KENTUCKY COVID NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING AGAIN, APPARENTLY FUELED BY THE DELTA VARIANT AS SCHOOLS FACE MAJOR Decisions AUDITOR MIKE HARMON BECOMES THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO OFFICIALLY ENTER THE 2023 KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S race A BUSINESSMAN WHO TRIED TO GET GOVERNOR BESHEAR IMPEACHED JUMPS INTO A STATE SENATE PRIMARY.

THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION STARTS OVER IN TRYING TO FIX THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

SUMMER STORMS KEEP ROLLING ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB I ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR COURIER-JOURNAL.

ALSO TONIGHT, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SEIZES ON THE HISTORIC KENTUCKY BUDGET SURPLUS TO AGAIN CALL FO RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER STATE WORKERS.

AND MANY CAR DEALERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE COPING WITH NEARLY EMPTY LOTS AND CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO BUY RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'LL GET TO ALL OF THAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY ONCE AGAIN A CLIMB IN COVID NUMBERS DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION AS WE HIT THE AIR TONIGHT.

ALEX, THE CASE COUNT IS GOING UP.

WITH LARGELY AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS UP, SAID TO BE THE DELTA VARIANT THAT IS FUELING IT.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

AS YOU SAID, CASES ARE UP.

WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE THE THIRD WEEK OF RISING CASES, POSITIVITY UP.

POSITIVITY RATE IS UP AT A RATE THAT IT HEYNS BEEN SINCE EARLY MARCH.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S FUELED BY THE DELTA VARIANT EVEN THOUGH KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED VERY FEW CASES OF DELTA VARIANT BUT THE CDC HAS SAID IN RECENT WEEKS THAT AT LEAST HALF OF ALL NEW CASES BEING DIAGNOSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE THE DELTA VARIANT WHICH IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT DIRECTLY CORRELATES WITH LOW YOU VACCINATION RATES IN MANY OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES.

OVERALL WE HAVE 50% OF PEOPLE VACCINATED BUT IN ALMOST 70 KEV COUNTY'S THEY HAVE A VACCINATION RATE OF 40 POURS LOWER AND THAT IS LOW AND A DOZEN WITH 30% OR LOWER, SO MANY PLACES ACROSS THE STATE ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, AND I EXPECT THAT WE WILL START TO SEE MORE SURGES HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE COUNTIES BACK IN THE RED.

>> Bill: SOME IN EASTERN, SOME IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Laura: LEVERAGES RIGHT.

AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CAN DO TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> Bill: YOU PUBLISHED AN INTERESTING STORY PUBLISHED ON KENTUCKY.COM THIS EVENING.

REALLY A PEOPLE STORY.

WERE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS TERM OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE VACCINATIONS, ABOUT THEIR OWN FEARS AND CONCERNS.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

>> Alex: I SPENT SOME TIME IN EARN R. EASTERN KENTUCKY RECENTLY FOLLOWING SOME PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AS THEY TRIED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH VACCINE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PRETTY RESISTANT TO IT, ONE IN BLISS COUNTY HAS A RATE OF JUST UNDER 24%, OTHERS ARE UNDER 30%, AND SO I FOLLOWED SOME PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SOME OF THEM ARE LITERALLY BRINGING VACCINE TO PEOPLE'S DOORS IF THEY ASK FOR IT.

MANY ARE HOLDING MOBILE VACCINATION UNITS AND NOBODY IS SHOWING UP.

ANOTHER WEIRD PHENOMENA THAT'S TAKING PLACE NOW IS EACH VIALITY OF VACCINE CONTAINS MULTIPLE OFFICIALS MIGHT HAVE TWO PEOPLE COME INTO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO WANT A DOSE, GIVE A SHOT AND WASTE THE REST BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS NOT THERE.

SO YOU HAVE COUNTIES THAT ARE VERY UNVACCINATED AND THEY ARE WASTING DOSES.

GRANTED, THEY ARE PLENTIFUL.

BUT IT'S SIGN OF TIMES.

IT'S HOW MUCH IT HAS CHANGED.

>> Bill: SUMMER BREAK IS FLYING BY AT THIS POINT.

SCHOOLS ARE FACING SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS, MANY OF THEM HAVING TO MAKE THOSE DITIONS RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST, WHETHER TO REQUIRE MASKS AMONG UNVACCINATED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS THE CDC RECOMMENDS.

