BUDGET SURPLUS AND THERE'S A RUSH TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER REGISTERED REPUBLICANS OUTNUMBER DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY.

BOTH SIDES AWAIT A COURT RULING THAT THE DETERMINE THE SHORT-TERM ABORTION LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY COVID CASES CONTINUE T MORE AREAS ARE IN THE RED ZONE, AND ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS RETURNS TO MASKS FOR A NICE STRETCH OF JULY WEATHER HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER DIVYA KARTHIKEYAN, CAPITOL BUREAU REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY pu RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND R AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, ARE MORE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR ABOUT TO JUMP IN?

AND DO WRITE-IN CANDIDATES HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE?

BUT LET'S START WITH THE STATE BUDGET SURPLUS.

IT'S A BIG ONE.

KENTUCKY BROUGHT IN $946 MILLI MORE THAN EXPECTED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT JUST ENDED.

IT'S A SIGN THE ECONOMY IS STRONG IN THE STATE.

AND IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE BOTH WANT CREDIT FOR IT.

>> MY ADMINISTRATION HAS DELIVERED NOW THE HIGHEST AND THE SECOND HIGHEST REVENUE SURPLUS IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY THANKS TO STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND A HOT RECORD BREAKING ECONOMY.

>> YEAH,, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FORE IT.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS PAST SESSION WAS A BUDGET SESSION, AND SO WE WORKED ON IT FORE MONTHS ON END TRYING TO COME UP WITH A REALLY FISCAL RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO HOW WE SPEND MONEY IN THE STATE, HOW WE SPEND MONEY WITHIN THE AGENCIES.

>> Bill: SO, MARK, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT BOTH BRANCHES GET SOME CREDIT FOR PUTTING THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN PLACE TO HAVE THIS HISTORIC SURPLUS?

>> Mark: YEAH, I THINK BOTH SIDE SHOULD GET THEIR DUES.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PASSED A LOT OF BUSINESS-FRIENDLY LEGISLATION IN RECENT YEARS.

YOU COULD POINT TO RIGHT-TO-WORK LEGISLATION.

YOU COULD POINT TO A LOT OF TAX REFORMS FORMS.

OF COURSE IT'S IF GOVERNOR'S TEAMS THAT ARE GOING OUT AND TALKING TO THE BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE BRINGING INTO THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR SETS THE TONE.

AND HE ALSO NOTES THAT HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS TO MANAGE THE MONEY.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR WAS NIGH GOOD MOOD ABOUT THIS, AND BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK HE WAS SAYING THERE IS CREDIT TO SPREAD AROUND FOR EVERYBODY.

AUSTIN, BRAGGING RIGHTS CAN BE STRONG POLITICAL CURRENCY WHEN THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD, RIGHT?

>> Austin: THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN.

THERE'S A REASON ANDY BESHEAR REALLY BEATS THIS DRUM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

THE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT IT'S ON FIRE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

AND I THINK SORT OF THE WAY THIS KIND OF STATE ECONOMIC DISCUSSION HAS BEEN HAD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL ONE IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING ONE AND INDICATIVE OF JUST HOW WEIRD OUR ECONOMIC STATE IS RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, ON THE STATE LEVEL YOU HAVE EVERYBODY SCRAMBLING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS SURPLUS, AND THEN NATIONALLY YOU HAVE EVERYBODY SCRAMBLING TO PLACE BLAME ON INFLATION.

YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS DOING VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES AT GAS PUMPS.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY INDICATIVE OF KIND OF THIS CRAZY ATMOSPHERE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: SO RUNNING FROM A DUMPSTER FIRE IN ONE SITUATION, BUT YET KENTUCKY'S NUMBERS SEEM TO BE ALL RIGHT.

HOW WILL THIS SPLORE SURPLUS BE USED NEVADA THAT IS A QUESTION.

NOW BESHEAR AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS CALLED FOR MORE SPENDING, SPECIFIC ON A SCHOOLS AND IN SOME OTHER AREAS, BUT THE LEGISLATURE ULTIMATELY HAS TO SUPPLIED HOW THIS EXTRA ALMOST $1 BILLION CAN BE USED.

AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS REALLY LEANED TOWARD PUTTING 911 THE IN BANK, RAINY DAY FUNDS, RIGHT?

