>> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

THIS IS AT THE SECOND ADDRESS BY MATT BEVIN TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSE AND SENATE.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

I'M JOINED BY AL CROSS WHO IS A VETERAN JOURNALIST HERE IN KENTUCKY AND WHO HEADS THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY INSTITUTE FOR RURAL JOURNALISM AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, AND OUR NEW COLLEAGUE WHO OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM AT KET, CASEY PARKER BELL, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER AND REPORTER WHO WILL BE JOINING US THIS EVENING TO GET US THROUGH IT ALL.

THERE'S ANTICIPATION ABOUT THIS SPEECH, AL CROSS.

WE KNOW THAT THIS GOVERNOR IS A VERY EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKER, PROGRAMS ALMOST IMPROMPTU IN HIS DELIVERY DOESN'T GO BY A PREPARED TEXT.

SO DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR MAY SAY TONIGHT.

>> >> WELL, I'D BE VERY SURPRISED IF HE DIDN'T HAVE QUITE BAIT TO SAY ABOUT PEGS REFORM AND TAX REFORM WHICH ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OF THE COMMONWEALTH BUT HE'LL CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION, TOO.

>> AND THEY HAD A PROTOBUS SESSION THOSE IFS I HAVE TO DAYS, SEVEN BILLS P RECOVERY EVER DO YOU EVER RECALL A TIME WHEN THAT MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION PASSED THAT QUICKLY.

>> NO, IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE, A NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THEY WHY EVER WERE NEVERRABLE TO DO IT BEFORE, NEVER HOTEL FELT THE NEED TO DO BEFORE.

IT WAS MILDER POLITICAL BUT THEY WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETELY NEW POSE IN TOWN NOT JUST THE SHERIFF.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TONIGHT WHEN YOU SEE GOVERNOR BEVIN DELIVER HIS ADDRESS?

>> EVERYBODY WANTS KNOW WHAT THE SHAPE OF TAX REFORM WOULD LOOK LIKE AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE ON THE PENSION PLANS WANT TO KNOW WHAT PENSION REFORM MIGHT LOOKING, TOO.

WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR CLUES IN THAT REGARD.

WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING OTHER EMPHASES AND PRIORITIES THAT HE MIGHT HAVE.

HE HASN'T HAD A NEWS CONFERENCE LATELY.

HE'S DEPENDED MORE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS A CHANCE TO SEE MATT BEVIN AT LENGTH AND KIND OF TAKE HIS MEASURE AND SEE WHAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT.

>> WY UNDERSTAND THAT PERHAPS HIS SPEECH MAY NOT BE AS LONG AS LAST YEAR BUT IT COULD BE OR LONGER.

>> WELL, THE PRESS OFFICE SAID THAT THE GOAL WAS HALF AS LONG AS LAST TIME, AND LAST TIME IT WAS 70 MINUTES, AND AGAIN AN YOU THE YO LINE DESIGNED FOR 30 MINUTES.

SO I GET YOU IT'S LONGER THAN 30 BECAUSE HE'S LIKELY TO GET ON A RESIST ESPECIALLY IF A RIVET ESPECIALLY IF HE'S FEELING UPBEAT.

>> LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR COMBINED HIS STATE OF MONTH WITH THE BUDGET ADDRESS.

>> WELL, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET YEAR AND IT'S UNLIKELY THEY'LL WANT TO OPEN UP THE BUDGET FOR ANY REASON.

BUT YOU HAVE THINGS WITH SERIOUS BUDGET IMPLICATIONS WITH THE PENSION SYSTEM BEING PROBABLY THE WORST OFF IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR TAX BASE HAVING NEEDED REFORM FOR 30 YEARS.

>> AND HE HAS A REASON AS WE JUST DISCUSSED ABOUT BEING VERY UPBEAT IN THIS SPEECH.

WHEN I TALKED TO HOUSE SPANISH JEFF HOOVER AND ASKED HIM WHAT DOES HEY EXPECT FROM GOVERNOR BEVIN HE COULDN'T TALK ABOUT CONTENT BUT HE DID EXPECT FOR IT TO BE A VERY UPBEAT SPEECH CONSIDERING WHAT HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF THE SESSION.

>> WELL, REPUBLICANS ARE ON A ROLL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE GOVERNOR IS RELATIVELY POPULAR BASED ON THE POLLING THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

AYE HE'S NOT TREMENDOUS WILL YOU POPULAR BUT HE'S A NET POSITIVE CLEARLY.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WANT ACTION IN GOVERNMENT.

THE MOST ON.

LOHR GOVERNOR IN THE HISTORY PUBLIC POLLING WAS PAUL PATTON RIGHT AFTER HE REFORMED HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH WAS A HIGHLY CALVARY SUBJECT.

I WAS THE REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL AT THE TIME AND I INTERVIEWED PEOPLE WHO WERE POLLED IN THAT SURVEY AND THE PREDOMINANT VIEW IS, WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE HE'S DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT BUT AT LEAST HE'S DOING SOMETHING.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH MANY UNION FOLKS CLAMORED THE CAPITAL HALLS AND WERE PROTESTING OVER THE RIGHT TO WORK BILLS AND REREELING THE PREVAILING WAGE, MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY VOTED FOR GOVERNOR BEVIN AND ARE FOR THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REALLY VOTED FOR BEVIN.

THEY CERTAINLY VOTED FOR TRUMP, AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VOTING REPUBLICAN.

>> THERE'S WEAN A LOT OF COMPARISON IN MANY PEOPLE'S MINDS TONIGHT, AL CROSS, ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MATT BEVIN, THEIR STYLE, THEIR COMMUNICATION STYLE CERTAINLY.

THEY BOTH TEND TO REALLY GRAVITATE TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET THEIR MESSAGE DIRECTLY OUT.

>> THANK GOODNESS MATT BEVIN ISN'T GIVEN TO LOTS OF TWEETS, AND HE'S NOT TRYING TO WEAR PEOPLE OUT.

I THINK TRUMP RISKS FATIGUE, AND IF ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO BEVIN WE'VE SEEN TOO LITTLE OF HEM.

>> THERE'S SOME TALK THAT MAYBE THIS SESSION MIGHT BE A LITTLE SHORTENED BECAUSE OF ALL THEY HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND MAYBE YOU SHORT LIST TO COME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEL ON THE LENGTH OF THIS SESSION AND WHAT THAT SIGNALS TO VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS IF IT DOES, IN FACT, GET SHORTENED?

PROBABLY WHAT JEFF HOOVER TOLD YOU IN THE INTERVIEW BROADCAST LAST NIGHT, THAT THEY WILL GET OUT MAYBE FIVE DAYS EARLY.

THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CUT OFF A CONCURRENCE OR VETO THAT AS WELL BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, YOU'VE GOT REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES.

I THINK ONE OTHER STRATEGY MIGHT BE TO GO HOME A LITTLE EARLY SO THAT THINGS DON'T GET OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THERE'S A REAL SENSE EXPRESSED BY BOTH HOOVER AND BEVIN THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN TOO FAR TOO FAST.

THEY DON'T WANT TO OUTRUN THE MAJORITY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A BATHROOM BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, AT LEAST IN THE TAX BILL.

