WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT"."

THANK YOU IV JOINING US AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

TONIGHT A KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION PREVIEW.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS ITS 60-DAY SECTION TOMORROW WITH A LENGTHY LAWMAKERS HAVE TO CREATE A TWO-YEAR BUDGET AND REDRAW KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

AND MEASURES DEALING WITH ABORTION, MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY COULD ALL BE ON THE ALL OF THIS COMES AS SEVERAL WESTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES CLEAN UP FROM DEADLY, DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES, AND AS COVID CASE NUMBERS SOAR BECAUSE OF OMICRON WE ARE JOINED BY FOUR LEADERS O THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: TO TALK ALL ABOUT THIS.

SENATOR DAMON THAYER, A REPUBLICAN FROM GEORGETOWN AND SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER.

SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS, A DEMOCRAT FROM LEXINGTON AND THE SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID MEADE, A REPUBLICAN FROM STANFORD AND TH HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM.

AND REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE HATTON, A DEMOCRAT FROM WHITESBURG AND HOUSE MINORITY WHIP, WE WANT TO HERE FROM YOU TONIGHT.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> HAPPY SESSION 22.

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT ORM?

WE BETTER BE.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

IT'S ALWAYS LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, RIGHT?

YOU'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS.

HIGH ENERGY.

COME ON.

RIGHT?

AM I THE ONLY ONE?

>> ALWAYS EXCITED TO COME BACK AND DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.

>> THAT'S THE ANSWER WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

LET'S START OFF WITH REDISTRICTING.

LAST WEEK SPEAKER PRO-TEM MEADE, THE LEADERSHIP RELEASED THE HOUSE MAPS.

THE HOUSE DOES THEIR MAPS.

THE SENATE DOES THEIR MAPS OR ITS MAPS.

AND YOU DOUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS, CORRECT?

SO THE PLAN THAT WAS RELEASED LAST WEEKEND THAT WILL BE FILED, I ASSUME, TOMORROW, TUESDAY, OPENING DAY OF THE SESSION.

YOU WANT TO GET IT ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

YOU WANT TO GET THIS DONE BY SATURDAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE, GET IT ON HISELL DESK NEXT WEEK.

WHAT WERE THE MAIN GOALS THAT THE HOUSE GOP HAD ON THEIR PLAN AND WHOSE ON THE LOSING END OF IT?

>> AS YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CENSUS COMES OUT EVERY TEN YEARS WE'RE REQUIRED AT THAT POINT TO DO REDISTRICTING BECAUSE THE POPULATION SHIFTS.

SO WE WENT IN, WE DID THIS MAP, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HOLD COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER.

AND SO WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS IN THIS MAP THERE'S NO ONE SINGLE PRECINCT THAT IS DIVIDED.

IN PREVIOUS MAPS PASSED BEAU SOME OF THE LEGISLATURES YOU'VE SEEN UP TO 153 PRECINCTS DIVIDED.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THESE PRECINCTS ARE AS EXACT AS POSSIBLE AND HELD TOGETHER.

ALSO IN NOSE MAPS YOU WILL SEE WE TOOK HOPKINS, BARRINGTON AND BARREN COUNTIES MADE THEM SINGLE-COUNTY DISTRICTS BECAUSE EITHER THEY'D THEY LOST POPULATION AEROTHEY GAINED POPULATION TO BE A SINGLE SIZE TO BE THAT DISTRICT.

WE LEFT THOSE AS SINGLE DISTRICTS.

WAR FOUR MAJORITY/MINORITY DISTRICTS IN OUR MAP.

THAT IS HOUSE DISTRICT 42, 43, AND 44 AND AND THERE'S THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO WITH INCREASED MINORITY INFLUENCE IN DISTRICTS 30 AND 77 EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT WE HAVE IS END ENTIRELY CONTIGUOUS MYSPACE SAID IT'S AS COMPACTED AS POSSIBLE GIVEN THE VARIABLES OF POPULATION ACROSS THE STATE.

WHAT WE WANT WANT TO DO IS, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE MAPS THAT WE'RE UNDER RUNNING UNDER NOW, HOUSE DISTRICT 21 GOES FROM THE TENNESSEE BORDERS ALL THE WAY UP TO LOUISVILLE.

HOUSE DISTRICT 8 GOES BARN THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY LINE.

THEN THERE'S A DISTRICT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT TAKES IN PART OF COVINGTON, GOES ALONG THE OHIO RIVER AND THEN TAKES IN ANOTHER VOTING BLOCK THERE.

THE LOSERS, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY, IN THIS WHEN DOING THIS PROCESS IS VERY COMPLICATED, AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE STATE INTO CONSIDERATION.

CAN'T DO IT WITH ONE PRECINCT, ONE DISTRICT, ONE COUNTY.

I HAS TO BE THE ENTIRE STATE BECAUSE THAT OF RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THIS PAST WEEK THE IN MEDIA.

AND SO WHEN YOU DO THAT, WHEN YOU GET TO THE POPULATION, POPULATION LOSS LIKE WESTERN KENTUCKY AND EASTERN KENTUCKY, YOU GET BACKED UP AGAINST OTHER STATES IN THE RIVER AREAS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, AT THAT POINT IT'S HARD TO FIND ANY ADDITIONAL SPACE, AND SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE ARE TWO INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS IN THE WEST THAT WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER, TWO INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS IN THE EASTAL THAT BE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND THEN TWO SETS OF DEMOCRATS IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA THAT WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT MORE IN A MINUTE.

SO NO LAWMAKERS ARE DRAWN OUT TO ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE LIKE WE'VE SEEN CREATIVELY DONE IN THE PAST.

>>> MORE.

>> SO I WANT THE TO GET THIS SIDE'S PERSPECTIVE.

WANT TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HATTON, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE MAPS AND WAS THE MINORITY PARTY INCLUDED IN PROCESS AND GIVEN THEIR INPUT?

WE WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA WHICH WE DID, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND WHAT WE ENDED UP SEEING ON THURSDAY.

AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE MAP HAVE THERE'S EXCESSIVE SPLITS THAT WERE UNNECESSARY.

FAYETTE COUNTY LOST A REPUBLIC.

THEY USED TO HAVE TEN, NOW THEY ONLY HAVE NINE.

THE WAY THE DIVISIONS WERE DONE LAUREL COUNTY IS SPLIT SIX TIMES AND, OF COURSE, WHERE I LIVE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THERE'S NO -- YOU COULDN'T TRY TO DRAW ME AN EASY DISTRICT.

SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THEY END UP.

BUT THE PROCESS REALLY IS THE MAIN PROBLEM HERE, AND YOU WERE ASKING EARLIER WHO IS ON THE LOSING END.

IT'S THE VOTERS.

AND IT'S ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR OFFICE THE WAY THIS IS BEING RUSHED.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IT EVERY TEN YEARS BY THE CONSTITUTION, BUT THE TEN YEARS ISN'T UP.

WE LAST DID IT IN 2013.

WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THESE MAPS FOR EIGHT YEARS.

IT'S ONLY BEEN FOUR CYCLES.

SO WE NEED TO DO IT IN 2022 BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE FIRST WEEK, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT MOVE THAT FILING DEADLINE.

WE ARE FILING, AND OUR OLD DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW, MOST OF US HAVE ALREADY FILED.

SOME OF OUR WITNESSES WHO FILED OUR FORMS DON'T MATCH.

THEY'RE NOT IN OUR DISTRICT ANYMORE.

WE HAVE TO REDOO THAT, REDO THE FILING FEES.

SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT CONTRADICT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN.

>> SHOULDN'T YOU MAKE THE CASE THAT THEY SHOULD MOVE THE DEADLINE TO THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> IT'S IN THE CURRENT DISTRICTS.

>> CAN YOU DO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DID IT IN 2012.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

>> BUT THERE'S NOT A SENTIMENT FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY, THE SUPER DUPER MAJORITY, LEADER THAYER, TO GO THAT ROUTE, AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT PART OF THE HOUSE DISCUSSION BUT OVERALL.

