[♪♪] >> Bill: SUPERINTENDENTS SPEAK OUT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY DIRECTED TOWARD RAISES FOR TEACHERS.

>>> THE PROPOSED ACT WOULD PUT $HE300 MILLION TOWARDS CHILDCAR.

>>> A TASK FORCE WILL CONSIDER WHETHER THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE SPLIT UP.

>>> KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL GOES AFTER KROGER IN A LAWSUIT.

>>> WINTER MAKES A RETURN FOR THIS FEBRUARY WEEKEND AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

MELISSA PATRICK REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND JOE SONKA, ENTERPRISE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALSO TONIGHT, A BILL ADVANCES THAT WOULD ALLOW EKU TO START A COLLEGE TO TRAIN PHYSICIANS AND MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY LOOKS FOR SUPPORT TO START A VETERINARY SCHOOL WHICH KENTUCKY DOES NOT HAVE.

THE FIRST, THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 60-DAY SESSION AND IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE PAST WITH NO PREFILED BILLS LAWMAKERS CAN HOLD PROPOSALS CLOSE TO THE VEST UNTIL THEY SPRING THEM ON THE PUBLIC.

JOE, THAT HAS BEEN A CHANGE FOR LAWMAKERS AND THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC AS THINGS SLOWLY DRIPPED OUT.

>> USUALLY GOING INTO A SESSION WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TACKLE.

YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DRAFT BILLS AND READ THEM.

THIS YEAR YOU KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO TACKLE THE BUDGET, AN ANTICRIME BILL, HOUSE BILL 5, AND BESIDES THAT THERE WAS MORE UNCERTAINTY THAN WE'VE HAD IN A LONGTIME WHAT WOULD BE THE BIG ISSUES THAT THEY TACKLED.

THERE WERE RUMORS THAT DEI MIGHT BE TACKLED BUT THERE WAS NOT A BILL AND WE'VE SEEN ANTI-DEI BILLS COME OUT THIS SESSION.

NOW, THERE ARE IN 10 DAYS IS THE DEADLINE FOR HOUSE BILLS TO BE FILLED AND 12 DAYS IS THE LAST DAY FOR SENATE BILLS TO BE FILLED.

THE USUALLY THE BIG DAYS WHERE THERE IS A BILL VOLUME OF BILLS IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION AND DEADLINE DAY BEFORE FOR THE LAST DAY TO FILE THEM.

THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TIME.

>> Bill: DO YOU GET THE FEELING THIS GIVES LAWMAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SUPPORT, GAUGE HOW THEIR COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT ISSUES WITHOUT ALERTING THE MEDIA LITERALLY AND GETTING MAYBE THE OPPOSITION GALVANIZED.

>> .

>> OSBORNE DIDN'T WANT THE IMMEDIATE WRA WRITING THE ARTICLES AND GIVE MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO READ IT.

AND IT GIVES YOU YOU HAVE IT IN ADVANCE THERE'S MORE TIME TO FIND COMPROMISE WITH PEOPLE AND CHANGE IT SO IT IS A BETTER BILL AND HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT BOTH WAYS.

>> Bill: A LOT TO GET DONE BUT THERE ALWAYS IS?

>> I THINK IT'S A FAMILIAR SPOT, RIGHT?

NOW, IF YOU HAD A BILL THAT YOU FILED IN EARLY JANUARY AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A COMMITTEE HEARING YOU MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT BILL.

BUT THEY HAVE A WAY OF GETTING THINGS LIKE THE BUDGET DONE, EVEN IF IT'S LAST-MINUTE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE KNEW ALL ALONG THAT CHILDCARE WAS LIKELY TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC THIS SESSION AND NOW STATE SENATOR DANNY CARROLL PROPOSED THE HORIZONS AND ACT AND PUT DOLLARS TOWARD DAYCARES AND PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE DAYCARE INDUSTRY OR POTENTIALLY BE A DAYCARE OPERATOR?

>> RIGHT.

IT ALSO OFFERS SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHAT FEELS A BIT LIKE GRANTS FOR START-UPS.

IT IS A BIG BILL.

THAT OFFERS A LOT OF THINGS.

AND THAT $300 MILLION WOULD BE BROKEN INTO HALF FOR EACH ANNUAL YEAR THAT THE BUDGET RUNS.

IT IS A LARGER AMOUNT THAN THE HOUSE PUT IN THE BUDGET.

AND THE SENATE AS WELL.

SO IT IS A BIG ASK.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS HUGE.

