MCCONNELL AT THE CENTER OF DRAMA IN WASHINGTON, AND KENTUCKY'S U.S.

ATTORNEYS SAY THEY WILL PROSECUTE RIOTERS WHO STORMED THE CAPITOL.

IN FRANKFORT THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UNDERWAY AS LAWMAKERS DECIDE TO STAY AND WORK INTO NEXT WEEK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR GIVES HIS STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS, AND .

PROPOSES A 12 BILLION-DOLLAR STATE budget COVID SETS NEW RECORDS AS THE VACCINE SCRAMBLE IS ON.

AND AN EVENTFUL START TO BRAND NEW YEAR, AND "COMMENT" I NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT" ON KET, A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR RYLAND BARTON, CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHARD.

MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF political REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA AND JACK BRAMMER, REPORTER WITH FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON Herald-Leader ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW POLICE CHIEF IN LOUISVILLE IS FACING CONTROVERSY BEFORE STARTING THE JOB.

BUT FIRST, AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS WAS A DRAMATIC, JARRING AND HISTORI.

IN AMERICA.

WE'LL BEGIN IN WASHINGTON WHER THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS UNDER SIEG.

MEMBERS CONGRESS WERE forced OUT BY RIOTERS, AND AFTER 36 YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE, KENTUCKY'S MITCH MCCONNELL HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHEN MEMBERS WERE FINALLY ABLE TO RETURN, MCL SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED THEM TO AFFIRM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND HE TOOK A STAND ON THE VIOLENCE.

>> THE VOTERS, THE COURTS, AND THE STATES HAVE ALL SPOKEN.

THEY'VE ALL SPOKEN.

IF WE OVERRULE THEM, IT WOULD DAMAGE OUR REPUBLIC FOREVER.

THE UNITED STATES SENATE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED.

WE WILL NOT BE KEPT OUT OF THIS CHAMBER BY THUGS, MOBS, OR THREATS.

WE WILL NOT BOW TO LAWLESSNESS OR INTIMIDATION.

WE ARE BACK AT OUR POSTS.

WE WILL DISCHARGE OUR DUTY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND FOR OUR NATION.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TONIGHT.

>> Jonathan: AND SO THAT DID HAPPEN AT ABOUT 3:45 A.M.

THE NEXT MORNING.

IT WAS A DRAMATIC TIME FOR AMERICA.

MORGAN AND FOR McCONNELL AS WELL IN LOTS OF WAYS, DEALING ON THE SAME DAY WITH ESSENTIALLY BEING DEMOTED FROM MAJORITY LEADER TO MINORITY LEADER BY THE VOTERS IN GEORGIA, AND LEE STOOD AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP IN AFFIRMING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, THE VIOLENCE IN WASHINGTON.

>> Morgan: YES.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LONG DAY, AN INTENSE DAY.

IT STARTED OFF IN THE MORNING.

EVERYONE WAKING UP, CHECKING TO SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF THE GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS WERE.

ONE RACE HAD ALREADY BEEN CALLED OVERNIGHT 2:00 A.M. AND PEOPLE WERE WAITING TO SEE IN DEMOCRAT JOHN AS YOU OFF WAS GOING TO PULL OFF THE FINAL WIN THAT THEY NEED TODAY TAKE THE SENATE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THAT AFTERNOON YOU HAD CONGRESS CONVENING TO CERTIFY PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN'S ELECTORAL VICTORY.

OF COURSE, THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS IN BOTH CHAMBERS WHO OPPOSED THAT.

SO YOU HAD SENATOR McCONNELL CAME OUT, GAVE A VERY FORCEFUL SPEECH AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON SAYING, LOOK, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, THE ELECTION, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THIS WAS ALL STOLEN, WHICH IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT HAS FALSELY CLAIMED.

THIS IS A LEGITIMATE SITUATION, AND WE NEED TO DO OUR DUTY AND CERTIFY THESE RESULTS AND DO THE BILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT YOU HAD PRO-TRUMP REUTERS WHO BREACHED THE CAPITOL -- REUTERS WHO BREACHED THE CAPITOL.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE DIED RELATED TO THAT VIOLENCE AND SENATOR McCONNELL AND OTHER SENATORS HAD TO BE EVACUATED, AND THEN HOURS LATER AT NIGHT THEY CAME BACK AND HE GAVE THE SPEECH SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO CERTIFY JOE BIDEN'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE VICTORY.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

>> Jonathan: RYLAND, NOBODY HAD STEEN A DAY LIKE THIS AT THE U.S. CAPITOL, BUT McCONNELL AND OTHER LAWMAKERS WERE DETERMINED TO GET BACK IN AND TO GET THAT VOTE TAKEN.

