>> Renee: CANDIDATES FOR STATE LEGISLATURE OFFICIALLY NOW HAVE A COUPLE OF EXTRA WEEKS TO FILE FOR OFFICE, A MEASURE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FROM TODAY TO JANUARY 25th THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST BILL OF THE SESSION TO BE SIGNED PIE THE GOVERNOR.

THIS HAS STATE LAWMAKERS SCUR TO PAST REDISTRICTING MAPS TOMORROW.

WELCOME TO "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE," EVERYONE, THE A DAILY RECAP OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HAPPENINGS DURING THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE MEASURE TO DELAY THE FILING DEADLINE FOR ALL CANDIDATES IN THE MAY PRIMARY WAS FAR LESS CONTENTIOUS THAN THE SERIES OF BILLS TO REMAP STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES.

REDISTRICTING IS REQUIRED EVERY TEN YEARS AFTER THE U.S. CENSUS TO ACCOMMODATE POPULATION CHANGES.

HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT CHAIR JERRY MILLER TALKED WITH US ON THE OPENING DATE OF SESSION ABOUT THE HOUSE MAPS THAT THE GOP CONTENDS COMPLIES WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PARAMETERS IS COMPACT AND INCREASES THE NUMBER OF MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS.

HE DOES PREDICT LEGAL CHALLENGES THIS TIME AROUND AS PREVIOUS TURNS AT A REDISTRICTING OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS PROMPTED A HANDFUL OF LAWSUITS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK NATIONWIDE, AND, OF COURSE, SOME RELATE TO CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND SENATE MAPS, HOUSE MAPS, AND AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE ARE SCORES OF LAWSUITS ALREADY INVOLVING -- I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER BUT IT'S WELL OVER 30 DAYS, SO THIS IS NORMAL.

THERE ARE SOME NATIONAL GROUPS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THEY LOOK FOR -- THEY CHALLENGE REDISTRICTING PLANS.

BUT AS I INDICATED INITIALLY, WE ENTERED INTO THIS FROM THE GET-GO SAYING, WE MAY GET SUED BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE A SUIT BY DOING SOMETHING STUPID.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO YOU THINK THAT THESE ARE DEFENDABLE IF THEY ARE CHALLENGED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I FEEL VERY GOOD.

I'M NOTE A LAWYER BUT WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH A LOT OF LAWYERS, AND I FEEL EXTREMELY GOOD ABOUT THESE MAPS.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMPACT.

WHILE THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY "COMPACT," WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> HOW FAR YOU GO FROM ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER, WHAT DOES IT -- IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

IF YOU TAKE THE EXISTING MAP FOR CHRISTIAN COUNTY, YOU TAKE THE EXISTING MAP FOR BULLITT COUNTY, IS THERE SOME ODD DISTRICTS?

THERE ARE STRAINED DISTRICTS, I CALL THEM, WHERE THEY'RE STRINGING TOGETHER A LOT OF COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN OBJECTIVE.

IF YOU CAN AVOID THAT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ONE MAN, ONE VOTE, AND THE COUNTY SPLITTING, YOU TRY TO DO THAT.

>> Renee: SOME NEWLY COMBINED DISTRICTS UNDER THE HOUSE REMAPPING PLAN PLACES FOUR PAIRS OF INCUMBENTS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND FAR WEST IN FAR EASTERN KENTUCKY AND TWO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS RAILED AGAINST THE EXPEDITED PROCESS TO GET THE MEASURES TO A FLOOR VOTE, AND CRITICIZED REPUBLICANS FOR RAMMING THE MEASURES THROUGH WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.

THEY SAID THE MAPS DESERVED.

THE REPUBLICAN COMEBACK LINE, THEY PUT THE CONSTITUTION OVER POLITICAL GREED.

>> 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 CITIZEN 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 WHO BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY, 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 AS THE PRESIDENT SAID TODAY TO MARK JANUARY 6th, WE DON'T GET TO JUST LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AS OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR COUNTRY ONLY WHEN WE WIN.

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

>> 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 MOUR AND SAY WE'RE DOING WHAT'S GUESS FOR US, WE WOULD SPLIT A 24TH COUNTY.

AND 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.

>> Renee: AFTER ROUNDS OF SPIRITED COMMENTARY, ESPECIALLY FROM REPRESENTATIVES WITH CONTRACTS PARTICULARLY CHANGED DISTRICTS, THE HOUSE MAP PLAN WAS APPROVED 71-19.