IT'S NOT JUST AVAILABILITY, IT IS AFFORDABILITY THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS.

AND WITH THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES USING THIS FEDERAL PANDEMIC MONEY, WHICH HAS SUPPORTED THEM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE CRISIS BECOMES EVEN GREATER.

BECAUSE THAT PUTS SO MANY MORE AT RISK OF CLOSING.

AND PARENTS JUST PAY LENDING TREE STUDY SAID FAMILIES WHO ARE IN CHILDCARE SPENT 15% OF THEIR INCOME WEEKLY INCOME ON CHILDCARE.

AND ANOTHER GROUP SAYS 63,000 KENTUCKIANS AREN'T WORKING BECAUSE OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS.

IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

>> Bill: THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE SIDELINES.

>> THE BILL IS IN THE BUDGET BILL IS IN THE SENATE NOW AND AGAIN THIS IS $300 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WAS IN THAT HOUSE BUDGET PASSED.

BUT YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF POWER BEHIND THE SUPPORT FOR THIS.

YOU'VE GOT THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTING THIS BILL.

YOU'VE GOT ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH AND YOUTH ADVOCATES IT'S NEEDED FOR KIDS AND NEEDED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTS.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE FISCAL HAWKS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO SAY MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE THIS MONEY TO SPEND.

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE BATTLE IN THE SENATE IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY GET THE MONEY.

>> AND THE THING THEY AGREE ON IS THE NEED FOR GREATER WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION AND THIS IS A THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO GET THAT END GOAL THAT EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR.

>> Bill: WE ARE AT 56% WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IN KENTUCKY IT'S 63 NATIONWIDE.

WE LAG THERE.

>>> MARK, $300 MILLION IS QUITE A PRICE TAG.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG POINT OF DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH, THAT IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION ABOUT THIS BILL HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE APPROPRIATED.

WHEN I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THAT FIGURE.

HE WAFFLED A LITTLE BIT AND AFTERWARDS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO WERE VARIOUS ADVOCATES FOR THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY OR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUCH, THEY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT PERHAPS HIS ANSWER WAS NOT FORCEFULLY SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH OF THAT NUMBER.

AND KEEP IN MIND, THOUGH, THIS WILL BE A RECURRING EXPENSE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO WHATEVER NUMBER IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE END I GUESS WE'LL SEE THE PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS.

>> AND THE FINAL NUMBER MAYBE IN THE MIDDLE BUT THAT $300 MILLION IS NOT HALF OF WHAT THE CHILDCARE CENTERS ARE LOSING FROM THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE VANISHED.

>> Bill: HOW WOULD THE MONEY BE PARCELED OUT?

DIRECT GRANTS IN SOME CASES?

WE DID MENTION THE KTCS PROGRAM THIS IS A BROAD BILL.

>> IT'S THE CCAP PROGRAM AND IT'S GRANTS TO PROVIDERS SO THEY CAN RAISE SALARIES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ADD EMPLOYEES AND LOWER TUITION FOR STUDENTS.

SO IT'S ALL MONEY TO THOSE PROVIDERS SO THEY CAN EXPAND COVERAGE AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE AND GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE SLOTS.

>> Bill: WE KNOW IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THERE WILL BE THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN SOME WAY ON CHILDCARE.

TEACHERS' PAY IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THIS SESSION AS WELL.

THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 20 SUPERINTENDENTS GATHERED TO CALL FOR MONEY TO BE SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR TEACHERS' RAISES.

IT WAS THEIR ATTEMPT TO SIMPLIFY THE SEEK FORMULA FOR THE PUBLIC AND TRY TO PUT THE ISSUE OF RAISES FOR TEACHERS IN EASY TO UNDERSTAND TERMS.

>> AND WE TRY TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, BUT WHEN THEY CAN GO TO MCDONALD'S OR FAST FOOD AND EARN MORE MONEY THEN WE CAN PROVIDE THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE GIVEN FROM THE STATE THEY WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND MAKE MORE MONEY.

YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM.

>> SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WHAT THEY WOULD RATHER WE DO IS PROVIDE THEM EXTRA MONEY THROUGH THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.

4% IN THE SEEK FORMULA THE FIRST TWO, 2% THE SECOND YEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT REAL DOLLARS WE ARE FLATLINING THE SEEK FORMULA.

>> Bill: SO, JOE, THESE SCHOOLS OPERATE WITH POTS OF MONEY AND THERE'S RESTRICTED MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S RESTRICTED MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION WHICH IS BEING FULLY FUNDED IN THIS CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT IS OUT THERE FOR THIS YEAR.