IS THAT WHERE THEY'RE LIKELY TO GO WITH THIS.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I MEAN, BESHEAR HAS MADE SOME SOFT RECOMMENDATIONS SO FAR, BUT WE SAW WITH THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE THAT THEY CERTAINLY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT HIS WORD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE POWER OF THE PURSE IS WITH OUR GOP-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE.

AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT TO MENTION THE RAINY DAY FUND BECAUSE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MASTERMIND OF THE BUDGET ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS, SENATOR CHRIS MCDANIEL WITH REALLY LOVES SAVING AS MUCH MONEY AS HE CAN, SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT.

WE'LL SEE WHERE ELSE IT GOES, BUT IT MAY BE A WHILE UNTIL HE FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Bill: A BILLION HERE, A BILLION HERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE A PRETTY BIG SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE STATE.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW MUCH OUR DAYNE I. RAINY DAY FUND HAS GROWN IN RECENT YEARS.

IT'S A SIGN OF NOW GOOD THE ECONOMY IS AND PROBABLY A SIGN OF THE FISCAL POLICY IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: MARK, THE EXTRA MONEY ALSO TRIGGERS THE FIRST CUT IN THE STATE INCOME TAX.

THE REPUBLICAN PLAN ULTIMATELY IS TO EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE STATE INCOME TAX.

>> Mark: YEAH, EVENTUALLY.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, DAVID OSBORNE, HE ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN IT JANUARY OF 2023.

SO I WOULDN'T DOUBT IF THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE FIRST WEEK TOP PRIORITIES.

IT WILL PROBABLY GET A 1, 2, 3 OR 4 IN THE BILLS.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CRITERIA THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET IN TERMS OF HOW MANY -- HOW MUCH OF A RAINY DAY FUND YOU HAVE AND YOUR GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS, AND WE'RE MEETING THAT CRITERIA.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER KENTUCKY HAS MORE REGISTERED REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS.

THAT REPORT CAME OUT TODAY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

JUNE'S VOTER REGISTRATION TOTALS SHOW REPUBLICANS WITH 1,612,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATIONS NOW IN SECOND PLACE WITH 1,609,000 VOTERS.

A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 2500 VOTERS.

AND, MARK, WE HAVE SEEN THE TRENDS IN VOTING, BUT NOW THIS SHIFT IN ACTUAL REGISTRATION.

WAS THIS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN?

>> Mark: YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I MEAN, BACK IN 99 IT SAYS REPUBLICANS WON THE SENATE, AND THEN YOU SAW IN 2015 MATT BEVIN WON THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND THEN THE VERY NEXT YEAR REPUBLICANS WON THE HOUSE.

SO I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG, SLOW MARCH, AND FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH DEMOCRATS HAD MORE REGISTERED VOTERS, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THOSE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

>> Bill: SENATOR McCONNELL WHO HAS VERY MUCH BEEN AN ERECT OF MODERN-DAY REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTUALLY CONCEDE HE DIDN'T THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD EVER GET THERE WITH TAKING OVER IN REGISTRATION.

THAT WAS AN INTERESTING COMMENT.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO JUST HOW STRONG A GRIP THE DEMOCRATS HAD IN KENTUCKY, I MEAN, FOR A SOUTHERN STATE, THE HOUSE, AS MARK MENTIONED, IT FLIPPED LATE.

IT WAS THE LAST CHAMBER IN THE STOUTH TO FLIP TO REPUBLICAN.

SO I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT McCONNELL, BACK IN 1984, REALLY DIDN'T THINK THE STATE WA GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Bill: THE SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS POINTS OUT THAT 55% OF KENTUCKIANS NOT REPUBLICANS, SO IT IS GOING TO BE INCUMBENT ON BOTH PARTIES THAT IN ORDER TO INWITH ELECTIONS THEY HAVE TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND MORE LIKELY FROM INDEPENDENTS AS WELL.

>> Austin: RIGHT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, AS YOU SAID, THAT IT'S A PLEURALITY OF VOTERS AND NOT NECESSARILY A SIMPLE MAJORITY, SO IT'S NOT OVER 50%.

IT'S THAT A 45% MARK.

AND ONE OTHER DYNAMIC HERE THAT'S WORTH POINTING OUT IS THAT FOR A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, I THINK THIS ONLY APPLIES TO POST-SECONDARY ONES, SO LIKE UNIVERSITY BOARDS OF REGENTS AND TRUSTEES.