THE SENATE WILL APPROVE THAT PLAN TOMORROW DURING A RARE SATURDAY SESSION.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE MEETING TOMORROW TO SEND THE GOVERNOR A BATCH OF REDISTRICTING PLANS FOR THE HOUSE, SENATE AND CONGRESS.

BY WEEK'S END, THE SENATE HAD A APPROVED THE REDRAW FOR ITS 28 DISTRICTS.

HENDERSON REPUBLICAN ROBE MILLS LED THE CHARGE AND EXPLAINED THE POPULATION BOONS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND POPULATION LOSSES IN EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY WERE, OF COURSE, TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

>> LARGELY THE DRAWING OF THIS MAP WAS DICTATED BY POPULATION AND MAP.

MAKING A SMALL CHANGE IN ANY GIVEN AREA OF THE STATE CAUSES A RIPPLE EFFECT ALL THE WAY ACROSS ALL 38 OF OUR DISTRICTS.

THE CENSUS DATA HAS SHOWN THAT OUR POPULATION IN KENTUCKY IS 4,505,836.

THIS MEANS THAT ALL 38 SENATE DISTRICTS TO BE EQUAL IN POPULATION WOULD HAVE TO CONTAIN AT LEAST 118,574 PEOPLE.

GIVEN THAT WE NOW HAVE FIVE COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY THAT SUCCEED THIS POPULATION ON THEIR OWN, WHICH ARE JEFFERSON, FAYETTE, KENTON, WARREN AND BOONE, IT IS NOT MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE TO CRAFT 38AL EQUAL POPULATION DISTRICTS WHILE HONORING THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENTS TO NOT SPLIT THE COUNTY, SO WE MUST SPLIT THOSE COUNTIES THAT I LISTED.

JEFFERSON, IF A WET, KENTON, WARREN AND BOONE.

>> Renee: COATS HAVE RULED THAT THE DISTRICTS CAN BE BE DRAWN WITH PLUS OR -5°% OF THE IDEAL POPULATION WHILE SPLITTING AS FEW COUNTS AS POSSIBLE.

LOUISVILLED JERALD NEAL SAID THE FORMULA FOR REDRAWING LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARIES IS ABOUT MORE THAN MATH BUT HE SAYS POWER POLITICS WHICH HE WISHED COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE DECENNIAL MANDATE.

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

>> SINCE I'VE BEEN THE 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 OF LAW.

>> Renee: THE SENATE MAPS WERE APPROVED 28-4.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS PAUL HORNBACK, BRANDON MYTH AND ADRIENNE SOUTHWORTH JOINED DEMOCRATIC MORNING McGARVEY IN VOTING AGAINST SENATE BILL 2.

THE 2 THE UPPER CHAMBER WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH REDRAWING THE CONGRESSIONAL LINES.

THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP EXTENDS FROM FAR WEST KENTUCKY TO INCLUDE MORE CENTRAL KENTUCKY COUNTIES THAN IT DID PREVIOUSLY.

ALL OF WASHINGTON AND FRANKLIN AND PART OF ANDERSON COUNTY.

JAMES COMER REPRESENTS THE 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ANDERSON COUNTY SENATOR ADRIEN SOUTHWORTH WAS PUZZLED BY THAT MOVE THAT NOW HAS THAT DISTRICT SNAKE ALL THE WAY UP TO FRANKFORT.

>> I'VE HATED DISTRICT 1 MAP IN THE CONGRESS SINCE THE BECAME DISTRICT 1 MAP THAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY, AND IT'S GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS.

AND NOW IT'S BEYOND WORSE.

I WAS SHOCKED WHEN IT CAME UP NEXT TO MY HOUSE THE LAST TIME AROUND, AND NOW IT'S LITERALLY RUNNING THROUGH MY DISTRICT.

AND I'VE MOVED AN HOUR EAST IN THE PROCESS.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE POLICY FOCUS IN THIS BODY SAYING, OKAY, CONGRESSMAN WANTS SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN THEY ALWAYS GET IT.

WE NEED TO BE FIGURING OUT SOLUTIONS TO HARD PROBLEMS, AND THERE ARE SOLUTIONS.

I'VE COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

I'VE POSTED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.

BUT THAT'S THE REASON I'M VOTING NO, BECAUSE WE CAN GET NICE, COMPACT DISTRICTS, AND EVEN IF WE'RE NO REQUIRED TO HAVE THEM COMPACT, IT'S GOOD POLICY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AS COMPACT AS WE CAN GET THEM.

