It's time to go inside Kentucky politics as we break down the political news of the week in Kentucky.

With this, our Will Kali, president and CEO of Alpine Strategies and a Democratic consultant.

And I am Tyler Morgan, attorney and member of McBrayer Law and government Solutions firm.

Thank you both for being with us.

Thanks, Casey.

All right.

Well, Casey.

First thing we're going to get to is Governor Andy Beshear unveiled his state budget proposal on KCET on Monday night.

It's $136 billion.

There's money going toward pre-K, toward raises for state workers and teachers, as well as for investments in clean drinking water.

And we'll I want to start with you.

Of course, we know the Governor Beshear released this early so that he could get out ahead of the Republican led General Assembly.

But will this help him negotiate to get some more of the things that he wants?

Well, I think Governor Bashir's budget is a real testament to how he wants to be governed.

He's done an excellent job in his first four years of taking care of the people that take care of us, like our teachers are first responders, state workers who are also going to get a raise in his budget.

I'd like to think that the General Assembly, even though Senator Thayer has said that they plan on not working with him, will change their tune and decide to put a lot of thought and effort into working with Governor Bashir's team so that all Kentuckians can get a win here.

This is a budget for everyone, and I'm excited to see him get it through.

Hopefully, like I said in a bipartisan way.

And Tyler, do we have a sense how the Republican led legislature will take this proposal?

Sure.

Well, Casey, I'd open up by saying I'd say at the New Year, those in relationships across the Commonwealth are asking, are we spenders or are we savers?

The governor and the legislature are no different.

So I think those are some of the questions that will be asked by the legislature in response to the governor's budget.

But I think there are also a number of measures that there are widespread consensus around, particularly around pre-K education, around economic development, infrastructure improvements.

That one of the big things the governor and the Republican leaders of the General Assembly have mentioned is that they like to have a better relationship between the executive and legislative branch.

That's right.

Is is this something that could hurt or help that?

I really don't think so, Casey.

I think it's probably par for the course.

Of course, the legislature took the first shot in the last budget session.

And this is the governor just getting out ahead of that.

I think several have said that early information is better.

I don't think the legislature will be entirely surprised that the governor took his early shot, and I don't think it will have quite the damage that some may want to say that it will.

You know, some of the other big news this week has been that former members of the General Assembly said that they will not be running for reelection next year.

That brings the total to nine.

Five Republicans and four Democrats.

And Tyler, I'll start with you.

Is this unusual to see this number of people saying they won't run for reelection?

Yeah, Casey, I think it is kind of interesting to see and certainly a lot of movement since the 2017 flip of the state house.

That was obviously our last time of kind of big exodus and re shifting of the Kentucky House particularly.

And now we're seeing that in both chambers.

So obviously, there will be a lot of opportunity for new faces to emerge and a lot of opportunity for fundraising across the state in the primary elections, which will be very interesting to watch.

Will, Of course, Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly and open seats are a big opportunity for Democrats to try and take back seats.

How will Democrats make their case in the upcoming election?

I think that we're going to probably follow the Andy Beshear playbook, which is if we can create a government that works for everyone, finding common sense solutions instead of a hyper partizan, polarized wedge issue, culture issue, legislation that the GOP has been offering up lately, I think our candidates are going to stand a really good chance, and we're going to actually draw a sharp contrast between people that want to get things done and for the people of Kentucky and our commonwealth and people that want to score big points and continue to divide us.

So I think that that's the way back for Democrats because we're going to offer real policy solutions and to see some gains in November.

We'll we'll stick with you.

State Representative Kater Herron said that she is going to run for state senator two days Harper Angel's seat.

Harper said she would not seek reelection earlier this month.

Is this a primary where we could see a number of Democrats get in?

And since it is that Louisville metro based seat?

I think Herron, Representative Herron has done a fantastic job in her first term as a state representative and looking at her body of work and the relationships she has with the people and her devotion to her constituents, I actually don't think she's going to draw any significant primary challenge.

I would say the field is probably pretty clear.

I haven't heard of anybody, and I know I'll be supporting Representative Herron for that seat as well.

And Tyler, of course, is a Louisville based seat.

Jefferson County is deep blue.

Is this an opportunity for Republicans to make a case to people in Louisville?

Absolutely.

I think if you've watched Louisville's history in the last several years, Casey, as I know you have, Louisville is becoming increasingly red, certainly softer blue than it has been.

It's not a bedrock Democratic city any more.

So I think we certainly see opportunity there.

We're going to come back to you.

We're going to insert some national politics into our state based conversation, as it usually is.

Governor Andy Beshear commented on President Donald Trump's rhetoric about immigration earlier this week to the Associated Press.

He called the former president's words dehumanizing.

Well, the governor has generally way stayed away from weighing in to national politics.

Why was this the time to do so?

I think any time Governor Beshear has been confronted with language or situations in which anybody, any human being right, is being dehumanized.

And Donald Trump said that immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country, which is very reminiscent of lines in own camp.

But just as he stood up for trans people and other marginalized people on the fringes, Governor Bush here weighed in to say, look, even if they're illegal immigrants, they still deserve humanity.

We need to work on a better way to make a better system to get these people in compliance with the law and to make sure that we need immigrant labor, that it's allowed to be here.

And he cares about people and continues that compassion even in these times.

And Tyler, I know we just finished one election, but of course, we always look forward to the next one.

Governor Beshear talking about President Trump might not be popular in Kentucky.

Is that how you see it?

That's right, Casey.

Although I think that certainly Kentuckians have a great deal of compassion.

We have a lot of neighbors in our state.

And, you know, I think they might have more mixed views on that.

That said, certainly Governor Beshear is enjoying the fact that this is no longer an election season and can be a little more bold in what he makes comment on.

Yeah.

And Tyler, Will, Kali, thank you both for joining us right before the holidays.

We appreciate.

You both.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas, Casey.