THOSE HAVE TO BY LAW REFLECT THE POLITICAL MAKE-UP OF THE TOP TWO PARTIES IN KENTUCKY.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN ODD NUMBER OF REGENTS, SAY A NINE-MEMBER BOARD, THAT'S GOING TO FLIP FROM 5-4 DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICAN TO 5-4 REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN PRACTICE, BUT IT'S A MAJOR PIECE OF POLITICAL CANDY THAT THE REPUBLICANS GET A A LITTLE EXTRA OUT OF.

>> Bill: AND WE WILL SEE IN SOME GOVERNORS LASER STRIKE SOME OF THE THOSE NON-PARTISANS INTO VOTES AS WELL.

DID I HAVEN, WE'RE ALL LIVING UNDER NEW LAWS OF THE LAND.

HUNDREDS OF NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT THIS YEAR, 234 TO BE SPECIFIC, INCLUDING IN THE AREAS OF CONTACT LENS JUSTICE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, TRANSGENDER ATHLETES, SCHOOL SECURITY AND PORCH PIRATES WHO STEAL PACKAGES RIGHT FROM YOUR HOME.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF NEW ISSUES OUT THERE THAT NOW HAVE SOME ANSWER IN TERMS OF LAWS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

>> Divya: THAT'S HOUSE BILL 7, AND IT SEEMED A LOT OF -- FROM HOW IF ORIGINAL INTENTIONS FOR IT.

THERE'S HIGH RESTRICTIONS.

IT STARTED OUT AS HIGH RESTRICTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO GET WORK IN ORDER TO GET SNAP BENEFITS AND MEDICAID, BUT NOW THEY HAVE SORT OF EASED ON THOSE RESTRICTIONS BY SAYING THAT ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS NEED TO HAVE EITHER VOLUNTEER WORK OR ANY KIND OF WORK REQUIREMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE.

IF THEY ARE SENIOR CITIZENS OR HAVE CHILDREN AS DEPENDENTS, THEY WILL SORT OF BE EXEMPT FROM THAT.

ALSO LEVIES HIGHER PENALTIES ON ANY KIND OF SNAP BENEFITS OR FOOD ASSISTANCE FRAUD.

I THINK THE MAIN CRITICISM THAT EVERYBODY IS STILL TALKING ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO REALLY BURDEN THE CABINET STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SO MUCH PAPERWORK TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS COMMITTING FRAUD AND THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE COMPLAINTS.

>> Bill: ON THE ENFORCEMENT END, WHILE THE LAW CALLS FOR IT, THERE WAS NO EXTRA MONEY REALLY FOR THAT FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> Divya: THAT'S RIGHT, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A FUNDING MECHANISM OR EVEN A STAFFING ISSUE AS WELL SO THATY HE'S NOT REALLY BEEN RESOLVED, AND THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE RESOLVED FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE.

>> Bill: SEVERAL OF THE NEW LAWS INVOLVE OUR SCHOOLS.

ONE IS THAT SCHOOL BOARDS WILL HOW BE REQUIRED TO REQUIRED TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THEIR MEETINGS.

SOME ALREADY DO BUT NOW IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND.

>> Divya: YEAH.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS BECAUSE INITIALLY THERE WOULD BE THREE MINUTES THAT WAS ALLOWED, AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE 15 MINUTES, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF AGGRIEVED PARENTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMING OUT WITH CRITICISMS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE COORDINATOR PANDEMIC, ABOUT RESTRICTIONS, ABOUT MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS AND ALSO ABOUT HOW RACE AND U.S. HISTORY NEED TO BE TAUGHT.

>> Bill: SCHOOLS ARE UNDER RULES FOR TEACHING ABOUT RACE AND SCHOOL HISTORIES AS THEY BEGIN A NEW YEAR HERE IN A FEW WEEKS.

>> Divya: YEAH, THIS IS AN INTERESTING MOVE THAT WAS SORT OF IN THE LAST-MINUTE TACKED ONTO ANOTHER BILL THAT BASICALLY VESTED POWER IN SUPERINTENDENTS INSTEAD OF THESE BOARDS THAT WOULD MAKE DIVISIONS ON WHAT NEEDED TO BE TAUGHT IN KENTUCKY SCHOOLS, SO THIS BILL BASICALLY, IT'S CALLED THE SO-CALLED ANTI-CRT BILL, AND IT'S SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE OF BILLS THAT ARE COMING OUT IN -- ARE BEING INTRODUCED IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE U.S.

