[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S 2026 OPEN RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE GETS ANOTHER CANDIDATE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISES REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPOSITION FOR KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE.

AFTER MASSIE CRITICIZES THE U.S. STRIKE ON IRAN.

KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TALK ABOUT NEW LAWS NOW IN EFFECT AND WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD.

ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION LEAD TO A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR KENTUCKY BRIDGE PROJECT.

AFTER A WEEK OF SUMMER HEAT, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: 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 ARE, MARCUS GREEN, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

ALSO TONIGHT HUNDREDS.

NEW JOBS ARE COMING TO LOUISVILLE.

FIRST, THOUGH, TO THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL NEWS IN KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE RACE.

BUSINESSMAN NATURE CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCED HE -- NATD MORRIS ANNOUNCED HE IS ENTERING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> AFTER CAREFUL REFLECTION AND PRAYER TALKING TO MY WIFE JAB, I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO REPLACE MITCH McCONNELL HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND FINALLY BRING THIS SEAT BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

>> Bill: MARIO, MORRIS WAS VERY QUICK TO PLEDGE HIS SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TO TIE HIMSELF AS CLOSELY AS HE COULD TO TRUMP.

>> THAT IS RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S SON DONALD TRUMP, JR. ON HIS PODCAST.

HAD HIS WEBSITE READY TO GO.

TALKING ABOUT SOME TOP PRIORITY ITEMS AND THE HOME PAGE OF THE NATE MORRIS' WEBSITE SAYS IT'S TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND CLAIMS THAT HE IS SICK AND TIRED OF THE FAILED POLITICIANS IN BOTH PARTIES.

HE IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS CAMPAIGN HE HAS BEEN SPECULATED AND RUMORED TO ENTER THIS RACE FOR MONTHS NOW AND HE IS OFFICIALLY IN.

DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME FOR THE CANDIDATES WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST TO JUMP IN MOMENTS AFTER HE ANNOUNCED WITH THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: AS WE KNOW CAMERON AND BARR ARE THE OTHER CANDIDATES PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT AND THEY HOPE FOR AN ENDORSEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

MORRIS IS TRYING TO TIE CAMERON AND BARR TO McCONNELL.

AND HE IS CALL HIMSELF THE MAGA CANDIDATE.

>> RIGHT.

DEFINITELY THROUGHOUT THAT INTERVIEW, HE REFERENCED TAKING OUT THE TRASH, A PUN TOWARD HIS BACKGROUND IN WASTE RECYCLING BUSINESSES.

BUT ALSO TAKING OUT MITCH McCONNELL'S TRASH WHO IS VACATING THE SEAT.

AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A WAY FOR HIM TO BRING UP THAT NAME RECOGNITION AND TIE IT TO THESE OTHER CANDIDATES CAMERON AND BARR.

HE PLAYED A DELINQUENT FROM MARIO'S INTERVIEW WITH BARR DURING THIS PODCAST OF BARR SAYING McCONNELL WAS A MENTOR THROUGHOUT THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE WE HEARD OFTEN FROM OTHER REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES AND FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

ESPECIALLY TYING CAMERON TO MITCH McCONNELL AND WHO ALSO SAW HIM AS A MENTOR AS WELL.

AND SO WE'RE AT THIS UNIQUE JUNCTURE WHERE McCONNELL WILL BE LEAVING THE SEAT IN THE FUTURE AND HE HAS A LOW APPROVAL RATING WITH VOTERS HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE OF THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND BRINGING IT INTO POWER OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.

>> Bill: AND MANY WHO ARE ELECTED TODAY FEEL THEY OWE GRATITUDE TO McCONNELL.

>> RIGHT.

IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND AN ELECTED REPUBLICAN IN THIS STATE WHO DOESN'T HAVE SOME KIND OF TIE TO MITCH McCONNELL IN SOME WAY.

>> Bill: MARCUS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF MORRIS TRIES TO TURN THE RACE ON A REFERENDUM TO McCONNELL AND TRIES TO TIE THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN WITH McCONNELL?

>> WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO DO CALLING THEM McCONNELL EEUTDS ON THE -- McCONNELLITES ON THE PODCAST AND MORRIS REPORTEDLY HELD A FUNDRAISER FOR McCONNELL.

WE WILL HEAR ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL IN THE RACE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE MANY, MANY TIES FOR ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES TO MITCH McCONNELL.

>> Bill: WELL, THE BAR IN THE CAMERON CAMPAIGNS ATTACKED.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE READY PREPARING FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOTED THAT MORRIS GAVE MONEY TO NIKKI HALEY'S 2024 CAMPAIGN AND CHAMPIONED DIVERSITY IN HIS BUSINESS CAREER.

>> AND THOSE ARE BOTH TOPICS AT THE FOREFRONT OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS NATIONALLY AS WELL.

REFERENCING THAT PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND ALSO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF LEGISLATION HERE AT THE STATE ABOUT REMOVING D.E.I.

POLICIES PARTICULARLY IN EDUCATION AND THAT'S LIKELY TO BLEED INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS WELL.

SO THESE ARE WAYS TO TIE THIS AGENDA TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND PUTTING THAT IN FRONT OF VOTERS.

>> Bill: THIS LIST FROM CAMERON WAS LENGTHY.

IS HIS CRITICISM OF MORRIS.

>> RIGHT.

AND MORRIS HAS BEEN RUMORED AS A CANDIDATE FOR A WHILE.

IT'S TYPICAL FOR A CAMPAIGNS TO DIG OPPOSITION RESEARCH ON EACH OTHER.

THAT IS WHAT THAT LIST WAS.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN TWO ANTI-MORRIS PACTS WHO ARE NOT AFFILIATED.

THE KENTUCKY FIRST ACTION PAC AND KEEP AMERICA GREAT PAC AND THOSE ARE PACS THAT PRIORITIZE MORE CONSERVATIVE VALUES THE MAGA VALUES AND THEIR MESSAGING IS PAINTING MORRIS AS MORE OF THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE IN THIS PRIMARY.

>> Bill: MARIO HOW WILL MORRIS TRY TO FILL OUT HIS CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS?

>> TIME WILL TELL.

BOTH ANDY BARR AND DANIEL CAMERON BOTH HAVE MENTIONED IN THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS OR RESPONDED TO NATE MORRIS' ANNOUNCEMENT HE FAILED TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT UNTIL MAY OF 2024 AND HE PREVIOUSLY BACKED NICKI HALEY IN THE PRIMARY.

AND ANDY BARR TALKED WITH ONE OF OUR REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE DAY OF THIS TAPING SAYING THAT NATE MORRIS IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

WE WILL BE HEARING BACK AND FORTH AND NATE MORRIS WILL BE TRYING TO GET OUTSIDE OF THAT.

>> Bill: IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE TO CAMERON, MARCUS, IN AT THAT TIME HE IS THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS RUN STATE-WIDE, HAS NAME RECOGNITION OUT THERE.

AND THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES HAVE TO BUILD THAT AND BUY IT ESSENTIALLY.

>> I THINK THIS WILL COME DOWN TO ENTHUSIASM AND TURNOUT IF NATE MORRIS GETS MOMENTUM AND HE CAN MOBILIZE THAT PART OF THE BASE SURE CAMERA AND DOES HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND RUN THE RACES BEFORE.

I THINK MARIO'S WORDS TIME WILL TELL ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT HERE.

>> Bill: HOW TOUGH AND TIME WILL TELL, HOW ROUGH AND TOUGH WILL THE PRIMARY GET?

AND ARE THERE ANY INDICATIONS HOW OR WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY PUT HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE?

>> WE'VE ALL LEARNED AT THAT TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP IS UNPREDICTABLE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE TRENDS AND PREVIOUS PRIMARIES HE HAS ENDORSED ALL THE REPUBLICANS TWO REPUBLICANS IN A PRIMARY AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE CANDIDATE OR TWO CANDIDATES IN A PRIMARY THAT HAD THE SAME FIRST NAME.