>> Alex: RIGHT, AND SO PUBLIC HEALTH FISHES JUST THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY CAME OUT WITH THEIR OWN GUIDANCE, WHICH IS OF UNVACCINATED STUDENTS SHOULD WEAR MASKS INDOORS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THAT IS TOO HARD TO SORT OF SELECTIVELY REQUIRE TO JUST UNIVERSALLY REQUIRE THEM.

ALSO IF YOU LIVE IN A COUNTY WHERE THE VACCINATION RATE IS PARTICULARLY LOW CONSIDER REQUIRING THEM.

AND WE ARE ON THAT TRACK.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNTIES AS A SAID WITH LOW VACCINATION RATES.

LIGHT OF COUNTIES ARE GOING TO START SEEING MORE SPREAD, AND SCHOOLERS A PRIME LOCATION FOR MORE SPREAD JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE OF CLUSTERED TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF, BREATHING THE SAME AIR, SO WILL IT CONTRIBUTE TO IT DEFINITELY.

>> Bill: SO THESE TOUGH DECISIONS ARE COMING, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSIAL AND PUSHBACK ABOUT THOSE DECISIONS, AND, MORGAN, WHEN CANDIDATES RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARDS, YOU WOULD THINK THEY IMAGINE THEY'D BE DEALING WITH BUDGETS, MIGHT HAVE TO HIRE A SUPERINTENDENT, MIGHT FACE A CONTROVERSY WILL A BUILDING, THIS SORT OF THING.

BUT THIS PANDEMIC HAS FORCED THEM TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS, PUT SO MANY OF THEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT, SOMETIMES IN A LOT OF PUBLIC AGENCIES AGENCIES.

WERE MANY OF THEM PREPARED FOR THIS?

>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANYONE WHO GOT ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST FALL, NO.

I MEAN, WHO RUNS FOR SCHOOL BOARD THINKING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC?

, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVING ON IT FOR YEARS, RIGHT?

RIGHTS JUST NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD EXPECT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH, YEAH, TO HAVE TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS REALLY THAT EFFECT CHILDREN IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SO MUCH DISAGREEMENT AMONG PARENTS ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS FOR THEIR KIDS AND FOR OTHER KIDS.

IT'S A LOT OF PUBLIC PRESSURE, AND IT'S LOT OF I'M SURE JUST PERSONAL PRESSURE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, MAN, WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO HERE?

>> Bill: A LOT OF THOSE STATIONS PIERCE WILL BE MADE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS A LOT OF THE DISTRICTS ARE TRIALING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW AND HOPE FOR SOME REVERSAL IN THIS TREND WE'RE SEEING NOW COVID.

AND ALSO A BYPRODUCT OF THIS HAS BEEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE SHUT DOWNS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

CHRIS, A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS WE ALL KNOW ABOUT REGARDING THAT.

AND THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION HOW HAS BASICALLY DECIDED TO START OVER IN TRYING TO FIX THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

>> Chris: THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, BILL, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW, OKAY, THE ULTIMATE FIXED FOR THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELEAGUERED UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS TO REBUILD IT FROM SCRATCH.

IT'S A VERY OLD COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND THAT IS THE GENESIS OF ALL THIS.

THE STATE IS TRYING TO CHOOSE A CONTRACTOR TO DO THAT, AND LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW EVEN ONCE THEY DO THAT, THEY'RE AT THE END OF THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE CONTRACTOR, IT WILL BE TWO OR THREE YEARS BEFORE THIS NEW SYSTEM IS IN PLACE.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, AND THERE ARE MANY, WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW SYSTEM, BUT THAT IS THE ULTIMATE FIXED.

WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK, COURTESY OF THE HERALD-LEADER WITH THE SCOOP, IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO REBID THIS CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR 16 MONTHS, STARTOVER FROM SCRATCH.

THE EXPLANATION FROM THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY MEASURES FOR THIS NEW SYSTEM, SO THEY DECIDED TO START FROM SCRATCH, GIVE THE CONTRACTORS A NEW CHANCE TO COMPETE FOR THIS WORK.

SO NOW THIS IS EVEN FARTHER AWAY.

>> Bill: WILL IT COST MORE TO HAVE THESE SECURITY ELEMENTS INCLUDED?

>> Chris: A APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T KNOW THE MATIC AND WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MATERIAL MAGNITUDE, BUT OVERALL THERE'S $40 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SET ASIDE THROUGH NORMAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES TO FUND THIS.

IT COULD BE UP TO $60 MILLION, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN TESTIFIED, SO IT'S A BIG JOB.

>> Bill: HOW MUCH IS THIS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT STATE GOVERNMENT?

WE KNOW THE AUTO REGISTRATION SYSTEM WAS DOWN LAST WEEK AND PART OF THIS WEEK AND LED TO LINES AND SOME ANGER IN COURTHOUSES.

DOES KENTUCKY SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT CAME ONLINE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE DATA PROCESSING OF DIGITAL ERA IN THE 1980S AND SO FORTH THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF UPGRADES NOW.

>> Chris: I THINK SO.

I MEAN CERTAINLY UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, AND I THINK THE REASON, BILL, IS JUST THAT WHEN YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, DOING THESE SORT OF BACK-END IMPROVEMENTS THAT REALLY DO PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN BUT DON'T REALLY HAVE AN IMMEDIATE FLASHY, SHOWY ASPECT TO THEM 1 THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO DO THEM, SO THESE DECISIONS KEEP BEING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING MORE FLASHY TO SPEND THE MONEY ON UNTIL THE SITUATION GETS SO BAD THAT THERE'S POLITICAL PRESSURE TO ACTUALLY FIX IT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> Bill: IT'S LIKE SEWER LINES.

IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO RIBBON CUTTINGS.

IS THAT THE POINT?

>> Chris: UNTIL YOU NEED ONE.

>> Bill: HAS THE STATE MADE PROGRESS ON BACKLOG OF CLAIMS, THOUGH?

>> Chris: THIS IS A STORY THAT I DAY COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THE BACKLOG OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

THIS WAS BACK WHEN HE WAS ANNOUNCING THE HIRE OF THE OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR, ACCOUNTING FIRM ERNST & YOUNG.

BASICALLY THE LONG AND SORT OF IT, BILL, IS NO, THE BACKLOG HAS ONLY GROWN 1ST MORE MONTHS OF CLAIMS HAVE COME IN AND STACKED UP, AND EVEN THE MODEST GOAL THAT THE GOVERNOR SET LAST SUMMER WHEN HE SAID BY THE END OF JULY WE WANT TO HAVE THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC, THOSE BACKLOG CLAIMS CLEARED OUT, THAT STILL NOT BEEN ACHIEVED A YEAR LATER.

>> Bill: MORGAN, THERE'S STILL IS AN UNSETTLED WORKFORCE OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH LOTS OF HELP WANTED SIGNS OUT.

THIS WEEK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON CALLED ON GOVERNOR TO END THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN NEARLY UNISON IN THAT.

IS THE GOVERNOR SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF BUDGING AND MAYBE DROPPING THOSE BEFORE THEY EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER?

>> NOT RIGHT NOW.

HE HASN'T GIVEN AN ABSOLUTE NO AS FAR AS I'M AWARE BUT I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY THAT HE'LL CUT IT OFF.

THOSE BENEFITS, THE BONUS BENEFITS ARE SET TO EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER ANYWAY.

IT'S ALREADY THE MIDDLE OF JULY.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT -- HE'S KIND OF MADE THE PITCH THAT, LOOK, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS SOME REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS ARE MAKING IT SEEM.

HE TALKS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BY PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS, THAT'S MORE MONEY THAT FLOWS INTO LOCAL ECONOMIES AROUND KENTUCKY.

HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN JUST PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING EXTRA MONEY BY GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

HE TALKS ABOUT IT'S SUMMERTIME.

PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING CHILD CARE FOR THEIR KIDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO HE KIND OF SAYS, LOOK, HE'S VERY RETICENT TO CUT THOSE OFF.

>> Chris: I CAN REMEMBER, TOO, BILL, HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THIS BASICALLY COMPROMISE POLICY WHERE HE IS TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND GO BACK TO WORK WITH THIS $1,500 BACK-TO-WORK BONUS.

WE WILL NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TAKE THAT DEAL.

YOU CAN'T EVEN APPLY FOR IT UNTIL AUGUST.

SO THE JURY IS DEFINITELY OUT ON WHETHER THAT IS MAKING AN IMPACT BUT I THINK THE PRESSURE TO GET RID OF THE $300 UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DEFINITELY DROVE THE GOVERNOR IN THAT DIRECTION OF OFFERING MORE OF A CARROT APPROACH.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS ALSO MAKING NOTE OF THE HISTORIC $1.1 BILLION SURPLUS THAT WE REPORTED HERE LAST WEEK AS IT WAS COMING OUT.

AGAIN, HE IS CALLING FOR RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES.

THE LEGISLATURE REJECTED RAISES BACK IN LAST SESSION WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS UNCERTAIN.

SENATE BUDGET CHAIRMAN CHRIS MCDANIEL SAID LAWMAKERS ARE IN NO RUSH TO PEND THIS EXTRA MONEY, THE SURPLUS, AND HE SAYS THEY MAY HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES, SO THIS ALSO LOOKS TO BE POTENTIALLY CONTENTIOUS IN TERMS OF RAISES FOR PUBLIC WORKERS.

>> Morgan: SURE.

BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS CONTENTIOUS.

YOU EVEN SOW IT BACK WHEN GOVERNOR BEVIN WAS GOVERNOR, THERE WERE SOME DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN HIM AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, SO ESPECIALLY NOW.

YOU LOOK AT ONE BIG ONE THAT COMES TO MIND FORE POTENTIAL OTHER PRIORITIES IS THE MASSIVE PENSION DEBTS THAT THE STATE HAS.

SO, YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS COMPLICATED.

I THINK IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY COMPLICATED WHEN YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE ISSUES COMING UP POST PANDEMIC, BUT LETTERS A LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT OR COULD BE SAVED.

>> Bill: REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, CHRIS, SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WOULD BE RELYING ON ONE-TIME MONEY, THE COVID RELIEF MONEY WON'T LAST, THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE SURPLUSES GOING FORWARD.

THAT IS THE POINT THAT THEY MAKE.

ARE THEY VULNERABLE ON THE QUESTION OF -- THAT IT APPEARS TOBY COLD TO NOT BE GIVING -- TO BE COLD TO NOT BE GIVING STATE WORKERS A MODEST RAISE?

>> Chris: I DON'T KNOW IF STATE WORKERS ARE NECESSARILY THEIR CONSTITUENCY, AND JUST IN AN ORGANIZED WAY THEY'RE PROBABLY MORE THE CONSTITUENT OF DEMOCRATS, SO THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING MORE ABOUT VOTERS MORE BROADLY, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRUE.

GOOD BUDGETING PRACTICE SAYS YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE ONE-TIME MONEY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.

I THINK IN GENERAL REPUBLICANS ARE RELUCTANT TO EXPAND THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT OF, JUST GOING RIGHT BACK TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT AGAIN, BESHEAR WANTED TO HIRE 90 PEOPLE TO RESTORE THE ONES THAT WERE CUT UNDER THE BEVIN ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK BETTER, I AM IMPROVE THE LEVELFULS PUBLIC SERVICE.

REPUBLICANS GAVE HIM THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BUT ONLY WITH TIME-LIMITED PEOPLE, NOT PERMANENT STATE EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD HAVE JOB GUARANTEES BECAUSEY DO NOT WANT TO PERMANENT EXPAND STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR PRONOUNCED THE STATE'S ECONOMY ON FIRE LAST WEEK.

DO YOU GET THE SENSE BUSINESS LEADERS WOULD AGREE WITH A TERM LIKE THAT SORRY IS THAT TOO STRONG?

>> Chris: IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT TOO EXUBERANT I THINK, BILL, BUT JUST TO BRING SOME CONTEXT HERE, BOTH THE U.S. AND KENTUCKY STILL HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WERE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I BROUGHT SOME STATS WITH ME.

AT THE U.S. LEVEL IT'S 75% OF LOST JOBS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED.

IN KENTUCKY 72%.

SO I THINK THE ECONOMY IS DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO PUSH OUT POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS, AND I DEFINITELY NOTICED THAT LATELY.

YOU GET PRESS RELEASES ABOUT 20 JOBS HERE AND 30 JOBS THERE.

SO THEY DEFINITELY ARE LOOKING TO PUSH THAT NARRATIVE.

>> Bill: HE'S ALREADY SAID HE IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, AND MANY OTHERS APPARENTLY WANT HIS JOB.

STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON BECAME THE FIRST OF WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, RATHER THAN TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RIVAL IN HIS OWN PARTY, THOUGH, HE SET HIS SIGHTS RIGHT ON THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.

>> CHURCHES WERE SHUT DOWN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ABORTION CLINICS STAYED OPEN.

THE GOVERNOR EVER GOVERNOR HIMSELF SENT OUT OR HIS PEOPLE SENT OUT STATE POLICE BASICALLY TO TAKE DOWN LICENSE PLATES AT CHURCHES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ATROCIOUS.

FROM THE LIVELIHOODS, HE CLOSED DOWN BUSINESSES.

>> Bill: MORGAN, IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE FOR HARMON GETTING IN FIRST?

>> I WOULD ASSUME SO.

I MEAN, A BIG PART OF WINNING AN ELECTION IS NAME RECOGNITION, AND GOODNESS KNOWS PEOPLE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT BESHEAR OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH THE PANDEMIC GOING ON AND WITH HIM BEING AN INCUMBENT, AND IT'S LIKELY TO BE A CROWD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HE IS JUMPING IN THE RACE REALLY EARLY.

WE'RE TALKING 2023 HERE.

I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF BESHEAR.

BUT HE CERTAINLY SEEMS TOCK PICKING UP ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE I THINK A COMMON ATTACK ON BESHEAR, WHICH IS HOW HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC.

ON THE FLIP I'M, I'M SURE THAT'LL BE A BIG THING BEAR PROCEED MOATS WHEN HE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IS HOW LEE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: UNLESS OTHERS TAKE THE SAME MANNED, AND FANCY FARM IS COMING UP NEXT, OTHERS WILL BE LEFT HINT THAT THEY MIGHT RUN FOR GOVERNOR WHILE HARMON CAN BE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES IN THE RACE ALREADY.

IS THAT NOT AN ADVANTAGE IN A BIG VISIBLE VENUE LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THIS ALLOWS HIM TO BASICALLY BE YORVIT ABOUT IT.

OLIVER I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS ARE SHY ABOUT CRITICIZING BESHEAR BEAUTY THIS GIVES HARMON THE STAGE IS TO SAY THIS IS WHY YOU CAN VOTE FOR ME INSTEAD.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK IT CHANGED THINGS FOR HARMON THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ANNOUNCE WITHOUT A RUNNING MATE?

THE LAW WAS CHANGED TO A LOCAL ALLOW THAT.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PUT A TICKET BETTING GUESTS HEZEKIAH TOGETHER.

YOU BE FILE PAPERS.

>> MICHON: >> Morgan: I'M SURE IT MADE IT EASIER FOR HIM TO ANNOUNCE SO EARLY GEFFEN IT'S A 2023 RACE, NOT HAVING TO PICK SOMEONE TO JUMP INTO THAT FIRE WITH YOU.

>> Bill: WE KEEP HEARING OTHER NAPLES, REPUBLICAN.

AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES.

KELLY CRAFT, CONGRESSMAN, TREASURER ALLISON BALL, SUMMER SET MAYOR ALLEN KECK.

WHO ELSE?

ARE YOU RUNNING, ALEX?

>> Alex: IS THAT IT?

>> Bill: HOW CROWDED COULD THIS RACE GET?

>> Chris:Y PROBABLY PRETTY CROWDIE.

I'M NO POLITICAL EXPERT ABOUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD SEEM, JUST GIVEN THE DYNAMICS OF KENTUCKY, THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS SEE THIS AS A VERY WINNABLE SEAT, AND BESHEAR WON BY .3 PERCENTAGE POINTS OR SOMETHING, I BELIEVE, AGAINST A HISTORICALLY UNPOPULAR INCUMBENT WHERE YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE IN THE VOTE TOTALS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR ALL OTHER REPUBLICANS AND THEN VOTED FOR BESHEAR AND NOT FOR BEVIN, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INTEREST IN BEING THE GOP NOM 2023.

I DON'T THINK IT TAKES ANY EXPERT TO SEE THAT.

>> Bill: 2023.

THE 2022 RACERS ALREADY BEGINNING TO FORM.

ALEX, A BUSINESSMAN WHO TRIED TO GET GOVERNOR BESHEAR IMPEACHED OVER COVID RESTRICTIONS IS RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE AND THE THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN LEXINGTON.

THAT IS A SEAT HELD BY LONGTIME SENATOR ALICE FORGY KERR, ANDREW COOPER RETIRED KATES HE IS IN THERE.

>> Alex: HE MADE A SPLASH LAST WINTER.

HE OWNS A COFFEE SHOP IN LEXINGTON CALLED BROOD WHEN HE BASICALLY REFEUD FUSE TODAY CLOSE HIS BUSINESS AND LET PEOPLE INSIDE AND REFUSED TO OBEY THE MASK MANDATE.

HE GOT WARNINGS.

THE LEXINGTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHUT HIM DOWN AND SUED HIM BASICALLY.

IT WENT TO COURT.

IT WAS EVENTUALLY DISMISSED BECAUSE THE JUDGE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE RELEVANT IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN BESHEAR RELEASES THOSE ORDERS.

HE WAS ALSO ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE WHO SIGNED A PETITION TO TRY TO SUE BESHEAR.

SO AGAIN ON THE COAT TALES OF RIDING ON THOSEY GRIEVANCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH COVID, THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO.

>> Bill: AND MORGAN, COOPER RIED ARE DETAILS HE DOESN'T THINK SENATOR KERR IS CONSERVATIVE IF YOU HAVE.

HE WAS ELECTED TO THAT DISTRICT IN 1998.

>> Alex: I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO BEAT INCUMBENT YOUR OWN PARTY, RIGHT NOW A REALLY COMMON STRATEGY THAT PEOPLE ARE USING TO TRY TO DO THAT IS TO SAY THAT THEY'RE TOO CENTRIST WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT PRIMARY VOTERS IN PARTICULAR ARE LESS LIKELY WANT TO A CENTRIST THAN SOMEONE WHO IS FURTHER IN THIS CASE TO THE RIGHT BUT WE'LL SEE IF HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT OR NOT.

>> Bill: IN THE VACANT 22nd DISTRICT SEAT, BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF LONGTIME SENATOR TOM BUFORD, GARRETT COUNTY JUNG JOHN WILSON TOLD THE JESSAMINE JOURNAL THIS WEEK HE RUNNING FOR THAT SEAT HELP HE SAID BUFORD ASKED HIM TO RUN AND INDICATED HE NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM.

THAT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING PROCESS, WHEN THOSE COUNTIES GET TOGETHER AND CHOOSE I.

NOMINEES IN A SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Alex: IT SURELY ADDS AN EXTRA LEVEL COMPLICATION TO IT.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

AND THE 2022 RACE TAKING SOME SHAPE IN THE U.S. SENATE SEAT.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION EARLY ON IS CHARLES BOOKER GETTING?

AS HE SEEKS TO TAKE ON RAND PAUL?

>> Alex: A LOT OF INTEREST FOR SURE.

I MEAN, HE'S GOT OVER 300,000 FOLLOW ORES TWITTER.

HE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL, SO HE'S SOMEWHAT AFTER KNOWN QUANTITY BUT IT'S INCREASINGLY CONSERVATIVE STATE HERE SO HE'S DEFINITELY GOT HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM, BUT HE DEFINITELY CAME OUT READY TO GO.

>> Bill: RUTH GOW ALSO RUNNING IN THAT PRIMARY.

WE UNDERSTAND IT'S LIKELY THEY WILL BE AT FANCY FARM.

WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHETHER THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

OBVIOUSLY THE SENATOR WILL YOU.

IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY'S TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS CONTINUE TO DISAGREE OVER THE SCHEDULED U.S. TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN NEXT MONTH.

SENATOR RAND PAUL SUPPORTS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ONE AND SAYS PULLING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN WILL FREE UP MONEY TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

BUT SENATOR MITCH MOM THIS WEEK CALLED THE TIME FRAME FOR TROOPS LEAVING AFGHANISTAN A RECKLESS RUSH.

>> THREE MONTHS AGO PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO COMPLETELY WITHDRAW U.S.

FORCES FROM THE ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISTS AND TERRORIST ENABLERS IN AFGHANISTAN.

I SAID THEN THIS I WAS SHORT-SIGHTED DECISION, AND, SURE ENOUGH, SURE ENOUGH, A RECKLESS RUSH FOR THE EXIT IS BECOMING A GLOBAL EMBARRASSMENT.

>> Bill: SO SENATOR McCONNELL SAYING THAT IT IS UNRAVELING IN AFGHANISTAN.

SENATOR PAUL SAYS WE CAN SPEND THE MONEY AT HOME.

A SPLIT THERE.

>> Morgan: CONSIST OF WITH THEIR POSITIONS SENATOR PAUL HAS OWN ON RECORD FOR YEARS CRITICIZE 10 WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, CRITICIZING HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS WHEN WE COULD BE USING IT AT HOME AND BE SENATOR McCONNELL, HE CRITICIZED PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BRINGING DOWN THE LEVELS TROOPS OVER THERE, SO THIS IS DEFINITELY KITTEN FOR BOTH OF THEM.

>> Bill: PRESIDENT BIND IS COMING TO TOWN NEXT WEEK FOR A CONTINUOUS PUSH FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURAL BILL.

DEMOCRAT WANT WHAT THEY CALL HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND KENTUCKY JOHN YAR HOHN MOTH, THE HOUSE BUDGET CHAIRMAN IS PUSHING FOR AND IT BELIEVES HE'S MAKING PROGRESS, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

UTERUS A HEAVY LIFT BUT HE'SY UP THERE WORKING ON IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO SOMETHING THIS BIG BUT HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO TRY TO GET IT DONE.

WE'LL SEE IF HE CAN.

>> Bill: CHRIS, I'VE DRIVEN AROUND SOME OF THESE AUTO LOTS AND SEEN MORE PAVEMENT THAN CARS ON SOME OF THEM IN MANY CASES OR IAN SUVs.

HOW ARE KENTUCKY AUTO DEALERS DEALING WITH THE SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE INVENTORY?

>> Chris: WELL, THEY'RE TURNING TO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE THE ONE WE SAW, WE WENT AND INTERVIEWED.

THEY PUT THE CARS AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE LOT AND PARKED THEM AT ANGLES SO THAT IT LOOKS VISUALLY MORE FULL AND KIND OF DOESN'T SHOW YOU THE VAST SPACE IN THE MIDDLE.

SO THIS ALL GOES BACK TO THAT SEMICONDUCTOR SHORTAGE ISSUE AND HOW MANUFACTURERS FOR GM AND OTHERS JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE LOTS OF UNFINISHED CARS THAT THEY CAN'T GET TO THESE LOTS.

WE REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY THAT ONE THING FORD IS CONSIDERING IS HAVING THEIR OWN DEALERS FINISH THESE VEHICLES.

IN OTHER WORDS, DELIVER THEM ALL BUT FINISHED, AND THERE'S LIKE ONE PART OR A COUPLE OF PARTS THAT TAKE THESE COMPUTER CHIPS THAT APPARENTLY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS COULD INSTALL, AND THIS COULD BE A WAY FOR SHOP TORRES COME AND SEE A CAR -- SHOPPERS TO COME AND SEE A CAR.

WHAT THE DEALERS ARE SAYING ORDER THEM IN ADVANCE EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE.

>> Bill: ALEX, THE STATE IN A BAPTIST-RUN CHILDREN'S AGENCY SUNRISE CHILDREN SERVICES, HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON A CONTRACT FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES AFTER WORDING IN THE CONTRACT WAS CHANGED.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

IT CULMINATES A MONTH'S LONG BALLOT IS MAYBE TWO STRONG BUT BETWEEN SUNRISE CHILDREN'S SERVICES WHICH HAS TIES WITH THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION, THE CABINET.

BESHEAR WANTED TO INCLUDE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND MODIFY THE CONTRACT TO BASICALLY SAY THAT THE ORGANIZATION, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED, COULDN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE, SAY, WHO WANTED TO COME ADOPT A CHILD.

SUNRISE PUSHED BACK ON THAT, BASICALLY SAID THAT IT DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THEIR EVER THEIR DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

BAPTIST DOMINATION BELIEVES HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN.

AND SO A SERIES OF THINGS HAPPENED.

EVENTUALLY BESHEAR BACKED OFF.

SO THEY'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAID ANYBODY WHO IDENTIFIES AS LGBTQ HAS TO BE REFERRED TO ANOTHER AGENCY BUT SUNRISE DOES NOT HAVE TO SERVE THEM.

>> Bill: CHRIS, TEN SECONDS.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK FROM US HERE FORE RAY WHILE.

>> Chris: THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M DOING A BUSINESS JOURNALISM MID CAREER FELLOWSHIP AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SO I'LL HOPEFULLY SEE YOU THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

>> Bill: GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

THERE IS CLEAR PROGRESS IN EFFORT TO GET RID OF THE MORE THAN 500 TONS OF NERVE AGENTS STORED AT THE BULLDOGS ARMY COMPOKNOW NEAR RICHMOND.

THE THOUGHT OF A DID, THE ARMY SAID IT HAS DESTROYED 28% OF THE LETHAL STOCKPILE.

THE THEY SAY THEY'RE ON TIME TO HAVE IT ALL GONE BY THE END OF 2023.

TUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW HAD LOWEST A