BUT THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC FUND FOR TEACHERS' RAISES AND THAT'S WHAT SOME CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR?

>> YEAH.

AND IT IS TRUE WHAT THAYER SAID SUPERINTENDENTS WANT FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT MONEY THEY WANT IT WITHIN THE SEEK FORMULA SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH IT.

TWO, IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THEY ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT THE SEEK FORMULA HAS INCREASED THAT FUNDING.

BUT, SUPERINTENDENT AFTER SUPERINTENDENT SAID THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO GIVE SIGNIFICANT RAISES, SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH RAISES TO KEEP PEOPLE AND KEEP ATTRACTING MORE PEOPLE.

AND SO, OF COURSE, YOU HAD ANDY BESHEAR'S BUDGET MANDATED THAT 11% RAISE THAT ALL DISTRICTS HAVE TO DO AND THAT WAS A HEFTY PRICE TAG OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

THERE IS A BIG, BIG GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS PRO POETSING AND WHAT BESHEAR PROPOSED MANDATED THE 11% RAISE.

>> Bill: AND SCOTT COUNTY BILLY PARKER SAYS IF THE PRESENT PROPOSAL PASSES HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE NO RAISES IN THAT SECOND YEAR BECAUSE THE INCREASE TO SEEK IS LESS IN THAT SECOND YEAR.

SO BASED ON THAT, HE SAYS ZERO RAISE.

AND HE SAYS OHIO AND TENNESSEE AND OTHER STATES ARE PAYING MORE, MARK AND THAT IS QUITE AN ISSUE?

>> YEAH.

WE ARE IN A SPOT RIGHT NOW WHERE STATES ARE COMPETING WITH OTHER STATES FOR TEACHERS.

AND COUNTIES ARE COMPETING WITH OTHER STATES FOR COUNTIES.

AND THAT IS A BIG CONCERN FOR A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS.

IS THAT IF THEY CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE COUNTY NEXT DOOR, THEY LOSE OUT.

>> Bill: DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE THAT IS ALIVE IN THE DISCUSSION RIGHT UP UNTIL THE TIME THAT THE BUDGET IS ALL FIGURED OUT?

>> THE BUDGET IS NOW IN THE SENATE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE CHANGES, A LOT OF THIS MAY COME DOWN TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE LAST DAY WHEN HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS ARE HASHING THINGS OBVIOUSLY.

AND THERE MAYBE A LOT OF THE PROPOSALS WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT IS ONE AND BEING OFFERED THERE MAYBE GROUND TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE.

>> Bill: MARK THE BILL THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF SICK DAYS THAT TEACHERS COULD BANK IS ADVANCING?

>> TO BE CLEAR IT DOESN'T LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES A TEACHER CAN CALL IN SICK OR THE SICK DAYS THEY CAN CARRY OVER YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN THEY ARE SICK.

WHAT IT DOES IT LIMITS HOW YOU COUNT SICK DAYS TOWARDS YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

AND IT SAYS THAT YOU CAN ONLY CARRY OVER 10 SICK DAYS PER YEAR FOR THE PURPOSES OF COUNTING THAT TOWARDS YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

IT IS A UNIQUE BENEFIT THEY GET AND CARRY THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR AND IT GOES INTO THAT PENSION CALCULATION.

AND IT'S COSTING THE STATE A LOT OF MONEY.

THE SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE PAID OUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS LIABILITY.

AND THAT THEY ESTIMATE THAT THE CURRENT COST IS $583 MILLION.

AND THAT IS JUST TO PAY FOR THE WAY THE SICK DAYS INCREASE RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

>> AND THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT DIVIDES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE EASILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY SEATS BUT THERE WERE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE RELIABLE TO THE VOTE AGAINST IT.

AND THAT I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE ISSUE OF RURAL REPUBLICANS A LOT OF COUNTIES LIKE REALLY VALUE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TEACHERS AND IT'S SUCH A VITAL PART OF THEIR ECONOMY.

AND THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO STEP ON THEIR TOES.

>> Bill: DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT COULD SURVIVE A VETO?

>> 80% OF SEATS KIND OF -- >> Bill: REPUBLICANS WENT THE OTHER WAY.

>> THERE ARE ISSUES WHERE THE CAUCUS IS EVENLY DIVIDED THAT COULD COME INTO PLAY WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: SPINNING OUT OF THIS THERE IS A BILL TO GUARANTEE MATERNITY LEAVE FOR TEACHERS, WHICH MAYBE TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY, IS NOT THERE AT THIS POINT, MARK?