>> NO, RUNNING.

IN ITS CURRENT DISTRICTS WOULD BE CALAMITOUS BECAUSE THEY ARE WAY OUT OF DEVIATION AND DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE 14th AMOUNTED, ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE.

AMENDMENT.

YOU'VE GOT DISTRICTS LIKE MINE AND SENATOR SCHICKEL.

>> BECAUSE OF THE ON.

LACE SHIFTING YES.

>> WOULD YOU HAVE GOT DISTRICTS IN THE EAST AND AT THE TIME WEST THAT HAVE LOST, SENATOR SCHICKEL, SENATOR NEMES MYSELF WE'VE GAINED POPULATION, AND SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE WAY OUT OF DEVIATION.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL THAT HAVE TO SHRINK IN SIZE, SEVERAL THAT HAVE TO EXPAND.

AND THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED AFTER THE CENSUS, AND WE HAVE THE FRESH CENSUS NUMBERS.

WE ARE RUNNING BEHIND BECAUSE THE CENSUS COUNT, THE DOOR-TO-DOOR CENSUS COUNT TO FINISH OFF THE COUNT WAS DELAYED DUE TO COVID SO WE DIDN'T GET THE NUMBERS UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY.

AND YOU DIVIDE BY 100 TO GET YOUR HOUSE DISTRICT.

YOU DIVIDE BY 38 TO GET YOUR SENATE DISTRICT.

YOU GO PLUS OR -5° 5%.

THE SENATE DISTRICT 6 WE CAN GO DOWN TO 112,000.

WE CAN GO UP TO 1,245,000.

BASED ON CASE LAW.

>> WHERE WERE YOU ON ALL YOUR MAPS?

>> THEY WILL BE FILE TOMORROW.

WE WILL FILE IS IF SENATE MAP AND WE WILL FILE THE CONGRESSIONAL A MAP, AND THE HOUSECHREs WILL FILE THE HOUSE MAP SNELL FILE A JUDICIAL MAP THAT REDISTRICTS SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER.

I FEEL LIKE I'M QUOTING AING TO BE, FIRST TIME IN FOREVER.

THAT'S SOMETHING IS THE HOUSE BASS HAS BEEN WORKING ON AND THEY'VE EXCELLENT MAPS REDONE FOR THE SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DAY.

EVERYTHING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE BY AFTERNOON TOMORROW, AND WE'LL BEGIN MOVING QUICKLY TO TRY TO FINISH THE PROCESS UP BRI SATURDAY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THE FILING DEADLINE LIKELY TO THE END OF JANUARY, JANUARY 25th, IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PEOPLE TIME TO SEE WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE NEW DISTRICTS.

>> SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HATTON, TO ASK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT -- YOU WENT FROM TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS TO FOUR.

WAS THAT INPUT THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS GAVE TO THE MAJORITY?

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT MOVE?

I MEAN, I THINK RAOUL CUNNINGHAM WHO I SPOKE TO TODAY ABOUT THIS, HE LIKES THESE MAPS TO A POINT.

HE DOES WANT TO SEE THE PRECINCT LEVEL DATA ON HOW JEFFERSON COUNTY IS DIVIDED THERE, AND HE ALSO WANT TO CHECK ON CHRISTIAN, FAYETTE AND FRANKLIN COUNTY MAPS BECAUSE THOSE DISTRICTS HAVE HEAVY AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION, TWO OF WHICH HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO YOUR THOUGHTS ON JEFFERSON COUNTY WHICH YOU SAID YOU ALL HAD SO MANY INPUT ON.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY CREATING FOUR MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BUT WE HAVE A DIPLOMA WITH THE WITH A THIS THERE WERE SPLITS.

THE INCUMBENTS WERE DEFINED.

WOMEN MAKE UP LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES YET WE WERE 5:00 EIGHT COMBINED REPS IN -- FIVE OF THE EIGHT COMBINED REPS IN ONE DISTRICT.

DON'T KNOW WHAT WE READ INTO THAT, BUT IT -- THE WAY THAT THE DIVISIONS HAPPENED AND THE EXCESSIVE SPLITS, AND THEN THE RUSHING THROUGH WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE IN AND THEY'VE ALREADY FILED AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST -- JUST THE ENTIRE PROCESS CAUSES PEOPLE TO HAVE LESS FAITH NOIR GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND RE NILE.

>> CORRECT.

AND IF WE RUSH THROUGH IN THE FOUR DAYS BEFORE A FILING DEADLINE AND GET THAT BILL THROUGH COMMITTEE AND FLOOR VOTE WHO THE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS A VETO PERIOD, SO WE ARE DEAFENING LOOKING AT CLOSING 1 AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE 7th AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVING TO CERTIFY THOSE CANDIDATES AND GOING BACK EX POST FACTO AND REDOING THAT.

THESE AN UGLY LOOK.

I'M SURPRISED THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO BE A PART OF THAT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT YET.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MEADE, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DID EXPRESS SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS AS REPRESENTATIVE HATTON JUST MENTIONED.

THEY SAID THAT THE DISTRICTS NEED TO BE DRAWN WITHOUT ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT ON INCUMBENT OFFICE HOLDERS.

THE WAY THEY SEE IT IN THE NEWLY RELEASED HOUSE MAP, AND I'M QUOTING FROM THEIR STATEMENT ON SUNDAY, THEY SAY A NUMBER OF MAJOR COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED IN A QUITE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, PARTS OF LAUREL COUNTY OF, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE INCLUDED IN SIX DIVINITY PROPOSED SEATS.

I THINK REPRESENT HATTON SAID THAT A MOMENT AGO.

BUT WITHOUT ANY DISTRICT CENTERED ON LONDON.

NER ANALYSIS THEY HAVE GREASE HIM SENIOR INTO FRANK LYNN 1 HARDIN, JEFFERSON, SPIKE PULASKI COUNTIES AND THEY SAY THOSE DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THOSE WHO CURRENTLY HOLD OFFICE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THEIR CONCERN.

>> I WOULD SAY THESE DISTRICTS ARE EXACT, CONTIGUOUS AND THEY'RE HOLDINGS THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GO TO.

I ALSO SAY WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE VARIABLES OF ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER AREAS, IT'S NOT HURTING THOUGH COUNTIES IT.

ACTUALLY HELPS THEM.

BECAUSE I WAS A PART OF PULASKI COUNTY, STILL PART OF PULASKI COUNTY UNTIL THESE NEW MAPS ARE PASSED AND BE PULASKI COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS FOURREs.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE FOUR -- FOUR REPRESENTS.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE FOUR VOTES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WHEN IT COMES TO ROAD PROJECTS, WE HAVE POWER TO GET THOSE ROAD PROJECTS, OTHER PULL TO GET THINGS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY SOMETHING MORE REPRESENTS IN THOSE AREAS GIVES YOU MORE POWER WHEN IT COME TO BEING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND PASSING POLICY.

I AM ALSO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT NOT HAVING INPUTTED.

THE MINORITY ACTUALLY HAS ASKED TWO MONTHS AGO TO PROPOSE MAPS, GIVE US PACs MAPS, AND WE COULD WOULD SEE IF THERE WERE ANY IDEAS WE WOULD INCORPORATE IN OURS.

WHAT WE GOT BACK WAS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICTS, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICTS WE RAN IT INTO THE COMPUTER, IT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT CONTIGUOUS.

SO THERE WERE FREIGHTS OUTSIDE NOT TOUCHING THOSE -- DISTRICTS NOT NOT TOUCH THOSE DISTRICTS.

RIGHT NOW THAT SMALL AREA OF JEFFERSON COUNTY THOSE MAPS WERE ALREADY ILLEGAL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT AN ENTIRE STATE WOULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT BESIDES THAT, WHEN I RAN IN 1220, 12202012 WHEN THE ORIGINAL MAPS WERE DONE AND PASSED THOSE MAPS WERE THROWN OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE MAPS, THEY WERE GERRYMANDERED VERY PANDEMIC THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE DEVIATION PLUS OR MINES 5%.

THERE WERE COUNTIES THAT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE CONTIGUOUS PRECINCTS.

BUT WHEN THAT WAS THROWN OUT BY THE COURTS WE RAN IN THOSE DISTRICTS.

THE FILING DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED.

EVERYTHING WORKED OUT PERFECTLY FINE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, WE RELEASED THOSE MAPS ON FRIDAY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE OVER THE WEEKEND.

AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS WEEK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGES.

I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE WHOLESALE CHANGES BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT.

IT'S THE BIGGEST POLITICAL ARGUMENT YOU HAVE THAT WE HAVE.

WHEN YOU CAN'T ARGUMENT THE POLICY, YOU CAN'T ARGUE THE MAPS THEN YOU ARGUE THE TRANSPARENCY.

AND NEACE WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

>> LET ME GO TO SENATOR NOMS.

LEADER THAYER TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE SENATE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON THE DRAWING OF THE MAPS IN THE SENATE?

>> ILL SAY THIS TO YOU AND TO YOUR VIEWERS.

I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HEARING TODAY AND TONIGHT IS THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY OR OPPORTUNITY FOR BIPARTISANSHIP IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION OVER THIS.

WE COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAD A SPECIAL SESSION AND HAD THIS COMPLETELY DONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE CALLED THE SPECIAL SESSION.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR WAS INTERESTED IN DOING THAT PALM HE SAID TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WAS, SHOW ME IF THE MAPS.

BUT THEY NEVER WOULD DO THAT.

>> AND YOU DIDN'T DO THAT, LEADER THAYER.

>> WE DID NOT BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT PLAY A ROLE IN DRAWING DISTRICTS.

THE SOLE AUTHORITY WITH REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IS VESTED IN THE GENERAL SIMPLY, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> BUT WOULD YOU HAVE NOT HAVE REFERRED HAVE PREFERRED TO GET REDISTRICTING OUT OF WAY BEFORE YOU STARTED THIS GRUELING 60-DAY SESSION?

>> WE DID.

WE WANTED IT KNOWN EARLY AND OFTEN THAT WE WANTED A SPECIAL SESSION, BUT WE WERE NOT GOING TO GET INTO SOME SORT OF GAME WITH THE GOVERNOR WHERE HE LOOKS AT THE DISTRICTS AND TELLS US WHAT HE DOESN'T LIKE THIS PROCEEDING BEING INCLUDED HERE.

THAT'S NOT HIS JOB.

HE WILL HAVE HIS SAY WHEN WE PUT THESE MAPS ON HIS DESK ON SATURDAY.

HE WILL HAVE HIS SAY.

STARTING TOMORROW, AND LAST 28 IN HOUSE MAP, PEOPLE CAN START TO SEE WHERE THESE DISTRICTS ARE AND THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO RUN OR NOT, AND THEY WILL HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 25th TO DECIDE.

THE MAPS CONSIDERED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS WILL MEET ALL STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS I THINK WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DISTRICTS TO THAT WE HAVE DRAWN IN THE SENATE THAT RESEMBLE.

DISTRICTS THAT THEY PROFFERED TO THE PUBLIC.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THE MINORITY PARTY IN THE SENATE WAS OFFERED UNPRECEDENTED INPUT INTO THESE MAPS.

I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE GAVE MORGAN McGARVEY AND REGGIE THOMAS AND HIS CAUCUS MORE INPUT INTO THIS MAP THAN GREG STUMBO GAVE THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR MAP THAT WAS DONE EIGHT YEARS AGO.

>> WHAT SAY YOU, SENATOR THOMAS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

WHAT SENATOR THAYER IS SAYING IS TRUE TO A POINT.

HE DID GIVE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SENATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE MAPS AND PROVIDE INPUT.

BUT JUST FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.

NEGOTIATION, RENEE, THERE ARE 119 OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE SENATE DRAWING OTHER THAN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

WE HAD NO INPUT ON THAT.

AND TO SAY THAT BEING FAYETTE COUNTY I HAD ANY INPUT ON HOW THE LINES WERE DRAWN IN FAYETTE COUNTY OR EVEN THOSE COUNTIES CONTIGUOUS TO FAYETTE COUNTY IS JUST NOT FRU.

>> WERE Y.

IS IT JUST LIMITED TO JEFFERSON COUNTY, LEADER THAYER, FOR THEIR INPUT?

>> THEY HAVE FIFE SEATS I.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET THEIR INPUT.

SENATOR THOMAS' DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE MUCH FROM WHAT IT IS TODAY.

SENATOR PARROT'S DISTRICTS IS WHAT IT IS.

HARDIN COUNTY, AND A COUPLE PRECINCTS, IT GREW TO THE POINT IT'S 2,000 PEOPLE AWAY FROM BEING SPLIT AND THE OTHER SEAT HELD BY DEMOCRATS IS SENATOR WEBB'S DISTRICT.

NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO OVER THERE.

HER DISTRICT IS GOING TO PICK UP ONE COUNTY THAT SHE'S REPRESENTED.

SO THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED INPUT BY THE MINORITY PARTY.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE TOMORROW THAT SENATOR THOMAS AND THE SENATE DEMOCRATS WERE TREATED QUITE FAIRLY.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THESE MAPS WILL MEET THE STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BOTH ON THE FEDERAL SIDE AND THE STATE SIDE, AND THAT'S OUR JOB.

THAT'S OUR JOB.

WE ARE VESTED WITH THAT POWER AND AUTHORITY AND WE WILL DELIVER ON THAT TOMORROW AND SEND THOSE MAPS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> REAL QUICKLY BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON REDISTRICTING.

THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THAT THE SENATE IS DRAWING UP, WHAT IS THAT LOOKING LIKE?

ARE YOU LETTING JOHN YARMOUTH TOSS THE CURRENT INCUMBENT DEAL WITH THAT OR CAN WE EXPECT SOME SURPRISES TO COME OUT OF THAT DISTRICT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY SURPRISES.

I'M SURE THAT REPRESENTATIVE YARMOUTH AND THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO REPLACE HIM WILL BE FINE WITH THE NEW MAP.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD AND ANY SURPRISES.

PRATE STORED.

>> SENATOR THOMAS WOULD BE ABLE GIVE YOU THE LAST ROUND.

LOTS OF QUESTIONS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WHICH I KNOW IS LEADER THAYER'S FAVORITE TOPIC.

>> THERE'S NOTHING I CAN SAY OTHER THAN, RENEE, THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE INPUT IN ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION.

ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT'S PASSED HAS TO COME THROUGH HIM, HE HAS TO APPROVE IT OR VETO IT.

AND IT MAKES IS NO SENSE TO SAY HE'S GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OR AUTHORITY OVER THAT AGENDA.

>> AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT IN THE IF THE MAPS WERE READY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, WHY HAVEN'T SEE SEEN THEM?

WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THE SENATE OR CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

IF THEY WERE READY LET US SEE THEM.

IN MY DISTRICT THE CITIZENS HAVE PIKE COUNTY STILL DON'T KNOW WITH THAT THEIR DISTRICT IS.

WE GOT AN EMAIL AFTER THEY WERE ALL REVEALED A STATE HOLIDAY ON THURSDAY WITH NO STAFF AROUND, SAYING THAT PIKE COUNTY'S MAPS WERE MESSED UP SO WE HAVE STILL NOT SEEN PRECINCT LEVEL DATA, AND IN PIKE COUNTY AT LEAST, THREE STATE REPS, ARTICLE TACK ERRETT LAFFERTY, THEY ARE DISTRICT AND THEN NORMA McCORMICK AND MY CONTRADICT IN PIKE COUNTY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING FOR US, AND ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN PIKE COUNTY HAS NO IDEA WHAT DISTRICT THEY'LL BE IN.

>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LEAVE THIS TYPO BUT I'M NOT.

I JUST GOT AN EMAIL THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE OM PROPOSED PERHAPS RUME CHANGES IN HOUSE THAT WOULD PREVENT DEBATE OOH REDISTRICTING.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.

DELETE THE REPORT ON COMMITTEE POSTINGS PORTION OF ORDER OF BUSINESS IN THE SEVERAL PRECEDING SUBSEQUENT RULES THAT WOULD LIMIT DEBATE ROW DISTRICTING.

IS THAT A PLAN OF HOUSE LEADERSHIP, IS TO SOMEHOW SUFFOCATE SOME OF THE DEBATE THAT COULD HAPPEN ON THIS ISSUE?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE US DO THAT.

WE KENTUCKY HAVE DONE THAT IN PREVIOUS DEBATES THAT WE HAD ON THE FLOOR THIS SESSION.

I THINK JEWEL SEE OM RULE CHANGES BUT THOSE RULE CHANGES ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO ANY ONE POLICY.

>> I HAVE TO BEG TO DIFFER BASED ON THE EMAIL WE GOT TODAY FROM THE MAJORITY.

WITH EXACTLY THOSE CHANGES.

>> SO WHAT DOES SAY IT?

>> EXACTLY NOSE CHANGES.

CAN BE LIMITED FLOOR DEBATE CAN BE LIMITED.

IT ELIMINATES ALL SORTS OF THE COMMITTEE POSTINGS.

IT IS ONE OF THE FINAL NAILS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AS FAR AS THE WAY LEGISLATION IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

AND IT'S DONE I GUESS TO SILENCE THE TEN OR 12 OF US THAT EVEN COME OVER THERE ON THE FLOOR TO ARGUE BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS AND PEOPLE'S HEALTH CONCERNS.

WE'RE SO FEW AT THIS POINT, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF.

MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO SILENCE SOME OF THEIR OWN MEMBERS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THESE MAPS OR MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> SO ON RULE 12, ELIMINATE THE TEN MINUTES GIVEN EACH SIDE OR DEBATE THE ONES A MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED, AN ADOPTED MOTION FOR FURTHER CEASES FURTHER DISCUSSION.

AND BRINGS THE MEASURE TOON IMMEDIATE VOTE.

EXPLANATION VOTE FROM RULE 13 AND 67.

MAY BE INCLUDED AS PART OF TIME LOOTED FOR LIMITED DEBATE.

THE TIME ALLOTTED IS CITY DISCRETION OF THE SPEAKER.

SO IS THAT GETTING TO PER HER POINT THAT THIS IS LIMIT 10 DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE?

AND IS IT ONLY JUST FOR THESE ISSUES OR ARE THESE HOUSE RULES GOING TO APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> >> NO, THESE RULES DO NOT APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND OUR RULES WERE DIFFERENT FROM THE MASON'S MANUAL.

WE ARE TAKING THOSE RULES AND MAKING THEM MIRROR THE MASON'S MANUAL.

>> OKAY.

ANY MORE ON THAT BEFORE I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE ON -- >> IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT ALL FIRE HUR THAT'S THEY'RE IN, AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT.

>> AND HOW -- IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF REDRAWING THE MAPS?

I MEAN, WHEN DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL, WAS THERE MORE TRANSPARENCY?

WAS THERE MORE TIME FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

>> >> I WASN'T THERE.

I HARE THAT THERE WASN'T.

>> THERE WAS NOT.

>> BUT TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT, AND LIKE TELL MY KIDS, IF EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO JUMP OFF A CLIFF, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO.

>> WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT I DO WANT TO GET TO THE BUDGET.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME MONEY, LEADER THAYER AND SPEAKER PRO-TEM MEADE.

$1.1BILLION SURPLUS, YOU'VE GOT COIN COMING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP SAYS YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER SPLORE U.

SURPLUS NEARING $2 BILLION NOT TO MENTION THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION FUNDS THAT COULD BE COMING.

KENTUCKY HAS GOT A LOT OF GREEN COMING ITS WAY.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

DO YOU SAVE IT, SQUIRREL IT AWAY?

DO YOU PAY DOWN PENSION LIABILITIES?

OR DO YOU INVEST IN THANKS THAT SHOULD HAVE LONG TERM INVESTMENT SUCH AS GASE AND FURTHER INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> LET'S TAKE THEM SEPARATELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED SEPARATELY.

THE MONEY FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WILL GO THROUGH THE ROAD PLAN.

WE WILL TAKE UP AND PASS HOPEFULLY A TWO-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT FUNDS ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE 911 THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL -- THE MONEY COULD BE USED FOR THE THREE MEGA PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE ROAD, THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY AND THE EXPANSION OF SOUTH-CENTRAL -- SOS THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THE FEDERAL ARPAIO DOLLARS.

WE'VE GOT $1.1 BILLION YET OF LEFT.

THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY LICE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE IT COMES WITH CERTAIN STRINGS AND LIMITATIONS, AND WE FOUND THAT IN THE LAST BUDGET WHERE WE PUT MONEY INTO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SAID THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID WE CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.

AND THEN AFTER WE PASSED IT BIND'S GROUP CAME BACK TO BESHEAR'S GROUP AND SAID WE CAN'T DO THAT.

SO WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS CHECKING WITH ITS FRIENDS IN DC TO MAKE SURE THE WAYS WE CAN EXTEND THE REMAINING ARPA DOLLARS SO WE CAN GO FORWARD.

NUMBER THREE WOULD BE THE SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE IN GENERAL FUND AND WE THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS THE WAY WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THIS ECONOMY IS BEING PROPPED UP ARTIFICIALLY BY THESE DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND UNTIL WE GET THE PANDEMIC IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND HAVE A BETTER IDEA ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND CONTINUE.

TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR ECONOMY, THERE ARE NEW WORKFORCE HABITS, THERE ARE NEW BUYING HABITS FROM CONSUMERS.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO JUST START SPENDING THIS MONEY LIKE THE FREE CANDY THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM WASHED DC.

AND I THINK -- FROM WASHINGTON, DC.

I THINK WE WILL FULLY FUND OUR PENSIONS.

WE WILL CONTINUE THAT COMMITMENT.

AND IT WILL TAKE MORE MONEY THAN IT DID LAST TIME.

THE EXPERIENCE STUDY THAT WAS DONE FOR THE TEACHERS REQUIREMENT IS GOING TO REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL $200 MILLION.

THE RAISES THAT WERE GIVEN IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE GOING TO COST US AN ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION IN PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO, YES, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THOSE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT THOSE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING $1 BILLION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE TRS AND A $12 BILLION BUDGET AND ADDING ANOTHER 20% TO THAT, IT REALLY STARTS TO EAT AWAY AT THAT BODY OF MONEY THAT YOU'VE GOT SETTING ASIDE.

>> DREW SHYROCK FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY ASKS YOU THIS, SENATOR THAYER.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A COLA BUILD IT IN THE BUDGET ORE KENTUCKY PENSION RECIPIENTS?

COST OF LIVING INCREASE.

>> THAT WAS NOT BEEN DECIDED YET.

>> IS IT ON THE TABLE TO BE CONSIDERED?

>> IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED.

THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO VARIOUS MENTION FUNDS AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, SENATOR THOMAS?

IS IT TIME FOR SOME COLA?

>> ABSOLUTELY, RENEE.

AND LET ME POINT OUT THIS TO BEGIN WITH.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GREEN THAT YOU REFERENCED, $1.1 BILLION OF THAT, RENEE, COMES FROM OUR NATURAL GROWTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN UNDER GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

THIS PAST 2021 YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED RECORD GROWTH IN THIS STATE UNFORESEEN EVER IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY WE ADDED 17,000 NEW JOBS, RENEE, HERE IN KENTUCKY JUST IN 2021.

NEVER DONE BEFORE.

WE HAD $11.2 BILLION, $11.2 BILLION, RENEE, IN NEW INVESTMENT.

NEVER DONE BEFORE.

I MEAN, KENTUCKY IS POISED FOR GREAT GROWTH.

AND WE BELIEVE, BASED UPON WHAT WE DID IN A COVID YEAR, THAT THIS WASN'T GOING TO CONTINUE AND THAT WE'LL HAVE THE MONEY GOING FORWARD TO CONTINUE SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS WE WANT TO MAKE.

NOW, I WILL SAY THIS TO YOU, RENEE.

WHEN YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND IMPROVE YOURSELF, SAVING THAT MONEY AND JUST HOARDING IT UNDER A MATTRESS FOR WHATEVER MIGHT HAPPEN IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE WAY TO ACT.

WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE, RENEE, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO FOR KENTUCKY.

AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NUMBER ONE, RENEE, WE'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND KINDERGARTEN.

FINALLY GET THAT DONE.

SO THAT KIDS IN KENTUCKY -- >> BEYOND JUST THE ONE YEAR THAT IT WAS.

>> BEYOND THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND ALL-DAY KIDNEY FOREVER HE EVER IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

-- KINDERGARTEN.

>> THAT'S THE DEMOCRATS' PLAN.

>> RENEE, HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE PLAN.

THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ALL SURGEON.

NUMBER TWO, RENEE, WE'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND TRANSPORTATION.

WE CUT BACK ON OUR PROMISE WHEN WE COOPERATED KERA.

WE STARTED FULLY FUNDING TRANSPORTATION AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE CUT BACK AND CUT BACK AND CUT BACK TO NOW WE'RE ON FUNDING ABOUT 50% OF TRANSPORTATION.

WE'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND THAT NOW SO THAT THATTAL FREE UP MONEY FOR ALL THESE 171 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THIRDLY, RENEE, WE'RE GOING TO FULL FUND OUR FAMILY YOUTH SERVERS RESOURCES OTHER IS WOO KNOWN AS FRYSCs.

THAT WILL HELP THOSE UNDERSERVED UNDERPRIVILEGE FAMILIES SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN EFFECTIVELY COMPETE WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

WE'RE GOING TO FULL FUND THAT.

NOW, MY HOPE IS, RENEE, WYE FUNDING ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, BY FULLY FUNDING TRANSPORTATION, AND BY FULLY FUNDING FRYSCs, THAT WILL FREE UP MONEY TO ENCOURAGE THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW TO START PAYING FOR PRE-K.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FREE MONEY THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE, AND WE WANT TO SEE THEM USE THAT MONEY TO FUND PRE-K BECAUSE AS SENATOR THAYER HAS KNOWN SINCE I HIT THE SENATE THAT I'VE ABOUT AN A STRONG RESPECT FOR PRE-K AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT AS THE NEXT STEP IN KENTUCKY IF WE'RE TRULY GOING TO BE A STATE AND AN AREA THAT'S GOING TO COMPETE WORLDWIDE AS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER.

>> CARRIED THAYER, THE SCHOOL FUNDING TASK FORCE DID RECOMMEND SOME OF WHAT SENATOR THOMAS JUST MENTIONED.

SO IS THAT THE SENTIMENT OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE 75% OF IT WILL NEACE IN REPUBLICAN THAT'S IN REPUBLICAN CONTROL?

>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TONIGHT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

AND I SAY THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES.

REGGIE AND I ARE FRIENDS AND HE KNOWS THAT.

LOOK, THEY WANT TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

WE WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS.

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE PENSION FUNDS.

AND WE WANT TO PUT MONEY AWAY IN THE RAINY DAY FUND AND PERHAPS WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PANDEMIC, WHICH I BELIEVE WE'RE STARTING TO GET IT IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND GET BACK TO A REAL ECONOMY THAT'S NOT PROPPED UP BY ARTIFICIAL DOLLARS.

FOR HIM TO COME OUT AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE THREE THINGS COMING FROM AN EIGHT-MEMBER DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT OF A BOLD STATEMENT.

WE MAY END UP DOING THOSE THINGS.

BUT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENCE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH WANT SCHOOL CHOICE.

THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S THE REASON GLENN YOUNGIN IS NOW THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN A DEMOCRAT STATE KNOWN AS VIRGINIA.

PARENTS WANT SCHOOL CHOICE.

WE NEED TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY THE -- THE PARENTS OF KENTUCKY MORE INPUT INTO THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE CHOICE IN WHERE THEIR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.

>> TAKE IT STATEWIDE, NOT JUST THE EIGHT COUNTIES THAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID WAS ILLEGAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED TO TAKE THAT BILL THAT LIMITED THE SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS TO NINE COUNTIES AND WE NEED TO PASS IT.

>> IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM THE SENATE.

>> >> NO, IT WILL MOST LIKELY START IN THE HOUSE.

>> FROM THE HOUSE.

CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT, REPRESENTATIVE MEADE?

>> WE HAVE NOT HAD THE DISCUSSIONS ON SCHOOL CHOICE BILL.

OUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN AROUND REDISTRICTING AND THIS BUDGET.

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SENATOR THAYER BE, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE ECONOMY, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN IMPROVEMENT CORPORATE INCOME TAX AND FROM SALES TAX AND INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX AND MAJOR BUSINESS TAXES, BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE FROM THIS ARTIFICIAL ECONOMY THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, TIN FLUX OF MONEY THAT'S COME IN THAT FOLKS ARE SPENDING OUT THERE IN OUR ECONOMY.

ALSO YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR, REMEMBER, THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP SAID THAT WHEN THEY GIVE US THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT NOW THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IT'S LIKE THROWING DARTS AT A BOARD.

THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT INFLATION IS GOING TO DO EITHER.

SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US DO IN OUR BUDGET IS MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, JUSTICE AND HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, THOSE AREAS WITNESS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PROP UP THAT RAINY DAY FUND.

RIGHT NOW WEAVE $1.9 BILLION.

>> HOW MUCH WOULD BE.

>>> $1.9 BILLION RUNS THE GOVERNMENT FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS.

WE WE NEED TO BE FED UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WHEN WE TO DO THAT IT GIVES US OPPORTUNITIES TO THEN LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE AND DOING OTHER THINGS SUCH AS TAX REFORM AND INVESTING FURTHER IN EDUCATION AND IN OUR ECONOMY.

>> ARE YOU GLOWING TO TRY TODAY TAX REFORM IN THIS SESSION?

>> IT'S HOPEFUL WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT DONE.

>> NOT A BIG OMNIBUS BILL BUT A FEW MAJOR PIECES?

>> I THINK WE CAN TAKE STEPS FORWARD.

THE IN 2018 WE TOOK THE FIRST STEP WHICH IS THE ABSOLUTELY HARDEST TO BROADEN THAT BASE.

LOWERING THE INCOME TAX RATE WHILED BRO'ENING THAT BASE AND GOING TIE MORE CONSUMPTION-BASED TAX LIKE TENNESSEE AND FLORIDA AND INDIANA AND TEXAS.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME IT HAS TO BE OVER A LARGER PERIOD OF TIME BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.

>> ONE THING WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED AND I ALLUDED TO IS THE AFTERMATH OF THE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADOES NOT JUST DECEMBER 10th AND 11th BUT JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WILL THERE BE SOME SORT OF RELIEF PACKAGAL THAT WILL START IN THE HOUSE I ASSUME BECAUSE OF THE APPROPRIATION MEASURE?

IS THAT COMING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE GOVERNOR TODAY.

WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THOSE FOLKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOPES, LOST THEIR JOBS TO REBUILD AND START THEIR LIVES AGAIN.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED A NUMBER, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHAT A PACKAGE OF BASIC TEN ITS WOULD BE?

>> WE HAVE NOT DRILLED DOWN.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE MONEY TO THAT THAT WILL BE COMING AS FAR AS FEDERAL AID AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MATCH SOME OF THAT MONEY.

>> THE FEDERAL AID WILL HAVE STRINGS ATTACHED TO WHAT YOU CAN SPEND ON IT AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CAN BE SENATOR THOMAS.

SORRY.

>> RENEE, DAMON, SENATOR THAYER IS RIGHT.

WE ARE FRIENDS.

AND LIKE MYSELF HE HAS CHILDREN TOO.

AND I NOTICED ONE THING DAMON AND I WOULD AGREE ON, AND THAT IS THAT THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE IS INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING AS A STATE HERE TONIGHT, RENEE, WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HUGE INVESTMENTS IN THIS STATE.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT WE CAN MAKE AS KENTUCKIANS, RENEE, IS IN OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE HOPEFULLY THAN WE HAVE.

SO THAT'S, CALL IT DEMOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY.

I'LL ACCEPT THAT.

I'LL OWN THAT.

BUT I DO THINK, RENEE, THAT THAT'S -- WE'VE GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

LET ME CORRECT REPRESENTATIVE MEADE WITH REGARD TO UNRESPECT.

I WAS TRYING TO MAKE POINT THAT WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN OUR BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OUR TAX RECEIPTS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS BY OUR GOVERNOR OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

AND THOSE EFFORTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, RENEE, THROUGH 2022 AND BEYOND.

THIS IS NOT, RENEE, MONEY THAT'S FALLING FROM THE DESIRE.

THIS IS A RESULT OF HARD-WORKING EFFORT ABOUT OUR OUR LEADERSHIP TO GET TO THIS POINT.

THIS IS NOT LUCK.

THIS IS A MATTER HARD WORK.

AND WHAT THIS STATE NEEDS TO DO IS TAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES, INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN SO WE CAN HAVE EVEN A BETTER STATE GOING FORWARD THAN WE HAVE NOW.

>> LET ME GET TO REPRESENTATIVE HANNITY BEFORE I GET TO YOU, LEADER THAYER BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE YOU HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY.

YOU LAID OUT YOUR PRIORITIES.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K, CODIFYING POPULAR ITEMS IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, ALLOWING KENTUCKY HORSE RACING COMMISSION TO REGULATE THE LICENSURE OF SPORTS WAGERING WITH ONLINE POKER GAMING AND LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

I WANT TO GET THAT THAT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, ABOUT IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.

>> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT FIRST?

>> SURE.

>> ITALY THAT BOTH PARTIES UNDERSTAND THAT CAUTION IS NECESSARY IN VERY UNCERTAIN TIMES AND THAT WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.

L. I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

BUT WE'RE AT A TURNING POINT IN KENTUCKY WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE WEATHERED THE STORM AS FAR AS OUR BUDGET GOES IN OUR STATE BETTER THAN A LOT OF STATES COMING OUT OF COVID-19.

AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR TAX STRUCTURE.

STATES THAT RELY SO HEAVILY ON INCOME TAX, FOR INSTANCE -- EXCUSE ME -- SALES DAKOTA DID NOT DO WELL COMING OUT OF -- SALES TAX DID NOT DO WELL COMING OUT OF THE YOU HAD SHUT DOWN P. SO A THREE-LEGGED APPROACH WEATHERED THAT BETTER.

FOR THE STIRS FIRST I'M SINCE 2006 WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE CUTS.

WYE THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR WE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE $3 BILLION IN OUR RAINY DAY FUND.

AND THAT IS ABOUT A 25% RAINY DAY FUND BASED ON WHAT OUR BUDGET IS, AND ALWAYS THE GOAL HAS BEEN 5% IN THE PAST 4 FOUR RAINY DAY FUND.

SO WE DO HAVE THE MONEY NOW TO GIVE LEGITIMATE COST OF LIVING INCREASES.

AND RAISES TO OUR STATE EMPLOYEES.

WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FUND RAISES FOR STATE POLICE AND TEACHERS AND THE VETERANS IN OUR STAFF THAT ARE RUN BY THE STATE THAT CAN'T KEEP NURSES OR STAFF BECAUSE THE PAY SCALE THAT WE SET IS TOO LOW.

>> SO BRIAN BRENTLEY FROM ANDERSON COUNTY ASKS THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE REASON FOR STATE EMPLOYEES OR PUBLIC SERVANTS NOT RECEIVING A RAISE?

WHY IS THIS NOT A PRIORITY THIS SESSION?

NO ONE SAID IT'S NOT A PRIORITY.

LEADER THAYER, IS IT A PRIORITY WITH THE GOP?

>> LOOK, WE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE RAISES TO STATE EMPLOYEES, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT A COLA, A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN WE'RE DOING IN PENSION DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE STRAINING WITH EVERY BUDGET TO MAKE THESE CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO ALL OF THE VARIOUS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSION UNIVERSES FUNDS AND THEY ARE THE REASONS WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GIVE PRAISES.

ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS WE ARE GIVING PEOPLE RAISES ON BACK END TO MAKE SURE THEIR PENSIONS WILL BE THERE AND FUNDED WHEN THEY RETIRE AND BE WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE KERS.

WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE PROGRESSION IN TRS BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING THEM MORE CASH.

THEY CAN THEREFORE BAKE LONGER-TERM INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BETTER YIELDS.

AND WE NEED TO STAY THAT COURSE.

BUT BEFORE WE START PROMISING COLAS AND RAISES, WE'VE GOT TO GET IN THERE, AND I TRUST OUR BUDGET KNIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHRIS MCDANIEL.

I CALL HIM SENATOR SPREADSHEET BECAUSE LEASE SO GOOD A CRUNCHING THESE NUMBERS, TO COME FORWARD WITH GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS WORKING WITH JASON PETRIE IN THE ON HIS THAT ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> SO THAT MEANS NO TO RAISES TO STATE WORKERS?

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

I STARTED OUT BY SAYING WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE RAISES.

BUT ONCE YOU GIVE THOSE RAISES, THEY ARE COMPOUNDED OVER THE ENSUING YEARS AND WE DON'T WANT TO JUST MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WE WANT TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHAT OF A JAUNDICED EYE AT ALL THESE BIG BOLD PROMISES FROM THE MINORITY PARTY BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM AND TAKE A VERY SERIOUS LOOK AT THESE EXPENDITURES.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE ARE CREATING NEW JOBS IN KENTUCKY, BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN GOVERNOR FOR TWO YEARS.

BEFORE THAT MATT BEVIN WAS GOVERNOR FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN HOUSE AND THE SENATE PASSED A LOT OF POLICIES THAT ARE PAYING OFF NEW WITH THESE NEW JOBS THAT ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY.

WE WE HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVEN'T TALK ABOUT AND THAT'S OUR WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.

IT'S EMBARRASSINGLY LOW AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN YOU GO TO ALMOST EVERY SECTOR IN THE ECONOMY, NOT JUST THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

EVERY SECTOR SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THAT, BUT WE NEED ABLE-BODIED HEALTHY PEOPLE TO RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE.

WHERE WE GOING FIND PEOPLE TO FILL THESE 5,000 JOBS COMING TO GLENDALE IN FIVE YEARS WHEN THE TO YOU FORD BATTERY -- >> WE ALSO TALKED TO COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIALS WHO WOULD SAY THEY'RE HAVING A WORKER RETENTION PROBLEM, TOO, BECAUSE THE PENSION ISN'T LIKE IT USED TO BE, THAT THE SALARIES AREN'T ADJUSTED FOR CURRENT RATES IN THE MARKETPLACE AND INFLATION, SO IF WORKPLACE ISSUES ARE AN ISSUE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THEY'RE EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

SO TO GET TO THE POINT OF WHAT MR. BENTLEY IS GETTING AT, WOULD IT NOT BE A WORKER RETENTION ISSUE IF YOU DID GIVE A 1 OR 2 PERCENT RAISE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE GOT PROVIDING SERVICES THAT HELPS YOU ALL DO THE JOBS THAT YOU DO?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE MIX.

WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE FACTORS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY ALONG-TERM.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS NOT IMMUNE FROM THESE WORKER RETENTION AND NEW-HIRE ISSUES.

AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT ALL IN THE MIX.

AND IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE TAX REFORM PROPOSAL.

THAT THE HOUSE IS WORKING ON.

I THINK THE TAX CHANGES THAT WE MADE A FEW YEARS AGO MADE KENTUCKY MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CUT THE INCOME TAX FURTHER TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND THEN IF WE MOVE TOWARDS MORE OF A CONSUMPTION TAX, THEY CAN DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY PAY IN TAX.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX IN KENTUCKY?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT DOWN TO ZERO LIKE TEXAS, FLORIDA AND TENNESSEE.

>> IS THAT A GRADUATED REINTRODUCTION DUCTION OR ALL OUT?

>> I'D LIKE TO SLICE TO IT ZERO.

RENEE.

THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.

BUT I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE MORE REALISTIC AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE MEADE'S INPUT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE HOUSE BILL STARTS IN THE HOUSE, I THINK THE INDIANA MODEL WHERE THEY HAVE GOT.

THEIR INCOME TAX RATE DOWN TO UNTIL THE 3% RANGE, INDIANA JUST WAS RANKED THE NUMBER ONE JOB CREATING JOB STATE IN THE WEST.

WE COMPETE AGAINST GALVANIZING THEM AND OUR TAXES ARE HIGHER PEER.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MEADE?

>> LET ME FIRST BACK UP AND SAY JUST TODAY WE WERE DISCUSSING PAY PARADES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE BOARD, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE COMING TO A POINT THAT WE NEED TO BE EPP COMPETITIVE.

YOU BROUGHT THAT POINT UP.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I THINK WHAT SENATOR THAYER AND WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE CAN'T USE THIS ONE-TIME FEDERAL MONEY SNORED TO MAKE LONG-TERM APPROPRIATIONS.

WE HAVE TO DO THOSE THINGS OUT OF THE REVENUES THAT THE STATE WILL RECEIVE, AND SO THAT'S THE FOCUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO DOING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LONG-TERM.

I WILL ALSO STAY THAT VERY QUICKLY, THAT THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT HOW WE DID BETTER THAN OTHER STATES WHO HAD CONSUMER-BASED TAXES COMING OUT OF COVID.

OF COURSE, WE WILL.

THEY SHUT THE ENTIRE ECONOMY DOWN THE PAST YEAR IN A LOT OF THOSE STATES.

AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK IN THE WAY THAT WE WERE.

WHEN YOU'RE STILL TAXING UNEMPLOYMENT AND EVERY AVENUE OF EMPLOYMENT IN YOUR STATE, ON YOUR GOING TO BE DOING BETTER IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

BUT ALSO I WILL SAY THAT, AS SENATOR THAYER SAID, WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT ONE-TIME MONEY AND MAKING SURE THAT IT HAS LONG-TERM ADVANTAGES BUT WE CAN'T SUES THAT FOR JUST THIS ONE TIME -- THESE LONG-TERM APPROPRIATIONS.

>> SENATOR THOMAS, I'LL COME TO YOU.

THEN SENATOR THAYER.

>> WELL, NO, RENEE, I'VE MADE MY POINT.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY THAT ALLOWS TO YOU CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU PUT IN THE MATCHES OR JUST THICKEN THE GROUND AND SAY I'M GOING TO KEEP IT FOR A RAINY DAY, I THINK THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND THAT'S NOT A WISE USE OF YOUR MONEY.

I THINK THE BEST -- THE BEST USE OF YOUR MONEY AS A STATE GOING FORWARD IS TO INVEST IN NEXT GENERATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO.

THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO DO.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO AS A LEGISLATURE.

WHEN THE RISH MEETS THE ROAD, WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN, WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.

I THINK YOU'RE DOG TO SEE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FULLEST I FUND TRANSPORTATION AND FRYSCs.

RENEE, I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO SENATOR THAYER.

HE MENTIONED IN HIS COMMENTS THAT HE BELIEVES IN PARENTAL CHOICE.

I'M A FORMER PTA PRESIDENT.

I WAS A PTA PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS.

I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN PARENT CHOICE, AND I'M GOING -- I HOPE WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON FLOOR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT CHOICE IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

>> DOESN'T PARENTAL CHOICE ALREADY EXIST EXIT WHEN IT COMES TO THE OFFERINGS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ALREADY.

>> JE.

YES, RENEE, IT DOES.

>> AND HOW?

>> RENEE, WE HAVE IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED SITE BUSINESS COUNCILS WHICH PARENTS SIT ON, AND I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE SINCE BYE I'VE BABY THE IN SENATE OF INCREASING THAT NUMBER SO IT'S EQUAL TO WHAT TEACHERS HAVE.

RIGHT NOW IT'S TWO TEACHERS -- I MEAN, TWO PARENTS TO THREE CHILDREN.

IT OUGHT TO BE EQUAL THREE AND THREE.

BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE MAJORITY CHOICE IN EVERY SCHOOL HERE IN KENTUCKY.

I AM A STRONG ADVOCATE.

I THINK PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY, SHOULD DEMAND IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE ONE, I THINK MY PARTY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE ONE THAT ADVOCATES FOR PARENTS A RIGHTS IN SCHOOLS.

>> SO WHY WOULDN'T THAT LEAD TO SUPPORT OF BROADER SCHOOL CHOICE MEASURE THEN?

>> BUT WE HAVE CHOICE NOW.

WE HAVE -- >> IN TERMS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS I MEAN.

>> RENEE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC MONEY OR PUBLIC SCHOOL, THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S WHERE IS PUBLIC MONEYS SHOULD GO, SHOULD TO GO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE'S CHOICE, RENEE, IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'VE ALWAYS CITED THAT EVEN HERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY, PARENTS HERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY HAVE 55 CHOICES, RENEE, IN TERMS OF HOW TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

55 CHOICES, RENEE.

THAT'S A LOT OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

>> LEADER THAYER?

>> IN THE WORDS OF WHITNEY HOUSTON, I BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE.

TEACH THEM WELL AND LET THEM LEAD THE WAY.

WE SPEND 55% OF OUR BUDGET ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

DO YOU KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF KIDS BEING HOMESCHOOLED DOUBLED IN KENTUCKY?

THERE WERE A LOT OF PARENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO WERE UNHAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS MADE BY THEIR SCHOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THE PROBLEM -- AND A LOT OF PARENTS TOOK THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

THE PROBLEM IS WITHOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT BILL, LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME PARENTS HAVE NO CHOICE IF THEY WANT TO GO -- IF THEY CAN'T HOME SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS SCHOOL CHOICE FOR MIDDLE CLASS KIDS AND RICH KIDS.

LET'S BE STRAIGHT UP HONEST HERE.

BUT IF YOU'RE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME KID, YOUR PARENT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SEND YOU TO LEXINGTON CATHOLIC OR THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL.

UNDER THIS BILL THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR AND NEED TO PASS AGAIN FOR ALL 120 COUNTIES, THERE WILL BE A SCHOLARSHIP CREATED FOR THOSE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AWARENESS PARENTS TO APPLY FOR THEIR KIDS TO SEND THEM TO THOSE SCHOOLS.

THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT, 70% PLUS SUPPORTED AMONG DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTED AND REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE, TO LET PARENTS BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHERE TO SEND THEIR KID TO SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOME SCHOOL.

AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE DECISIONS CAN MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER, AND THEY DO MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER BECAUSE THERE'S MORE COMPETITION.

SO I THINK -- I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WE ALREADY SPEND MORE THAN HALF OF OUR BUDGET ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE SPEND $4,000 PER PUPIL THROUGH THE SEEK FORMULA AND $3,337 ADDITIONAL IN TEACHER PENSION AND INSURANCE, AND THOSE HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS EDUCATION COULD FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF WHAT DRAWS GOOD TEACHERS INTO THE PROFESSION.

>> SO THE SCHOOL FUNDINGS TASK FORCE DIDN'T RECOMMEND AN INCREASE IN BASE PER PUPIL FUNDING, CORRECT?

>> THEY DID NOT.

IT DID NOT.

>> IT DID NOT.

IS THAT WISE?

>> PARDON?

>> WAS THAT WISE?

>> THAT'S TO BE CONSIDERED NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ZEKE FORMULA NEXT YEAR.

>> YOU MEAN IN 23.

>>> NO, IN 22.

>>> THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY.

>> I SAID NEXT YEAR.

I MEANT THIS YEAR.

>> WE'RE THERE IN THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SEEK FORMULA IN DEPTH DURING THE INTERIM SESSION OF '22.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

ANY MORE ON SCHOOL FUNDING?

ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT A STATEWIDE APPROACH TO THESE SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS THAT WERE LIMITED UNCONSTITUTIONALLY AS THE SUPREME COURT SAID TO THOSE EIGHT COUNTIES?

>> WELL, RENEE, I'M GOING TO HOLD A POSITION LEADERSHIP IN THE STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE BODY BEAUT MY HEART IS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND SCHOOL TAX CREDITS ARE NEVER GOING TO HELP PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT IN RURAL AREAS.

THERE WILL NOT BE THOSE CHOICES.

ALL IT DOES IS TAKE MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I SEE THAT AS NEEDLESS.

AND IF WE'RE TRYING TO BASE ON IT WHAT PEOPLE WANT, I HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE STATISTICS THAT SAY 70%.

I HAVE SEEN STATISTICS THAT SHOW CLOSE TO 90% OF KENTUCKIANS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PASSED, AND SO THE VETERANS GROUPS THAT WANT TO TREAT PTSD, THE SUBSTANCE USE BEAUMONT THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR EPILEPTICS, THEY NEED PHOBE LOOKING AT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR SENATORS AND ASKING THEM WHY WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF IT.

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

WE ARE MISS 10 BOAT ON SOME IMPORTANT TREATMENT FOR KENTUCKIANS.

>> LEADER THAYER, HERE'S THE QUESTION.

BECAUSE YOU MADE THE POINT ABOUT THE POLLING, YOU SAY 70% OF EVEN DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THESE SCHOOL CHOICE MEASURES AND 80 TO 90 PERCENT APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE HATTON SUPPORT MED IS CAL MARIJUANA, IF IT'S ALL ABOUT COOKING WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, IF IT PASSES THE HOUSE AGAIN, WILL THE SENATE GOP ALLOW THE BILL TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE?

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

>> REPRESENTATIVE HATTON IS RIGHT, IT DOES ENJOY BROAD SUPPORT IN KENTUCKY.

I'M JUST NOT FOR IT.

IF THE VOTES ARE THERE, IT WOULD PROBABLY PASS.

IF IT CAN GET OUT OF THE HOUSING, I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE NEMES HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE HIS BILL.

HE'S TOLD ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO BE FOR IT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN OTHERS WON'T AND THAT WE WON'T HAVE THE VODE TO PASSION IT.

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

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING DISSUADE YOUR MEMBERS, YOUR CAUCUS TO BE AGAINST IT OR PERSUADE THEM TO BE AGAINST IT?

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

>> HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM IT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>>> I'VE BEEN HEARING IT FOR YEARS.

THEY ARE FOR IT.

THEY ELECT US TO GO TO FRANKFORT TO MAKE DECISIONS AND THEY THEY DON'T LIKE IT THEY CAN TAKE IT OUT TO ME THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> WHAT'S YOUR OPPOSITION.

>>> I THINK MED INCAL MARIJUANA IS ISLIP SLOPE FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED TREATED OF A MEDICINE AND THE ARGUED OF GETTING TAX MONEY OFF OF IT DOESN'T WORK.

IT NEEDS TO HAVE A PRESCRIPTION AND BE PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR AND IT NEEDS TO BE DR.

TITLE TAILORED IN WE'RE GOING TO DO A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANXIETY AND THOSE TYPES THINGS ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE TRULY DIAGNOSED ELLEN MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT IT OR NEMES' MEASURE?

>> I'M ON THE FENCE.

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

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

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT, SENATOR THOMAS.

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

I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT OF IT SINCE 2014.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY RECORD, YOU'LL SEE I COSPONSOR LEGISLATION EVERY YEAR IN SUPPORT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

RENEE, AS YOU NAILED IT, SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, 36 STATES HAVE IT NOW.

THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA HAS IT NOW.

IT'S TIME TO BRING IT TO KENTUCKY AS WELL.

AND GIVE OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF SOME RELIEF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

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

>> SO WHAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ANTI-ABORTION BILL THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL -- THE FIRST WEEK, LET'S JUST GET TO.

THE FIRST WEEK YOU'RE GOING TO NEXT ON ON REDISTRICTING.

WILL YOU TAKE UP OTHER MEASURES?

>> TOBEL THE ONLY THICK THING YOU WILL SEE THIS WEEK WOULD BE WE WILL FILE THE BILL TOMORROW.

WORK TO PASS THAT AND INCLUDE SATURDAY IN THIS WEEK.

AFTER THAT YOU'LL SEE FILING DEADLINE I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE ANY OTHER ISSUES COME OUT.

>> AND THAT WILL BE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 25th.

>> YES.

>> AFTER THAT WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT BIG PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU WOULD THE WORK TO GET THROUGH?

>> OF COURSE, THE BUDGET IS THE PRIMARY THING THAT WE WOULD TRY TO PUSH AND GET DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, GET IT OVER TO THE SENATE SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO PASS A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

IN YEARS PAST WE DIDN'T DO THAT THE LAST SESSION.

WE TRIED TO GET IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IN YEARS PAST WE BACKED OURSELVES UP TO THE DEADLINE, AND NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN SOME YEARS WITH THE PREVIOUS MAJORITY EVEN BEING ABLE TO OVERRIDE VISITS.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET ON IT IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> THOSE BIG MEASURES, ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATION, CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHERE DO THEY FALL AS FAR AS PRIORITIES FOR THE GOP?

>> I THINK ANY TIME THAT YOU SPEAK OF PRO-LIFE IT IS A PRIORITY FOR US AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THOSE MEASURES VERY INTENTLY.

WE HAVE NOT HAD MUCH DISCUSSION AUTO ALL OH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY THINGS GOING ON AS FAR AS THE BUDGET REDISTRICTING TO FOCUS ON IT AND NOT GET INTO THOSE OTHER ISSUES.

>> LAST THE WORD FOR YOU, LEADER THAYER.

>> WEV SENATOR MAX-WISE WISE IS WORKING ON THE NAME IMAGE LIKENESS BILL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE INTEREST IN BECAUSE OF LOVE HAVE COLLEGE SPORTS HERE.

PRESIDENT STIVERS IS WRONG A BILL TO CREATE SOME INCENTIVES FOR HEALTH CARE EDUCATION TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR.

SENATOR JASON HOWL IS WORKING ON WESTERN KENTUCKY RECOVERY.

WESTER NEEDLE IS WORKING ON BILL TO PROTECT DIGITAL ASSET.

SENATOR SCHICKEL IS WORKING A BILL TO GIVE THE AUTHORITY BACK TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PRINCIPAL HIRING.

>> THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

>> YES, IT IS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BIG PRIORITY FOR US THIS YEAR.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A WIDE A ARRAY OF ISSUES COMING DOWN THE PIKE THAWER GOING TO BE DEALING WITH.

>> WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THEM.

THANK YOU ALL.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ON THIS AFTER AFTER NEW YEAR'S PROGRAM.

FIRST ONE OF THE YEAR.

WE'RE GLAD TO START IT OFF WITH A BIG BANG.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH YOU WILL SEE US TOMORROW NIGHT 11:00 P.M. EASTERN.

WE WILL HAVE "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" 11:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME OF ON KET.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 EASTERN BILL BRYANT IS A GROUP OF WORKING JOURNALISTS WILL BREAK DOWN THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."