>> Renee: SENATE BILL 3 ADVANCED FROM THE SENATE TO THE HOUSE THURSDAY ON A 28-TO-4 VOTE.

THOSE REDISTRICTING PLANS ARE EXPECTED TO GET FINAL APPROVAL TOMORROW.

AT MID-WEEK GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DELIVERED HIS THIRD STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HIS ADMINISTRATION SO FAR HAS BEEN LARGELY DEFINED BY HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

ON THE NIGHT HE DELIVERED HIS ADDRESS, KENTUCKY MARKED A GRAND MILESTONE APPROACHING 10,000 POSITIVE CASES IN A SINGLE DAY.

A STRING OF NATURAL DISASTERS HAS POUNDED THE COMMONWEALTH AS WELL IN THE LAST YEAR.

>> WE ARE NOW JUST WEEKS FROM THE DEADLIEST TORNADO OUTBREAK IN STATE HISTORY WHICH TOOK 77 LIVES, INCLUDING ONE CHILD JUST SIX DAYS OLD.

ENTIRE TOWNS WERE NEARLY WIPED OFF THE MAP, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HOMELESS AND STRUGGLING.

ALL OF THIS WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC THAT IS THANK HAS NOW TAKEN MORE THAN 12,000 OF OUR KENTUCKY FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS, AND MORE THAN 828,000 OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS.

BUT EVEN THROUGH THESE TRIALS AND THE PAIN THAT WE CARRY FROM THEM, I'M HERE TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

[APPLAUSE] IN 2021 WE FACED A ONE NEVER 100-YEAR PANDEMIC AS THE CHALLENGE OF OUR LIFETIME.

ON TOP THAT OF WE DEALT WITH FLOODING, ICE STORMS AND DEADLY TORNADOES.

STILL, WE NEVER TOOK OUR EYE OFF THE BALL AND WORKED EVERY DAY TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY KIDS AND YOURS.

ALONG THE WAY WE SHATTERED EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORD IN THE BOOKS.

[APPLAUSE] WE ATTRACTED $11.2 BILLION IN PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS.

EVEN BETTER, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL CREATE MORE THAN 18,000 QUALITY JOBS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

[APPLAUSE] AND HOW ABOUT THIS ONE.

IN SEPTEMBER WE LANDED THE LARGEST SINGLE INVESTMENT THIS STATE HAS EVER SEEN AT NEARLY $6 BILLION AND 5,000 NEW JOBS, FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ITS PARTNER SK INNOVATION GOING TO BUILD THE NATION'S LARGEST ELECTRIC BATTERY PLANTS RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY!

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S ADDRESS REFLECTED HEAVILY ON THE TRIALS AND ECONOMIC TRIUMPHS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, LEAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS KEY BUDGET PRIORITIES TO BE ANSWERED WHEN HE DELIVERS HIS BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT.

>> NOW, I BELIEVE THAT A BUDGET IS MORE THAN LINES AND NUMBERS.

IT IS A VALUE STATEMENT.

AND MY UPCOMING BUDGET WILL REFLECT OUR KENTUCKY VALUES OF FAMILY, FAITH, COMMUNITY, AND A DEEP COMPASSION FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

[APPLAUSE] THAT BUDGET WILL MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AS WORLD CLASS COMPANIES DESERVE A WORLD CLASS WORKFORCE.

[APPLAUSE] IT WILL CREATE A FUND FOR INVESTIGATE IN DEVELOPMENT SITES SO WE CAN ATTRACT THE NEXT FORD AND TOYOTA.

IT WILL INVEST IN OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE OUR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE, OUR NURSES, OUR TEACHERS, TO ENSURE WE CANNOT ONLY RECRUIT BUT RETAIN THESE CRITICAL JOBS.

IT WILL ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN A LEADER IN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THAT WE BUILD ON OUR PHARMACEUTICAL FOOTPRINT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF A WORLD CLASS AIRPORT IN PADUCAH.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH MORE WATER AND SEWER GRANTS.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY TO FOUR LANES, AND IT WILL WORK TO CONSTRUCT THAT I-69 BRIDGE.

IT WILL MOVE US EVER CLOSER TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH I HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WE WILL MAKE NEXT YEAR, THAT WE WILL CONSTRUCT A BRENT SPENCE COMPANION BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT WILL INCLUDE A RAISE FOR ALL OF OUR STATE WORKERS.

