LEGISLATURE BEGINS ITS 2023 SESSION WITH SOME KEY ISSUES UP FOR DEBATE.

THE FILING DEADLINE THE RACES ARE SET FOR STATEWIDE PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITS NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MASSIVE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PROJECT.

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL MAKES HISTORY AS THE LONGEST SERVING SENATE LEADER EVER.

OUR UNUSUAL WINTER CONTINUES, AND "COMMENT" IS NEX ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL of WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

MONICA HARKINS, ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY LOSES MORE NEWSPAPERS, AND NEW LOCAL AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TAKE office THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE HAS STARTED ITS 30-DAY SESSION.

IT WAS ENOUGH TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT MAY BE CONSIDERED WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN IN FEBRUARY.

THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK IN NEWS.

LET'S START WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE SO FAR.

JOE, ALREADY SOME MOVEMENT ON INCOME TAX.

>> Joe: YEAH, THAT'S THE BIG REPUBLICAN PRIORITY THIS SESSION.

THEY'VE PASSED HB-1, THEIR TOP PRIORITY BILL TO HOR THE TAX RATE TO 4% STARTING IN 2024.

IT'S AP AUTOMATIC REDUCTION TO 4.5 AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, SO REPUBLICANS WANT TO MOVE AI AWAY FROM THE INCOME TAX.

THAT'S THE BILL THEY PASSED LAST YEAR TO EVENTUALLY INCREMENTALLY GET IT DOWN TO ZERO.

BUT THE CRITICS ARE, DEMOCRATIC CRITIC, IT WAS BASICALLY A PARTY LINE VOTE.

ALL REPUBLICANS ARE FOR IT.

ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR IT.

CRITICS SAY THAT THESE ARE PERMANENT CUTS EVERY YEAR, THAT WE WOULD AN ACT, BUT THIS -- ENACT, BUT THIS REVENUE 1 THIS DRAMATIC INCREASE IN REVENUE IN SURPLUS IS ONLY TEMPORARY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS FEDERAL STIMULUS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMY MAY TURN SOUTH AGAIN SO THEY SAY IT'S NOT FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: THE SALES TAXES DID NOT MAKE UP FOR THE REVENUE LOST.

>> Joe: NO, THEY DO NOT MAKE UP FOR THE REVENUE LOST AND SOME SAY DON'T THE ROAD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX WHICH IS GOING TO BE REGRESSIVE.

THE HOUSE BUDGET CHAIRMAN JASON PETRI SAID YOU ALL SAID THE SAME INNING IN 2018 WHEN WE LOWERED THE CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX FROM 6% TO 5% AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHO IS RIGHT IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: THEY SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT WILL GET THE STATE GROWING BECAUSE STATES THAT HAVE LESS IN TERMS OF INCOME TAX SEEM TO BE DOING BETTER AND DRAWING MORE PEOPLE IN.

>> Austin: RIGHT, TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, TEXAS, STATES LIKE THAT ARE OFTEN CITED IN THIS DEBATE BUT DOUGH TRACTORS SAY THAT KENTUCKY DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A DOLLYWOOD OR NASHVILLE OR FLORIDA BIG COAST, REALLY TOURISM DRAWS THAT PULL IN A LOT OF THAT SALES REVENUE.

AND THE OTHER ARGUMENT AGAINST IT IS INACCORDING TO KIND OF ARGUMENT.

INEQUABLE.

SOMEBODY MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GETS A LOT MORE MONEY BACK THAN SOMEBODY MAKING $20,000 WOULD.

BECAUSITES JUST A FLAT TAX RATE.

WE DON'T HAVE A GRADUATED TAX IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: AND REPUBLICANS WILL POINT OUT, MONICA, THAT THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN IN TERMS OF THEY CAN'T TAKE THE INCOME TAX DOWN THE NEXT NOTCH UNLESS SOME TARGETS ARE HIT.

>> Monica: EXACTLY.

THEY SAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP LOWERING.

ANOTHER THING IS THEY'RE POINTING TO THE INCOME TAX AS MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET.