>> THERE IS A LEGISLATIVE THAT IS SLATED TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW AND THEY HAVE DONE PRO-LIFE BILLS ALREADY SO THERE'S A STRONG CONSTITUENTS NECESSITY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WITH CONSERVATIVES WHO REALLY LIKE THOSE TYPE BILLS AND THEY ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE ABORTION BILL WAS THE FIRST ONE PASSED.

JEFF HOOVER HAD TO CERTIFY TO THE PEOPLE IN HIS CAUCUS WHO ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN HE THAT HE'S WITH THEM ON THE ISSUES THAT COUNT AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF VOTERS.

>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THE RELEVANCY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY IS ROUTINE.

>> DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY AND WASHINGTON ARE STILL SORTING OUT WHERE THEY FIT, WHAT THEY CAN SAY, WHERE THEY BELONG.

THEY'RE REALLY AT SEA.

DON'T HAVE ANY CLEAR LEADERS.

YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR AND A PRESIDENT WHO THREATENED TO REALLY SHUFFLE THE DECK IN TERMS OF WHOY.

LONG TO WHAT PARTY.

-- WHO BELONGS TO WHAT PARTY.

TRUMP HAS A BIG BASE OF BLUE COLLAR SUPPORT THAT USED TO BE RELIED ON BY THE DEMOCRATIC, AND WEAPON BEVIN IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO TELL BECAUSE POLLING ISN'T AB EXTENSIVE ON THE STATE LEVEL, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO IN THAT REGARD.

>> DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR TONIGHT WILL TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE HEAR ARE REMAINING ON THE TABLE, CHARTER SCHOOLS, POSSIBLY THE REAL I.D.

'D, ET CETERA?

>> I THINK HE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT HE THINKS IS IMPORTANT AND I THINK HE'S GOT TIME TO TOUCH ON A LOT OF BASES, AND PEOPLE WILL BE EXPECTING TO HEAR THOSE BASES TOUCHED ON.

>> ROUTINE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR WHERE THEY ARE DELIVERING THE INVOCATION.

>> WE LIVE IN THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHERE OUR FOUNDING FATHERS LAID A FOUNDATION FOR OUR NATION OF FAITH IN YOU AND IN YOUR WORD.

OUR HISTORY IS FILLED WITH THESE ACTS OF FAITH IN YOU FROM THEIR WRITINGS TO THE MONUMENTS AND THE PHRASE WRITTEN AGAIN AND AGAIN IN PLACES OF PROMINENCE "IN GOD WE TRUST."

I AM THANKFUL THAT FROM THE DAY THAT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MADE HIS SPEECH FOR PRAYER IN JULY OF 1787 WHERE HE RECOGNIZED THAT YOU, LORD, DO GOVERN IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN AND THAT IF A SPAREY OH CANNOT FALL TO THE GROUND WITHOUT YOUR NOTICE, IT IS NOT PROBABLE THAT AN EMPIRE COULD RISE OUTYOUR AID.

AND TO THIS DAY WE HAVE CALLED ON YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS AND SHORTCOMING AS WELL AS ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM IN EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE SMALLEST OF TOWNS TO OUR NATION'S CAPITOL.

OUR LEADERS, LORD, HAVE LAID THEIR HANDS ON YOUR WORD TO SWEAR OR TO AFFIRM THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS LAND THROUGH WHATEVER POSITION OUR OFFICE'S SERVANT HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR.

AND NOW OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I DO NOT COME TO YOU THIS EVENLY OUT OF RITUAL OR HABIT OR EVEN REQUIREMENT.

I COME TO YOU, LORD, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY ARE A NEEDY PEOPLE, AND I DESIRE, LORD, FOR YOU TO BLESS THESE WHO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT.

LEAR DEAR LORD WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT EXALTS A NATION AND IT IS SIN THAT BRINGS REPROACH.

WE LIKE FROM YOUR WORD IN DEUTERONOMY 28 THAT IF HEEL WE WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND OBEY YOUR WORD THAT YOU WILL IN FACT BLESS AND MAGNIFY OUR NATION AND FILL OUR LAND WITH YOUR BLESSINGS OF EVERY AREA AND EVERY WALK OF LIFE.

LORD, YOU PROMISE TODAY FIGHT OUR BATTLE AND TO PROTECT US FROM OUR ENEMIES.

YOU PROMISED LORD, IF WE WILL OBEY YOU, THAT YOU WILL INCREASE OUR STORE HOUSES.

YOU PROMISE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THE RAINS OF BLESSINGS ON OUR LAND.

YOU EVEN SAID WE COULD BE A NATION THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO LEND TO OTHERS BUT NEVER BE A DEBTOR TO THE SAME.

BUT, DEAR LORD, IN THE SAME BOOK YOU WARNED US, YOU WARNED US THAT IF WE TURNED OUR BACKS ON YOU AND GO ASIDE TO SERVE OTHER GODS AND DO NOT HARKEN TO YOUR COMMANDMENTS THAT IN THE PLACE OF BLESSINGS WILL BE CURSINGS, AND IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE FOR YOU TO BLESS WE WOULD SUFFER LOSS, AND THAT OUR STRENGTH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DEFEND US FROM THOSE PEOPLE OR THINGS THAT WOULD COME TO DEVOUR US.

OH, LORD, OUR NEEDS ARE GREAT THIS EVENING.

THERE ARE THOSE IN OUR STATE THAT HAD TO NOT HAVE JOBS WITH WHICH TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY ARE HURTING FAMILIES TONIGHT THAT WE PRAY FOR.

I THINK ESPECIALLY OF CHILDREN THAT ARE HURTING AND BROKEN HOMES AND HOMES THAT ARE IN NEED.

THE NEEDS IN OUR STATE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCES NOR ABILITY TO MEET, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL ON YOU THIS EVENING FOR YOUR HELP.

AND, LORD, MAY THESE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSENING TO REPRESENT AND LEAD OUR STATE LEAD US IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT PLEASES YOU AND ALLOWS TO BLESS US.

AND, LORD, MAY THEY DISCOURAGE THE BEHAVIOR AND ACTS OF SIN THAT SURELY WOULD BRING YOU REPROACH UPON US.

DEAR LORD, I PRAY FOR GOVERNOR BEVIN AND HIS FAMILY.

I PRAY FOR PRESIDENT STIVERS AND HIS FAMILY.

FOR SPEAKER HOOVER AND HIS FAMILY.

I PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM GRACE AND WISDOM AND PROTECTION.

WOO AND WE U. THIS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ALREADY.

AND, LORD, WE REJOICE IN WHAT WE WITNESS TODAY IN THE PROTECTION OF LIFE IN OUR STATE.

MY PRAYER AND HEART'S DESIRE IS THE SAME AS OUR GOVERNOR OFTEN SAYS, THAT OUR STATE WOULD BE A LIGHT HOUSE, A BEACON, A REPRESENTATION OF BLESSINGS ON A PEOPLE THAT DESIRE TO LIVE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.

AND, LORD, WHILE JOBS MAY SOLVE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS CERTAINLY, A SPURTTUAL A WALKENING WOULD SOLVE SO MANY OF OUR SOCIAL ILLS.

DEAR LORD MAY YOU FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND SHORTCOMINGS.

MAY YOU FILL US WITH YOUR WISDOM.