THEY PARTICULARLY OUTLINE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS OR SPEECHES THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, ONE NOTABLE IS A 1964 RONALD REAGAN SPEECH WHERE HE RAILS AGAINST WELFARE AND A COUPLE MORE THINGS THAT PARTICULARLY POINT OUT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO DEFINE RACIAL DISPARITIES BASED ON SLAVERY OR JIM CROW ERA IN ORDER TO PUSH FORWARD THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A CONSEQUENCE AND IT MIGHT CHALLENGE THE UNIFICATION OF THE NATION.

>> Bill: MARK, HOW WILL SCHOOLS GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THAT?

IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN TEACHING HISTORY FOR SOME YEARS, NOW THEY HAVE GUIDELINES HANDED DOWN FROM FRANKFORT THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET.

DO YOU IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME MEETINGS ABOUT THAT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS?

>> Mark: YEAH, I'LL BET.

BILL, THE PRINCIPALS AND THE TEACHERS WERE ASKING THAT EXACT SAME QUESTION OVER THE SESSION, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ENFORCE THIS?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR A TEACHER WHO IS TRYING TO TEACH SOCIAL STUDIES?

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE TEACHING MATH WHERE 2 PLUS 2 EQUALS 4.

THESE ARE NUANCED, TRICKY THINGS TO TEACH ABOUT.

>> Bill: THE HERALD-LEADER, AUSTIN, IF A REPORT TAYLOR SMITH AT YOUR STAFF HOW JAILS ARE GETTING CROWD NOW THAT COVID RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE IN JAILS OR PRISONS IN THE STATE.

YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN JAIL IN KENTUCKY THAN ABOUT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

BUT SOME OF THE NEW LAWS ON FENTANYL WITH EVEN THE PORCHIT PIRATING BILL THAT MAKES THAT A FELONY IF YOU STEAL FROM SOMEBODY'S PORCH MEANS THAT THOSE FACILITIES WILL LIKELY BE HOLDINGS MORE.

>> Austin: IT WAS A PRETTY DIRE PORTRAIT OF THE LOCAL JOIN COUNTY JAIL SITUATION HAS IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THEY'RE INCENTIVIZED TO HAVE MORE INMATES.

IT'S MORE HEADS IN BEDS THAT'S OPEN USED FOR MORE FUNDING.

I THINK OUR REPORTER TAYLOR POINTED OUT THAT MADISON COUNTY AND PULASKI COUNTY BOTH HAD TWO TIMES MORE INMATES THAN BEDS, WHICH I JUST CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND HOW THAT WORKS, AND SHE ALSO FOUND THAT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LAWS WERE PASSED IN RECENT YEARS THAT INCREASED SENTENCING AS OPPOSED TO ONES THAT DECREASED, SO WE CAN EXPECT THAT PROBLEM TO GET EVEN WORSE BASED ON THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED RECENTLY.

>> Bill: SOME BILLS THAT WERE SET TO GO INTO EFFECT ON THURSDAY ARE BEING PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY HELD UP BY THE COURTS RIGHT NOW.

AUSTIN, A JUDGE HAS BLOCKED THE LAW THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMMISSION AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND HAND THOSE OVER TO OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMMISSION.

THAT'S KIND OF A MOUTHFUL.

AND THEY'RE ALL APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK MAYBE TWO OF THE FIVE ARE TECHNICALLY NOMINATED BY THE AG AND AUDITOR.

BUT THIS BILL WOULD HAVE MORE -- IT WOULD HAVE WOULD SCRAP THE BOARD AND IT WOULD HAVE REDISTRIBUTED THOSE APPOINTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND IT GOT HELD UP IN COURT.

REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE IT, SO WE'LL SEE IF IT GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> MICHON: >> Bill: MARK, THERE IS ALSO A BLOCK OH PART OF A EDUCATION LAW THAT SPECIFICALLY TARGETED JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS.

>> Mark: YEAH, THIS IS ONE SMALL PART OF SENATE BILL 1 WHICH ALSO ADDRESSED CRITICAL RACE THEORY BUT THIS ONE PARTICULAR PART THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, THE JEFFERS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CALLED IT AN ARBITRATOR A CERTIFICATION OF POWER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY TARGETED JCPS EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T NAME JCPS.

IT NAMED A BOARD OF EDUCATION IN A CONSOLIDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND IT SHIFTED POWER FROM THE BOARD TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ALSO LIMITED THEM TO ONLY MEETING ONCE A MONTH AND THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SAIDS THIS NOT FAIR.

