[♪♪] >> Bill: THE 2024 KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UNDERWAY WITH A NEW STATE BUDGET AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES EMERGING.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR GETS THE STATE OF THE IT COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS REACT.

THE FILING DEADLINE PASSES FOR THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS SETTING UP INTERESTING CONTESTS AHEAD.

>>> FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON HAS A NEW JOB.

THE NEW YEAR'S EDITION OF 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 AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LKS TON HERALD LEADER.

McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

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

THE 60-DAY KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE IS UNDERWAY AS LAWMAKERS WORK ON A BUDGET AND TALK OF DIPPING INTO THE STATE'S HISTORIC BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

AND ON THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION, SOME OTHER PROPOSALS WERE REVEALED BY LAWMAKERS IN BOTH PARTIES.

AND THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REFORM SOME RULES AND MAKE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING WEEK TO KICK THINGS OFF.

WHAT ARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS, JOE, ABOUT THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE SESSION?

>> WELL, IF STARTED OFF SLOW COMPARED TO OTHER SESSIONS WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS MOVING IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF BILLS GETTING READINGS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET JET BUT BESHEAR ANNOUNCED WHAT THE BUDGET WAS GOING TO BE BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT RELEASED THEIR OFFICIAL BUDGET YET.

BUT THE MOST FIREWORKS WE HAD IN THE FIRST WEEK WAS THE DEBATE OVER THE RULES OF WHAT THE HOUSE CHAMBER AND THE SENATE CHAMBER WILL HAVE THIS YEAR AND YOU HAD DEMOCRATS A SMALL MINORITY BUT THEY TRIED TO CHANGE THE RULES TO MAKE BILLS MORE TRANSPARENT, TO SLOW DOWN BILLS AND NOT FAST TRACKED AND THE PUBLIC HAS TIME FOR INPUT ON THEM.

THAT DID NOT FLY.

WE HAVE THE SAME RULES BUT THERE WAS INTERESTING BIPARTISANSHIP HERE WHERE THERE WAS A FACTION OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHO AGREED AND SOME DEGREE ON THE TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS OF DEMOCRATS.

BUT ALSO ISSUES OF WHETHER LEADERSHIP HAS TOO MUCH POWER.

THIS IS A SPILLOVER FROM THE LAST SESSION WHERE AT THE END THERE WERE REPUBLICANS KICKED OFF OF THEIR COMMITTEES WHO FELT THAT THEY DID SO BECAUSE THEY CHALLENGED LEADERSHIP.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP ON THE RULES.

>> SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES TO RULES FROM REPUBLICANS CAME FROM REPRESENTATIVE RAYBURN WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS THAT WE REMOVED FROM A COMMITTEE AT THE END OF LAST SESSION.

SHE FILED HER VERSIONS OF RULES BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHERE THEY WILL MOVE AT.

SPEAKER OSBORNE SAID WHEN THEY DISCUSS IT THAT RULES ARE STILL BEING DISCUSSED.

AND THE SENATE DID HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT RULES WHEN DEMOCRATS DID RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

BUT THAT DISCUSSION WASN'T AS INDEPTH AS THE HOUSE WAS.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS STUDY WAS THROWN AROUND IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT STUDY SHOWING THAT BILLS HAVE BEEN FAST TRACKED AND TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN THROWN TO THE WAYSIDE TO SOME EXTENT IN RECENT YEARS AND THAT INCLUDES DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS REPUBLICANS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN CHARGE AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE AS McKENNA HORSLEY SAID A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AMONG DEMOCRATS AND FACTION OF REPUBLICANS.

ONE OF THE BIGGER TAKEAWAYS THAT I GOT FROM THIS WEEK ESPECIALLY IN THAT RULES DEBATE AND ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUST BILLS THAT WERE FILLED.

THERE WERE FEWER, I WOULD CALL IT MORE FRINGE CONSERVATIVE SORT OF BILLS FILED IN YEARS PAST.

AT LEAST RECENT YEARS PAST.

I THINK I SEE LEADERSHIP KIND OF ASSERTING ITSELF AS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HERE.

BECAUSE WE SORT OF ENDED LAST SESSION ON A NOTE WHERE THAT WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION A FEW TIMES.

AND IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THAT IS A REALLY BIG EMPHASIS PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE THIS SESSION.

>> Bill: REPUBLICANS SAY THAT THEIR RULES AND PROCESS I WILL SAY THE PREDOMINANT REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S EFFICIENT.

IT IS ECONOMY OF TIME.

THAT THEY CAN KEEP THINGS MOVING, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE ONE OF THE BIG PROVISIONS IN THAT PROPOSED RULES CHANGE WAS EVERY LEGISLATOR IS GUARANTEED ONE BILL THAT GETS A HEARING AT LEAST.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT TAKING UP A LOT OF ATTENTION WITH LEGISLATORS SORT OF FORWARDING THE SPLASHIEST MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS AND TAKING UP CAUCUS DEBATE.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE THAT ARGUMENT.

>> Bill: JOE, HOW DID THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NOT PREFILED BILLS PEOPLE SAW TWO OR THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF THE SESSION AND THEREFORE COULD DIG IN PRO OR CON ON HOW DID THAT IMPACT THE FIRST WEEK?

BECAUSE IT WAS A WEEK OF REVELATIONS OF WHAT WAS GOING TON HEARD?

>> IN FACT, THERE WAS NOT ONLY A WEEK OF REVELATIONS BUT THERE'S SO MUCH WE STILL DON'T THOUGH BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHICH BILLS ARE GOING TO MOVE THE FASTEST BECAUSE SO FEW HAVE HAD READINGS BUT THAT WAS HELPFUL FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN FRANKS FOR THE TO READ THROUGH THE BILLS THAT USED TO BE AVAILABLE.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THEY GOT RID OF THAT AND OSBORNE SAID THIS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE SOME BILLS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE OF PASSING GETTING A LOT OF COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA.

THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON WHY THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

>> YEAH, BEFORE THE SESSION, THE SPEAKER SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THAT PROCESS DIDN'T HAVE TRANSPARENCY BUT IT WAS A DISTRACTION FOR THE WORK THAT THE INTERIM COMMITTEES DO.

BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS WEEK IS A LOT OF BILL READING HAPPENING AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE IDEAS PRESENTED.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HAD A SLOWER WEEK.

>> Bill: IN THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS GOVERNOR BESHEAR MIXED AN UPBEAT MESSAGE WITH HIS PRIORITIES AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS REACTED.

>> THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO PUSH AWAY THE DIVISION.

TO PROVE THAT WE CAN GOVERN WITHOUT NAME CALLING OR SCAPEGOATING TO DO IT WITHOUT ANGER, WITHOUT FEAR, AND WITHOUT HATRED.

THAT WE CANNOT ONLY TALK ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE FAITH WE CAN LIVE IT.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT HE HAS SAID TONIGHT THAT I BELIEVE WE WILL AGREE WITH.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE CONVINCED OF AND THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T DO.

>> WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, WITH REGARDS TO FUNDING OF THE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO EAST AND WEST KENTUCKY.

I THINK NOW WE ACTUALLY GET TO GET DOWN TO THE ACTUAL ANALYSIS OF HOW WE GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

>> Bill: JOE, YOU ARE NOT HEARING A LOT OF CONTENTION THERE.

OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS SESSION, THE PRIORITIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE DIFFER IN SOME AREAS.

BUT DO WE SEE MORE COMMON GROUND HERE THIS TIME?

>> I THINK FOR THE TIME BEING.

I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT A REPUBLICAN BUDGET OUT IS WHY IT CAN GET ALONG BECAUSE THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT THEY AGREE WITH LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING, LIKE RECOVERY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS.

ONCE YOU SEE THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET, IT SEEMS LIKE AT THIS POINT LEADERSHIP HAS INDICATED IT'S NOT GOING TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE MAIN ITEMS THAT BESHEAR WANTED LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD 11% RAISES FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

LIKE UNIVERSAL PRE-K. STIFERS SAID THERE IS NO APPETITE FOR UNIVERSAL PRE-K AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT BESHEAR WANTED.

YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THE CONFLICT.

>> Bill: BESHEAR BROUGHT IN SPECIAL GUESTS TO PUT FACES ON SOME OF HIS PRIORITIES.

>> YEAH.

THROUGHOUT HIS ADDRESS, BESHEAR OFTEN REFERRED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE GALLERY MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE.

AND THEY EMBODIED DIFFERENT IDEAS OF HIS BUDGET PROPOSALS SUCH AS WHEN BEFORE HE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT RAISES FOR STATE TROOPERS, HE REFERRED TO THE WIFE AND DAUGHTER OF A OFFICER WHO DIED.

AND THEN PROBABLY THE MOST POIGNANT MOMENT IS HE REFERRED TO MATTHEW AND JAMIE OATS MARRIED BETWEEN THEM WORK FOUR JOBS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND THEN BESHEAR CALLED FOR THAT RAISE PROPOSAL THAT HE HAS BEEN MENTIONED.

>> Bill: AUSTIN HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PLATFORM OF THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS WHEN YOU ARE FACING A LEGISLATURE DOMINATED BY THE OTHER PARTY?

>> IT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER.

I MEAN, I THINK CERTAINLY IT AFFORDS A GOVERNOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF GET HIS PRIORITIES ACROSS TO BOTH THE GENERAL AUDIENCE AND TO LEGISLATORS.

NOW, DEMOCRATS DID COMPLAIN THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW UP.

SO MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW INTENTIONAL THAT IS.

BUT PERHAPS THAT IS REPUBLICANS TRYING TO SIGNAL TO BESHEAR THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SAY AT THIS STAGE.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE POPPED UP THIS WEEK.

SENATE BILL 6 THAT MAJORITY WHIP MIKE WILSON SAYS HIS BILL IS AIMED AT DIVISIVE CONCEPTS AND COULD AWARD $100,000 TO UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS OR EMPLOYEES WHOSE CLAIMS WERE SUCCESSFUL.

>> THIS IS KIND OF PART OF LEGISLATION WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT IS TARGETING DEI, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

HIS LEGISLATION IS MODELED AFTER THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THERE WHICH ADDS THAT METHOD FOR PEOPLE WHO FEEL AGRIEVED BY SUCH CONCEPTS IN THINGS LIKE NONCREDIT CLASSES AND TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THEY CAN SEEK LEGAL ACTION.

>> Bill: THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ARMS OF UNIVERSITIES HAVE RESPONDED CAREFULLY WE MIGHT SAY.

>> YES.

>> Bill: AND THE KCTS PRESIDENT RYAN QUARELS OFFERED THOUGHTS.

>> HE LIKE THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES SAYS THEY ARE REVIEWING THE LEGISLATION AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT ITS CAMPUS.

BUT HE SAID THAT EDUCATION MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE SHOULD BE THE GREAT EQUALIZER NOT A DIVIDER.

AND EMPHASIZED THAT KCTCS IS MEANT AND ALL WHO WANT TO ATTEND IT.

>> Bill: THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REJECTED AN APPLICATION FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE WAS CITED.

HOW MUCH EFFORT IS IT GOING TO BE TO PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC DOLLARS TO FOLLOW STUDENTS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EFFORT AND THAT IS GOING TO START IN THE HOUSE.

DAVID OSBORNE SAID THIS WEEK, GAVE A FLAT YES TO WHETHER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL CHOICE WAS GOING TO GET THROUGH THE HOUSE.

AND THAT BLOCKED A LOT OF BILLS THAT THEY PASSED IN RECENT YEARS TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS SCHOOL CHOICE.

YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE AN EFFORT.

IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF HARD ON BILLS LIKE THAT WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH RURAL REPUBLICANS WHERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT THERE.

BUT AND YOU HAVE TO GET THE 60% VOTE THRESHOLD IF IT DOES GET THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, IT ULTIMATELY THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE THAT.

IT'S ONE STEP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: THAT COULD BE QUITE A CAMPAIGN IN THE FALL IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE ISSUES IT'S REALLY EASY TO CRAFT A MESSAGE AGAINST THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T WANT PUBLIC DOLLARS GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT IS A REALLY EASY ONE SENTENCE ARGUMENT AGAINST.

AND I THINK LIKE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS HAVE EVEN SAID THEY ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THAT MESSAGE MIGHT RESONATE WITH A LOT OF VOTERS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THEY ARE KIND OF READY TO JUST LIKE SORT OF GIVE THIS ISSUE A FINAL SAY, RIGHT?

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE.

IT'S BEEN LITIGATED, NONSTOP AND KENTUCKY COURTS HAVE SAID THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO LET'S ONCE AND FOR ALL KIND OF TAKE THE ISSUE OFF THE TABLE.

THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR THE WHOLE TIME THEY'VE HAD THE MAJORITY.

>> Bill: THERE MAY BE OTHER ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY.

REPUBLICANS SAY IT WOULD SAVE MONEY AND SAVE VOTERS FROM FATIGUE AUSTIN TO MOVE THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS OFF OF THE ODD YEARS AND PUT THEM IN EVEN YEARS WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

OF COURSE, THEY SAY, AGAIN, IT WOULD SAVE MONEY.

DEMOCRATS SAY OR SOME OF THE OPPONENTS SAID EARLY THAT IT WOULD DROWN OUT LOCAL ISSUES IN KENTUCKY?

>> YEAH.

AND YOU CAN SEE BOTH OF THOSE ARGUMENTS.

THIS WOULD START IN 2032.

INTERESTINGLY, WHOEVER IS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 27 WOULD BE THE LONGEST SERVING GOVERNOR IN KENTUCKY HISTORY UNLESS I'M MISSING.

>> Bill: IF THEY ARE REELECTED.

BUT THIS WAS -- A FIVE-YEAR TERM WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE CURRENT OFFICE HOLDERS.

>> NO, IT WOULD BE THE NEXT PERSON.

THIS IS SPONSORED FROM CHRIS McDANIEL IN THE SENATE WHO HOLDS SWAY AND IT'S SENATE BILL 10 WHICH IS GIVEN TO BILLS THAT ARE CONSIDERED KIND OF IMPORTANT.

THAT'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL GET PASSAGE, THOUGH, BECAUSE SENATOR McDANIEL HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TWO YEARS AGO LIMITING GOVERNOR'S PARDON POWERS AFTER THE BEVIN PARDON CONTROVERSY AND THAT DIDN'T GET ULTIMATE PASSAGE.

>> THIS MIGHT HAVE MORE WIND BEHIND ITS SAILS BECAUSE OF THE STING OF THE LOSS LAST NOVEMBER FOR REPUBLICANS IS REALLY FRESH.

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DIFFERENT SET OF VOTERS GOING TO VOTE AND THOSE OFF YEAR ELECTIONS AND ODD NUMBER OF YEARS THAN IT IS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OR THE MIDTERM CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: SENATOR WANTS TO END THE EARLY NO EXCUSE WALK IN VOTING THAT THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY EARLY VOTING THAT KENTUCKIANS DO BEFORE OUR ELECTIONS AT THIS POINT.

WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PASSED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS TURNOUT MORE FOR THAT EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT BILL HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE YET BUT IS THE FIRST WEEK WE CAN SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>> Bill: AND CHAD ALL WANTS TO LENGTHEN THE POLLING HOURS AND HAVE THE POLLS STAY OPEN UNTIL 7:00 P.M. THAT IS A BILL FILED?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN DEMOCRATS SCORE MANY VICTORIES WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION BILLS IN THE PAST.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS A GOAL THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS KIND OF AGREES WITH.

HE SORT OF LUKEWARM ON IT.

HE SORT OF SEES THE BENEFIT BUT HE ALSO SEES A POTENTIAL NEGATIVE WHEN YOU EXTEND THE HOURS YOU MIGHT SCARE OFF ELECTION POLL WORKERS.

>> Bill: McKENNA, WHITNEY WESTERFIELD HAS A BILL THAT HAS A 551 MILLION PRICE TAG THAT WOULD BOOST CHILDCARE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, HOUSING OTHER NEEDS OF WOMEN WHO CONTINUE THEIR PREGNANCIES.

NOW THAT THE ABORTION PROCEDURES ARE BANNED IN KENTUCKY?

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE.

HE SAID IF OUR ARTICLE THAT WE PUBLISHED THIS WEEK HE THINKS IT'S ALSO 50 YEARS TOO LATE TO HAVE LEGISLATION LIKE THIS.

BUT THE THESIS BEHIND IT IS SINCE ABORTION IS OUTLAWED IN KENTUCKY EXCEPT IN RARE CASES CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER THIS WOULD HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN HAVE MORE SUPPORT TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN.

AND WESTERFIELD HOPES THAT OTHER LEGISLATORS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES PRO-LIFE BACK THIS BILL.

>> Bill: OTHER BILLS GOT OUR ATTENTION A PROPOSAL FROM DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DAVID YATES TO AUTOMATE SPEEDING TICKETS IN WORK ZONES.

HE GETS SOME THINGS THROUGH EVEN FROM THE MINORITY STANDPOINT?

>> HE HAD A BILL ON PORCH PIRATES SO-CALLED THAT PASSED I THINK LAST YEAR.

AND SO FAR LIKE YOU SAID, HE'S SORT OF SEEMED TO OCCUPY A DEMOCRATIC ROLE WHERE HE ACTUALLY GETS SOME BILLS PASSED HERE AND THERE.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: WHAT ELSE JUMPED UP THIS WEEK THAT INTERESTED YOU, JOE?

>> YOU GOT ME THERE.

>> Bill: THAT WAS QUICK.

I WILL COME BACK TO YOU.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS THERE THIS WEEK AND OTHER STATE-WIDE OFFICE HOLDERS WERE SWORN IN.

AND HE TOOK SORT OF A VICTORY LAP FOR HAVING BUILT THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY FROM THE MINORITY STATUS IT HAD IN 1984 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED.

>> YES.

HE CAME TO THE SWEARING IN FOR THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

AND IN HIS REMARKS HE MADE THE JOKE THAT EARLY IN HIS CAREER HE USED TO AVOID FRANKFORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO DEMOCRATIC HE WAS PLEASED TO BE IN A ROOM THAT WASN'T 100% DEMOCRATIC THIS TIME AROUND.

HE NOTED HIS TIES TO SOME OF THOSE ELECTED REPUBLICANS SUCH AS HIS FORMER LEGAL COUNSEL, ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN.

HE NOTED THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS IS A FORMER SCHOLAR AND HE ESTABLISHED THOUGH TIES AS WELL.

>> BUT THE TRANSITION WAS NOT COMPLETE BECAUSE HE WAS SITTING NEXT TO ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: WHICH MADE FOR INTERESTING PHOTOS, RIGHT?

MORE ISSUES MAY EMERGE IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW THAT KENTUCKY'S FILING DEADLINE PASSED AT 4:00 FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THERE WAS THE USUAL RUSH TO FILE.

THERE WILL BE BIG RACES THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY WITH THERE BEING OPEN SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AUSTIN LET'S TALK ABOUT KEY CONTESTS THE RACE TO REPLACE DAMION THAYER WHO IS DONE FOR NOW IS INTERESTING.

>> YEAH, WE'VE HAD THREE CANDIDATES FILE TWO REPUBLICANS ONE DEMOCRAT ALL SCOTT COUNTIANS WHICH IS INTERESTING THAT IS KIND OF, I THINK, SORT OF WHERE THAT DISTRICT WAS DRAWN FOR THE WINNER TO COME FROM.

IT'S SORT OF JANUARYKY IT STRADDLES I-75 GOES FROM SOUTHERN TO PARTS OF FAYETTE COUNTY DOWN TO KEEN LAND WHICH WAS INTERESTING GIVEN THAYER'S CONNECTION TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY.

>> Bill: BUT CENTERED ON GEORGETOWN.

>> YEAH.

I THINK SO.

AND THE TWO REPUBLICANS SO FAR AND THIS IS A RIGHT LEANING DISTRICT ARE JULIA JADICK WHO IS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN GEORGETOWN AND MATT NUN A TOYOTA EXECUTIVE THERE IN GEORGETOWN AS WE KNOW TOYOTA'S A HUGE, HUGE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S GROWTH.

>> Bill: ONE DID YOU NAME THE DEMOCRAT?

>> KEY ANNA FIELD FROM GEORGETOWN.

>> Bill: THERE'S GOING TO BE WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A G.O.P.

PRIMARY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

BUT LESS STAPLE TOP THE MAYOR DECIDED NOT TO JUMP INTO THAT RACE.

>> THIS MORNING IT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

EVERYBODY WAS READY FOR PRESTON'S HAS A SHOWDOWN WITH HARLEN COUNTY WELL-KNOWN OFFICIAL AN ATTORNEY.

BUT HE PULLED OUT.

AND THEN I THINK WE HAD A GUY NAMED RANDY THOMPSON FILE TODAY AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER SEAN GILLEY.

RANDY THOMPSON I BELIEVE HELD ELECTED OFFICE OUT OF BEHIND MAN IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY AT SOME POINT.

I WOULD LOOK FOR POTENTIAL CONFLICT THERE AND THOSE ARE BOTH REPUBLICANS, TOO.

>> SOME INTERESTING PRIMARIES I THINK THAT HAVE POPPED UP ESPECIALLY AT THE LAST SECOND, AT KA SCOTT A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO RAN FOR CONGRESS.

SHE FILED THIS AFTERNOON SHE IS CHALLENGING DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JARROD NEAL THAT SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING PRIMARY.

ALSO YOU HAVE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE MARLY MARSON REDISTRICTED AND TAKING ON RICK ADAMS WHO IS AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS DONE WORK FOR THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

ONE OF THE LOUISVILLE PRIMARIES.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BRINGING UP REDISTRICTING AGAIN, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE LYNN BECHLER LOST A PRIMARY IN 2022 HE IS CHALLENGING REPUBLICAN SENATOR JASON HOWELL IN WESTERN KENTUCKY IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.

HE WAS THERE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FILING LATE TODAY AND HE SAID HIS CANDIDACY WAS TAKING ON THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THAT IN THE PRIMARIES.

>> Bill: OTHER RACES?

>> YEAH, I THINK THOMAS JEFFERSON, NOT THE FOUNDING FATHER.

BUT A REPUBLICAN WHO IS MORE ALIGNED WITH THE LIBERTY GROUP IN THE G.O.P.

IS RUNNING AGAINST KILIAN TIM ANY IN SUBURBAN LEXINGTON JESSAMINE COUNTY DISTRICT THAT BESHEAR WON BY 20 POINTS AND THERE IS A LEGITIMATE DEMOCRAT RUNNING AND THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED TO SEE DURING SESSION, IS HOW THESE KINDS OF CHALLENGES LIKE THE PRIMARIES AND THE GENERALS BUT MORE THE PRIMARIES AFFECT LEGISLATION.

YOU COULD SEE LYNN BECHLER CHALLENGED JASON HOWELL'S CONSERVATIVE BONEFIEDS AND HOW HOWELL FORWARDING A BILL THAT IS CONSERVATIVE OR TIM ANY FORWARDING A BILL.

>> Bill: WHY DO YOU THINK THE FILING DEADLINE IS SO EARLY?

>> GOOD POINT.

>> Bill: TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

MATH, 43 SEATS ARE WHAT THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN?

>> THEY ARE -- THEY ARE CONTESTING IN 57 RACES 43 RACES THEY HAVE LOST WHIC% IS, I BELIEVE THE SAME NUMBER FROM 2022.

AND I TALKED TO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS TRYING TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES AND SAID IT WAS REALLY A CHALLENGE TO GET PEOPLE TO RUN AND CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS.

BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE FOCUSED ON QUALITY AND NOT QUANTITY.

TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD GOOD CANDIDATES IN RACES THAT WERE WINNABLE.

>> AND SPEAKER OSBORNE TODAY A REPUBLICAN, SO I DON'T THINK HE WANTS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS TO RUN, BUT HE SAID TO REPORTERS TODAY THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE MINORITY PARTY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO RUN BECAUSE THEY COULD FACE A LOSS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT KIND OF FOLLOWS THAT MINORITY PARTY.

>> Bill: WE WILL HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AS WELL.

AND ALL OF THE WELL-KNOWNS HAVE FILED NOW IN KENTUCKY.

ALTHOUGH OUR PRIMARY COMES ESSENTIALLY TOO LATE TO COUNT OR BE CONSEQUENTIAL.

>> I WOULD NOT EXPECT IT TO MATTER MUCH.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW THERE COULD BE A LATE SURGE FROM SOMEBODY LIKE A NICKI HALEY OR RON DESANTIS.

>> Bill: I COVERED SUPER TUESDAY IN 1988 THE ONE TIME WE TOOK PART IN THAT, AND THE CANDIDATES CAME.

THE REPUBLICAN GEORGE H. W. BUSH, BOB DOLE WAS HERE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

AL GORE CAMPAIGNED HARD AND CARRIED KENTUCKY IN THAT PRIMARY.

BUT WE ABANDONED THAT OVER COST.

WE WERE HAVING TWO PRIMARIES THERE WAS NO WAY AROUND THAT.

YOU HAVE THE MARCH AND THE ONE FOR THE REGULAR OFFICES.

JOE, WE KNOW DETAILS ABOUT THE NEARLY HALF MILLION DOLLAR INAUGURATION TAB NOW RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WHAT HERE IS' COMMITTEE RAISED NEARLY $700,000 AFTER HE WAS REELECTED.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS CAME FROM PACS, INDIVIDUALS FROM PACS CAN GIVE UNLIMITED AMOUNTS SO THE PACS THE BIGGEST GIVERS WERE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE MEDICAID MCO CONTRACTS.

THOSE WERE THE BIG -- AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF INTEREST TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE PERSON WHO WILL BE GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> Bill: I THINK THE DAY AFTER FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON LEFT OFFICE WE LEARNED HE HAS A NEW JOB?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE C.E.O.

OF THE 1792 EXCHANGE TAKING ON WHAT THEY CALL WOKE CAPITALISM AND ESG.

IT IS THE SAME SUBJECTS HE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND IN OFFICE AS AG.

NOT TOO MUCH OF A TRANSITION IN TERMS OF WHAT HE TALKS ABOUT.

>> Bill: INTERESTING WEEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE INTERESTING WEEKS AHEAD.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ASHLEY WATTS THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD UP THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SHE WILL TAKE THE NATIONAL STAGE AND SPEAK AT THE STATE OF AMERICAN BUSINESS CONFERENCE.

THE LARGEST EVENT FOR THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]