[APPLAUSE] >> Al CROSS: >> Renee: AFTER THE EVERYBODY SPEECH YOU TALKED WITH HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORN AND SENATE FROM THE ROBERT STIVERS FOR GET THEIR REACTIONS ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS AND IF HE SPECIFIED TO THEIR SATISFACTION HIS TOP POLICY PRIORITIES.

>> THERE'S MORE CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD, RENEE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN A SPEECH.

WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR IS WHEN WE SIT DOWN TO ACTUALLY TACKLE THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF THE COMMONWEALTH, IS FOR A FACE-TO-FACE HONEST CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING ARRANGEMENT.

>> HE DID MENTION TODAY ABOUT RAISES FOR STATE WORKERS AND CONSTRUCTING A COMPANION TO THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS.

I MEAN, ARE THOSE THINGS, THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNOR UP TO NOW?

>> WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD VERY FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR REGARDING BUDGET ITEMS.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY.

>> WOULD WITH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

CHAIRMAN PETRIE HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIS IDEAS.

>> SENATOR STIVERS, TO YOU, WERE THERE ANY MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT THAT YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN TO MAYBE ENT EXTENDS AN OLIVE BRANCH MORE OVERTLY TO THE LEGISLATURE WITNESS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF AND THE SPEAKER?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT REALLY WOULD COME NEXT WEEK, AS I'VE SAID THROUGH MY CAREER HERE, THE ULTIMATE POLICY DOCUMENT IS THE BUDGET WHERE WE PUT MONEYS AND FUNDS.

WE WANT TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON LIKE THE COURIER-JOURNAL WROTE ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICY.

BUT THE ULTIMATE POLICY WILL BE SET BY THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK.

>> Renee: DURING OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS ON WEDNESDAY I WAS JOINED BY TWO REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC STRATEGISTS AND LEGISLATIVE AGENTS WHO COMMENTED ON THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECHES' HIGH POINTS AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

>> TYPICALLY WE HEAR A COUPLE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.

I EXPECTED TO HEAR SOME OF THE INITIATIVE THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE OTHER DAYS PART OF SOME THING THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT PROPOSE.

I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED AT THAT BUT GRATEFUL TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE BUDGET.

>> AND HE SAID THE LINE, I THINK, CHAIRMAN BROWN, WAS WE'RE NO GOING TO GO LEFT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD.

SO HE'S TRYING TO HARKEN BACK TO MAYBE WHAT HIS FATHER USED TO SAY IT'S NOT A RED IDEA, IT'S NOT A POLICE DEPARTMENT BLUE IDEA, REPUBLICAN IDEA, IT'S A GOOD IDEA, HARK ENG TO THAT THEME OF BARNSHIP.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS GOVERNOR HAS TRIED TO DO.

>> A CENTRIST MOVE, I GUESS.

>> HE'S ALSO COME INTO, AS WE SAID BEFORE, HE COME IN AND ALREADY HAD REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GIVEN WHEN HE WALKED IN THE DOOR.

HE HAS TO WORK TOGETHER.

JUST LOOKING AT THAT FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

I DID HEAR IN NO DETAIL BUT I THINK AWARE GOING TO GET THAT LATER, BUT HE TALKED WITH THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC I DIDN'T EXPECT TO REALLY HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT POLICY THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HE'S REALLY CARED ABOUT THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THERE'S A POLICY THAT IS -- OR ISSUE THAT HAS REALLY BROKEN IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS GIVEN -- BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> A 49% INCREASE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> FROM 2020 OVER 2019 AND FATALITY OVERDOSE FEATH DDT FROM FATALITY OPIOIDS.

AND SO GETTING TO THE NITTY GRIT OF THE OF THE BUDGET ADDRESS MAYBE WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.

WAS IT ABOUT UNITY?

WAS IT SAYING I'M HERE, I CAN EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH.

LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER AND HOW MUCH FARTHER EK WE CAN GO IF WE WORK TOGETHER IN.

>> I DEFINITELY HEARD A CALL FOR UNITY ANDSI.

I THINK KENTUCKIANS WANT TO HAVE CIVILITY IN THEIR POLITICS.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE DID NOT POINT OUT CERTAIN ARE LEGISLATURES LEGISLATORS, CERTAIN MEMBERS OF LEADERSHIP ON CERTAIN POLICIES THAT HE WANTS TO WORK WITH.