AND I CLOSE IN PRAYER THINKING OF THE EXHORTATION THAT FIRST OF ALL SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERSESSIONS AND GIVING OF THANK BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, FOR KINGS AND FOR ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LIVE A QUITE AND PEACEABLE I HAVE LIEU OF IN ALL GODLINESS AND HONESTY FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, AND BECOME COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH FOR THERE IS ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL.

AND IT IS IN HIS NAME THAT WE PRAY THESE THINGS, AMEN.

>> IF YOU WOULD JOIN NEE IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> PLEASE BE SEATED.

>> AND AS GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN IS GETTING RESERVED TO ENTER THE HOUSE CHAMBERS, AL, YOU MENTIONED HOW HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TALKING FROM A DIFFERENT POSITION THIS YEAR THAN HE WAS LAST YEAR.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, LAST YEAR HE HAD A BROKEN ARM.

BUT HE'S IN A BETTER POSITION BOTH PHYSICALLY AND POLITICALLY.

LAST YEAR HE SAID BEEN ELECTED BY A SMALL MINORITY OF THE ELECTORATE.

HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD MARGIN OVER JACK CONWAY BUT IT WAS A LOW TURNOUT 30%, AND HE WASN'T ALL THAT POPULAR.

HE WAS SORT OF GIVEN TO CONTROVERSY.

BUT HE HAD A SUCCESSFUL FIRST SESSION, AND HIS POPULARITY IMPROVED, AND HE THEN GOT TO SEE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WIN THESE SUPER MAJORITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE, WHERE THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD PROBABLY WIN YOU THE BUT DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT TO HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY, 60 VOTES OR MORE THAT CAN PASS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND SO ON.

SO HE'S GOING TO BE TALKING TO A PRETTY DIFFERENT AUDIENCE AND A FRIENDLIER AUDIENCE THAN HE DID THE LAST TIME.

AND HE MAY RESPOND TO APPLAUSE AND SUPPORT IN A WAY THAT KIND OF KEEPS HIM GOING.

HE IS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN, ENGAGING PERSON.

AND SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO THINK OF POLITICIANS AS HUMAN BEINGS.

YOU CAN REALLY SEE IN MATT BEVIN HE RESPONDS AS A HUMAN BEING.

HE IS PRETTY, PRETTY CANDID AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHO AND WHAT HE IS.

AND HE MAY NOT HAVE THE BEST RELATIONS WITH THE NEWS MEDIA, BUT HE IS CERTAINLY A POLITICIAN WHO SETS HIS OWN COURSE AND MAKES PRETTY CLEAR WHAT HE THINKS.

>> MATT, WE'RE WATCHING GOVERNOR BEVIN MAKE HIS WAY DOWN UNDER THE AISLE RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S THE LIEU GHENT COVER HE HAD A HUG WITH AND HE'S GOING OVER TO TO -- HE GREETS ANDY BESHEAR JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

THE TWO GREAT POLITICAL RIVALS OF THE COMMONWEALTH THESE DAYS.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS A PERFUNCTORY GREETING.

>> AL, WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSE CHAMBERS TO LISTEN TO THE 2017 STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

>> WOW.

IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE IN SPEAKER HOOVER'S HOUSE.

IN THE HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE.

IS IT NOT?

IT REALLY IS.

IT REALLY IS.

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.

I -- AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, I ACTUALLY DO HAVE NOTES THIS TIME AND I MIGHT EVEN LOOK AT THEM.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT SURE ENTIRELY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE WERE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT YOU JUST HEARD, THAT INVOCATION, AS WE STOOD OUTSIDE THOSE DOORS, AND YOU TALK ABOUT JUST WANTING TO GO HOME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

WE ARE BLESSED INDEED TO BE KENTUCKIANS.

WE ARE BLESSED INDEED TO BE AMERICANS.

WE ARE BLESSED INDEED BY THE HERITAGE OF THIS GREAT NATION.

WE TRULY ARE.

AND I LELL TELL YOU IF YOU READ THE PREAMBLE, IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT YOU THANK WE JUST HEARD THIS IN THAT ENDING ROWCATION ARE NOT THE FOUNDATION NOT AS ONLY THE MONTH OF KENTUCKY BUT CONSTITUTION, READ THE PREAMBLE TO KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CORE FOUNDATIONAL UNDERPINNINGS TO WHAT WE VALUE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

I'M GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS CHAMBER, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND OF THE SENATE, TO OUR JUDICIARY, CERTAINLY TO SPEAKER HOOVER AND PRESIDENT STIVERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION TO COME IN AND ADDRESS YOUR RESPECTIVE CAUCUSES, TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE.

MY WIFE IS UNABLE TO BE HERE, AND I CERTAINLY HAVE A DEFENDANT GRATITUDE TO HER.

SHE IS OUT OF TOWN -- A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

SHE IS AT A FUNERAL THIS EVENING.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT I COULD SERVE IN THE CAPACITY THAT I DO WITHOUT SUCH AN AMAZING WOMAN, THE MOTHER OF OUR NINE CHILDREN IN AN INCREDIBLE HELP TO ME AND A GUIDE TO ME AND ENCOURAGER TO ME, THE FIRST LADY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE ARE BLESSED INDEED.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

[ APPLAUSE ] I HAVE SO MANY NOTES HERE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START HERE.

I WILL SAY THIS.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING.

LAST YEAR, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE BEGAN THIS SESSION WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OVERLOOK ABOVE THE CAPITAL, AND IT MENTIONED USING IT SOMEWHAT AS AN ANALOGY FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN FACT A STATE THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS LIVED UP TO ITS BEST SELF, THAT WE'VE NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES, THAT WE COULD BE.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER, I CHALLENGED YOU ALL TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELVES, TO HELP KENTUCKY TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF ITSELF POSSIBLE.

IN THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS IT IS MY CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONDENT TO REPORT TO THE PEOPLE, TO THESE CHAMBERS AND TO THOSE SMELLED AND TO THOSE WATCHING ON WHAT IS THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH.

IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY.

WE COULD GETAWAY DOWN IN THE WEEDS AND TALK ABOUT POLICY AND IDEOLOGY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

WE MAY TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS.

BUT THERE ARE AT A TIME LIKE THIS OPPORTUNITIES TO BOTH LOOK BACK ON THE YEAR THAT HAS TRANSPIRED AND TO LOOK AHEAD AT WHAT WILL COME BEFORE US.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, AS I TALK ABOUT THIS FIRST YEAR IN HINDSIGHT, IT HAS BEEN A TRUE JOY TO ME AND A PLEASURE TO ME TO BE JOINED AT THE HIP LITERALLY AND SOMETIMES ALMOST, IT SEEMS, LITERALLY BUT CERTAIN FIGURATIVELY WITH OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNORY JENEAN HAMMON WHO IS TRULY -- -- HAMPTON.

[ APPLAUSE ] I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

I LOVE KENTUCKY, AND THIS WOMAN LOVES KENTUCKY EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS I DO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ONE RUNNING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH AND REPRESENTING THE GREATNESS OF THIS STATE.

I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING.

I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A WEBSITE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING OR TAKING NOTES IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE OF THE STATISTICS OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED -- I'M NOT GOING TO RUN THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR BUT THESE BODIES DID SOME AMAZING WORK LAST YEAR.

BUT YOU CAN GO TO BEVINANNUALREPORT.COM.

THOSE THREE WORDS ALL STRUNG TOGETHER, NO SPACES.

BEVINANNUALREPORT.COM.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, AND WE WILL UPDATE THAT AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THERE ARE, AS I THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR, TOO, AT THIS TIME I BEGAN MY PRESENTATION LAST YEAR WITH E USED TO HAVE WINTER?

REMEMBER THAT?

[ LAUGHTER ] WE WERE THANKING THE FOLKS WHO HAD BEEN OUT PLOWING THE ROADS AND HAD SHOWN IN KENTUCKY WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HANDLE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL OR BETTER THAN IN YOU STATE IN THE N. THIS REGION, AND THEY DID THAT.

AND INTERESTINGLY I WAS HOPING THAT WHEN THIS YEAR CAME AROUND, I WOULD NOT HAVE TO SINGLE OUT A GROUP WHO ALSO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR HOW TO OPERATE IN A CERTAIN ARENA.

AND WHILE THIS YEAR IT WAS NOT OUR HIGHWAY WORKERS WHO PLOWED THE ROADS, IT WAS OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

AND YOU THINK ABOUT SO MUCH ON A RAINY NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT, WE FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T TOO MANY MONTHS AGO, JUST A COUPLE REALLY, THAT 49 OF OUR 120 COUNTIES WERE BURNING.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

49 COUNTIES.

THERE WERE 320 DIFFERENT FIRES ENCOMPASSING OVER 49,000 ACRES, AND THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PAID AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO PUT THOSE FIRES OUT AND WHO IN KENTUCKY WE LOST ONE BARN.

WE LOST NO HOMES IN WHICH PEOPLE LIVE, NO LIVES.

IT WAS AN EXAMPLE ONCE AGAIN TO THE NATION OF PEOPLE STEPPING UP AND DOING THEIR DUTY AS WELL OR BETTER THAN ANYBODY ANYWHERE.

SO JOIN ME IN THANKING OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO KEPT US SAFE THIS PAST FALL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU ALL.

I'LL TELL YOU OUR APPRECIATION IS TO THEM AND TO SO MANY OTHERS WHO I FEEL ANY TIME YOU SINGLE ANYONE OUT, YOU ALWAYS FEEL AS IF YOU'RE MISSING OTHERS.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR AS WELL, WE HAD SENT OUT AN EMAIL, AND SOME OF YOU GOT IT AS WELL, AND ASKED FOLKS TO PLEASE RESPOND TO US ABOUT IDEAS THAT THEY HAD, THINGS WE COULD DO IN THE COMMONLY TO MAKE KENTUCKY THE GREATEST VERSION OF ITSELF THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE, AND INDEED WE HEARD BACK FROM HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FOLKS.

AND WE READ THROUGH THOSE.

AND IN FACT LAST YEAR WE HAD SEVERAL OF FOLKS WHO HAD RESPONDED IN THE GALLERY AND WE SINGLED THEM OUT, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THAT AGAIN BUT I DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO?

I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THESE RESPONSES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AND I'M GOING TO READ THEM TO YOU.

SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS SO ORGANIZED.

I ALSO HAVE THINGS LIKE THE ONES I HAVE SEEN ON YOUR DESKSER WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF LITTLE -- AND THESE ARE JUST INFORM SOME OF THESE.

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THEM ON YOU BUT ROBERT GRESHAM WROTE A VARIETY THINGS.

YOU CAN SEE HE WROTE A LOT OF STUFF.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS STRUCK BY, HE'S A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN LINE WITH WHAT WE WERE JUST SAYING, AND HE WAS SAYING "I WISH THERE WAS MORE EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTEERING IN KENTUCKY."

BECAUSE WE IN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS NEED VOLUNTEERS.

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, EACH OF YOU TO TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF THIS YEAR, MAYBE WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT AT THE END WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A FEW CHALLENGES TO EVERYONE.

BUT LET US BE A STATE THAT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES JUST SOUTH OF HERE -- DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT THAT -- LET US TO BE VOLUNTEER STATE.

LET US BE THE STATE THAT SHOWS AMERICA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ENSURE THAT NO WORTHY CAUSE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH IS FOR LACK OF PEOPLE TO COME ALONGSIDE.

THERE IS A NOTE IN HERE FROM A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF RUTH COLLETTE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS NOTE OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT RUTH IS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT LESLIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I KID YOU NOT, RUTH, IF YOU ARE NOT ALSO TEACHING CREATIVE WRITING YOU SHOULD BE, AND I SAY THAT TO THE PRINCIPAL OF LESLIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS A WOMAN WHO HAS A CLEAR PASSION AND LOVE FOR EDUCATION, FOR POURING INTO YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH SHE HAS DONE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW WHO WROTE IT, AND I READ THESE MEALS, MY TEAM READS THESE EMAILS, WE ARE MOVED BY THESE, INSPIRED BY THESE.

HERE'S A NOTE THAT CAME IN FROM ONE OF OUR CPS SPECIALISTS AT THE L&M BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

HER NAME IS CRYSTAL WILDER AND I WANT TO SIMPLY SAY THIS WITHOUT READING THE WHOLE NOTE, CRYSTAL, I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM, AND I'LL TELL YOU IT'S CONTAGIOUS.

TO EACH OF YOU, TO EVERY PERSON WHO WORKS IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND THOSE OF US WHO DON'T, SPREAD THE CONTAGION OF ENTHUSIASM, OF JOY, OF POSITIVENESS, OF BEING PEOPLE WHO SEE THE GLASS AS HALF FULL.

THERE'S A NOTE IN HERE FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO SAID, ACTUALLY THIS IS FROM LONGIS MORGAN WHO SAID "THIS IS THE FIRST GOVERNOR IN MY 29 YEARS AS A STATE ME WHO HAS EVER ASKED FOR MY OPINION."

AND THIS INDIVIDUAL GAVE SOME OPINIONS BUT ONE OF WHICH WAS THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR TAX SYSTEM.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

INDEED, THERE'S A LOT WE NEED TO DO WITH OUR TAX SYSTEM.

THE THERE IS WITH A THANK YOU NOTE FROM A DEMOCRAT AND DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO WRITE IN AT ANY TIME BUT HE SAID "ALTHOUGH I'M A DEMOCRAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE JOB THAT'S BEING DONE."

AND INTERESTINGLY THIS PERSON -- I WON'T READ THE WHOLE THING.

BUTCH SOME OF THINGS THEY'RE MOST GRATEFUL FOR ARE THINGS NOT TYPICALLY SEEN AS BEING THOSE REPRESENTED BY THE PARTY THAT SHE IS A MEMBER OF.

THIS IS WA BRANDY HALE.

BRENDA HALE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT TRANSCEND PARTY.

TODAY WE CELEBRATED IN ROTUNDA, ONE OF THE THINGS SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER VOTED FOR, AND THOSE ARE THE PRO-LIFE PIECES LEGISLATION, AND WE'LL TOUCH ON THOSE IN A MOMENT AS WELL.

THERE'S A NOTE IN HERE FROM A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JOHN MONTGOMERY WHO SAID "WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORK IN KENTUCKY THAT GOING TO WORK IS GOOD."

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS HE SAID BUT INDEED WE DO.

WE NEED TO MAKE KENTUCKY A PLACE THAT IS NOT 47th IN WORKFORCE PARTICIPATING BUT MOVES RAPID UP THAT.

WE NEED TO BE A PLACE WE'RE WHERE GOING TO WORK IS CONSIDERED TO BE GOOD, PEOPLE ARE PROUD OF IT AND THAT WE CELEBRATE IT.

I WANT TO READ THIS ONE, THE BULK OF IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THIS IS FROM A WOMAN NAMED JUDY CUMMINS.

JUDY CUMMINS WORKS A CAMPBELL RIDGE SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA, KENTUCKY.

I WAS VERY MOVED BY THIS AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ A PORTION OF IT.

SHE SAID "I'M JUST A CUSTODIAN AT ONE OF KENTUCKY'S SCHOOLS, AND I GET TO SEE A LOT MORE THAN JUST CLEANING.

WHATEVER IT TAKES IS OUR MOTTO HERE AT CAMPBELL RIDGE SCHOOL, AND WE HOLD UP TO THIS."

AND SHE GOES ON TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT THIS WAS INCORRECTLY SPELLED AND SHE WAS PUTTING IT TOGETHER IN A HURRY.

SHE SAID "I'M JUST A COUNTRY GIRL BUT I'M PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF."

AND SHE'S PROUD OF KENTUCKY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SENDING THAT NOTE.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CUSTODIANS.

THE CUSTODIANS WHO TAKE CARE OF EVERY ONE THESE TRASH CANS, THE PEOPLE WHO EMPTY EVERY ONE OF THESE OUTS EVERY NIGHT IN THIS CHAMBER IN EVERY OFFICE IN THIS BUILDINGS, IN EVERY SCHOOL IN KENTUCKY, IN EVERY OFFICE BUILDING IN KENTUCKY.

SO OFTEN THEY COME IN WHEN WE GO HOME, WE COME BACK TO A CLEAN, TIDY, EMPTY CLEANED-UP PLACE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF PEOPLE EXACTLY LIKE HER.

PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE JUST A CUSTODIAN.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THE BACKBONE OF AMERICA IS COMPRISED OF PEOPLE WHO DO JOBS LIKE THAT.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP US FRANKLY FROM BEING BURIED IN PAPERWORK THAT WE GENERATE OVER AND OWNER OVER AGAIN.

PLEASE THANK ME IN THANKING JUDY CUMMINGS.

[ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOUY, JUDY.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] JUDY CUMMINS, THANK YOU FOR WRITING IN.

AS A GUY THAT USED TO CLEAN OFFICES WITH MY DAD AT NIGHT, THAT ONE MEANT A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ONES IN HERE, SOMEBODY SAYING THEY WERE COMPLAINING WHEN I ASKED THEM TO SEND A NOTE IN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THEY WERE HAPPY TO DO IT.

THANK YOU TOW DANA DAISY FOR THAT COMMENT.

A COACH IN PAINTSVILLE THAT I HAD OCCASION TO RUN SPRINTS WITH HIS TEAM.

NEXT YEAR I'M GOING TO HAVE CLEATS, AND YOU TELL YOUR GUYS TO BE READY.

IN TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND WHILE I'M NOT GOING TO GO OFF ON THIS HE'S JUST COMMENTING HOW MUCH FOOD IS WASTE BECAUSE FRANKLY WE'RE NOT FEEDING PEOPLE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO EAT.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] APPARENTLY THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE EATEN OR WHOSE KIDS ARE NOW EATING THESE HUNDREDS OF, APPARENTLY.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS ONE REAL QUICKLY AND I'M ONLY GOING TO MENTION THIS WOMAN'S FIRST NAME.

HER NAME IS DEBORAH AND THIS IS WHAT SHE WROTE TO ME.

SEE "I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE HELP FOR OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE COMING HOME.

OUR YOUNG VETS ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE AT A RATE OF 22 PER DAY.

MY SON BECAME ONE OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN HE TOOK HIS LIFE FOUR MONTHS AGO.

HE HAD SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS, DID TWO DEPLOYMENTS.

HE ATTEMPTED TO GET HELP BUT THE HELP CAME TOO SLOW AND TOO LATE.

AS A MOTHER, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER FAMILIES FAMILIES.

MY SON -- MY SON ASKED IN HIS LETTER TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE MAN HE WAS AND NOT THE MAN HE BECAME.

THAT IS HIS LEGACY THAT I WANT HIM TO LEAVE, AND MY LEGACY TO HIM IS TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO STOP THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM COMMITTING SUICIDE."

DEBORAH, WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

AND I WILL NEED YOUR HELP TO LEAD THAT CHARGE.

AND I CHALLENGE THOSE OF YOU IN THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY, THE TWO BODIES, TAKE THIS TO HEART.

THESE ARE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LAID EVERYTHING OUT FOR US, AND THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THAT.

I WANT TO READ JUST A COUPLE MORE REAL QUICKLY.

THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO -- YOU NUMBER WHO WROTE IN ABOUT FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION, PEOPLE LIKE AMANDA VARNEY.

AMANDA, I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND CHRISTINA DAMON AND OTHERS, WE ARE GOING TO BE APPOINTING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A CZAR, SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HAVE OVERCITE FORE ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF EV KENTUCKY, AND IT IS NIGH VISION, IT IS MY INTENT AND I AM DETERMINED TO SEE HAPPEN THE FACT THAT KENTUCKY WILL BE THE MODEL FOR AMERICA WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE, THAT THERE WILL BE NO STATE IN AMERICA THAT MORE MORE SAFELY, MORE IF WILK QUICKLY, MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MORE COST EFFECTIVELY FACILITATES THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

AND IF YOU ARE TO BE A FOSTER CHILD ANYWHERE IN AMERICA, YOU'RE GOING TO WISH YOU WERE YOU FOSTER CHILD IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE ARE GOING TAKE THIS ON.

IT IS GOING TO BE YOU POSITION REPORTING TO MY OFFICE.

[ APPLAUSE ] THERE ARE CURRENTLY -- THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 8,000 CHILDREN IN OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

THERE'S SOME NUMBER AT WHICH THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A WHOLE LOT LOWER THAN THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED.

THERE'S A WOMAN WHO WROTE IN, HANNAH WROTE IN WITH SOME COMMENTS ON MEDICAID.

WANTS TO SEE MEDICAID PRESERVED FOR THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT.

SHE TALKED ABOUT HER 16-MONTH-OLD SON WHO HAS BATTLED SOME TRULY DEBILITATING HEALTH ISSUES, AND SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW IMPACTFUL AND IMPORTANT MEDICAID WAS TO HER AND HER FAMILY.

HANNAH, I HEAR YOU, AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW CRITICAL IT IS, AND IT'S WHY WE NEED TO PRESERVE MEDICAID FOR FAMILIES LIKE YOURS FOR WHOM IT WAS INTENDED, FOR THE MEDICALLY FRAIL, FOR CHILDREN, FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, FOR THOSE WITH DEPENDENTS, FOR THOSE TRULY IN NEED.

IF WE OFFER TO IT THOSE WHO DON'T NEED IT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MISUSE THE SYSTEM, IT COMES AT THE VERY EXPENSE OF THOSE HAD TO WHO TRULY NEED IT AND IT COMES AT A PRICE THAT FRANKLY CANNOT BE AFFORDED AND ULTIMATELY TAKES AWAY FROM THOSE WHO NEED.

IT SO I HEAR YOU AND WE WILL MAKE THESE NOTES.

I GOT A NUMBER OF NOTES FROM LEGISLATORS I WON'T EM FARES THEM FOR READING THEM BUT THANK YOU FOR HAVING WRITTEN AND I TRULY TAKES YOUR COMMENTS TO HEART.

THE LAST IS A WOMAN LAURIE ADAMS WHO WORKS AT THE BILLIT CROWN WELCOME CENTER TO TALKED THE FACT THAT SHE'D LOVE TO SEE OUR REST STOPS AND WELCOME CENTERS BE BETTER VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES, JUST LIKE WE ASPIRE TO IN KENTUCKY, TO HAVE THESE BE MORE WELCOMING, MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE MEMORABLE, AND INDEED I'M WORKING WITH OUR TOURISM CABINET, DON PARKINSON AND THAT SECRETARY AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM ON THIS EXACT ISSUE AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE TRULY DO FEEL WELCOMED WHEN THEY STOP.

I WANT THEM TO STOP IN KENTUCKY AND WISH THEY COULD STAY AND I WANT THEM TO COME BACK, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TAXPAYERS.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WEAVE DONE IN THE PAST YEAR.

WE PUT ASIDE $1.2 BILLION INTO OUR AILING PENSION SYSTEM, MORE MONEY THAN HAS EVER BEEN PUT INTO OUR AILING PENG SYSTEM, AND YET IT'S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

WE'LL COME TO THAT IN A MOMENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS GOING FORWARD.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE GOT TO SHORE THIS UP.

WE HAVE GOT THE WORST FUNDED PENSION SYSTEM IN AMERICA, AND WE STARTED ON THAT.

WE INCREASED FUNDING TO COMBAT HEROIN AND THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE BY $12 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WE EXPANDED OUR ROCKET DOCKET PROGRAMS.

WE EXPANDED OUR SOCIAL WORKER PROGRAMS.

WE INCREASED TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE INCARCERATED AND TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION BACK INTO SOCIETY.

WEEKS PANNED ET OUR NEONATAL ABSTINENCE TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE PROVIDED UNDER IFING TO CLEAN UP OUR STATE PARKS AND TAKE CARE OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

INTERESTINGLY WE PUT IN $18 MILLION IN THE LAST BUDGET.

YOU ALL DID THIS AND I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY GRATEFUL TO YOU, BUT THAT $18 MILLION BELIEVE THE OR NOT WAS ONLY 10% ROUGHLY OF THE AMOUNT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WE HAVE, AND YET THAT $18 MILLION WAS THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS WE HAD PUT IN COMBINED IN THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THIS BUILDING ITSELF, AND I HOPE YOU APPRECIATED THAT WE ARE STARTING TO CLEAN IT UP.

IT'S NO SMALL TASK.

IT'S NO SMALL BUILDING.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU SOME OF THESE BEAUTIFUL FRESCOS, BEAUTIFUL STONE CARVINGS ARE NOT AS AS GREEN AND MONTHSY AS THEY ONCE WHETHER, AND THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WE ARE DOING WHERE WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND SHOW THE PRIDE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE HAVE SUBMITTED AN 1115 DEMONSTRATION WAIVER THAT WE'RE ASKING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS IT IS RELATES TO TOWER ABILITY TO PROVIDE BETTER HEALTH CARE TO THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

STAY TUNED ON THAT.

I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KENTUCKY TO LEAD.

I HAD A CALL TODAY WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER TIMBERWOLVES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A BUY -- OTHER GOVERNORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH HAS TURNED OUT TO BE ANYTHING BUT GOES AWAY, WHAT WILL TAKE ITS PLACE?

HOW WILL IT BE DONE?

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY WILL IT BE?

WHAT WILL KENTUCKY DO?

THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE WRESTLING WITH.

BUT WE HAVE PROPOSED SOMETHING THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO LEAD THE NATION IN TERMS OF ENTITLEMENT REFORM, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN 20 YEARS SINCE THE MID-1990S WITH WELL FAUR REFORM.

THESE THINGS ARE COMING.

WELL FAUR REFORM.

THE WE HAVE PROVIDED A SENSE OF DIGNITY TO RESUPIENTS THROUGH COMMUNITY END DAGE GARAGEMENT, THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES.

THESE THINGS WILL BE GOOD.

I WANT TO TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM VIA BULLET OF MEDICAID AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN FIND A CHEMO OF THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S AN 1115 WAIVER.

IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED KNITTED ENTHUSIASTIC IT AND WE WILL GET YOU YOU COPY OF IT.

FOR EDUCATION IN 2016 WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE SEEK FORMULA THAT HAS EVER BEEN PUT IN WAS AS MUCH OR MORE PER CAPITA THAT HAS EVER BEEN APPLIED K-12 EDUCATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND YET THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE BUT IT'S NOTES JUST PURELY DOLLARS.

THERE'S REAL KNEAD FOR EDUCATION REFORM.

WE PUT $100 MILLION INTO, WOULD FORCE DEVELOPMENT.

$100 MILLION.

THAT'S MONEY THAT HAS BEEN COMPETED FOR BY HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND BUSINESSES COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER, AND THOSE APPLICATIONS FLOODED IN, HUNDREDS OF THEM, AND THEY ULTIMATELY WERE SEEKING MORE THAN $500 MILLION, AND YET WE ONLY HAD $100 MILLION.

THE FIRST DECISIVE OF THOSE HAVE JUST ELTON -- THE FIRST I HAVE EXECUTIVE RECENTLY BEEN AWARD PD HERE'S THE POWERFUL AND WONDERFUL THING ABOUT IT.

THOSE $65 MILLION THAT YOU ALL AUTHORIZED THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPAWNED $140 MILLION WORTH OF EXCITEMENT COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING WORKFORCE.

THE AVERAGE GRANT THAT IS BEING GIVEN, THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING GIVEN IS 50%.

THE MOST IS ABOUT 85%, AND THAT'S IN SOME OF OUR SMALLER COUNTIES AND SOME OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS.

BUT THAT $65 MILLION OF THE FIRST $100 MILLION IS RESULTING IN 140 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT.

$15 MILLION WENT INTO RAY DUAL CREDITS PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL PASSED INTO LAW THAT ALLOWS OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO START ALREADY EARNING CREDIT TOWARD COLLEGE WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

YOU APPROPRIATED $500,000 FOR OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THAT $500,000 HAS GIVEN OUR SECRETARY OF LABOR DEREK RAMSEY THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE AN $896,000 GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE VERY SAME PURPOSE, TO CREATE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND TO WORK WITH OUR VARIOUS COMPANIES 1,100 OF WHICH ARE CURRENTLY ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR OR THAN THE WING TO BE ENGAGED IN AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

WE ARE GOING TO BIG THE MODEL FOR THIS IN THE NATION.

MY VISION, AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, MY VISION IS THAT KENTUCKY BECOMES THE HUB OF EXCELLENCE FOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA, THAT THERE IS NO STATE BETTER POSITIONED THAN US GEOGRAPHICALLY, DEMOGRAPHICALLY WITH THE LOGISTICS CAPABILITIES, THE SEASONALITY, THE HIGHWAYS, RIVER WAYS, THE ROADWAYS.

I HAVE SAID IT HAD.

I SING IT LOUDLY AND PROUD PROUDLY WHEN I'M WITH OTHER GOVERNORS WE WILL BE THE ABSOLUTE CENTER FOR SILENCE FOR MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING.

THAT PEND WILL YOU PLEASE IS SWING CAN IF YA'LL THAN THE VERY PANE PAYING ATTENTION AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THE EPICENTER OF IT.

THERE'S NOBODY BETTER POSITIONED AND WE'VE STEEN EXAMPLES OF THAT JUST RECENTLY IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS MADE BY EMPLOYERS WHO ARE COMING HERE, OTHERS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO FOR THE VERY SAME LEAN.

WE DID THINGS LAGS YEAR FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES, PAY RAISES FOR POLICE OFFICERS, FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, FOR TRANSPORTATION WORKERS AND OTHERS LONG OVERDUE.

THERE'S STILL OTHERS AND I KNOW IT, I REALLY DO, AND WE'RE LOOKING A WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE START TO HONOR THOSE WHO CONTINUOUSLY WORKED SO HARD ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE LAUNCHED OUR FOSTERING SUCCESS PROGRAM.

THIS IS A PROGRAM PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE ALLOWING THOSE STUDENTS, THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE 18 TO 23 YEARS OLD WHO JUST ARE DUMPED OUT INTO SOCIETY WITH NO FAMILY AND SOW NO SUPPORT NETWORK TO BE ABLE TO BE LINED P WITH FAMILY THAT ARE WILLING TO COME ALONGSIDE THEM WITHOUT LEGAL OBLIGATION, WITHOUT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION BUT WILLING TO COME ALONGSIDE AND HELP THEM OUT.

MY WIFE HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN THAT PROJECT AND HAS HELPED TO LAUNCH THAT.

WE'RE WORKING WITH FOX AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE THAN THE WANG KENTUCKY AGAIN TO BE A MODEL ON THIS FRONT, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT WAS DONE THERE.

WE SIGNED HISTORIC PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT.

I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS EVEN LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR THAT ARE ALLOWING KENTUCKY TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR THE NATION IN TERMS OF OUR RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.

AND WE'VE PASSED LEGISLATION BODES LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR AND WE'LL TOUCH ON IT, THAT HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE -- LAST YEAR WAS LEGISLATION.

THIS YEAR THUS FAR WAS AN EXECUTIVE ACTION AND I THINK WILL SOON BE LEGISLATION AS WELL.

THE TALK ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MADE A MISTAKE, WHO HAVE GOTTEN CROSSWAYS WITH WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND WE ARE A NATION OF SECOND CHANCE, A NATION OF REDEMPTION, A PLACE WHERE EXPUNGEMENT WAS A BILL I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SIGN LAST YEAR.

I APPRECIATE YOU FOR PUTTING THROUGH YOUR CHAMBERS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE REMOVED THE BOX ON THE FORMS THAT REQUIRE PEOPLE TO SAY THAT THEY ARE YOU CONVICTED FELON.

THEY CAN STILL BE ASKED THIS QUESTION.

IN FACT, IT'S PART OF A THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH INTERVIEW PROCESS.

BUT I'M ENCOURAGING COMPANIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES, WHILE YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO THE SAME, SO MANY GOOD COMPANIES LIKE TARGET, LIKE HOME DEPOT, OTHERS LIKE WALMART, THESE ARE LARGE EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DO THE VERY SAME THING, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER DOING SO.

SOME CITIES AND SOME COUNTIES HAVE DONE THE SAME.

I WANT TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY AS WELL ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALSO CLEANED UP THE BACKLOG OF RAPE TEST KITS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.

SO MANY DIFFERENT OFFICES, SO MANY DUSTIN PEOPLE, SO MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT.

IT'S FINALLY CLEANED UP.

BACKLOG IS GONE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED TO MAKE HURE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENED.

[ APPLAUSE ] AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO 2017, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE BE PATIENT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH -- I'VE SPOKEN TO THESE TWO GENTLEMEN BEHIND ME.

WE'RE YOU MANY CHING AT THE BIT.

THERE IS SO MUCH STUFF WE WANT TO DO.

THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF THAT HAS BEEN BOTTOMED FOR THE BETTER PART OF OF -- I DON'T KNOW -- 96 YEARS OR SO.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GET DONE AND THEY WILL GET DONE BUT IN FAIRNESS TO THEM THERE IS NO WAY WHAT THEY DID IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THIS SESSION THAT IS EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND CAREFUL WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

THOSE WERE POSSIBLE BECAUSE SO MUCH WORK HAD BEEN DONE IN ADVANCE OF THAT SESSION BEGINNING.

BUT AS WE GET DEEPER INTO THE SESSION, THINGS START TO CATCH UP.

AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU PLEASE BE PATIENT.

THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OUT THERE WATCHING THAT WANT THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING COME, THEY WILL COME.

IF THEY DON'T COME THIS YEAR THEY WILL BE COMING LATER EITHER IN SPECIAL SESSIONS OR THE YEARS THAT FOLLOW.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON A VARIETY OF THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT AND CONGRATULATE THESE BODIES, TO ALL WHO ARE WATCHING THIS PUBLICLY ON THE TRULY UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC AND UNBELIEVABLE AND NATION-WATCHING IN, MIND-BLOWING FIRST WEEK THAT WAS HAD UNDER THE FIRST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AS A REPUBLICAN WE HAVE HAD IN 96 YEARS.

JEFF HOOVER MASTERFULLY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I THINK PRESIDENT STIVERS TOLD HIM WHAT HE ALWAYS TELL ME IS THAT HE TAUGHT H'M EVERYTHING THAT HE KNOWS.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS TELLING ME.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS I'VE LEARNED A TON FROM BOTH OF THESE GUYS INCLUDING SENATOR STIVERS AND WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE TWO DIES, PASSING AS RIGHT TO WORKER LEGISLATION WHICH IMMEDIATELY ALLOWS TO US FISH IN BIGGER PONDS.

I SAT NEXT TO THE AMBASSADOR FROM SWEDEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHO TOLD ME VOLVO WANTED TO BE HERE.

VOLVO COULD HAVE BEEN HERE, WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

HAD WE PANE SERIOUS ABOUT PASSING RIGHT TO WORK, IF WE HAD SHOWN ANY INTEREST IN THEM AS A COMPANY WITH ANY REAL SIGNIFICANCE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF COMPANIES THAT WANT TO SEE THIS.

COMPANIES THAT HAVE COME HERE JUST RECENTLY WANTED TO SEE THIS.

OTHERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT US WANT TO SEE THIS.

THESE THING WILL OPEN UP OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, THAT WILL CREATE JOBS FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.

TENNESSEE CREATES MORE THAN 20,000 JOBS A YEAR, MORE THAN WE DO.

Y THEY'RE A RIGHT TO WORK STATE, HAVE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND SO THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT'S GOING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.

REPEALING THE PREVAILING WAGE.

I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ALREADY JUST TODAY ACTUALLY AT A ENTIRELY UNRELATED EVENT, PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO ME ABOUT HOW MUCH SAFETY THEM OPPOSING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PROJECTS ALREADY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN ALREADY SINCE YOU PASSED THIS LEGISLATION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS REQUESTING AGO.

SO IT'S ALREADY SAVING SIGNIFICANT MONEY.

IT IS ESTIMATED IT'S GOING TO SAVE US 125, $135 MILLION A YEAR IN NOT OVERPAYING FOR PROJECTS BEING PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER MONEY.