YOU'RE TARGETING US.

THAT JEFFERS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE AGREED BUT I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL WORK ITS WAY UP THE COURTS.

>> Bill: MARK, I KNOW YOUR STORY ON FRIDAY WAS THAT THE INTERIM COMMITTEES ARE MEETING NOW AND LEGISLATORS HEARD FROM THE STATE SCHOOL SECURITY MARSHAL ARE SCHOOLS GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW RULES THAT ARE ON THEM FOR AUGUST 1st WITH THOSE SROs ON EVERY CAMPUS?

>> Mark: WELL, THEY'RE ALREADY COMPLYING WITH THE LAW IN SOME AREAS, LIKE IN PHYSICAL SECURITY UPGRADES AND THE BUILDS.

ON SROs, WE'VE GOT 545 SROs IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE NEED 600 MORE.

NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE HIRING THIS SUMMER, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER THIS YEAR.

THE NUMBERS WILL PROBABLY BE A LOT BETTER.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR COMPONENT.

LAST YEAR'S ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOUND THAT ONLY 42 PERCENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN KENTUCKY HAD THE RATIO OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS TO STUDENTS THAT THE LAW CALLED FOR THAT THEY WANTED ONE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION, ONE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 250 STUDENTS.

ONLY 42% OF KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE MEETING THAT.

SO THE ASSESSMENT, THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT COMES OUT NEXT MONTH AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE WAITING FOR THAT.

>> Bill: A SOBER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT TODAY IT SOUNDS LIKE IN FRANKFORT AS TO WHERE THINGS STAND.

>> Mark: YES, ESPECIALLY WITH UVALDE.

>> Bill: SPEAKING OF THE COURTS, THE ABORTION LANDSCAPE IS IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY AFTER ROE V. WADE WAS STRUCK DOWN BY THE U.S. SPEAKER.

PI RULING COULD COME EARLY NEXT WEEK THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME CLARITY UNTIL A COURT DECIDES IF KENTUCKY'S TRIGGER LAW, WHICH EFFECTIVELY BANS THE PROCEDURE, CAN BE ENFORCED.

>> Divya: YEAH, SO JUDGE MITCH PERRY BASICALLY BLOCKED TWO LAWS, WHICH WAS A TRIGGER LAW, AS WELL AS THE 6-WEEK ABORTION BAN.

THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE HEARINGS.

THE MOST RECENTLY HEARING THAT HAPPENED WAS ON BEHALF OF THE TWO MAIN AND ONLY ABORTION CENTERS IN KENTUCKY, EMW AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD, ARE SEEKING A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION ON THESE LAWS, AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A SEVEN-HOUR HEARING.

THERE WERE FOUR WITNESSES, TWO OF WHOM WERE OB/GYNs, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM, AS WELL AS TWO POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND A LAW PROFESSOR WHO BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF AN ABORTION BAN AS WELL AS BIOETHICS.

>> Bill: THIS COULD COME MONDAY.

FINAL ARGUMENTS ARE DUE MONDAY AND THE JUDGE COULD DECIDE AT ANY POINT.

>> Divya: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ULTIMATELY THE DECISION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN A TRIAL.

NOW, DEBBIE YETTER REPORTS IN THE COURIER-JOURNAL THAT A 15 WEEK ABORTION BAN IS BEING ALLOWED TO GO INTO EFFECT.

THAT'S PART OF THAT LAW.

>> Divya: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Bill: DIVVY, YOU ALSO SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE LAW THAT IS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED, ALSO ATTEMPTS TO HEAVILY RESTRICT ABORTION MEDICATIONS.

IT'S BANNED FROM BEING SENT THROUGH THE MAIL.

THAT NO APPEARS IT MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FEDERAL RULES.

>> Divya: THAT'S RIGHT.

SO AS OF NOW, BECAUSE OF THE BLOCK ON THE ABORTION BILL, MEDICATION ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL AND THE ONLY ISSUE HERE IS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND CAME OUT VERY STRONGLY AGAINST GOP-LED STATES THAT ARE TRYING TO BAN MEDICATION ABORTION BECAUSE IT WOULD GO AGAINST THE F DAs EXPERT JUDGMENT ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THESE MEDICATIONS.