PROCEDURAL VOTE, AS IT WAS, AGAIN, IT CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

L. >> Ryland: RIGHT.

HE SAID THEY WOULDN'T BE INTIMIDATED.

YOU JUST HEARD HIM SAY THAT.

ONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT McCONNELL'S SPEECH IS THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE HE FINALLY SHUTS DOWN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNFOUNDED ACCUMULATION OF ELECTION FRAUD, AND ALTHOUGH HE HAD FINALLY SAID, UTTERLY THE WORDS "PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN" A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE, THERE IS A GOOD MONTH ARE SO THERE WHERE McCONNELL REMAINED SILENTLY AND JUST ALLOWED THE PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE HIS CLAIMS IN COURT AND REALLY THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF A SNOWBALLING EFFECT OF REPUBLICANS CHALLENGING THE ELECTION WITHOUT ANY GOOD REASON REALLY.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, TO CONNECT THESE RIOTS, THAT THIS IS REALLY -- THIS IS THE OUTCOME OF ALL THESE MONTHS OF PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION WITH VERY -- WITHOUT A VERY GOOD REASON TO DO THAT, AND PEOPLE FINALLY GOT SO FRUSTRATED THAT THEY ENDED UP ON THE CAPITOL STEPS AND INTO THE CAPITOL AND LIVES WERE LOST BECAUSE OF IT.

>> Jonathan: JACK, WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL, THERE WAS A DAY LIKE THAT.

WHAT WERE YOUR SHOTS WAS YOU WERE BASICALLY AVERTED FROM COVERING THE DAY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO REALIZING THAT THIS WAS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY?

>> Jack: IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT RIVETED EVERYONE WATCHING IT WHO CARES ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.

AND JUST VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT IT CAME TO BE.

>> Jonathan: KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION UNIFORMLY DENOUNCED THE VIOLENCE.

THEY HAD DIFFERING APPROACHES ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

KENTUCKY'S U.S.

ATTORNEYS ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL PROSECUTE RIOTERS WHO WENT TO THE U.S. CAPITOL AND COMMITTED THE CRIMINAL ACTS ON WEDNESDAY.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE PINT THAT THEY DO NOT TAKE IDEOLOGICAL SIDES IN CRIMINAL.

THEY SAID THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE WHO HAD THE PERFECT RIGHT TO COME AND EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, TUT BUT THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT RUSSELL COLEMAN SAID IN A STATEMENT "VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE ON CAPITOL HILL OR IN OUR COMMONWEALTH."

AND U.S. ROBERT DUNCAN OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT TWEETED "WE ARE SWORN TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AND UPHOLD THE LAW.

IO RHODE ISLAND, BOTH OF THEM VERY REST LUTZ THAT KENTUCKIANS INVOLVED IN THIS WILL LIKELY FACE CHARGES.

>> Ryland: RIGHT, AND THEY'RE ASKING HEM FOR IDENTIFYING PEOPLE FROM KENTUCKY WHO ENDED UP IN THAT GROUP THAT BROKE INTO THE CAPITOL, AND ALSO RUSSELL COLE 9, TUESDAY ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT, HE COMPARED THIS TO KIND OF TACITLY TO BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS WE SAW LAST SUMMER.

HE SAID WHETHER VANDALIZE ORIGINATION'S MOST SACRED SECULAR STRUCTURE OR BUSINESSES, THERE IS A LINE WHEN PROTECTED PROTEST BECOMES CRIMINAL CONDUCT.

HE'S SAYING THE CRACK DOWN ON THE PEOPLE WHO BROKE INTO THE CAPITOL.

BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE REALLY HOW LITTLE RESISTANCE THERE WAS FOR THAT MOSTLY QUITE GROUP OF PROTESTORS WHO MADE THEIR WAY OR REUTERS WHO MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE CAPITOL, WHEREAS WE SAW -- RIOTERS WHERE IS WE SAW IMAGES THROUGHOUT ALL OF LAST YEAR HOW QUICKLY TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS AMERICA AND POLICE FORCES WERE ABLE TO BREAK OUT THE RIOTER GEAR TO CRACK DOWN ON BLACK LIVES MATTERS PROTESTERS.

>> Jonathan: A.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

LET'S TALK FROM McCONNELL MOVING FROM MAJORITY LEADER TO MINORITY LEADER.

RYLAND.

YOU WROTE ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A POST HE HAS HELD BEFORE.

DOES HE HAVE AS MUCH ABILITY TO DO THINGS FOR KENTUCKY AS HE DID AS HE SAID BACK IN FALL WHEN HE WAS RUNNING AND WAS THE MAJORITY LEADER THAT KENTUCKY CAN PUNCH ABOVE ITS WEIGHT?

CAN HE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE WITH HIS DIMINISHED ROLE?

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER THERE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT POWER THAT HE'S HAD AS MAJORITY LEADER, THAT MOST EXPERTS SAY AND HE HIMSELF HAS SAID, IS THE ABILITY TO SET THE SENATE'S AGENDA.

HE ESSENTIALLY IS ABLE TO DECIDE IF A PROPOSAL MAKES IT TO THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE OR FOR A VOTE OR NOT, AND HE HAS LITERALLY BEEN WILLING TO BLOCK PROPOSALS AND KEEP PROPOSALS ON HIS DESK THAT HE DOESN'T THINK SHOULD MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.

THAT POWER WILL NOW SHIFT TO THE DEMOCRATS AND INCOMING FUTURE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.

THAT'S A BIG HIT IN TERMS OF HIS ABILITY TO BLOCK, YOU KNOW, PROGRESSIVE PROPOSALS FROM GETTING A VOTE, ALTHOUGH THE SENATE -- IT'S THE SMALLEST MAJORITY THAT THE -- OR THAT THE DEMOCRATS COULD GET.

IT'S 50/50.

50 SEATS FOR EACH PERSON.

THE INCOMING VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE THE DIE BREAKER TO GIVE IT TO THE DEMOCRATS.

SO FOR MOST LEGISLATIONY DEMOCRATS EXPECTED TO NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, SO THAT DOES GIVE SENATOR McCONNELL AND THE OTHER REPUBLICANS SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO TRY TO BROKER COMPROMISES OR KILL PROPOSALS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO PASS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I PEDIATRIC TO SENATOR McCONNELL TODAY, AND I -- I TALKED TO SENATOR McCONNELL TODAY AND OTHER APPLICABLE EXPERTS, AND ULTIMATELY HE IS ONE OF THE TOP MOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.

SO IN TERMS OF CLOUT, KENTUCKY STILL HAS A LOT OF IT BY HAVING HIM IN THERE AS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

ONE THING HE DID POINT OUT WAS IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT HE BROUGHT UP A LOT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND THAT HE HAS FOR YEARS IS THAT HE IS ABLE TO USE HIS SENIORITY AND HIS POWER IN CONGRESS TO KIND OF SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR KENTUCKY, AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH HIM THIS MORNING HE SAID, LOOK, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

HE'S STILL, ESPECIALLY THE END OF THE YEAR, NEGOTIATIONS ON BIG THINGS LIKE THE MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILL THAT THEY JUST PASSED, HE'S ONE OF THE █FOURPEOPLEIN THEROOMWH HAS A DIRECT SAY ON WHAT MAKES IT IN.

SO IN TERMS OF THAT, HE SAID HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

SO, YEAH.

>> Jonathan: JACK, McCONNELL WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS HE HAS FOR.

>> Bill: JACK, McCONNELL WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS HE HAS FOR THREE DOZEN YEARS THERE IN WASHINGTON RIGHT?

>> Jack: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN McCONNELL, EVEN THOUGH HE WILL NOT BE MAJORITY LEADER, BUT I THINK THE PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN WILL TRY TO WORK WITH HIM.

THEY HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

THEY'RE BOTH POLITICALLY SAVVY.

AND I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN KNOWS THAT THE NEXT ROUND OF SENATE ELECTIONS JUST COME AROUND IN 2022.