>> RIGHT.

THEY CAN TAKE THEIR SICK LEAVE DAYS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR.

BUT SENATOR A REPUBLICAN BASED OUT OF OLDHAM COUNTY INTRODUCED THIS AND IT WOULD GIVE THEM 20 DAYS OF MATERNITY LEAVE AND THE BILL IS CLEAR THIS DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

>> Bill: IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT STUDY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE BY FAR.

YOU WERE WATCHING THAT?

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SPLITTING UP JCPS INTO SMALLER DISTRICTS.

NOW, WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION OUT AND IT SPELLS OUT CLEARLY HOW THEY WILL STUDY THAT ISSUE.

SO THEY ARE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

THEY WILL LOOK AT WHAT THE STUDIES HAVE SAID ALREADY ABOUT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND HOW SIZE RELATES TO EFFICIENCY.

IT WILL TAKE TESTIMONY FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS EXPERTS.

YOU KNOW, THEY WILL DO A MASSIVE AUDIT AND GATHER A LOT OF INFORMATION.

BUT THIS RESOLUTION IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE END GOAL IS.

AND THAT IS SPLITTING UP JCPS.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT JCPS IS THE MOST STUDIED AND AUDITED DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

AND THE BUDGET ADDS MONEY FOR AUDITOR BALL TO DO ANOTHER AUDIT OF JCPS, SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLIO SAID WE'VE BEEN AUDITED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO FIND ANYTHING NEW.

>> Bill: IT WAS INCONVENIENT TIMING TO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES GOING INTO THE SESSION?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT HASN'T BEEN TOTALLY FIXED YET.

THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THERE'S TALK THEY WILL STOP BUSING FOR KIDS WHO GO TO MAGNET SCHOOLS AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS IN FLUX.

>> Bill: TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY FOR CANDIDATES TO APPLY TO BE KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAID THERE WERE SIX CANDIDATES TOTAL AT THAT POINT.

JOE, ANY UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT?

>> WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET A NAME.

BUT THE CAUCUS INTERESTING THE CAUCUS TICKING ON WHEN THE HIRE IS MADE AND WHEN THE SESSION ENDS BECAUSE WHOEVER IT IS HAS TO BE GET THE THUMB'S UP FROM THE SENATE.

SO WE KNOW THAT THE SENATE BATTLED WITH BESHEAR AND THE LAST COMMISSIONER WE'LL SEE WHETHER WE GET THAT NAME.

>> Bill: WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ARE OUT OF SESSION WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE?

>> I THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY COME BACK.

I DON'T THINK THEY COULD IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Bill: YOU WOULD HAVE TO KEEP IT OPEN ANOTHER MONTHS?

>> I AM NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEY BUT I THINK THAT IS THE CASE.

>> Bill: THAT IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY, RIGHT, THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING ON THAT.

>>> INCOME DISCRIMINATION.

THERE COULD BE A SHOWDOWN IT LOOKS LIKE COMING BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOURCE OF INCOME, RENTAL DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES ARE ON THE BOOKS NOW.

LEXINGTON PASSED IT THURSDAY NIGHT LAST NIGHT.

LOUISVILLE HAS RULES IN PLACE.

THERE IS A MOVE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY THIS IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

THIS DECISION SHOULD BE MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE A STANCE ON THAT ISSUE?

>> HOUSE BILL 18 PASSED THE HOUSE WITH NEAR TOTAL REPUBLICAN IF NOT TOTAL REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IT MAY HAVE PASSED THE SENATE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

AND IT'S SAYING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T FORCE A LANDLORD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM AND THE LEGISLATION PASSED BY LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON AT THE LOCAL LEVEL LOUISVILLE WAS UNANIMOUS ALL REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR IT.

LEXINGTON WAS NEAR UNANIMOUS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR SAYING THAT LANDLORDS CAN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE SOURCE OF INCOME THAT COMES.

AND BOTH CITIES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE SUCH A SHORT SUPPLY OF HOUSING.

IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND A MAJOR HURDLE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> Bill: AND MARK, THE LINES ARE CLEAR ON THIS.

THERE IS A URBAN RURAL DIVIDE AND A PARTISAN DIVIDE.

THERE IS A LAND OWNER LANDLORD VERSUS TENANT DIVIDE?

>> DEFINITELY.

WHAT WE SEE IN THE VOTES IS THAT REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED THIS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE OPPOSED IT.