I THINK IT WILL BE A HARD SELL TO KENTUCKIANS WHEN YOU HAVE A SALES TAX ON SO MANY EXPANDED INDUSTRIES.

WE'RE TALKING MORE THAN THREE DOZEN INDUSTRIES.

THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE MONEY THAT'S IN THEIR WALLET RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE MONEY AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE THERE.

>> Bill: SOME MAY HAVE BEEN SURPRISED WHEN THEY WELL IN THIS WEEK AND WERE SUBJECTED TO SOME OF THAT SALES TAX ON PERSONAL TRAINING AND SOME COSMETIC PROCEDURES AND SO FORTH.

IT'S INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ALSO HEAR OTHER PRIORITIES MAY BE UP FOR DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND SPORTS BETTING HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR DID A LIMITED EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CRACKS THE DOOR OPEN TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

WILL THE LEGISLATURE MAKE IT LAW?

AUSTIN, YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT.

>> Austin: I WOULD SAY UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT.

THE SENATE IS WHERE THIS HAS STOPPED IN PRIOR YEARS.

LAST YEAR THE HOUSE PASSED BOTH MARIJUANA AND SPORTS BETTING.

AND RIGHT NOW EVERY INDICATION WE HAVE HAD FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS, WHOSE OPINION MATTERS THE MOST OF ANYBODY, I WOULD SAY, ON THIS ISSUE IS THAT IT STILL DOESN'T REALLY -- I THINK THE QUOTE IS -- CREATE ANY ENERGY WITH HIM.

NOW, THE SENATE COMPOSITION OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS COULD HAVE CHANGED ENOUGH TO SWING THIS WAY, AND MAYBE WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF SESSION LEFT.

>> Bill: MONICA, MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR BELIEVES HE'S ON THE POPULAR SIDE OF.

>> Monica: IT IS INTERESTING.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE HOLDING OUT ON THIS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS.

SO LAST SESSION $2 MILLION TO CREATE THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR CANNABIS.

THAT'S A UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE STARTING CLINICAL TRIALS WITH PROSTATE CANCER TATERS PARKS AND I BELIEVE STARTING REVIEW.

IN 2023 AND THE STARTING THOSE CLINICAL TRIALS IN 2024.

DURING THE INTERIM WE HEARD WHAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO DO, AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH AND THEN MAYBE WE'LL SEE MORE CHANGES WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON POSSIBLY LEGALIZEING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> Bill: JOE, YOUR THOUGHT IS IT GOING TO BE KICKED DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN 1234.

>> Joe: I AGREE WITH AUSTIN THAT THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MAKE THE ODDS A LIL BETTER FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT IS ENOUGH.

IT WAS PRETTY FAR AWAY FROM BEING ENOUGH IT PASSED LAST YEAR, SO IT MAY BE CLOSE BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY AN UNDERDOG.

>> Bill: SAME THING, COULD THAT HAPPEN ON SPORTS BETTING?

AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO DIVIDE, THE BUSINESS CROWD IS FOR IT, SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES TEND TO OPPOSE IT.

IS THAT GOING TO GET SOME TRACTION?

>> Joe: IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME DYNAMIC WITH THAT AND AT CAUCUS, IF SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

THERE ARE SOME MORE FAVORABLE VOTES WITHIN THAT CAUCUS BUT THEY NEED A MAJORITY OF THAT CAUCUS BEFORE IT'S GOING TO GET A VOTE, AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE PRESIDENT STIVERS SAYS HE'S AMBIVALENT ON AND DOESN'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CREATE A LOVE REVENUE.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF GETTING A MAJOR OF THOSE REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAYING, YES, WE WONT WANT THE VOTE ON THIS THAN WE DO NOW.

>> Austin: AND REMEMBER, IF SENATE AND THE HOUSE ARE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS AND THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

SINCE THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PRIORITY OF BESHEAR'S, SOME PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW THIS THING CLOSELY THAT BESHEAR MADE THAT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, THAT HE FROM HIS BULLY PULPIT KIND OF STANDPOINT MADE THAT HAPPEN AND THEY MAY NOT WANT TO -- >> Joe: IF IT DID PASS, IT WOULD TAKE AWAY AN ISSUE IN THE ELECTION.

>> Bill: THERE'S THIS MOVE BY SENATOR THAYER AND SOME OTHERS TO MAKE ALL KENTUCKY ELECTIONS PARTISAN, INCLUDING THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS AND JUDGESHIPS, RIGHT?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

THIS IS FROM SENATOR DAMON THAYER WHO IS THE MAJORITY FLOOR LEAR IN THE SENATE, AND REPRESENTATIVE MATT LOCKETT OVER IN NICHOLASVILLE IN THE HOUSE.

THEY WANT TO MAKE THOSE RACES PARTISAN.

THEIR ARGUMENT IS THAT IN CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND SCHOOL BOARDS, IT'S OFTEN KIND OF A PAGEANT OR A POPULARITY CONTEST, IS I THINK WHAT HE SAYS, AND THAT THE REAL, THE BEST WAY TO GIVE VOTERS INFORMATION IS TO ACTUALLY TELL THEM WHICH PARTY YOU'RE ON.

>> Bill: AND I POINTED OUT TO HIM TODAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING INDEPENDENT AND RUNNING FROM THE PARTIES PRETTY QUICKLY, AND HE SAYS, WELL, THEN THE CANDIDATES COULD ARENA AS INDEPENDENTS, SO WE'LL SEE THAT DISCUSSION.

>> Monica: IT'S INTERESTING.

7 I THINK A LOT OF VOTERS ARE VOTING BY PERSON.

THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT IS THIS PERSON DO FOR ME.

HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT THIS PERSON.

A LOT OF THE GOOD LUCK YOUNGER GENERATION IS WHAT DOES THIS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE.

I THINK HE SAW THAT 2349 PRESIDENTIAL RACE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR PUSHED HIS PRIORITIES INCLUDING MONEY FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

AND RETENTION.

>> BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO GET TO THE TOP.

WE'VE GOT TO STAY ON TOP.

THAT TAKES WORK AND THAT TAKES INVESTMENT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, IN THAT SPEECH THE GOVERNOR SPENT A LOT OF TIME RUNNING THROUGH HIS ADMINISTRATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT LEAST TWO MINUTES WORTH OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

POLITE APPLAUSE, YOU MIGHT SAY, FROM THE REPUBLICANS WAS ABOUT ALL HE HEARD DURING THAT SPEECH.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT CLIP THAT YOU GUYS PULLED WAS PRETTY INDICATIVE.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GET TO THE TOP.

WE'VE GOT TO STAY ON TOP.

STAY ON TOP, HE DIDN'T MENTION HIS RE-ELECTION BID BUT OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT THAT THIS YEAR, AND HE HIT KIND OF ALL THE USUAL STEPS FOR BESHEAR: EDUCATION, ECONOMY, REALLY PUSHING THOSE TWO ISSUES.

AND ALSO LOOKING BACK A LITTLE BIT AT THE DISASTERS, WHICH WERE I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY, A POLITICAL SUCCESS FOR HIM, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT THE FIRST THING ON PEOPLE'S MINDS WHEN THESE DISASTERS HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY A FACTOR.

>> Bill: WELL, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS QUICKLY POURED WATER ON HIS ENTHUSIASM AFTER THE SPEECH.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT SERVICE AND DAVID OSBORNE INDICATED THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REOPEN THE BUDGET AND FILL SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S REQUESTS.

>> THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE WORST PHILOSOPHICAL PRACTICAL BUDGETING TIMES NOW TO START DOING A BUNCH ONE-OFF THINGS.

>> I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE WHOLESALE CHANGES IN ANY BUDGET DOCUMENT.

>> Bill: JOHN, OR JOE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE NO TO ME.

JOHN CHEVES SAID ON THIS PROGRAM A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT HE DOUBTS THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE WILL GIVE BESHEAR MUCH OF ANYTHING TO BOAST ABOUT IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> Joe: YEAH, THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN THE BUDGET BACK UP AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY THERE MAY BE A FEW LININGS LIKE THE VETERANS NURSING CENTER IN BOWLING GREEN BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S INTERESTING, PRESIDENT STIVERS AND SPEAKER OSBORNE NOTED THAT BESHEAR WAS TOUTING THE BUDGET SURPLUS, AND THE BIG RAINY DAY FUND, AND THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, WE DID THAT, WE PASSED THOSE BUDGETS AND YOU'RE WANTING TO SPEND IT ALL, SO IT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

>> Bill: THERE'S A BIG CLAMOR FOR CREDIT RIGHT NOW, ISN'T THERE, IN FRANKFORT?

>> Austin: AND BLAME ON INFLATION.

THAT WAS THE BIND-BESHEAR CAUSED INFLATION AS WELL, SO IT'S JUST -- IT ALL DEPENDS ON IF THE NEWS IS GOOD OR BAD AND THEN PEOPLE WILL BLAME AND IT CREDIT IT ACCORDINGLY.

>> Joe: AND IT'S INTERESTING WHEN ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND FEDERAL SPENDING A LOT OF THAT WAS DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS WHO DELIVERED THAT SO THE LEGISLATURE COULD SPEND ON THAT.

>> Bill: AND ONLY SENATOR McCONNELL ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS FAR AS THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN THAT VOTED FOR IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB GOVERNOR THIS YEAR.

KENTUCKY'S FILING DEADLINE HAS PASSED.

THAT WAS THIS AFTERNOON.

SO THE AFTERNOON.

CANDIDATES HAVE THEIR NAME ON THE DOTTED LINE.

BUT TODAY ONE FORMER GOVERNOR MADE AN APPEARANCE AT THE CAPITOL, VERY DRAMATIC SITUATION.

HE DID NOT THROW HIS HAT IN THE RING AS SOME HAD EXPECTED, AND WE HEARD FROM MATT BEVIN THIS AFTERNOON.

>> BUT DANIEL CAMERON, KELLY CRAFT, MIKE HARMON, ALAN KECK, RYAN QUARLES, ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IS FAMILIAR TO YOU.

IF OTHER ONES I LITERALLY DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NAMES OF THEM, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY'LL MAKE THEIR CASE.

BUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT I JUST MENTIONED I THINK HIGHLY OF.

THEY ARE ALREADY SERVING OR HAVE SERVED OUR STATE AND NATION IN ADMIRAL WAYS.

AND MY CALL TO EACH OF THEM, LET'S NOT EAT EACH OTHER UP.

>> Bill: JOE AND AUSTIN, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TODAY TO WAIT IN ANTICIPATION, GET THIS TWEET ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE HE ARRIVED THAT MATT BEVIN WAS COMING TO THE CAPITOL, AND EVERYBODY I GUESS THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DO RUN.

>> Joe: LIKE MOST THINGS ABOUT MATT BEVIN THERE WAS A LOT OF DRAMA INVOLVED.

THERE EVER BEEN RUMORS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT-RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE SENT OUT THOSE TWEETS THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON BASICALLY HINTING THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE IN THE ROTUNDA GIVING A PRESSER AND THEN WALKING DOWN THE HALL WHERE, OF COURSE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WHERE YOU RUN FOR OFFICE -- WHERE YOU FILE FOR OFFICE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE KIND OF LECTURED THE MEDIA FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN HE JUST WALKED OUT, AND IT'S CLEAR FROM -- HE GAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE A SHOUT-OUT AT THE END OF HIS SPEECH WHO WERE BASICALLY TWEETING THAT, OH, BEVIN IS JUST GOING TO WALK OUT AND NOT FILE AFTER THIS, AND THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CASE.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN ELABORATE PRANK FROM SOMEONE WHO APPARENTLY HAD A LOT OF FREE TIME AND MAYBE WAS A LITTLE LONELY AND WANTED TO BE HEARD BY PEOPLE.

>> Bill: HAVE SOME FUN WITH THIS DAY, AUSTIN?

>> Austin: IS TROLLING A WORD THAT'S IN THE DICTIONARY?

>> Bill: PROBABLY NOW.

>> Austin: CAN WE USE THAT ON PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION IN BEVIN WAS TROLLING, HE REALLY WAS, AND I THINK HE DID HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT AND IN SOME WAYS IT'S TRUE TO FORM.

HE HAS ALWAYS HAD AN YIMISH CHARACTER TO HIM AND THE SPEECH REALLY DID SOUND LOOK A PLATFORM SPEECH FOR MOST OF IT.

HE WAS HITTING ALL THESE POLICY STANDPOINTS.

JCPS IS BROKEN.

WE NEED TO SAVE THE WEST END OF LOUISVILLE.

THE PUBLIC PENSION SYSTEM STILL NEEDS HELP.

SO IT REALLY DID SOUND LIKE HE WAS GOING TO DO IT, AND THEN AT THE VERY LAST SECOND HE JUST WALKED AWAY.

>> Joe: AND WE WERE ALL WAITING THINKING THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE HE'S GOING TO COME BUT ALL OF US WERE SAYING TO EACH OTHER THERE'S ALSO A GOOD CHANCE THAT HE IS TROLLING US AND WILL WALK OUT.

>> Bill: YOU WERE THERE, AND I DID THOSE WAIT FORT DEADLINE FILING SITUATION A LOT IN THE '80s AND '90S, BUT WHEN YOU WERE THERE DID YOU THINK HE HAS TIME TO GET IN THAT VAN AND COME BACK?

THAT WAS THIS A POSSIBILITY?

>> Joe: HE FILED WITH 20 MINUTES LEFT WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR, AND WE WERE WATCHING THE DOOR.

>> Austin: AS SOMEONE WHO COVERS THIS KIND OF SUFFICIENT, POLITICIANS CAN SEEM CANNED AND YOU CAN SORT OF EXPECT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THIS WAS REFRESHING IN A WAY.

>> Joe: HE'S THE LEAST PREDIBBLIBLE PERSON WE CAN ALL AGREE IN POLITICS.

IT'S TRUE HE WAS NOT JUST TROLLING THE MEDIA BUT ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO WERE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND THEIR STAFF WAITING WITH THE MEDIA.

>> Austin: I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THE POTENTIAL POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF MINIMUM NOT RUNNING.

>> Bill: A HISTORICALLY CROWDED RACE WITHOUT HIM.

>> AUSTIN: HAD HE RUN, I THINK YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENTS AND I HEARD SCOTT JENNINGS MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, THE REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE IN KENTUCKY, THAT HAD HE GOTTEN IN, THAT MIGHT HAVE HURT SOMEBODY LIKE DANIEL CAMERON WHO ALREADY HAS A REALLY HIGH NAME I.D.

IN THIS CROWDED FIELD OR KELLY CRAFT WHO WILL GET A HIGH NAME I.D.

THROUGH ALL THE COMMERCIALS AND ADS THAT HE'S BEEN BUYING.

SO THAT COULD HAVE HURT THEM AND POTENTIALLY HELPED SOMEBODY LIKE RYAN QUARLES, BUT INSTEAD IT'S MORE OF THE SAME IN STAYS US AMONG THE FIVE, SIX PEOPLE RUNNING PROFESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: AND KELLY CRAFT HAS TAKEN THE FUNDRAISING LEAD.

>> Joe: YES, SHE HAS TAKEN THE FUNDRAISING LEAD, AND SHE HAS HER OWN PERSONAL FORTUNE WITH HER HUSBAND JOE CRAFT SO HE EVENTS REALLY TAPPED INTO THAT RIGHT NOW, AND SHE'S ALSO SPENT OVER $500,000 ON TESTIFY ADS ALREADY AND IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF JUNE SO SHE HAS A LOT LEFT.

RYAN QUARLES HAD A POOR FUNDRAISING QUARTER BUT HE STILL LEADS IN CASH ON HAND.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT TAP OF RESERVES.

>> Bill: HE IS NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY AT ALL.

OVERALL IT'S ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

BESHEAR HAS THE OVERALL FUNDRAISING LEAD.

>>> R. >> Joe: HE HAS MORE THAN EVERYBODY COMBINED.

>> Bill: AND HE WAS NAMED CO-CHAIR OF THE PLANCK REGION E. REGION.

>> Austin: I THINK THAT POTENTIALLY GIVES HIM SOME PULLOUT CLOUT.

THICK HE CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT I CAN ARGUE FOR KENTUCKY AND WORK FOR THE STATE ON A DIFFERENT PLATFORM.

I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING ON BENVENUTI NO RUNNING THAT DEMOCRATS, BUG INCLUDING ANDY WASHER WOULD HAVE REJOICED IN A BEVIN RUN.

YOU CAN MAKE THIS WILL REGET IT LITIGATING THE PAST AND TIE BEVIN WITH IF OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD REGARDLESS IF SOMEBODY ELSE GOT OUT OF THE FIELD.

SO I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

>> Bill: I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PUT OUT A RELEASE CALLING THEM THE DIRTY DOZEN THIS AFTERNOON.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TIMES AHEAD.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER O.J.

OLEKA SET A FUNDRAISING RECORD.

KENTUCKIANS GOT SOME ATTENTION IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK THAN.

MORGAN McGARVEY IS TO BECOME ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHICHEVER HE'S SWORN?

AND HAL ROGERS, NOW THE DEAN OF THE HOUSE, WILL SWEAR THE IN SPEAKER WHENEVER THEY FIND ONE.

BUT IT WAS SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WHO MADE HISTORY, BECOMING THE LONGEST SERVING SENATE LEADER EVER.

HE OUTLASTED DEMOCRATIC MIKE MANSFIELD'S 16-YEAR RUN.

McCONNELL SAID IT WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST HONOR OF HIS LONG CAREER.

>> THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY CAREER IS REPRESENTING THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY IN THIS CHAMBER AND FIGHTING FOR MY FELLOW KENTUCKIANS.

BUT THE SECOND GREATEST HONOR IS THE TRUST THAT MY FELLOW REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE PLACED IN ME TO LEAD OUR DIVERSE CONFERENCE AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

>> Bill: MONICA, YOU HAD A BIG ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK.

YOU 1 TO WASHINGTON AND YOU TALKED WITH SENATOR McCONNELL.

DOES HE FEEL THE HISTORY OF THIS MOMENT?

>> Monica: AT FIRST WHEN I ASKED HIM HE IMMEDIATELY POINTED TO, ASK MY COLLEAGUES WHO VOTED ME INTO THIS POSITION, AND IT TOOK A LITTLE WORK.

HE'S NOT ONE TO GET EXTREMELY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT HIS OWN FEELINGS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT HE EVENTUALLY DID SAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T TAKE ANY DAY IN THE CAPITOL FOR GRANTED, AND I THINK THAT HE REALLY VALUES THE SENIORITY, THE IRE HIERARCHY, THE INSTITUTION AND REALLY GIVES A LOT OF RESPECT TO THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE HIM AND USED A LOT OF HIS FLOOR SPEECH TO TALK ABOUT SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD WHO HE IS NOW REPLACING WITH THIS RECORD IN THE SENATE.

>> Bill: DID HE PLEDGE TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS GOING TODAY ARE EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE HEADING INTO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR AND HE WOULD LIKE TO RETAKE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

>> Morgan: WITH THIS ONE HE POINTED TO THE AMERICAN VOTERS.

HE SAID, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MADE THIS HAPPEN, AND HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, AND INSTEAD OF POINTED TO THE SENATE ON WORKING BIPARTISAN, HE MORE SO POINTED TO THE HOUSE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY OUT WITH THE SLIGHT MAJORITY WITH REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: PART OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO ALSO GO UP THERE AND INTERVIEW CONGRESSMAN MORGAN McGARVEY.

WELL, HE'S STILL ACCORDING-ELECT I GUESS.

BUT HE SAYS REALLY EK YOU CAN TAKE -ELECT AWAY EVEN THOUGH HE HASN'T BEEN SWORN IN BECAUSE IT'S DUE TO YOU THIS SPEAKERSHIP UP IN THE AIR.

>> Monica: IT FEELS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY.

EVERY DAY WE DO THE VOTE AGAIN AND THERE'S NO SPEAKER, REALLY A MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

I QUITE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS STILL HAPPENING AS I WAS THERE IN PERSON.

BUT HE CONTINUED TO SAY, WE STAND WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE CHOSEN HOO KEEP JEFFERIES AS THEIR SPEAKER.

IN THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO MAKE A DECISION, GIVE IT BACK TO THE DEMOCRATS THEY'LL PUT HAKIM JEFFERIES IN THE POSITION.

>> Bill: TIGER WOODS McGARVEY WANT TO MAKE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY IN CONGRESS?

>> Monica: IT SOUND LIKE FOR HIS FRESHMEN PORTION OF HIS CAREER HE WAS MORE SO SAYING I CAN WORK BIPARTISAN, I CAN STAND UP FOR KENTUCKIANS.

AS FAR AS PRIORITIES, IT WAS MORE SO LET ME JUST GO ALONG WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MAKE SURE TO MAKE MY FRESHMAN PART OF THIS CONGRESS A GOOD TEAM MEMBERSHIP PORTION.

>> Bill: AS I SAID, THE DEAN OF THE HOUSE IS HAL ROGERS.

JOE, HE TOLD ME THAT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE HONOR OF SWEARING IN THE NEW SPEAKER.

HE ALSO SAID THAT HE HOPES IN THAT MOGS AS THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS -- THE HOUSE THAT HE CAN BRING ABOUT SOME BIPARTISANSHIP AND SOME MODERATION IN THE TONE, BUT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH WEEK FOR THAT.

>> Joe: UNLESS HE HAS BEEN HIDING SOME MAGIC TRICKS THAT HE HAS I WOULDN'T COUNT ON THAT.

>> Bill: PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME TO KENTUCKY TO TALK WITH THE BRENT SPENCE PROJECT AND SENATOR McCONNELL WAS THERE WITH HIM AS WELL.

>> FOR DECADES IT WAS TALKED ABOUT THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

FOLKS, THE TALKING IS OVER.

THE BIPARTISAN RESTRUCTURE LAW, WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> Bill: AND McCONNELL WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN, AS WE SAID, THAT VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

DOES HE NOW CONSIDER A TOLL-FREE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PROJECT A BIG PART OF HIS LEGACY?

>> Monica: I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY SO.

HE SAID, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, SO FOR HIM TO PUT THAT LEVEL OF PROWESS ON THE PROJECT, IT SHOWS THAT HE'S REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S ABOUT TO GET DONE ON THIS.

>> Bill: I SHOULD KNOW THE NOTE THAT McCONNELL IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN KENTUCKIAN THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THEY STILL PAY TOLLS.

AND LOUISVILLE AS HAD A HAS NEWBIE MAYOR.

UNFORTUNATELY VIOLENCE HA CHASED LOUISVILLE INTO THE NEW YEAR.

LOTS OF ISSUES EVEN THIS WEEK.

>> Joe: THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN LOUISVILLE OVER THE PAST 2000 YEARS.

THE MURDER RATE IS GOING UP AND UP AND UP JUST LOOK A LOT OF URBAN CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THIS WEEK WE HAD, NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT FIGURE IS, BUT MULTIPLE MURDERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, SO A NEW YEAR HASN'T REALLY BROUGHT IN A NEW -- NEW ERA OF PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO FIX.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE YOUR EYES ON IN THE LEGISLATURE?

THE NEW FOLKS ARE THERE.

NEW ISSUES ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN THEY RETURN TO FRANKFORT?

>> Austin: I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON A LOT OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS, THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, BUT IN THE HOUSE I WOULD LOOK IN PARTICULAR AT THE KIND OF NAY SENT NORTHERN KENTUCKY LIB CAUCUS WHO KNOCKED OFF THREE REALLY PROMINENT REPUBLICAN WHO WERE COMMITTEE KNEES ARE CHEERS.

MARIANNE PROCTOR, STEVE RAWLINGS AND STEVEN DOAN.

I WOULD EXPECT OF THIS THEM TO MAKE GOOD ON SOME OF THEIR PROMISES ABOUT FILING BILLS THAT MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS OR AT LEAST LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T LIKE SO MUCH.

>> Bill: IT'S A THREE WEEK BREAK BEFORE THEY COME BACK?

>> Austin: YES.

>> Bill: STILL NO ABORTION RULING FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

WE'RE WATCHING FOR THAT.

THAT MIGHT HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON SOME LEGISLATION AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> Monica: AND A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE SAID, WE'RE JUST GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THIS RULING COMES DOWN.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT TALKING OVER THE CONSTITUTIONALITY KENTUCKY'S ABORTION RESTRICTIONS OR NO RESTRICTIONS, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE HOLDINGS BACK HELP WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE SEE WHAT COMINGS DOWN ON THAT RULING.

>> Bill: JOE, THE COURT HAS CHANGED.

THE THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS GONE.

THERE ARE NEW JUSTICES.

DO THEY HAVE A VOTE NOW?

THEY WERE NOT THERE TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE.

>> Joe: YES, THE JUSTICES COULD THEORETICALLY DECIDE WE NEED TO REHEAR THIS, WE NEED MORE BRIEFINGS OR THEY COULD TAKE THE HEARINGS, WATCH THE HEARINGS THAT ALREADY HAPPENED, LOOK AT THE BRIEFINGS AND DECIDE ON THEIR OWN.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING IN TERMS OF A RULING AT LEAST UNTIL FEBRUARY.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ON THAT.

AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME TALK OF A POSSIBLE RUNOFF PRIMARY GIVEN THIS CROWDED REPUBLICAN FIELD.

I TAKE IT THAT LOOKS UNLIKELY NOW.

>> Austin: I'D SAY UNLIKELY IS THE RIGHT WORD TO DESCRIBE IT.

>> Joe: I THINK THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF BEVIN WAS GOING TO RUN.

>> Bill: IN EASTERN KENTUCKY APPALSHOP HAS -- MANY OF THEIR HOLDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED IN THE FLOODING.

THEY'RE ORGANIZING AN EFFORT NOW TO TRY TO RESTORE WHAT WAS LOST.

VERY IMPORTANT PRECIOUS ITEMS AND RECORDINGS AND HOLDINGS THERE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

WHITESBURG IS SORT OF THIS CULTURAL GEM IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND APPALSHOP IS A CENTRAL PART OF THAT.

IT COULD COST MILLIONS BUT APPALSHOP IS PRETTY GOOD AT RACING MONEY.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN GET THERE.

>> Bill: A LOT OF FOLKS WILL NO DOUBT BE CALLED UPON TO ASSIST.

FORMER KENTUCKY HEALTH COMMISSIONER ROBERT SLAYTON HAS DIED.

SLAYTON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS IN THE STATE INCLUDING HELPING CREATE KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS PAPERS PRIMARY CARE DIRECTOR, SLAY TOPP WAS PART OF A GROUP THAT CREATED OF PASSPORT HEALTH PLAN WHICH-GAME BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR MEDICAID MANAGED CARE PATIENTS.

SLAYTON WAS 81.

AND TWO MORE KENTUCKY NEWSPAPERS CLOSED OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

THE CITIZEN VOICE AND TIMES IN URBAN AND THE CLAY CITY TIMES IN POWELL COUNTY PUBLISHED FOR THE LAST TIME ON DECEMBER 29th.

TERESA HATFIELD BADGER WAS THE PUBLISHER OF BOTH PAPERS AND TRIED UNSUCCESSFUL TO FIND A BUYER.

A REPORT FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SAYS MORE THAN 360 NEWSPAPERS HAVE CLOSED AROUND THE COUNTRY SINCE 2019.

AL CROSS HEADS UP THE RURAL JOURNALISM INSTITUTE AT UK AND QUOTES THE OLD JONI MITCHELL SONG BIG YELLOW TAXI WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PAPERS CLOSING.

HE TOLD THE ELDERLY LEADER, MURRAY LEDGER LOSE A NEWSPAPER YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE LOST UNTIL IT'S GONE.

THAT'S OUR REPORT TONIGHT ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

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