SO IT'S 50/50 COMING UP THIS YEAR, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE WITH NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

>> Bill: HE LANE CHAO ALSO RESIGNED AS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY IN THE WAKE OF THE VIOLENCE AT THE CAPITOL.

SHE IS THE WIFE OF SENATOR McCONNELL, AND SHE IS DEPARTING EARLY.

AND MORGAN, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT SAID ABOUT THAT, THAT SHE WILL LEAVE BEFORE THE END OF THE TERM.

>> Morgan: THERE'S LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TERM BEFORE JOE BIDEN IS INAUGURATED.

SHE DID SAY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTING IN THE CAPITOL THAT SHE IS STEPPING DOWN.

SHE CALLED IT AN ENTIRELY AVOIDABLE EVENT AND MENTIONED, POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT THESE RIOTERS BROKE INTO THE CAPITOL AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP ADDRESSED THESE THRONGS OF PEOPLE THAT HAD COME TO THE CAPITOL AT A RALLY.

SO SHE REALLY DEFINITELY MADE THAT POINT, THAT THAT WAS WHAT PROMPTED HER RESIGNATION.

ONE THING THAT I DID SEE WAS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OH CASH I DON'T CORTEZING POINTED OUT ON TWITTER AFTER SECRETARY CHAO ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION, SHE SAID AT THIS LATE STAGE WHEN YOU'RE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OUT FROM LOSING THAT POSITION ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER OF POWER, THIS IS MORE ABOUT A SELF-PRESERVATION THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT IF SECRETARY CHAO IS TRULY THIS UPSET ABOUT IT, SHE SHOULD REMAIN AND INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT WHICH IS A WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN BE REMOVED VERY QUICKLY BEFORE THE INAUGURALS OF BIDEN.

>> Jack: DEMOCRATS ALSO SAYING THAT ABOUT THE EDUCATION SECRETARY BETSY DEVOS WHO ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION TODAY.

>> Bill: NOTE 5th DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS OBJECTED TO AFFIRMING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

ROGERS WILL D. DENOUNCE THE VIOLENCE ON CAPITOL HILL, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW, SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS THAT INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS.

THE EVENTS IN WASHINGTON, OF COURSE, AFFECTED THINGS IN FRANKFORT AS WELL.

THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH WAS POSTPONED TO THURSDAY, AND THE BUDGET HEARINGS WERE MOVED BACK AS WELL TO FRIDAY.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE STAYING IN SESSION TO FAST TRACK SOME BILLS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR DELIVERED HIS SPEECH VIRTUALLY.

HE PROPOSED A $12 BILLION STATE BUDGET THAT HE SAYS WILL HAVE KENTUCKY CURRENT THE NIGHTMARE OF COVID-19 INTO OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE SHOCK OF COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT ON OUR CURRENT TRANSFORMATIONAL PERIOD, AND HOW WE LEAD IN THE NEXT YEAR WILL DICTATE WHETHER KENTUCKY SIMPLY RECOVERS BACK TO THE OLD NORMAL OR INSTEAD TAKES ITS PLACE AMONG THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND INNOVATIVE STATES IN THE UNION.

FOR THIS, WE NEED THE COURAGE TO MAKE BOLD INVESTMENTS IN OUR PEOPLE AND IN OUR FUTURE.

IT CANNOT WAIT.

>> Bill: AND THERE WAS REACTION FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE WHO TALKED TO KET'S RENEE SHAW RIGHT AFTER THE SPEECH.

>> WE DIDN'T THINK THIS BUDGET WAS GOING TO BE A LOT WORSE, BUT THE REASON IT'S NOT AND THE REASON WE WANT TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS IS THAT THESE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED BY BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF BORROWED MONEY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BEING INFUSED INTO OUR STATE ECONOMY.

AND THAT WORRIES ME.

>> I THINK THAT EVERYBODY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE'RE IN A BETTER SPOT THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE FINANCIALLY WITH THE REVENUES WE'VE TAKEN IN SO FAR, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME ANY LESS NERVOUS ABOUT WHERE WE MAY END UP, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE US TAKE A VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, AND WE'LL STILL HAVE A VERY LEAN BUDGET GOING FORWARD.

>> Bill: SO, JACK, THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FROM THE GOVERNOR WOULD GIVE RAISES TO TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES.

MORE MONEY WOULD BE SPENT IN THOSE AREAS.