ANOTHER VERY CONCERNING PART OF THIS, WHICH IS ALSO BRINGING UP FEAR AROUND DOCTORS LOSING THEIR LICENSES AND THIS CULTURAL SURVEILLANCE.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE FACT THAT HOUSE BILL 3, WHICH IS THE OMNIBUS ABORTION BILL, ALSO MONITORS WHICH PHARMACIES AND PROVIDERS WOULD PROVIDE MEDICATION ABORTION, ALSO BRINGS IN INFORMED CONSENT WOULD INCLUDE ABORTION PILL REVERSAL METHODS WHICH HAVE NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS, BUT THAT WOULD BE PART OF INFORMED CONSENT.

IT WOULD ADD ANOTHER LAYER TO WHAT KENTUCKY'S REGULATIONS ARE.

>> Bill: IS ON A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN.

AUSTIN, SENATOR McCONNELL THIS WEEK PRAISED THE COURT FOR THE ROE V. WADE DECISION AND INDICATED HIS OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY RIGHT NOW.

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE JUDICIARY FOR McCONNELL IS ONE OF HIS BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IF NOT THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS CAREER.

HE SHEPHERDED TONS OF JUDGES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY DURING THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A LASTING PART OF HIS LEGACY.

>> Bill: AND THERE ARE SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS TODAY ON THE POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT OF A FEDERAL JUDGE MERE IN KENTUCKY.

RIGHT?

>> Austin: EXACTLY.

YEAH, WE SAW CHAD MEREDITH, WHO WAS REPORTEDLY PLANNED TO BE NOMINATED AS KIND OF A DEAL BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

IT IS REPORTED NOW THAT MEAL NOT BE NOMINATED.

HE WILL NOT BE NOMINATED.

IS THAT CORRECT?

I THINK SENATOR RAND PAUL HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> Mark: WE JUST SAW THIS REPORTING AS WE WERE GETTING READY FOR THIS SHOW, AND APPARENTLY SENATOR PAUL BASICALLY EXERCISED SOME KIND OF VETO THAT HE HAS BY NOT SUBMITTING WHAT THEY CALL A BLUE SLIP, SO IT ALL CAME DOWN TO SENATOR PAUL.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, DID HE JUST NOT WANT THIS DEAL, IF THERE EVEN WAS A DEAL, WHERE BIDEN WOULD GIVE McCONNELL THE JUDGE THAT McCONNELL WANTED AND THEN McCONNELL WOULD LET BIDEN GET HIS JUDGES.

MAYBE THERE WAS THAT DEAL.

BUT THEN I SAW THIS QUOTE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES WHERE McCONNELL WAS LIKE, THERE WAS NO DEAL, YOU KNOW, AND HE WAS SAYING RAND PAUL, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WAS POINTLESS.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TEXT MESSAGE BETWEEN McCONNELL AND PAUL.

>> Austin: AND WE DO HAVE FROM CHARLES BOOKER, RAND PAUL'S GENERAL ELECTION OPPONENT.

HE SAYS THAT PAUL OPPOSED IT SO HE COULD PINT HIS OWN JUDGE, SO HE'S THAT IS AN ACCUSATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE NO IDEA OF ITS SUBSTANTIATED AT ALL.

>> Bill: AS WE PICK UP THE PACE JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE LET'S DO THE SENATE RACE QUICKLY.

THERE ARE FLEW NUMBERS OUT IN THAT, AND RAND PAUL HAS RAISED A LOT OF NUMBER IN THE LAST QUARTER.

>> Austin: SENATOR PAUL HAS RAISED $3.5 MILLION, I BELIEVE, OR -- IT'S AROUND THERE.

AND BOOKER HAS NOT REPORTED HIS FINANCIALS AS OF YET, BUT I WOULD EXPECT A STRONGER QUARTER THAN HE'S PREVIOUSLY POSTED.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NEXT YEAR, 2023, CONTINUES TO BE VERY INTERESTING.

BESHEAR OBVIOUSLY STAYING VERY VISIBLE.

HE DOESN'T ANTICIPATE MUCH OF A PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

REPUBLICANS OBVIOUSLY HAVE THIS VERY CROWD HUGE AND GROWING FIELD.

WE'RE HEARING THAT FORM POURER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT IS LIKELY TO JUMP INTO THE RACE LIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY.

WHY IS SHE WAITING?

>> Austin: I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A PERFECT ANSWER FOR YOU THERE, BUT I THINK MONEY MIGHT BE ONE REASON.