>> DO I THINK THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN THAT OLIVE BRANCH A LITTLE FURTHER AND MADE SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE HE'S PAYING ATTENTION AND HE KNOWS THEY ARE EITHER IN POSITIONS OF CHAIRMANMANSHIP OR LEADERSHIP AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE PROCESS.

I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

BUT OVERALL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID WHAT HE CAME TO DO.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS -- IT IS WHAT THE LEGISLATORS INTENDED TO HEAR AND, OF COURSE, WE'LL HEAR FROM THAT.

>> WHO WAS THE SPEECH FOR?

WAS IT FOR THE LEGISLATURES?

OF COURSE HE'S SPEAKING TO A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE BUTTED WHO IS HE TRYING TO PERSUADE TONIGHT?

>> I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO REMIND KENTUCKIANS THAT HE IS TO CREDIT FOR A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Renee: HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JONI JENKINS AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORNING McGARVEY SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

THEY BOTH BELIEVE HE STRUCK THE RIGHT TONE AND LAID OUT A VISION FOR THE MOVING THE STATE FORWARD.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE'VE COME THROUGH JUST A HORRIBLE TIME WITH THE PANDEMIC AND NATURAL DISASTERS, HE TALKED ABOUT RESILIENCY, THAT KENTUCKIANS WILL COME BACK FORWARD AND COME BACK STRONGER, AND TALKED ABOUT THE GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY, BRINGING PROSPERITY FROM ONE END OF THE STATE TO THE OTHER.

>> THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

THAT WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST COMMENTS.

LEADER McGARVEY, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HEAR FROM GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK WHEN HE LAYS OUT HIS BUDGET OF PRIORITIES AND IN THE BUDGET ADDRESS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING NEXT THURSDAY?

>> I THINK HE REALLY DID HIT THE RIGHT TONE WITH THIS SPEECH.

THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

WE'VE HAD FLOODS.

WE'VE HAD TORNADO.

WE'VE HAD A PANDEMIC TO DEAL WITH.

AND IN SPITE OF ALL THAT, HE'S HANDLED THAT.

HE'S BEEN ON THE GROUND.

HE'S BEEN HELPING PEOPLE OUT.

HE'S LANDED THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE STATE'S HISTORY WITH THE FORD MOTOR INVESTMENT $5.8 BILLION.

YOU SAW TONIGHT, HE'S ADDING JOBS IN LOUISVILLE, IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, IN HENDERSON, IN APPALACHIA WITH APPHARVEST.

THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, BUT STILL LOOK A WHAT WE'VE GOT DONE AND LOOK AT WHAT'S NEXT BECAUSE THIS IS THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, NOT THE BUDGET ADDRESS, BUT WE HAVE A ONCE-IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE $5 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY COMING.

WE HAVE $1 BILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT MONEYS.

WE HAVE MORE THAN $1 BILLION SURPLUS.

AND OUR RAINY DAY FUND IS OVERFLOWING.

HE STRUCK THE RIGHT DON'T WE ARE THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

THIS IS TEAM KENTUCKY LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND NOW LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Renee: HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN A JUMP START ON THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HAVE INTRODUCED BUDGET BILLS IN ADVANCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REVEAL NEXT WEEK.

PART OF THE HOUSE GOP PLANS FILED TODAY GIVES A 6% RAISE TO STATE WORKERS AND A SALARY WOOS TO SOCIAL WORKERS.

IT GIVES A 15,000 MAY INCREASE TO KENTUCKY STATE POLICE TROOPERS, INCREASES BASE PER PUPIL FUNDING AND DOESN'T STATE FUND, FOR FULL-DAY KIDNEY AMONG OTHER FUNDING PROVISIONS RAE LEASED BY THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT PLAN ALONG WITH OTHER MATTERS THIS SESSION WHEN TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS JOIN ME MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

AND ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" THIS PAST MONDAY, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP JOINED ME TO TALK ABOUT A RAFT ISSUES.

AMONG THEM, THE SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION THAT COULD EXTEND SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS STATEWIDE AND NOT JUST TIE CERTAIN NUMBER OF HIGH POPULATION COUNTIES THAT THE COURTS HAVE RULED WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND PROSPECTS FOR PASSING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL THIS SESSION.

>> I HAVE SEEN STATISTICS THAT SHOW CLOSE TO 90% OF KENTUCKIANS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PASSED, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE VETERANS GROUPS AND THE PTSD, THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT THAT IS POSSIBLE, THE EPILEPTICS.

THEY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR SENATORS AND ASK GO THEM WHY WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF.