AND WHEN YOU GO INTO THE CITIES A LOT OF LANDLORDS OPPOSE BEING FORCED TO TAKE SECTION 8.

BECAUSE THE PROGRAM DOES COME WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

YOU HAVE TO GET AN INSPECTION.

IF THE INSPECTOR SAYS YOU NEED A RAILING OR SOMETHING ON YOUR FRONT PORCH IT COMES WITH EXTRA STUFF THAT LANDLORDS DON'T WANT TO DO.

>> Bill: KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

>>> A BILL THAT COULD SHUTOFF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT RECORD IT IS HAS THE SUPPORT OF HOUSE SPEAKER OSBORNE AND SUPPORTERS SAY IT WOULD PROTECT PRIVACY.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME SAYING THAT IT'S TAKING AWAY TRANSPARENCY.

WHAT KINDS OF INFORMATION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THIS, BILL.

WHAT I RUN INTO AND DIFFICULT THE OPEN RECORDS NOW WE HAVE IS NOT PERFECT.

AGENCIES WILL REFUSE TO GIVE YOU A RECORD BECAUSE WE WERE JUST HAVING A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION.

WE WERE JUST HAVING PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS.

AND THIS CODIFIES THAT AND SAID A GOVERNMENT AGENCY DOESN'T HAVE TO GIVE YOU PUBLIC GOVERNMENT RECORD IF IT'S NOT A FINAL ACTION.

SO AGENCIES COULD ABUSE THIS AND REFUSE TO GIVE YOU JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS IS WHY A REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY WANTS TO MAKE BUILD AN IRON DOME AROUND THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND PREVENT THE MEDIA OR ANYONE ELSE FROM KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE UP TO.

I'M A LITTLE BAFFLED BY THE THOUGHT PROCESS THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS ONE.

>> WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE UNDER THE OPEN RECORDS ACT AND THAT LIST IS VERY NARROW AND A LOT OF THE STUFF ON THE LIST IS STUFF THAT YOU CAN ALREADY GET THROUGH PRESS RELEASES.

IT'S VERY OFFICIAL STUFF THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO.

THE LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE IS VERY WIDE.

IT'S VERY VAGUE AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE WANT TO GO AFTER TO FIGURE OUT HOW DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BEHIND THE SCENES.

THAT'S THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING TOLD.

SO YOU HAVE TO RESORT TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TO GET IT.

BUT A LOT OF THAT STUFF WOULD BE SHUTOFF.

>> Bill: WHETHER YOU ARE A LARGE ORGANIZATION AND MELISSA YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING IN A SMALL WEEKLY HERE RECENTLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A TOOL USED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC?

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERY SMALL NEWSPAPER HAS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC AS THEY WORK WITH THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

AND SOME LIKE THE ONE I WORK FOR, WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP OPEN RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION IS HANDED OVER.

BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE IN SMALL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

THIS IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR EVERYONE WHO SEEKS PUBLIC INFORMATION TO GET TO TRANSPARENCY AND JUST ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> Bill: MELISSA WHERE IS THE FLUORIDE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER PROVIDERS TO OPT-OUT PUTTING FLUORIDE IN WATER.

>> IT'S SAILING RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND IT'S WAITING ON A FULL HOUSE VOTE BY ALL ACCOUNTS IT APPEARS WILL PASS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE DENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE DELTA DENTAL INSURANCE, THE DENTISTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE OPPOSED TO THE BILL.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS HAVE HORRIBLE HIGH RATES OF CAVITIES AND POOR DENTAL CARE AND NOT GREAT ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE IN RURAL AREAS IN PARTICULAR.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A PROTECTION THAT THE CDC HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO SHOW ANY HARM TO CHILDREN.

AND IT'S JUST A LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY IF IT BECOMES A LOCALLY CONTROLLED ISSUE.

>> Bill: WOULD IT ALSO MOVE FROM THE ARGUMENTS FROM STATE CAPITAL TO CITY HALL.

>> IT WOULD.

AND YOU KNOW IT'S THE IDEA OF LOCAL CONTROL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

AND ALSO SOME PEOPLE I KEEP SAYING SOME PEOPLE THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAYS IT'S FORCED MEDICATION.

AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE PUSHBACK ON THE IDEA OF THAT.

>>> U.K. IS TRAINING ITS OWN EMT'S.

>> THIS IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM IT IS A 16-WEEK PROGRAM PAID FOR IT APPEARS AND ALSO YOU GET PAID A SALARY WHILE YOU ARE IN THE PROGRAM.