YOU GET IN EARLY SO YOU CAN GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE, REALLY BEAT THE BUSHES, AND WORK YOUR DONORS, AND KELLY CRAFT, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, SHE'S MARRIED TO A VERY WEALTHY MAN WHO IS WORTH OVER $1.5 BILLION, SO YOU HAVE TO PRESUME THAT MONEY IS NO ISSUE IN THIS RACE FOR HER IF SHE DECIDES TO JUMP IN, SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF HURDLING BLOCK AS THE OTHERS DO.

BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN SHE ACTUALLY DOES.

>> Bill: WE KEEP HEARING FORMER GOVERN'S GOVERNOR BEVIN'S WE KNOW SAVANNAH MADDOX HAD A STRONG RAISING.

>> Austin: MADDOX RAISED $6 MILLION.

THIS IS A GOOD NUMBER FOR HER CAMPAIGN GIVEN WHO SHE'S BEEN RUNNING AGAINST STOW FAR IN DANIEL CAMERON RON AND RYAN QUARLES, BOTH OF WHOM ARE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, AND THE WHOLE BEVIN, WILL HE OR WON'T HE RUN DRAMA HAS KIND OF BEEN PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE'LL SEE.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IF MADDOX IS IN, THAT KIND OF HURTS HIS ODDS, AND I THINK IF SHE WERE TO STEP OUT AND HIM TO COME IN, THEN PERHAPS THERE WOULD BE A BETTER LANE FOR THE FORMER GOVERNOR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL JUST KIND OF CONJECTURE AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: WE HAVE WRITE-IN CANDIDATES IN 6th DISTRICT AND THEN STATE SENATE SEAT AROUND LOUISVILLE, SO THOSE ARE RELATIVELY HEAVY LIFTS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS AS THE CAMPAIGN GOES ALONG.

COVID CASES ARE INCREASING.

JOHNS HOPKINS IS REPORTING 3,000 AMERICANS DIED FROM COVID LAST WEEK.

KENTUCKY HAS MORE COUNTIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF TRANSMISSION.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR BROUGHT THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. STEPHEN STACK TO THE MICROPHONE THIS WEEK TO ADDRESS THE SURGE.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE DISEASE IS SPREADING RAMPANT.

WE KNOW THAT THIS DISEASE, WHEREAS THE THE EARLIER VERSION OF COVID ONE PERSON WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE INFECTED THREE OR SO OTHERS, ONE PERSON WITH THE CURRENT OMICRON BA.5 VARIANT COULD INFECT 18 OR MORE PEOPLE.

THAT'S HOW EASILY THIS SPREADS.

>> Bill: MARK, THE COVID NUMBERS CLIMBING.

HERE'S THE NEW MAP.

LOOK AT ALL RED IN EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY, IN THE BLUEGRASS REGION AS WELL.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 17%.

TOYOTA REQUIRING MASKS FOR ITS WORKFORCE IN GEORGETOWN FOR NOW.

CONCERNS ONCE AGAIN.

>> Mark: BILL, I DON'T LIKE THAT MAP AT ALL, AND I WOULDN'T DOUBT IT IF MORE EMPLOYERS MIGHT PRISONER MASKS.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE.

EL TOPGOLF APPARENTLY COMING ALONG IN LOUISVILLE, RIGHT?

>> Alex: YEAH, WHEN YOU DRIVE THERE DOWNSTATE 64 YOU SEE THE PAUL STALL POLES WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HANG THE NETTING TO CATCH THE GOLF BALLS.

>> Bill: WE HEARD LATE TODAY WORD ABOUT A NEW SCENARIO FOR THE BRENT SPENCE THE BRIDGE, APPARENTLY THROUGH TRAFFIC MIGHT MOVE ON A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE LOCAL TRAFFIC ON THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.

24TH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN KENTUCKY HAS PASSED A FAIRNESS ORDINANCE.

LEADERS IN ELSMERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY VOTED FOUR-TO-1 TO APPROVE YOU CAN PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

THE NATION'S NEW POET LAUREATE WILL BE A KENTUCKIAN.

ADALY MOAN.

SHE'S A RESIDENT OF LEXINGTON WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA.

LIMOL HAS WRITTEN SUCTION MOAT RI DIRECTIONS AND HOSTS A PODCAST.

THE LIBRARY OF END CONGRESS SHED SHEED A POET WHO CONNECTS.

SHE BEGINS HER TENURE IN SEPTEMBER.

TUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW DISCUSSES THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD