS IN COVID, BUT THE FIFTH HIGHEST WEEK WHEN WE STILL HAVE, WHAT, A 22% POSITIVITY RATE IT'S STILL MORE DANGEROUS THAN WHEN MOST PEOPLE INITIALLY REQUIRED THEM.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, WOULD IT BE HELP FOR SCHOOLS IF THEY COULD EAST UP ON SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS OR IS THAT UNCLEAR?

>> Olivia: IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

I THINK A LOT OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE SEEN IN JANUARY HAVE CALMED DOWN.

THE COVID NUMBERS AT LEAST IN JCPS HAVE CALMED DOWN.

BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH STAFFING, AND I THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW NEW FLEXIBILITY WOULD HELP.

>> Bill: UNFORTUNATELY, BASHING WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

OUR DEATH TOME OVER 13,000, MORE THAN 40 DEATH REPORTED TODAY.

MAYBE THE SURGE GOES AWAY BUT YOU STAY ALERT.

>> Mark: YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING THAT GOVERNOR SAID ON ONE HAND THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IT'S THE FIFTH HIGHEST WEEK IN NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: SENATOR MITCHELL McCONNELL CRITICIZED REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE THIS WEEK FOR CENSORING CONGRESSMAN LIZ CHENEY AND ADAM KITTINGER FOR SERVING ON A HIS COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO IF EVENTS OF JANUARY 6th OF LAST YEAR.

>> LET ME GIVE YOU MY VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY THE 6th.

WE ALL, WE'RE HERE.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS A VIOLENT INSURRECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO PREVENT THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER AFTER A LEGITIMATELY CERTIFIED ELECTION.

FROM ONE ADMINISTRATION TO THE NEXT.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

>> Bill: MARK, DOES McCONNELL STILL BELIEVE IN A BIG TENT THEORY FOR REPUBLICANS WHERE THEY'RE FREE TO SOMETIMES CRIT SIZE EACH OTHER OR AT LEAST DISAGREE?

>> Mark: I THINK HE PROBABLY DOES.

I THINK HE'S WALLING IT WHAT IT IS AND SENATOR McCONNELL HAS PROVEN TO HAVE SOME FREIGHT TOUGH SKIN.

HE'S NOT AFRAID TO TAKE CRITICISM FROM ANYBODY ANYBODY, FROM IT'S DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE IN HIS OWN PARTY.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL SAID HE HOPES TRUCKERS CLOG U.S. CITIES LIKE THEY HAVE IN CANADA.

>> JOE: >> Joe: AND AGAIN THIS CONTINUES A LOT OF THE RHETORIC THAT SENATOR PAUL HAS SAID PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

HE'S BEEN VERY VOCAL WITH HIS DISDAIN FOR LOCKDOWN MEASURES, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN CANADA.

CERTAINLY CANADA HAS A LOT MORE MEASURES THAN ANYWHERE THE IN INSIDES, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY BOILING OVER IN CANADA.

>> Bill: CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS APOLOGIZED TO OHIO CONGRESSWOMAN JOYCE BEATTY AFTER SHE CONFRONTED ROGERS FOR NOTE WEARING A MASK OOH ON A TRAIN AT THE CAPITOL.

ROGERS SAID HIS WORDS WERE INAPPROPRIATE.

HE WOLLIZED TO BEATTY, AND SHE SAID SHE ACCEPTS IT WEEK MARK.

>> Mark: I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF A PERSON WHEN THEY'RE WILLING TO APOLOGIZE AND WE'VE ALL LOST OUR TEMPER AND SAID STUPID THINGS.

>> Bill: CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER CHAMPIONED A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT COULD THE EVER GOT OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO REFORM THE POSTAL SYSTEM.

IT'S DESIGNED TO MODERNIZE THE POSTAL SYSTEM, KEEP IT INDEPENDENT, AND IT WILL KEEP THE SATURDAY MAIL GOING, WHICH IS INTERESTING, AND CORMER SAYS LET'S GET SENATE TO PICK THAT UP NOW.

>> LAST YEAR I GOT BY INDY 500 TICKETS ABOUT TWO MONTHS TOO PLATE OF ANYTHING THEY CAN HELP THE POSTAL SERVICE I'M ALL FOR.

>> Brian: DISTRICTING REMAINS IN LIMBO, JOE.

IT'S IN THE COURTS.

>> Joe: AND THERE I WAS COURTED HEARING THIS WEEK IN REGARDS TO THAT.

OBVIOUSLY THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS PRETTY MUCH PLANNING TO FILE A REDISTRICTING CHALLENGE ON THESE MAPS BEFORE THEY EVEN INTRODUCED AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE A RULING ON THAT AT THE LOWER COAT RURAL IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT'S GOING TO RESOLVE THE CASE.

IT WILL BE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> Bill: LOOKS LIKE THE PRIMARY IS ON FOR MAY MORE NOW.

PROLIFIC HIGHWAY CONTRACTOR LEONARD LAWSON HAS DIED.

LAWSON DOMINATED KENTUCKY'S STREET CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND HE GAVE LARGE SUMS TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES IN BOTH PARTIES.

HIS DEPENDENCY WHY INVESTIGATED OVER THE YEARS AND HE WAS CHARGED WITH TABID RIGGING BUT WAS A EDIT IN FEDERAL COURT.

LEONARD LAWSON WAS 82.

LOUISVILLE HAS LOST A GROUNDBREAKING WOMAN NEWS ANCHOR AND REPORTER, MELISSA FORSYTHE DIED THIS WEEK.

SHE MADE TELEVISION HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN REPORTER IN LOUISVILLE.

MELISSA FORSYTHE WAS 71 YEARS OLD.

THE LATE CHARLES YOUNG IS RECEIVING A MAJOR HONOR DURING THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PROMOTING YOUNG TO BRIGADIER GENERAL IN HONOR OF HIS SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.

YOUNG WAS BORN TO ENSLAVED PARENTS IN MASON COUNTY IN 1864.

HE LATER WENT TO WEST POINT AND BECAME THE HIGHEST RANKING BLACK OFFICER IN THE U.S. MILITARY.

AND A SIGN OF SPRING.

THE DERBY POSTER RELEASED IN WEEK AHEAD OF THE 148th RUNNING FOR ROSES ON MAY 7th.

THE POSTER IS ENTITLED "TOGETHER" AND THE ARTIST CASEY JACKSON SAYS IT'S DESIGNED TO REPRESENT UNITY.

TUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON NAME, IMAGE AND