HE ENDORSED THEM ALL.

BUT WE'RE TALKING IN JUNE OF 2025 AND THE PRIMARY IS NOT UNTIL MAY 2026.

PLENTY OF TIME AND THINGS MAY GET HIM QUIET FOR A WHILE.

>> BY THE PAST 24, 36 HOURS OF THIS RACE WE HAVE SEEN IT EXPLODE.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S EARLY TO SAY, BUT DEFINITELY, THE RACE IS ON TO GET THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AND WE HAVE SEEN THE CANDIDATES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TRY TO TIE THEMSELVES MORE AND MORE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS AGENDA.

THROUGH VARIOUS WAYS, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWS INTERVIEWS, THINGS LIKE THAT, GOING ON THE PRESIDENT'S SON'S PODCAST.

EVEN TODAY, CONGRESSMAN BARR INTRODUCED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO END BIRTH RIGHT CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF PEOPLE WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS SHORTLY AFTER THAT SCOTUS RULING CAME OUT WHICH TRUMP FAVORED, OF COURSE.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE THESE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR OWN WAVES AND TRY TO STAND OUT FROM EACH OTHER, PARTICULARLY IN THE PRESIDENT'S EYES.

>> Bill: AND IN A PRIMARY IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SETUP THAN IT IS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHEN MAYBE MORE MODERATE STANCES MIGHT PLAY BETTER.

>> RIGHT.

KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED PRIMARIES.

WE'RE NOT SEEING INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN THIS RACE.

SO WHAT THESE CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO DO ARE COURT REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND GET THEM TO THEIR SIDE AND OFTEN THAT LEADS TO WHOEVER CAN BE THE MOST IN LINE WITH THE LEADING PARTY OF THOUGHT IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS TO BE THE TRUMP AGENDA WE WILL SEE THEM MOVE TOWARD THAT.

>> Bill: THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER PAMELA STEVENSON.

SHE HAS BEEN HOLDING EVENTS SEEMS TO BE SHORING UP URBAN SUPPORT FIRST.

IS THAT PRIMARY COMPLETE?

>> WELL THE FILING DEADLINE IS JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR PEOPLE CAN START FILING IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DURING HIS UPDATE ON THURSDAY HE WAS ASKED BY ONE OF THE REPORTERS IF HE WILL ENDORSE PAMELA STEVENSON.

AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT AT THIS TIME.

HE BELIEVED IT WAS TOO EARLY AND WANTED TO SEE ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT ENTER BUT HE WILL VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE, BUT TIME WILL TELL AGAIN ON THAT AS WELL.

>> Bill: WE KEEP HEARING THE NAME OF ROCKY ADKINS BE MENTIONED.

AND ALSO WE HEAR ALLISON GRIMES IS LACKING OVER HER OPTIONS.

>> THOSE TWO ARE DEFINITELY WELL-KNOWN WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, BUT ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A LARGE BENCH OF CANDIDATES BEHIND TOP OF THE LINE BESHEAR.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S SOME RECRUITING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO GET PEOPLE INTO THESE RACES.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM COULD BE INTERESTING AUGUST 2.

EVERYBODY WHO IS IN WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

>> THE FANCY FARM CREW THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES HOW THEY ALLOW POLITICAL SPEAKING THIS YEAR SINCE THERE IS NO ELECTIONS HAPPENING IN 2025 IN KENTUCKY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION THEY HAVE INVITED PRIMARY CANDIDATES AND THE GOVERNOR, AND ALSO SENATOR McCONNELL, RAND PAUL HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK.

WE'LL START HEARING WHO IS CONFIRMED AND SOME MAY NOT BE CONFIRMED TO CLOSER TO THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON THE BUDGET BATTLE IS DOWN DOWN TO THE WIRE IN THE SENATE.

THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON D.C. IS MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO REACHED OUT INTO THE STATE TO CLAIM RURAL HOSPITALS MAY CLOSE IF SOME OF THE CUTS HAPPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT IN MY STATE, 41 COUNTIES OUT OF 120 DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL.

72 COUNTIES DON'T HAVE AN OBGYN.

YOU ARE GETTING RID OF 20,000 HEALTHCARE JOBS AND 35 HOSPITALS.

WILL THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY CAUSE DISPROPORTIONATE HARM ON OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES?

>> IT WILL SEVERELY INJURY OUR HOSPITALS.

>> Bill: THIS SEEMS TO BE FLUID AT THIS POINT WHAT THE SENATE WILL DO.

THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN BEHIND THE HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL BUT IT WAS TWEAKED IN THE SENATE AND CHANGED SOME OF THE PROVIDER TAX.

AND NOW THEY ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS?

>> RIGHT.

SO OVER IN THE HOUSE SIDE, CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HE WAS ABLE TO USE HIS POSITION TO PROTECT LANGUAGE THAT PROTECTED A MEDICAID FUNDING STREAM.

AND REMOVE THAT PROVIDER TAX.

ON THE SENATE SIDE AT THAT TIME HAS BEEN LOWERED.

THAT IS IS WHAT IS OF CONCERN TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND THEY WARN THAT HOSPITALS, SERVICES AND JOBS HERE IN KENTUCKY MAYBE LOST IF THAT LANGUAGE STAYS THE WAY IT IS IN THE SENATE.

>> Bill: THE REPUBLICANS CALLING THAT SCARE TACTICS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

I MEAN THAT LANGUAGE IS ALREADY BEING USED BY DEMOCRATS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ASSOCIATIONS WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN THEM, OUT AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.

PARTICULARLY ON THE MEDICAID SIDE OF IT.

FOR WEEKS NOW, IT FEELS LIKE.

SO IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT IS BEING SAID ALREADY.

>> Bill: A LOT TO WATCH ON THAT.

MORE DRAMA, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TEAM PROMISES PRIMARY OPPOSITION FOR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE.

THEY ARE LAUNCHING A HUGE ANTI-MASSIE AD BUY AFTER THE STRIKES ON IRAN, MASSIE TOOK TO SHE HAD AND APPEARED ON NATIONAL INTERVIEWS.

>> CONGRESS WAS ON VACATION WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING.

>> YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BRIEFED?

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED US BACK AND WE SHOULD HAVE DEBATED THIS WAR POWERS RESOLUTION THAT WE OFFERED INSTEAD OF DOING FUNDRAISERS AND SAYING WELL THE PRESIDENT HAS THIS UNDER CONTROL WE WILL CEDE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.

>> Bill: THIS IS THE LATEST BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CONGRESSMAN MASSIE.

>> IT SURE IS.

A SPIRITED DEBATE.

THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THOMAS MASSIE USING X, BUT THE PRESIDENT USING TRUTH SOCIAL AND CALLING THOMAS MASSIE THE CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEVERAL NAMES INCLUDING RAND PAUL JUNIOR.

BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTHWITH RAND PAUL AS WELL.

AND THOMAS MASSIE SHARED DURING THE BACK AND FORTH THAT TRUMP DECLARED SO MUCH WAR ON ME TODAY IT'S REQUIRE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

SO THAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSES BACK.

HE LEANED INTO THIS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO CAMPAIGN OFF IT AS WELL.

>> Bill: HAVE THE TRUMP OPERATIVES IDENTIFIED A CANDIDATE?

>> I THINK THEY ARE IN THE RECRUITING MODE.

NAMES FLOATEDDED INCLUDE STATE SENATOR ERIN REED OF THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.

HE IS A FRESHMAN SENATOR BUT HE DID WIN A PRIMARY LAST YEAR.

HE DEFEATED AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN AND ANOTHER CHALLENGER AS WELL.

AND WE'VE SEEN THE PARTY WELCOME HIM WITH OPEN ARMS AS WELL.