IT'S TWO DAYS A WEEK.

ONE SATURDAY A MONTH.

AND THE IDEA IS TO INCREASE THE EMT POPULATION IN OUR STATE WHICH IS LIKE ALL OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS IS DISMALLY LOW IN SOME COUNTIES.

>> Bill: YOU HAD ENCOURAGING NEWS ABOUT CANCER SCREENINGS.

>> KENTUCKY'S HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE FOR CANCER SCREENINGS.

WHICH IS JUST GREAT NEWS.

THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THESE SCREENINGS TOO LATE.

SO THE CANCER IS FURTHER PROGRESSED THAN WHICH MAKES IT HARDER TO TREAT.

THE IDEA IS TO REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR THESE SCREENINGS WHICH ARE PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 50-80 AND WHO ARE SMOKERS OR HAVE QUIT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.

AND WERE 20-PACK PER YEAR AT LEAST A 20-PACK YEAR SMOKING HISTORY.

THERE'S CRITERIA THEY NEED TO GET SCREENED RIGHT AWAY.

>> Bill: MARK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST KROGER CLAIMING IT DID NOT MONITOR PRESCRIPTIONS 194 MILLION HYDROCODONE PILLS WERE DISPENSED IN THE STATE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL COLEMAN SAYS THAT KROGER DISPENSED 11% OF ALL THE OPIOID PILLS IN KENTUCKY IN THE TIME-FRAME THAT IS IN THIS LAWSUIT.

ONE OUT OF 10 OF EVERY OPIOID PILLS HE SAID THERE WERE CLEAR RED FLAGS THAT KROGER SHOULD HAVE NOTICED AND THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NOTICED IF THEY HAD HAD A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO FLAG THESE THINGS, TRACK THEM AND IF THEY HAD PROPERLY TRAINED THEIR PHARMACISTS.

>> Bill: WE HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM KROGER AT THIS POINT?

>> NOT YET.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

JOE, WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA WHO SPENT ALL THAT MONEY IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, RIGHT?

>> THERE WAS MORE THAN $70 MILLION SPENT ON THAT RACE JUST THE GENERAL ELECTION.

29 MILLION CAME FROM THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AND THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION.

THEY FINALLY HAD TO REVEAL WHO WAS FUNDING THE GROUPS IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION AND IT WAS A LOT OF THE SAME FAMILIAR FIGURES IT WAS THE HORSE INDUSTRY WITHIN KENTUCKY HELPING BESHEAR.

AND THE GRAY MACHINE OR SKILL GAMES COMPANIES WHICH BATTLED WITH THE HORSE INDUSTRY OVER THAT BILL TO BAN THE THEY WERE ONE OF THE BIG FUNDERS FOR THE RGA.

AND WHAT YOU HAD ON BOTH SIDES WAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM DARK MONEY ORGANIZATIONS WHO DON'T HAVE TO REVEAL THE DONORS WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHO FUNDED ALL OF IT.

>> Bill: EKU IS TO AWARD DOCTOR OF OS PATHIC MEDICAL DEGREES THAT WOULD BE QUITE AN UNDERTAKEN FOR EASTERN BUT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO IT AND MAKE IT AFFORDABLE?

>> THEY ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE THEIR PHYSICIANS WHEN THEY GRADUATE OR ON THE OTHER END OF THE DEGREE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STUDENT DEBT THAT DOCTORS COME OUT OF SCHOOL WITH.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT.

BUT THEY HAVE A PLAN TO WHETHER IT'S LOAN FORGIVENESS IF THEY PRACTICE IN COMMIT TO PRACTICING IN A RURAL PART OF OUR STATE.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE IDEAS THAT THEY THINK WILL MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> Bill: FEASIBILITY STUDY AT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY MAY BE CLOSER TO GETTING A COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.

BOB EDWARDS A KENTUCKY NATIVE AND HOST OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO MORNING EDITION IS REMEMBERED IN HIS BIOGRAPHY HE CALLED HIS UPBRINGING NEAR THE FAIRGROUNDS IN LOUISVILLE FRUGAL AND WORKING CLASS.

HE WOULD ATTEND U OF L AND BECOME A NEWSCASTER FOR NPR AND 25 YEARS HE WAS AT THE HELM OF MORNING EDITION.

AFTER THAT HE DID OTHER PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC AND SATELLITE RADIO.

EDWARDS WAS HONORED AS ONE OF THE LOUISVILLE'S HOMETOWN HEROS.

HE DIED AT AGE 76.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.