NO TAX INCREASES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PLAN AND THE REACTION.

>> Jack: YES.

THE GOVERNOR CALLED AT THIS TIME BETTER KENTUCKY BUDGET.

THAT'S B-E-T-E-R. NOT B-E-T-T-O-R EVEN THOUGH HE DID ADVANCE HISTORICAL HORSE RACING AND SPORTS WAGERING IN THE SPEECH.

SO IT IS AN OPTIMISTIC BUDGET.

THE QUESTIONS RAISED IMMEDIATELY BY THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT ONE-TIME MONEYS, AND THAT'S JUST MONEY THAT'S USED FOR ONE TIME.

IF YOU GIVE TEACHERS A $1,000 RAISE ONE TIME, BUT WHAT WILL THEY EXPECT NEXT TIME.

AND SO HE'S CONCERNED, THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE-TIME MONEY, THE BORROWED MONEY.

THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO LOOKING AT A $613 MILLION TO PROVIDE PANDEMIC RELIEF AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN THE STATE, ALL THOSE DETAILS WILL BE CAREFULLY ANALYZED BY THE LEGISLATORS AND WE'LL SEE A VERY DIFFERENT BUDGET FROM THEM THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED.

EVERYONE THINKS IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTING LAST SUMMER.

>> Bill: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

RYLAND, THE NUMBERS DO LOOK BETTER IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE THAT IS COMING IN THAN MANY THOUGHT MIGHT BE THE CASE AT THIS POINT.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

AND THEY ARE.

SO THE NUMBERS SO FAR DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR ARE BETTER THAN EXPECTED, AND ALSO -- AND SO BESHEAR'S BUILT PART OF THIS BUDGET ON EXPECTED EXTRA MONEY AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR COMING IN, BUT THEN ALSO ABOUT $600 MILLION MOSTLY FROM CARES ACT MONEY THAT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PROGRAMS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE IN HERE.

THERE'S MORE MONEY -- RAISING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION FORMULA BY 1%, 2% INCREASE FOR FUNDING HIGHER EDUCATION, DOUBLING THE STATE CONTRIBUTION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BY $12 MILLION, SO THINGS ARE BETTER, BUT AGAIN, AS THE SPEAKER SAID, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT EXACTLY HOW LONG THIS PANDEMIC IS GOING TO LAST, HOW LONG -- HOW LONG REVENUE IS GOING TO STICK LIKE THIS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS GOING TO BE, SAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF FEDERAL HELP, SO I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW REPUBLICANS HANDLE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I THINK A LOT OF -- A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOT, AND THE MONEY IS THERE RIGHT NOW TO TRY AND DO IT, AND ESPECIALLY THAT SO MUCH OF IT IS CARES ACT DOLLARS.

THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO HELP THE STATE RECOVER RIGHT NOW.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

IF NEXT STEP IS, OF COURSE, THE HOUSE WILL WRITE ITS OWN VERSION OF THE BUDGET.

THEY DO SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND RELEASE THAT EARLIER THAN NORMAL DURING THE SESSION BUT WE WILL SEE.

>> Bill: WE WILL, AND THE INDICATES THEY'RE GOING TO GET GOING ON THAT NEXT WEEK.

MORGAN, THIS ALL COMES AS THE LEGISLATURE IS FULL SPEED AHEAD TRYING TO CLIP THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY AUTHORITY.

WAS THIS A SPEECH THAT IN SOME WAYS WAS AIMED AT THE REPUBLICANS WATCHING IN THE CHAMBER?

>> Morgan: YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK SO.

I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SPENT A LOT OF THE SPEECH FIRST SORT OF LAYING OUTS EVERYTHING THE STATE HAS DONE, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, TO TRY TO SLOW THIS PANDEMIC FROM WEARING MASKS TO FOREGOING GATHERINGS WITH FAMILY WHO DON'T LIVE WITH YOU, AND REALLY SORT OF DEFENDING THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE, POINTING OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH SUCCESS KENTUCKY HAS HAD COMPARED TO SOME OTHER STATES IN TERMS OF KEEPING ITS DEATHS LOW, ALTHOUGH HE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE 2700 PLUS KENTUCKIANS WHO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 IS HORRIFIC AND UNACCEPTABLE.

BUT HE DEFINITELY KIND OF STRUCK THIS TONE, LOOK, WE HAVE THESE VACCINES ROLLING OUT NOW.

THIS IS A TIME FOR TO US KIND OF HOLD TOGETHER, DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BEAT THIS PANDEMIC AND START TO RECOVER, SO HE HAD MESSAGE OF, PLEASE, LET'S WORK TOGETHER ESPECIALLY IN LATE OF HE TALKED ABOUT THE VIOLENT THAT HAPPENED IN WHICH PEOPLE DIED INCLUDING A U.S. CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER.

HE SAID, ROOK THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO UNITE.

THIS IS THE TIME TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HEAL FROM THESE DIVISIONS AND HEAL FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND TRY TO RECOVER AND SEND THIS MESSAGE OF PLEASE COME ALONG WITH ME AND WORK WITH ME ON THESE PLANS.

AND THIS COMES AS REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO VERY MUCH DOMINATE THE LEGISLATURE ARE FAST-TRACKING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BASICALLY PULL BACK ON THE REINS WITH HIM.

THE GOVERNOR'S USED EMERGENCY POWERS TO ENACT A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS MEANT TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO PUT SOME PRETTY STRICT CONTROLS ON HIS ABILITY TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: JACK, WHAT ELSE IS MOVING RIGHT NOW IN THESE EARLY DAYS THAT ARE NOW BEING STRETCHED INTO THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK OF THE SESSION?

>> Jack: WELL, EACH CHAMBER HAS FIVE PRIORITY BILLS.

THE TWO MAJOR ONES THAT LIMIT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE HOUSE BILL 1, AND THAT WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES TO STAY OPEN DURING AN EMERGENCY IF THEY COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, AND SENATE BILL 1 WILL LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO 30 DAYS UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE EXTENDED THEM.

I EXPECT BOTH OF THOSE BILLS WILL PASS, AND I EXPECT THE GOVERNOR TO VETO BOTH OF THEM, AND I EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETOES AND MORE LIKELY WE'LL SEE COURT CHALLENGES FROM THE GOVERNOR ON THEM.

ANOTHER INTERESTING BILL THAT I BELIEVE IT STOPPED IN THE TRACKS FRIDAY WOULD SET UP SPECIAL PANELS OF JUDGES, THREE JUDGES ON A PANEL TO HEAR QUESTIONS DEALING WITH ITS STATE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT ISSUES.

SUCH CASES ARE NOW HEARD IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

GEEFF TUFT JOHN B. MINT, JR.

WENT TO THE COMPETE AND RAILED AGAINST THIS AND SAID IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

HE ALREADY TOLD THEM BEFORE IT ENDED UP IN HIS COURT.

AND SO I THINK THAT BILL'S GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING PROVED.

AND I THINK, RYLAND, THERE'S SOME ABORTION BILLS TOO.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

A COUPLE OF OF THE FAST-MOVING BILLS.

ONE OF THEM ALSO HAS TO DO WITH THE GOVERNOR'S POWER SO IT IS WOULD GIVE REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND ALSO ATTORNEY GENERALS INTO THE FUTURE THE POWER TO ENFORCE ABORTION REGULATIONS AND REGULATE ABORTION PROVIDERS.

AND I THINK AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT BILL IS THAT IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE TAKING THIS OUT OF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND -- OUT OF THE HEALTH CABINET AND PUTTING IT INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

AND THEN THE BORN ALIVE ABORTION BILL AS WELL.

>> Bill: YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

ANY OF THESE CHANGES AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN POWER BUT THIS IS GOING FORWARD.

YOU'RE CHANGERRING THE LAFAYETTE LAND MOVING FORWARD.

>> Jack: ASSUMING A DEMOCRATIC LEADER MORGAN McGARVEY SAID HE THINKS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WANTS TO BECOME THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: THE THIRD, SECOND AND HIGHEST DAYS FOR COVID IN KENTUCKY HAVE BEEN THIS WEEK.

MORGAN WEEK IS THIS THE POST MASSACHUSETTS SURGE THAT MANY HAVE FEARED?

>> Morgan: IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD URGED KENTUCKIANS TO NOT HAVE GATHERINGS OVER THE HOLIDAYS, BASICALLY TO CELEBRATE JUST WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LIVE WITH.

WE'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW MANY KENTUCKIANS COMPLIED WITH THAT REQUEST.

I'M SURE MANY DID.

ODDS ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY DID GATHER WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES AS WELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

AND WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING A SURGE IN CASES.

I THINK IT'S OVER 18,000 CASES THIS WEEK, WHICH IS A RECORD HIGH.

THIS IS HAPPENING AS THE VACCINES ARE ROLLING OUT, SO THERE IS HOPE FOR THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THE STATE IS TRYING TO ROLL THE VACCINES OUT FASTER, BUT AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE THE VIRUS IS SPREADING MORE RAPIDLY AND THE VACCINES STILL HAVEN'T BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO A HIGH PERCENT OF POPULATION.

THEY JUST GOT THAT UNDERWAY IN MID-DECEMBER WHEN THE VACCINES WERE APPROVED.

>> Bill: CERTAINLY SOME FRUSTRATIONS IN THERE.

SCHOOLS, RYLAND, FACING VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS RIGHT NOW AS THE PARENTS WANT KIDS BACK IN CLASS, YET THIEVE THEY HAVE THESE HIGH INFECTION RATES IN LIGHT OF COMMUNITIES.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

THERE ARE SO MANY STUDIES SHOWING THAT KIDS DO BETTER WHEN THEY'RE IN CLASS, IN PERSON, BUT THE VIRUS IS JUST ONLY GETTING MORE INTENSE RIGHT NOW.

KIDS, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE SERIOUS REACTIONS TO THE VIRUS FOR THE MOST PART, THEY CAN STILL BE VECTORS FOR THE VIRUS AND TRANSFER TO IT PEOPLE.

AND WITH THE VACCINE NOT BEING RELEASED OUT TO TEACHERS FOR, IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT STEP, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS LATE JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY WHEN THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF SCHOOLS OPENING UP TO IN-PERSON OR AT LEAST ALL THE SCHOOLS OPENING UP TO IN-PERSON IS STILL A BIT OFF.

>> Bill: MORGAN, LOUISVILLE HIRED ERICASHIELDS TO BE THE NEW POLICE CHIEF.

SHE'S COMING FROM ATLANTA.

SHIELDS IS ALREADY FACING SOME CONTROVERSY.

GIVE US A QUICK ANSWER ON THAT.

>> Morgan: SHE LED THE ATLANTA POLICE THIS SUMMER WHEN AN OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED RAY AS HARD BROOKS.

HE WAS A BLACK MAN IN ATLANTA.

THAT WAS UNDERSTANDABLY, AS MANY OF THESE KINDS OF SHOOTINGS HAVE BEEN, INCREDIBLY CONTROVERSIAL, LED TO A LOT OF OUTCRY, AND SHE RESIGNED AFTER THAT.

NOW SHE'S COMING INTO THE LOUISVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS STILL IN THE MIDST OF A RECKONING OVER THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.

THE SO CERTAINLY THERE WERE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PROTESTING AND PUSHING FOR JUSTICE FOR BREONNA WHO WERE UPSET BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS RESIGNED OVER ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, BLACK PERSON'S DEATH AT THE HANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO BE LEADING.

BUT THEY DID -- SHE AND CITY OFFICIALS ASKED PEOPLE TO LOOK AT HER BROADER TRACK RECORD AND ESSENTIALLY TO GIVE HER A CHANCE.

>> Bill: IS LOUISVILLE'S CURRENT INTERIM CHIEF WAS FIRED.

>> Ryland: JOSHUA JAMES WHO IS THE OFFICER WHO APPLIED TORT THE WARRANT ON BROLIN'S APARTMENT.

HE WAS FIRED FOR LYING ON THAT WARRANT THAT HE HAD REACHED OUT TO THE POST OFFICE WHO HAD GIVEN HIM INFORMATION THAT PACKAGES CONTAINING DRUGS HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO HER APARTMENT AND ALSO COSGROVE WHO FIRED THE FATAL BULLET THAT KILL BROLIN.

>> Bill: ROSH CONNELLY JOINS THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT AFTER 26 YEARS ON THE BENCH IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

STAY TUNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER "COMMENT" FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

RENEE SHAW WILL HIGHLIGHT THE EVENTFUL FIRST WEEK OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.