ACTUALLY THERE WAS A TWEET YESTERDAY FROM FORMER FLOOR LEADER IN THE SENATE DAMON THAYER WITH REED SAYING THAT HE'S VERY IMPRESSIVE AND HE KNOWS THAT THAYER DID SUPPORT A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE IN THAT PRIMARY BUT HE THINKS REED HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE HERE IN THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> .

>> ANOTHER NAME OUT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS KIM MOSHER.

SHE HAS BEEN IN THE SEAT IN TAYLOR MILL FOR MANY YEARS AND FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.

SHE HAS A STRONG SUPPORT IN FRANKFORT AND IN HER DISTRICT.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ALL OF THAT UNFOLD.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION APPARENTLY IS SEEKING TO RESCIND $500 MILLION FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY PRISON.

MARCUS WE ARE AWAITING MORE DETAILS WHERE THAT IS GOING BUT HAL ROGERS SAYS LONG PRESSED FOR PRISONS IN HIS DISTRICT AS A JOB CREATOR.

>> RIGHT.

THIS LETCHER COUNTY PRISON PROPOSAL HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A A LONGTIME AND THE RESCISSION WAS 600 MILLION FOR THREE, AND THE ONE IN KENTUCKY WE'LL TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS AND THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

IT IS A PROJECT THAT FACED A LOT OF LOCAL AND STATE OPPOSITION IN TERMS OF PUTTING IN A PRISON AND ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE STATE.

IT'S NOT AS IF IT HASN'T HAD CONTROVERSY IT IS A LAYER WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE JOB.

>> Bill: LEGACY LOUISVILLE EMPLOYER GE MADE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

800 JOBS AND AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE AND KENTUCKY BEAT OUT OTHER PLACES FOR THIS.

>> I THINK WE CAN'T UNDERSCORE HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS.

GE BASED IN LOUISVILLE, OWNED BY HIGHER A CHINESE COMPANY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT IN WASHER AND DRYER LINES THAT WILL EMPLOY 800 PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS A COUPLE YEARS AFTER ANOTHER BIG INVESTMENT OF 450 MILLION.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TOUTED THIS AND THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE TOUTED THIS.

AND NOT ONLY FOR THE JOBS, BUT BECAUSE THEY DID BEAT OUT OTHER LOCATIONS HIGHER GE APPLIANCE OPERATES IN TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, ALABAMA A LOT OF STATES THAT KENTUCKY IS FAMILIAR WITH AND BEATING THEM FOR BIG BUSINESS PROJECTS A WIN FOR LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: YOU THINK THAT LONG TIME CONNECTION WAS HELPFUL?

>> I THINK IT HAD TO BE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS THERE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER STATES MAKE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE INCENTIVE PROPOSALS TOO.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE DONE A DEEP DIVE ON PROMISES MADE ABOUT THE KENNEDY BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS LOUISVILLE WITH INDIANA.

AND NOW THE STATE IS ABOUT TO SPEND $8 MILLION BECAUSE OF ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION.

IS THAT THE TERMINOLOGY?

>> THAT'S THE STATE'S OWN TERMINOLOGY AND INSPECTOR LABELED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THIS BRIDGE WAS REDONE IN 2016 PART OF THE OHIO RIVER BRIDGE'S PROJECT THE LARGEST TRANSPORTATION PROJECT IN KENTUCKY'S HISTORY.

THEY REDID THE DECK AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND BEAMS WERE REDONE.

AND DURING THAT PROCESS, THINGS WEREN'T DONE PROPERLY.

THE INSPECTORS NOTED AND AS A RESULT OVER THAT TIME SINCE THAT BRIDGE REOPENED THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS HAVE FLAT TIRES REPORTEDLY.

THE STATE HAS HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF THESE JOINTS MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO START A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

BECAUSE OF THE ERRORS IN THE ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY REPAIRS IN ALL THE STATE THE STATE WILL PONY UP $8 MILLION.

TOLL REVENUE THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT IS GOING TO BE USED TO MAKE REPAIRS THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> WE ALL DRIVE, I WONDER HOW MANY OF THOSE ORANGE BARRELS THEY HAVE.