IT'S 36 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

BY NOW WE ARE MISSING THE VOTE ON IMPORTANT TREATMENT FOR KENTUCKIANS.

>> SO, LEADER THAYER, HERE'S THE QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU MADE THE POINT ABOUT THE POLLING YOU.

SAY 70% OF EVEN DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THESE SCHOOL CHOICE MEMBERS AND 80 TO 90 PERCENT ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE HANNITY SUPPORT MED IS MA'AM MARIJUANA.

IN IT HASS PASSES THE HOUSE WILL THE SENATE GOP BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE?

AND IF IT IS ADVANCED FROM COMMITTEE TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE FLOOR?

>> REPRESENTATIVE HANLEY IS RIGHT.

IT DOES HAVE BROAD SUPPORT IN KENTUCKY I'M JUST NOT FOR IT.

IF I CAN GET OUT OF HOUSE, I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE NEMES HAS BEEN WORKINGS HARD TO IMPROVE HIS BILL.

HE'S TOLD ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO BE FOR IT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN OTHERS WON'T AND WE WON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT.

RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THE ENERGY FOR IT.

>> YOU'RE GOT GOING TO PERSUADE YOUR NBC TO BE AGAINST IT?

>> EVERYBODY GETS TO DECIDE ON THEIR OWN WHAT THEY'RE FOR AND WHAT THEY'RE AGAINST IN OUR CAUCUS AND I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO PERSUADE THEM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THAT ISSUE.

>> ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY WANT IT TO BE CONSIDERED?

>> I'VE BANE HEARING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.

I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS ARE FOR IT.

BUT THIS IS A REPUBLICAN -- THEY LOOK AT THE US TO GO TO FRANKFORT ON THEIR BEHALF, AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT THEY CAN TAKE IT OUT TO ME IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> WHAT'S YOUR OPPOSITION TO IT.

>> >> I THINK MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WHICH I'M NOTE FOR.

>> HOW DO YOU FELLOW BY THE.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED AS A MEDICINE AND THE ARGUMENT OF GETTING TAX MONEY OFF I HAVE IT DOES WORK BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TAXING MEDICINE.

IT NEEDS TO HAVE A PRESCRIPTION POP IT MEADE'S TO BE PRESCRIBED SCRUBBED BY YOU'RE DOCTOR AND IT NEEDS TO BE TITLE TAILORED IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANXIETY WILL BE INCLUDED LIKE THAT.

IT'S GOT TO BE TRULY MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT IT OR NEMES' MEASURE?

>> I AM ON THE FENCE IT.

DEPENDS ON HOW IT IS TAILORED AND HOW TIGHT IT IS.

MY FEAR IS THE SAME AS SENATOR THAYER, IS THAT IT IS GOING TO LEAD TO SOME TYPE OF CORRECT RACIAL ENVIRONMENT.

>> RIGHT.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT, SENATOR THOMAS?

>> RENEE, WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR THE SENATE NINE YEARS AGO, I RAN ON BRINGING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO THE STATE.

I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT OF IT SINCE 2014.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY RECORD, YOU WILL SEE I'VE COSPONSORED LEGISLATION EVERY YEAR TO SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

RENEE, ANGIE NAILED IT, SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

36 STATES HAVE IT NOW.

THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA HAS IT NOW.

IT'S TIME TO BRING IT TO KENTUCKY AS WELL AND GIVE TOWER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED SOME RELIEF FROM MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IT SHOULD PASS THIS SESSION, AND I HOPE IT DOES.

>> Renee: YOU CAN COUNT ON KET'S GAVEL-TO-GAVEL LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE STREAMED LIVE AS IT HAPPENS AND ON OUR KENTUCKY CHANNEL TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT THE POLICY MATTERS BEFORE LAWMAKERS THIS SESSION.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS CALL 1-800-633-9650.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET.

YOU CAN WATCH OUR OUR KENTUCKY CHANNEL OR FOLLOW ALONG ONLINE AT KET.ORG.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER TO GET UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONVENING FOR MANY TOMORROW, SATURDAY.

IT'S A ISSUE RARE OCCASION TO AWARD FINAL APPROVAL TO THOSE REDISTRICTING BILLS, SO YOU CAN CATCH THAT ACTION LIVE AS IT HAPPENS BEGINNING AT 9:00 A.M. EASTERN TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT AT 11:00 EASTERN, 10:00 CENTRAL TIME HERE ON KET.

BE SAFE.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.