Time now for an end to week wrap up of the week's political news in Kentucky.

We have our great duo with us today, Jared Smith.

You can figure out which one is an AP paper of by Per Smith firm and boutique government relations, crisis relations, whatever you need they can do.

So let's talk about this week.

A lot of changes in Frankfort with the players, right?

We've had some resignations, people doing different things and a different administration.

So, Jared, I'll talk with you and talk to you first about we heard Russell Webber, who is a current state representative, is going to take a job with the treasurer elect, Mark Metcalf, from Garret County.

He's going to be the deputy treasurer.

And so this is pretty common.

We have some changes in the Department of Juvenile Justice.

So the Justice and Public Safety cabinet, this is pretty typical, right?

Right.

I mean, even though it's the same governor, the administration, there's still going to be turnover.

There's turnover in his father's administration between the first and second one.

So it's not really a surprise.

We saw this earlier today, Minority Leader Derrick Graham announced he was not running again.

And there's rumors that he may be taking another administration job.

So, I mean, I think we're seeing more of this as they start to fill the new administration roles.

So, I mean, how how much more is the Democratic caucus in the House going to dwindle?

Right.

Yeah, they don't really that's not really the way you want to even get your new administration members from the minority caucus.

But, you know, it's it makes sense for their retirement.

It makes sense for a lot of things for them to do that.

But, you know, I think Franklin County is a pretty safe Democratic area.

So I think it was it was done.

You know, with that in mind, I.

Loved what Denise Harper Angel was quoted as saying.

Abby, she said, I am not taking a job at the Metro Council.

Right.

Because, I mean, it just Raymond is doing that.

Kevin Bratcher is going to pursue that.

They're not doing that.

They're going to pursue those offices.

And so, you know, is there a perception I think Jose Raymond had a good little clap back for those who say it's a step down right, to go to local government, you know, why are you going backwards?

So, I mean, what is the appeal?

You know, that area and that council?

Well, what's the appeal of working on the Metro Council in Louisville?

Yeah, well, certainly there are a couple of things that make it easier.

You actually have a salary and your own dedicated legislative aide.

So that does help.

And the other thing is, if you want to be effective, sometimes it pays to go home and she's certainly going to be able to achieve more of her goals and her policy priorities in Jefferson County than she probably ever would be able to in Frankfurt.

So for her, it's a good move.

I mean, Denise Harper.

Angel Senator Harper.

Angel has already been the PVA, right?

So she's nine.

Years in the service.

Any any desire to go back to that And I don't blame her at all besides the fact she's in a very safe seat in unlikely to be challenged, right?

I mean, the math does it math there.

When I read that 49 years of public service, I'm like, what did she start when she was 12?

Maybe.

Maybe.

And gave us the greatest Zoom clip of the pandemic era of the legislative statute.

Okay.

Remind us of that.

Oh, no.

Okay.

It's yeah.

We can get that.

We can't.

You'll have to search the county archives for that.

And she's always been kind of down home and easily readily admits when she's misstepped.

And I think that's what's made her very charming.

I want me to think about we just have how many days to session.

I know you guys know my.

I'm 26, 25.

It's I mean, yeah, it's 20.

The 20 needs to be right January 2nd.

Like, what are you guys working on?

What's what's going to be the main things?

You know, I think budget budget budget is the biggest priority always will be and it will be for everyone who's up there.

Yeah.

You know, I do think that legislators are looking to try to find ways to bolster areas that COVID relief funding are drying up in, in ways that sort of keep us from falling off of the fiscal cliff, if you will.

But I also think Republicans especially are going to be very conservative about where they want to spend and how.

And I think they're looking in particular at things where they can measure progress and see that the dollars they're investing are producing real outcomes.

Right?

Ah Oh, I. I think it's very interesting because there is actually money in the rainy day fund.

3.7 billion.

Right.

And they have money this session.

And so as the one time expenses from the governor wind down, it's curious to see what they choose to make the decisions on how to spend the money.

This session.

I expect some economic economic development in the east.

Public education teacher starting salary is it is is ridiculously low and most of the counties and the Tennessee border states are raising theirs.

And so talk to any superintendent on a border state and he'll complain about losing his teachers rights.

And they even complain about losing their teachers to Fayette County right now.

Jefferson to say the same thing.

Right.

So, I mean, how do you kind of make that leverage?

I having child care will definitely be something that has to be addressed paid leave.

If you actually if you look at child care pay, it's extremely low.

It's it's about the same as a retail hourly worker.

So shoring that up post-pandemic will be very important as well, I think.

And how to make more robust or at least the knowledge, maybe it's the marketing campaign of the child care assistance program for employers and employees.

It's like there was $50 million that the General Assembly allocated and that's been a slow uptake on that.

But it has they've only, I think, allocated about 168,000 last time I checked, which was around August 1st or so.

But you know, it's a $15 million pot.

Yeah.

I wonder if it's because employee employers have to have skin in the game.

So it's not a handout, it's a match.

So I in that case, you know, if I say I'm going to provide $400 for my employee to have child care and the employer would have to kick in another 400, I think that may have something to do with it.

But it's also a very it was just announced in June, so I think we may need some time.

It is designed as a one year pilot.

I think it might be more time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Any other parting words about inauguration is coming up?

We know that that is happening.

You can watch on Katie.

We'll start having that coverage with the midnight swearing in and festivities all day tuesday.

We have the weather report for tuesday.

It looks good.

I will tell you, 49 degrees and sunny.

I have one before sundown.

Well, in 2019, it was no picnic, I'll tell you that.

So we're looking forward to a better sunshiny your day.

Hopefully a warm Tyler Childers.

Is he going to take the headline?

I mean is that going to be Of course.

But I also think it's important for people to remember whether you voted for Governor Bush or not, that this is a celebration.

It's partly a start of a new year, a new administration, a new effort.

And so whether you voted for Governor Bush or not, I encourage you to kind of participate either at home or in Frankfort and celebrate the fact that we live in our wonderful democracy.

And I just talked to Ron Bryant, who's the noted Kentucky historian and author, and he says, you know, Kentucky does it up for inaugurations.

And most states they're very low key and chill.

You know, we are not we are the opposite.

And so it is something to see.

And so, yeah, you can tune in on on Tuesday.

We'll have all that coverage all day on the main channel and maybe we'll see you all there in the crowd.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, as always.