>> THEY ARE ADDING NEW ONES EVERY FEW DAYS.

>> Bill: DOZENS OF NEW LAWS WERE PASSED THIS YEAR AND ENFORCED AS OF TODAY.

SENATE LEADERS DISCUSSED SOME OF THAT THIS WEEK.

>> THURSDAY MORE THAN 100 NEW LAWS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

EACH A PRODUCT OF THOUGHTFUL POLICY MAKING AND A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS I'M PROUD TO HELP LEAD IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.

TOGETHER THEY REFLECT THE CORE CONSERVATIVE PRIORITIES EMBRACED BY THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE SUPER IMAGES AND -- MAJORITIES, LOWERING TAXES, BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER COMMUNITIES, AND A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE.

>> Bill: MECHANIC KENNA THIS WAS TO UNDERSCORE WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE PROGRESS BY THE SENATE, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

THAT INCLUDES LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX AGAIN.

LESS RED TAPE FOR TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

NO MORE D.E.I.

PROGRAMS?

>> RIGHT.

AND THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES OF THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN THEM BE ABLE TO ENACT THE POLICY OVER SEVERAL SESSIONS.

IT'S MAKES SENSE THEY WOULD WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT BEFORE THE LAWS GO INTO EFFECT.

>> Bill: CELLPHONE USE WILL BE LIMITED IN SCHOOLS.

>> YES, THAT IS ONE THING WE MIGHT NOT SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT UNTIL THE KIDS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM IN AUGUST.

ONE THING WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW I'M SEE TO GO ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA TEACHERS CANNOT HAVE CONTACT WITH STUDENTS THROUGH MEANS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TEACHERS POST REMOVE ME IF I'VE MISSED YOU ON FACEBOOK.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LAWS THAT IS TAKING EFFECT.

>> Bill: CURSIVE WRITING WILL RETURN.

>> YES.

I BELIEVE THAT IS IN A BILL THAT A LAW I SHOULD SAY NOW THAT HAS TO DO WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MONEY AND BANKING.

>> Bill: SOME INDICATIONS ABOUT WHAT MAYBE ADDRESSED IN THE 2026 SESSION, AND THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO WITH UNCLAIMED BODIES.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> THAT IS A PROPOSAL FROM REPUBLICAN SENATOR GREG ELKINS OF WINCHESTER HE PROPOSED THIS AS WELL.

HE SAID IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THIS UP COMING SESSION WILL MARK THE THIRD TIME HE IS MAKING THIS PROPOSAL.

BUT IT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE OPTION OF CREMATING OR BURYING A DEAD BODY WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER CANNOT BE FOUND.

SO THIS IS AN ISSUE PARTICULARLY FOR COUNTY CORONERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO MIGHT BE TAKING ON THE COST ET CETERA.

IT DID MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE IT MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE LAST SESSION.

BUT IT STALLED IN THE HOUSE.

SO IT MIGHT GO FURTHER THIS TIME WITH MORE DEBATE.

>> Bill: THIS WAS IN THE TEMPORARY MEETINGS SPACE?

>> YES, THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS IN THAT NEW SENATE CHAMBER THE TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT IS OFF OF THE ANNEX.

I WILL SAY THE TEMPERATURE IS WELL REGULATED I APPRECIATE THAT.

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO GALLERY LIKE WE'RE USED TO IN THE CHAMBERS.

SO WHAT WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT THEY SAID THERE WILL BE A LIVE STREAM OPTION WITH A ROOM IN THE ANNEX SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN-PERSON AND WATCH IN REALTIME WHAT IS HAPPENING VIA A VIDEO FEED BUT THE MEDIA DESKS ARE IN THE FLOOR IN BOTH CHAMBER.

>> Bill: IT'S LONG-TERM PROJECT.

>> AND ALSO THERE'S THE ROTUNDA WHERE THE RALLIES HAPPEN AND THE ROBERT STIVERS WAS ASKED WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT?

AND HIS ANSWER WAS IT'S UP TO THOSE GROUPS IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER THE SPACE.

SOMETHING WE'LL SEE PLAY OUT.

>> Bill: ONE OF THE NEW LAWS TODAY, MORE HARSHLY CRIMINALIZES DISRUPTING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> RIGHT AND THAT PASSED THIS SESSION.

YOU KNOW, THIS RENOVATION OF THE CAPITOL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE THREE YEARS.

IT'S LIKELY IT WILL TAKE LONGER.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SETUP FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

IN FACT A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST IN THE SPACE, BUT ALSO KENTUCKIANS AT HOME WHO DON'T COME TO FRANKFORT AND DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO COME EVERYDAY.

>> Bill: MARCUS THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL BUDGET IS APPROACHING THE FINISH LINE.

>> IT CROSSED LAST NIGHT.

>> Bill: WHAT DID THEY DECIDE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND WHICH WITH WAS CONTROVERSIAL.

>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG A DEMOCRAT.

ALTHOUGH AS WE'VE NOTED LOUISVILLE'S MAYORAL ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT TO BECOME NONPARTISAN.

GREENBERG IS TRYING TO EXPAND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND THIS FUND THAT HELPS NONPROFITS AND DEVELOPERS BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS 2EU7 DAHL TIED TO INCOMES PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN THE AREA AVERAGE, GREENBERG PROPOSED $15 MILLION FOR THAT FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE METRO COUNCIL DROP TO DO TO 12.5.

NOT HUGE BUT IT WAS MET WITH CONDITIONS OR PROPOSED WITH CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE BETTER REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS SPENT PROPERLY.

IT'S THE MAYOR SHRUGGED THAT OFF AND SAID WE HAVE OTHER MEASURES IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL HELP HOUSING.

BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS NEVER REDUCED.

IT HAPPENED ONE TIME THAT I LOOKED AT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THAT IS THE BASELINE GOING FORWARD OR IF THEY PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE FUND IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

>> Bill: IS IT CLEAR THAT GREENBERG IS RUNNING AGAIN?

>> HE HAS NOT SAID IT BUT IS POSITIONING HIMSELF FOR THE RUN AND THE WAY HE IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THIS CASE THAT HE CAN WORK WITH FRANKFORT AND HE APPEARED AT EVENTS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HE IS ALWAYS NOTING HOW HE WORKS WELL WITH REPUBLICANS.

I THINK HE'S POSITIONING HIMSELF TO BE SEEN AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WHO CAN BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE AND OF COURSE, THE RACE BECOMES NONPARTISAN HE IS TRYING TO SAY HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR ALL OF LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: THAT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE.

AND MARIO, WE BOTH INTERVALUED LINDA GORTON AND SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER EITHER ONE OF US IF SHE WILL SEEK A THIRD TERM?

>> SHE SAYS ONCE BEING A POLITICIAN IT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM FAMILY BUT HAS MORE WORK TO BE DONE SHE WANTS TO SEE A FEW THINGS THROUGH BEFORE THEY ARE COMPLETED.

SHE SAYS A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM MAKING A DECISION.

>> Bill: I COULDN'T READ WHERE SHE IS HEADED WITH IT IN TALKING WITH HER.

>> TIME WILL TELL.

>> Bill: WHAT DID WE MISS?

ANYTHING?

WE GOOD.

>> IT WAS A HOT AND HUMID WEEK IN KENTUCKY WITH CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM MANY WHO HAD HEAT RELATED ISSUES MANY TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE ADVICE, OF COURSE, IS DON'T OVERDO IT AND STAY HYDRATED OUT THERE.

IT'S RARE FOR US TO TAKE A WEEK OFF HERE FOR COMMENT BUT WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP COMMENT WILL NOT AIR NEXT WEEK SO KET CAN BRING YOU THE INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL A CAPITOL FOURTH.

WE'LL CATCH UP WHAT'S HAPPENED WHEN WE RETURN FRIDAY JULY 11TH.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.