ASSEMBLY SENDS ITS FIRST BILL O THE SESSION TO THE GOVERNOR.

BOTH CHAMBERS CONTINUE TO MOVE ALONG REDISTRICTING MEASURES.

AND A SENATE COMMITTEE CONSIDER A BILL THAT WOULD SHIFT POWER AWAY FROM SCHOOL BOARD DECISION MAKING COUNCILS.

WE RECAP THE ACTION OF DAY THREE OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FO I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SENT ITS FIRST BILL OF THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

HOUSE BILL 172 MOVES THE MEASURE FILING DEADLINE FOR THIS YEAR EAST MAY PRIMER FROM THIS FRIDAY TO JANUARY 25th.

THIS MOVES THE MEASURE BACK TO WHERE IT WAS IN 2019.

THE LEGISLATURE MOVED THE DEADLINE UP DURING THE 2019 SESSION.

DURING TODAY'S SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, HOUSE BILL'S 172 SPONSOR YOU PADUCAH REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN RUDY EXPLAINED WHY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVING THE DEADLINE FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST FOR THOSE OFFICES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO REDISTRICTING.

>> THERE ARE FOUR RANGES WHY I WOULD SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.

NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE SENATE BILL 60 MOVED FOR IT EVERYONE ONE WAY.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IS UNDOING THIS FOR ONE YEAR WILL MIGHT HAVE BACK FOR EVERYONE.

ALSO, IN HOUSE BILL 2 THAT YOU WILL BE HOPEFULLY CONSIDERING TOMORROW, ASSUMING IT PASSES TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING IT ON THE SENATE FLOOR ON SATURDAY, THIS LANGUAGE IS MIRRORED IN SENATE BILL 2, BUT WE FELT THAT THIS BILL SHOULD BE MOVED BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING RETROACTIVELY.

THE THIRD REASON IS BECAUSE OF A COURT RULING IN 2012 THAT THREW OUT A REDISTRICTING PLAN THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAD PASSED, AND THE COURTS MOVED THE FILING DEADLINE WITH THAT RULING FOR EVERYONE, SO WE FEEL THAT IS A JUDICIAL PRECEDENT AND THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW THAT.

>> Casey: DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DAMON THAYER MADE A POINT TO SA WHO HE THINKS IS TO BLAME FOR WHY THIS YEAR'S FILING DEADLINE NEEDS TO BE MOVED.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT POINT OUT THAT SINCE THE GOVERNOR DID NOT CALL US INTO A SPECIAL SESSION, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS WEEK AND HAVING TO MOVE THE FILING DEADLINE, IF THE CONSTITUTION GETS CHANGED THIS FALL AND THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY ALLOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CALL ITSELF INTO A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH MATTERS LIKE THIS WHEN THERE IS A RELUCTANT OR UNCOOPERATIVE GOVERNOR, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS SITUATION TODAY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE CALLED OURSELVES INTO A SPECIAL SESSION IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER AND PASSED THE MAPS AND BEEN DONE WITH IT.

>> Casey: GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HAS SAID HE RECEIVED NO FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR A SPECIAL SESSI AFTER PASSING THE SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE IN THE MORNING, HOUSE BILL 172 WAS HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR I THE AFTERNOON.

TO PASS THE BILL TODAY, SENATORS HAD TO WAIVE THE REQUIRED THREE READINGS OF THE BILL ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BEFORE IT COULD BE VOTED ON.

SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY VOTED AGAINST WAIVING THE READING, TO VOTE ON THE BILL IMMEDIATELY, ECHOING COMMENTS HEARD YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSE.

>> AS WITH EVERY BILL THAT HAS COME BEFORE US WHERE WE HAVE WAIVED THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, I WILL AGAIN CAUTION THIS BODY AGAINST DOING SO.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROVISION TO HAVE THE READINGS IN EXECS FRISK WAS PUT THERE FOR NOTICE P. SECTION 46 WAS BUT THERE FOR NOTICE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE BILL IS.

A WAIVING NEEDS READINGS TODAY.

WE ARE NOT GIVING PEOPLE AS MUCH TIME AS THEY OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT THESE FILING DEADLINE CHANGES.

I HAD JUDGES TENSIONS ME THIS MORNING, "DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?"

THAT'S WHY WE GIVE IT THE TIME.

AND EVEN IF WE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ULTIMATE BILL, I WANT OUR PROTEST TO THE PROCESS NOTED.

WAIVING READING IS NOT SOMETHING THIS BODY SHOULD GET IN THE HABIT OF DOING, AND IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WE DO MORE AND MORE.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 172 PASSED THE SENATE 28 TO 4, BECOMING THE FIRST BILL OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HEAD TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S DESK.

THE SENATE THEN MOVED ON TO REDISTRICTING, DONE EVERY TEN YEARS TO REFLECT POPULATION SHI THEY SENT THE HOUSE MAPS FOR NE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL AND SENATE DISTRICTS.

FIRST THE SENATE TOOK UP SENATE BILL 2, WHICH REDISTRICTS KENTUCKY'S SENATE SEATS.

THE BILL'S SPONSOR, SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ROBBY MILLS, EXPLAINS WHY THE MEASURE LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL CRAFT DISTRICTS THAT ARE CONTIGUOUS AND AS NEARLY EQUAL IN POPULATION AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT SPLITTING COUNTIES.

UNLESS A COUNTY MAY INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE DISTRICT.

OUT OF THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14th AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE RULE DEVELOPED THAT REQUIRES THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS BE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN POPULATION.

THAT WAS SET BACK IN 1962 IN A COURT CASE CALLED BAKER VERSUS KAR.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO KYDDING PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE GUIDED US THROUGH THIS process.

>> Casey: SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY PRAISES THE MAJORITY PARTY FOR INCLUDING THEM IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE DEMOCRAT-HEAVY LOUISVILLE A BUT HE DOES SAY LEGISLATORS SHOULD FIND A WAY TO TAKE PARTISAN POLITICS OUT OF THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

>> EVEN AS WE GET READY TO VOTE ON THIS BILL, I MUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN POINT OUT WHAT HAS BEEN A DECADES LONG CRY BY THE MEMBERS OF MY CAUCUS FOR NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING.

THE SENATOR FROM HARDIN HAS PROPOSED A BILL SEVERAL TIMES IN PAST UNSUCCESSFULLY TO HAVE NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING BECAUSE, WHILE THERE ISN'T A PERFECT PROCESS, WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS THE BEST PROCESS.

NO MATTER WHICH PARTY IS IN POWER, NO MATTER WHICH PARTY IS IN POWER WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING, THE TEMPTATION IS TOO GREAT FOR THE MAJORITY TO CONSIDER POLITICIANS AND PARTISANSHIP & INSTEAD OF PEOPLE AND PLACES.

THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD HAVE A NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE TO BE DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS SO THAT EVERY TEN YEARS WE GET THE MOST FAIR MAPS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY CAN BE AS FAIRLY REFLECTED AND REPRESENTED AS POSSIBLE IN THESE DISTRICTS.

>> Casey: McGARVEY'S comments ON A NON-PARTISAN COMMITTEE SPARKED SPEECHES FROM A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS MICHAEL NEMES AND PHILLIP WHEELER SAY THEY THINK THE CURRENT PROCESS IS FAIR AND THAT IT LEAVES POWER IN THE HANDS OF VOTERS.

>> THE POWER OF THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP BECAUSE IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR US TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO ENACT THE BILLS AND TO DO THE BIDDING OF THE PEOPLE.

IF WE GIVE THIS POWER AWAY, JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GREAT, IF WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO A NON-PARTISAN SO-CALLED NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL GROUP TO DO THESE MAPS OR ANY OTHER THING THAT WE GIVE OUR POWER TO, THEY BECOME POLITICAL.

DON'T THINK THAT THEY WON'T.

THEY MAY NOT BE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT THEY WILL BE.

AND THEN THEY'RE UNACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THOUGH AREN'T VOTED ON.

AND THEN WE HAVE GIVEN UP OUR POWER TO WHO?

THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

>> IT'S AMAZING HOW FAIR THE MINORITY PARTY THOUGHT THIS PROCESS WAS FOR ABOUT 20120 YEARS, AND THEN SUDDENLY THERE'S A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND NOW THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST POLITICS.

AND THESE DISTRICTS WERE DRAWN FAIRLY.

NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE MINORITY PARTY WHO IS AN INCUMBENT WAS PLACED IN A DISTRICT AGAINST ONE OF THEIR OWN INTERESTS EVER INCUMBENTS.

THEY WERE CONSULTED ON DISTRICTS WHERE THEY REPRESENT MOST OF THE SENATE, AND I THINK THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE.

IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE ACCOMMODATING THEY CAN EXPECT THE MAJORITY PARTY TO BE IN SUCH A SITUATION.

>> Casey: DEMOCRAT GERALD NEAL AGREED WITH MCGARVEY'S SENTIMENT THAT THERE MAY BE A BETTER WAY TO DO REDISTRICTING.

HE SAYS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT AVENUES.

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US WHAT WE HAVE NOW, AND I INTEND TO VOTE FOR THIS, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE FACULTY THAT IF WE HAD ANOTHER SYSTEM -- FACT THAT IF WE HAD ANOTHER SYSTEM AND IT WASN'T DRIVEN HISTORICALLY POLITICALLY THE WAY IT HAS BEEN, MORE OF A POWER, THE WHOLE THING ABOUT GERRYMANDERING AND OTHER THINGS THAT UNDERMINE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS MAPPING, PERHAPS WE SHOULD CONSIDER OTHER FORMS OF APPROACHING THIS ISSUE, SUCH AS A COMMISSION THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE UPON, THAT CAN GIVE US MAPS THAT ARE BASED UPON CERTAIN PRINCIPLES AND SO FORTH, AND I THINK WE IT WOULD GIVE MORE CREDIBILITY AND MORE ACCEPTANCE BY ALL OF THE ELECTORATE THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PROCESS.

>> Casey: REPUBLICAN SENATORS BRANDON SMITH AND PAUL HORNBACK VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL 2.

SMITH SAYS THE EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS HAVE GOTTEN TOO large HIS DISTRICT, NUMBER 30, WOULD BE COMPRISED OF NINE DIFFERENT COUNTIES UNDER THE NEW map HORNBACK SAYS NEW SENATE DISTRICTS DON'T SERVE HIS CURRENT CONSTITUENTS WELL EITHE.

>> SHELBY COUNTY AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN MY DISTRICT OR MOST OF MY DISTRICT GOT MOVED THIS YEAR, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT PROCESS THAT YOU AND LEADERSHIP WENT THROUGH.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO A LOT OF THESE COUNTIES, LIKE SHEKEL, THAT'S A LARGER COUNTY, NOT AS BIG AS A JEFFERSON OR A FAYETTE OR SOME OF THESE OTHERS BUT STILL A LARGER COUNTY, FOR THESE PEOPLE NOT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN A YEAR THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATION IN FRANKFORT.

>> BUT THIS IS AN OLDER POPULATION, HISTORIC PART OF OUR STATE, AND I THINK THAT WE DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE REFLECTIVE DISTRICTS DOWN THERE AND TO SET UP HAVING SOMETHING AS GIANT AS WHAT HAS BEEN CREATED WITH THIS MAP, WITH NINE COUNTIES PUT IN THERE, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HISTORY IS LOOKING AT US TODAY AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE SAT AT THESE DESKS AND VOTED ON MAPS, SOME GOOD, BAD.

I'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF REDISTRICTING BEFORE AS SENATOR TURNER HAS, BUT I NEVER HAD TO CAST A VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO LOOK GOOD IN THE FACE OF HISTORY, IN CLASSROOMS AND THE NEWSPAPERS AND PEOPLE THAT WILL LOOK BACK ON THAT DISTRICT TO SEE IT LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK, WHY COULDN'T THIS BE DISTRIBUTED IN JUST SMALLER TWEAKS TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THE BURDEN OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS, THE COAL MINERS AND THE OLD FAMILIES OF KENTUCKY, BETTER REPRESENTATION.

>> Casey: LOUISVILLE SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE.

HE SAYS FOR LEXINGTON SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS WHO IS OUT SICK WITH COVID-19 MCGARVEY EXPLAINED WHY HE PLACED THE NO VOTE ON THOMAS' BEHALF.

>> FAYETTE COUNTY IS THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST COUNTY AND SECOND LARGEST CITY.

TWO COMPLETE STATE SENATORS CAN FIT WITHIN FAYETTE COUNTY WITH STILL ROOM TO SPARE.

INSTEAD THERE'S ONE SENATE SOLELY DEDICATED TO FAYETTE COUNTY WHILE THE COUNTY IS SPLIT SEVEN WAYS.

THIS COULD DILUTE SOME OF THE POWER OF THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST CITY AND COUNTY.

FOR THAT REASON I KNOW HE WOULD VOTE NO, AND I VOTE NO.

>> Casey: SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SAYS HAVING NO INCUMBENTS RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER MAKES THE MAP FAIR.

HE DEFENDED SENATE BILL 2, WHICH H. >> SINCE I'VE BEEN A SENATE PRESIDENT, WE'VE DONE TWO DRAFTINGS.

OF STATE DISTRICT MAPS FOR THE SENATE.

AND WE HAVE TRIED TO BE AS FAIR TO THE MINORITY PARTY AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO REDRAWINGS OF THE SENATE MAP.

THAT NOT A SINGLE PERSON, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WAS PUT IN OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER.

WHICH I THINK IS THE ULTIMATE TEST OF FAIRNESS.

NO REPUBLICANS AGAINST REPUBLICANS, NO DEMOCRATS AGAINST DEMOCRATS, AND NO DEMOCRATS AGAINST REPUBLICANS.

AND ALL DEFENSIBLE IN A COURT O >> Casey: LAWRENCEBURG SENATOR ADRIEN SOUTHWORTH HAS MADE HER DISPLEASURE WITH THE PROPOSED SENATE MAP KNOWN OVER THE LAST FEW days.

SHE FILED AN AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2 WITH CHANGES TO THE MAPS THAT SHE SAYS WOULD IMPROVE THEM.

HERE IS WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HER PROPOSED CHANGES.

>> YOU CAN MANIPULATE MORE FACTORS THAN JUST THE BARE MINIMUM IN THE CONSTITUTION IF THE FACTORS ARE THE THRESHOLD FACTORS OF THE PLUS OR -5°%, SPLITS ON COUNTIES AND VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

NOW, THIS BODY IS 38 VOICES, AND THE REASON WE COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE IS TO TRY TO, THEORETICALLY, PUT OUR VOICES TOGETHER AND GET TO SOME CONSENSUS ON WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE AS A WHOLE.

THE KEY WORDS THERE ARE AS A WHOLE.

BECAUSE IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS IT APPEARS MOST PEOPLE GET DISTRICT FOCUSED AND THEY DON'T EVERY EVER EVER SEE THE WHOLE STATE IN WHICH WE REPRESENT OUR DISTRICTS, BUT WE REPRESENT THEM FOR THE WHOLE IN SETTING THE POLICY OF THE WHOLE STATE >> Casey: SOUTHWORTH'S AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2 FAILED BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT GE A SECOND ON THE MEASURE TO BRIN IT TO A VOTE.

SENATE BILL 2 PASSED THE SENATE 27 TO 4.

THE SENATE ALSO PASSED SENATE BILL 3, WHICH DIVIDES THE STATE INTO NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

SENATOR ROBBY MILLS EXPLAINED THE MEASU.

>> THIS MEANS THAT EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME POPULATION, SO SOME COUNTIES IN THE STATE WILL BE SPLIT DOWN TO STREET LEVEL TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND ONCE AGAIN, THOSE PRECINCTS AND STREET LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS ARE LISTED IN SENATE BILL 3.

SENATE BILLFULLY DOES INCLUDE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE THAT PLACES THIS BILL INTO EFFECT UPON THE PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR OR OTHERWISE BECOMING LAW.

>> Casey: SENATE BILL 3 PASSED THE SENATE 28 TO 4.

IN ADDITION TO PASSING NEW MAPS, THE SENATE PASSED A BILL INTENDED TO SPEED UP THE LITIGATION PROCESS FOR P LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE NEW DIS SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SPONSORED SENATE BILL 20 WHICH CHANGES THE PROCESS FOR CHALLENGES TO REDISTRICTING.

CURRENTLY A THREE-JUDGE PANEL I APPOINTED TO HEAR LITIGATIONS ABOUT THE NEW MAPS, BUT SENATE BILL 20 STRIKES THAT LANGUAGE FROM STATE law STIVERS SAYS THE LANGUAGE WAS MEANT TO BRING FAIRNESS TO THE PROCESS.

>> THAT THIS MAY RUN AFOUL OF SECTION 110B OF THE CONSTITUTION.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE THE NEED TO HAVE THESE ISSUES SETTLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT HAVING INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTED AND KNOWING WHO THEY REPRESENT, BECAUSE AS IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ON THIS FLOOR, I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME COUNTIES THAT WERE IN OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WILL NOT HAVE AN LEEKS FOR SIX YEARS, BUT THAT IS -- ELECTION FOR SIX YEARS, BUT THAT IS THE REALITY WHEN YOU START REDISTRICTING.

WE NEED TO GET THIS SETTLED.

AND SO TO AVOID LITIGATION OVER WHETHER THE PROCESS IS CONSTITUTIONAL, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT QUESTION OFF THE BOARD P SO WE ONLY LOOK AT THE SUBSTANTIVE PORTION OF THIS.

SO WHAT SENATE BILL 20 DOES IS REPEAL THAT SECTION OF THE STATUTE WHICH WAS AN ATTEMPT TO BE FAIR, IMPARTIAL, A THREE-JUDGE PANEL, NOT DOING FORUM SHOPPING.

BUT I BELIEVE THE NEED OF FINALITY OF REDISTRICTING OUTWEIGHS THE TIME THAT MAY BE DEVOTED TO LITIGATING THE PROCESS.

>> Casey: UNDER SENATE BILL 20, PLAINTIFFS WOULD HAVE TO BRING LAWSUITS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE NEW MAPS IN THE COUNTY WHERE THEY R SENATE BILL 20 WILL MAKE ITS WA ACROSS THE CAPITOL'S THIRD FLOO TO THE HOUSE AFTER PASSING THE SENATE 31 TO 1.

THE KENTUCKY HOUSE APPROVED REDRAWN MAPS FOR ITS 100 DISTRICTS TODAY AND SUPREME COURT DISTRICTS WHILE ALSO DELAYING THE CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE FOR SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS CANDIDATES TO HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT CHAIR JERRY MILLER SAID SOME OF THE PRIORITIES IN THE REMAPPING EXERCISE WERE ENSURING DISTRICT , EXACT, ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE IN TERMS OF POPULATION, SPLITS AS few COUNTIES AS POSSIBLE, AN PROTECT INCUMBENTS.

BUT MILLER SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY THAT THE REDRAW BROUGHT TO BEAR SOME TOUGH REALITIES.

>> INCLUDING THE FACT THAT DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE TO BE COMBINED.

THIS PLAN PLACES FOUR PAIRS OF INCUMBENTS TOGETHER, TWO REPUBLICAN PAIRS AND TWO DEMOCRATIC PAIRS.

THE DISTRICTS IN QUESTION INCLUDE ONE IN FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY, ONE IN FAR EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND TWO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1969 MUST BE ABIDED BY.

HOWEVER, THE ACT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE AND COLOR.

WE DID NOT USE RACE AND COLOR AS A FACTOR IN DRAWING THE MAP OR ANY DISTRICT, BUT WE HAVE ANALYZED THE RESULT TO ENSURE THAT WE COMPLY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1969.

THIS PLAN NOT ONLY IS CONSISTENT WITH VOTING RIGHTS ACT, IT CREATES -- IT HAS SIX MAJORITY MINTER DISTRICTS DISTRICT WEEK INCREASING THE MINORITY INFLUENCE OF TOM.

WE HAVE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE BETWEEN 40 -- BETWEEN 30 AND 50 PERCENT, WHICH ARE INFLUENCE DISTRICTS.

THIS PLAN REFLECTS A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

MANY OF YOU HAVE COME AND SAID WE NEED A CHANGE HERE, BOTH A MAJORITY AND MINORITY.

WE HAVE ACCOMMODATED THOSE WHEN WE CAN.

BUT I AM PROUD TO PRESENT THIS MAP TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS OUR DISENDIAL REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND I WOULD MOVE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 2 >> Casey: HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JONI JENKINS LED OFF A ROUND OF DISSENT ABOUT THE PLANS FROM HER COLLEAGUES WHO BELIEVE THE TASK OF REDRAWING LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARIES, WITH DECADE-LONG CO DESERVES MORE TIME, DELIBERATIO AND INPUT.

>> SLOW DOWN.

TAKE A BREATH.

IT LOOKS VERY LIKELY, I THINK PROBABLY A 99% CHANCE, WE HAVE MOVED THE FILING DEADLINE.

WE HAVE MOVED THE DEADLINE ESSENTIALLY, I'M SURE WILL IT COME BACK FROM THE SENATE SOON, IT WILL BE MOVED TO JANUARY 25th.

LET'S TAKE A BREATH AND LET'S BE SURE.

LET'S BE CERTAIN THIS PLAN THAT WILL BE IN LAW FOR TEN YEARS IS THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

>> BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING OUR TIME AND DOING THIS RIGHT WITH ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT, YOU'VE RELEASED VISUAL MAPS THAT WERE APPARENTLY ALREADY WRONG WHEN THEY WERE TAPED TO THE WALLS FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE ON A STATE HOLIDAY.

MOST FOLKS DON'T KNOW THEIR PRECINCT BOUNDARIES, SO A LIST OF PRECINCTS WHICH HAS CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES IN A WEEK DOES VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO HELP ANYONE UNDERSTAND THEIR NEW DISTRICT.

SO THE QUESTION AGAIN IS WHY THE RUSH.

IT MAKES ONE ASK WHO BENEFITS.

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE CITIZENS OF KENTUCKY, BUT RATHER A SELECT PARTY AND SELECT INCUMBENTS BENT ON FAVORING GRUDGES OF THE PAST OVER FAIR FIGHTS OF THE FUTURE.

I URGE THOSE IN THIS ROOM TO BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY, TO WHO BELIEVE THAT VOTERS SHOULD INDEED SELECT THEIR REPRESENTATION, NOT THAT POLITICIANS SHOULD CHOOSE THEIR VOTERS, THAT CITIES SHOULD NOT BE CRACKED, THAT WE NEED MINORITY REPRESENTATION, THAT WE SHOULD PLAY NOT ONLY BY THE LITERAL RULES BUT BY THE SPIRIT OF THE RULES.

THAT IS THE PRESIDENT SAID TODAY, TO MARK JANUARY 6th, WE DON'T GET TO LOVE OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR COUNTRY ONLY WHEN WE WIN.

THEN JOIN ME IF YOU SHARE THESE BELIEFS IN VOTING NO ON THIS DESTRUCTIVE bill.

>> Casey: REPUBLICAN JASON NEMES, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE JUDICIAL MAPS, DEFENDED THE GOP LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING PLAN AND CHASTISED DEMOCRATS WHO TEN YEARS AGO VOTED FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL MAPS PROTECTED THEM WHEN THEY WERE I CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

>> THIS PLAN SPLITS 23 COUNTIES.

THE MINIMUM NUMBER THAT YOU CAN SPLIT.

IT HURTS THE MAJORITY PARTY.

IF YOU -- IF WE WERE GOING TO TAKE POWER AND SAY ALL THE POWER WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR US, WE WOULD SPLIT A 24th COUNTY.

IN FACT, IT WOULD ONLY TAKE ONE PRECINCT.

ALL WE WOULD NEED IS ONE PRECINCT IN NELSON COUNTY AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BUT THE SPEAKER AND OUR LEADERSHIP SAID, WE WILL NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO VIOLATING THE LAW.

NOT EVEN A PRECINCT SHALL BE SPLIT IF THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT SAYS YOU CAN'T DO IT.

SO WE COULDN'T USE THAT ONE PRECINCT.

MY FRIEND WHO I SIT NEXT TO IS LOSING A COUNTY BECAUSE OF TEN RESIDENTS.

TEN.

IF TEN PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE IN FLEMING COUNTY THAT LIVED IN FLEMING COUNTY, HE WOULD KEEP HIS COUNTY.

ONE PRECINCT.

TEN PEOPLE.

3.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID, WE WILL NOT, WE WILL NOT EVEN LEAN A LITTLE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE MAPS do >> Casey: AFTER MORE THAN 90 MINUTES OF DEBATE, HOUSE BILL 2 THE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING PLAN IN THE HOUSE, CLEARED THE CHAMBER 71 TO 19.

THE SENATE WILL TAKE UP THE MEASURE TOMORR SUPERINTENDENTS WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON CURRICULUM AND THE HIRING OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS UNDER A BILL THAT WENT BEFORE THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SENATE BILL 1 SHIFTS THE AUTHORITY AWAY FROM SCHOOL-BASE DECISION-MAKING COUNCILS.

THOSE COUNCILS, WHICH ARE MADE UP OF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, WOULD SERVE IN AN ADVISORY ROLE UNDER THE BILL OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT WOULD TAKE AWAY POWER TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS FROM THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BEST.

>> SBDM COUNCILS ARE AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS NOW THE BEST EXAMPLE OF TRUE AND DIRECT LOCAL CONTROL IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PROVISIONS OF SB 1 DO NOT MOVE KENTUCKY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FORWARD.

INSTEAD, THE BILL LIMITS CONSTITUENT VOICE, CLOUDS TRANSPARENCY, AND FLOWS A VEIL OF SECRECY OVER THE IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP DECISIONS AND CONCENTRATES ALL OF THAT POWER IN THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL ARE REAL, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ARE THE SOLUTIONS, AND YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE TAXPAYERS WHO ACTUALLY WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE CHANGES.

>> BUT I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE NOT NOT -- IT'S ALMOST IRONICALLY WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY THE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, MORE SO IN THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE WE CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, IN ONE INDIVIDUAL.

THAT GIVES ME SOME CONCERN WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHERE WE CAME FROM.

>> IN A COMMITTEE WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SUPPORTED BILLS THAT BELIEVE IN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM LIKE MASKING AND VACCINATIONS AND WHERE YOU CARRY YOUR GUN, THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T TRUST TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO PICK THEIR PRINCIPALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IS A LITTLE BIT offensive.

>> Casey: BUT SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL ARGUE THAT SUPERINTENDENTS ARE OFTEN HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEMS WITHIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE ONE MAKING THE HIRING DECISIONS.

>> SO IN CURRICULUM, IN PRINCIPAL SELECTION, THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OF WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SUCCEEDS OR NOT, WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO PAY AND HAVE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> A PRINCIPAL GETS TO SELECT THEIR TEACHERS AND RECOMMEND THEM TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FINAL HIRING.

THEY DO THAT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNCIL, CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL.

AND I THINK A MODEL VERY SIMILAR TO THAT FOR A SUPERINTENDENT TO, WITH CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL AND WORKING IN COLLABORATION, BUT AGAIN HAVING THAT FINAL SAY FOR HIRING THAT PRINCIPAL, WOULD BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> I THINK ANY SUPERINTENDENT WORTH THEIR SALT IS GOING TO CONTINUE THE COLLABORATION, HOWEVER, IT DOES MAKE ONE INDIVIDUAL ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE, AND I THINK THAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, AND I THINK ANY SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO KNOW THAT SCHOOLS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT ARE DIFFERENT, AND YOU MAKE ADAPTATIONS DEPENDING ON THE POPULATION THAT YOU'RE SERVING IN THAT DISTRICT AND WHAT THE STRUGGLES ARE WITHIN THAT school >> Casey: THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PASSED SENATE BILL 1 AND NOW IT HEADS TO THE FULL SENATE FOR CO THE COMMITTEE ALSO PASSED SENAT BILL 25, WHICH GIVES TEN ADDITIONAL NTI DAYS TO SCHOOLS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR TO HELP ALLEVIATE POTENTIAL CLOSURES DUE TO THE COVID PANDE THE MEASURE ALSO MAKES IT EASIE FOR SCHOOLS TO REHIRE RETIRED TEACHERS TO HELP MITIGATE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

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