WE'VE PASSED PAYCHECK PROTECTION.

THESE TWO WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO FROM THE PUT THINGS ON EMPLOYEES IN THIS ESTATE THAT DON'T WANT PUT ON THEM.

THIS PUTS THE POWER IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S HAND, IN THE EMPLOYEE'S HAND, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

THAT IS THE AMERICAN WAY, THAT TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THE INDIVIDUAL.

WE PASSED TWO SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION, AND FOR THOSE WHO THINK THAT SOMEHOW THESE WERE NOT DESIRED OR POPULAR, THEY WERE NOT HERE IN THE ROTUNDA TODAY.

YOU COULDN'T FIND STANDING ROOM HARDLY ANYWHERE ON ANY OF THE DECKS IN THIS PLACE, AND SO MANY LEGISLATORS DID SUCH A GOOD JOB, AND I TIP MY HAT TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE PART OF THE 83% OF KENTUCKIANS WHO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY RESPECT THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DEFEND IT.

[ APPLAUSE ] I ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THANK YOUR LEGISLATORS.

THANK SPEAKER HOOVER.

THANK PRESIDENT STIVERS.

I TRULY WOULD ASK YOU TO WRITE A NOTE TO THEM NOT ONLY BY EMAIL.

RIGHT WRITE THEM A NOTE.

TAKE TIME TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE PERPETRATOR THANK THESE MEN AND WOMEN FOR PASSING LEGISLATION LIKE THIS.

WE TALK ABOUT EMPOWERING WOMEN WITH KNOWLEDGE, ABOUT EMPOWERING WOMEN TO HAVE THE BEST IN HEALTH CARE, IN SAFETY.

THIS ALL THE SOUND BILL WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN TERMS OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, TO ALLOW THEM TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

THIS 20 WEEK BAN ON ABORTION ALLOWS US TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT AN UNBORN CHILD AT FIVE MONTHS OF DEVELOPMENT FEELS INTENSE PAIN AND IT IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL AND HARMFUL TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT CHILD'S LIFE WITH NOT EVEN THE THOUGHT OF AN ANESTHETIC.

WE WOULDN'T DO THIS TO SOMEONE BEING PUT TO DEATH THROUGH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

WE PUNISH PEOPLE FOR DOING THESE THINGS TO OUR PETS, AND THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN THIS IN KENTUCKY.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PART OF PASSING THAT LEGISLATION.

WE TALKED ABOUT OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO FACE, AND I'LL SWITCH TO THAT BRIEFLY AND THEN TALK ABOUT A COUPLE IDEA.

WE DO STILL HAVE A LOT OF WOOD TO CHOP HERE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

FOR ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE, FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF US SOME OF THEM SEEM A BIT DAUNTING.

WE DO STILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS HOLE IN TERMS OF OUR PENSION.

IF WE LOOK AT A HONESTLY AND ACTUALLY PEG WHAT WE OWE TO THE TRUE -- THE LIABILITY OF WHAT WE HAVE IN ASSUMING WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET LIKE 30-YEAR TREASURY NOSE AS THE RETURN NOT THESE HYPOTHETICAL NUMBER THAT WE HAVEN'T BANGOR AND ARE NOT GOING TO GET.

WE DON'T HAVE A 30 OR THREE OF OR $38 BILLION PENSION PROBLEM.

WE HAVE AN $82 BILLION PENSION PROBLEM.

82 BILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT IS OWED.

THAT IS JUST SHORT OF $19,000 FOR EVERY SINGLE MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN KENTUCKY.

AND IT TOUCHES ALL OF YOU, LEGISLATORS, TOUCHES THOSE IN THE JUDICIAL RANKS, TOUCHES ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED STATE WORKERS WE TALKED ABOUT, TOUCHES ON TEACHERS.

IT TOUCHES A NUMBER OF FOLKS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE.

IF WE USE A TRUCE EXPECTED RATE OF RETURN THAT WE'RE LIKELY ABLE TO GET, THE BEST FUNDED PENSION FUND WE HAVE IS 50%.

I WON'T EVEN TELL YOU WHO THAT IS.

SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW.

IT WILL GET PEOPLE UPSET.

I WILL SIMPLY SAY THIS.

THE WORST FUNDED IS THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

THE MAJORITY OF KENTUCKY'S RETIREES WHO ARE PART OF KERS HAVE A PENSION PLAN THAT ONLY HAS TEN CENTS IN IT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S OWED.

THAT'S NOT A PENSION SYSTEM.

THAT'S A CHECKING ACCOUNT ESSENTIALLY AND IT IS ABOUT TO GO BANKRUPT.

THAT IS A FACT.

THAT'S NOT AN OVERSTATEMENT.

IT IS SO CLOSE TO INVOLLANCY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER LONG AGO IF THIS WERE A PRIVATE COMPANY.

THE PBCG WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS OVER YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY AND WE HAD BETTER CLEAR IT YOU.

THERE HAVE GOT TO BE HARD DECISIONS MADE BY THIS BODY, BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND I ENCOURAGE TO BE BOLD AND BE STRONG BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS MADE.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED AND EXPECT THEIR CHECKS TO KEEP COMING TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHECKS KEEP COMING.

THAT IS OUR MORAL AND LEGAL OBLIGATION AND WE'D BETTER DO IT.

WE ARE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, 47th LOWEST LEVEL OF WORKFORCE PARTICIPATING IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE 225,000 ABLE-BODIED MEN AND WOMEN IN KENTUCKY WHO ARE NOT LOOKING FOR WORK OR DON'T GO TO WORK.

225,000 ABLE-BODIED WORKING AGE NOT LOOKING FOR WORK.

YOU CAN MAKE TWICE AS MUCH NOT WORKING IN THIS STATE AS YOU CAN IN TENNESSEE, FOR EXAMPLE.

THERE WILL BE THOSE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S ALREADY PEOPLE RITE WRITING THE HEAD LINES ABOUT HOW WE KEEP COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHER STATES.

GUESS WHAT?

SO DO THE COMPANIES THAT ARE CONSIDERING COMING HERE, THOSE WHO ARE COMING HERE, THEY COMPARE TO US OTHER STATES AND THEY LOOK AT THESE STATISTICS WELL.

I GOT A TEXT FROM THE ANOTHER GOVERNOR AND I WON'T MENTION THE COMPACT REFERENCE HE MENTIONED BUT HE SAID WE APPRECIATE THAT HE SAID WE LIKED IT A WHOLE LOT BETTER WHEN THE PEOPLE -- FILL IN THE BLANK DIRECTION THERE -- WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT COMPETING WITH US.

AND IT WAS SOMEBODY TO THE SOUTH OF US.

AND HE SAID WHEN PEOPLE UP THERE WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT COMPETING WITH US, WE LIKED IT BETTER.

OTHER STATES ARE MAKING NOTICE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

WE'VE GOT TO CLEAN THIS UP.

WE CAN'T MAKE IT SO EASY TO NOT WORK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THE ARC, WHICH TRACK 13 STATES, THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE.

I FORGET THE ACT ACRONYM BUT IT BASICALLY COVERS ALL OF THESE STATES, 13 DIFFERENT STATES THAT HAVE PART OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE APPALACHIAN REGION.

WE'RE A STATE THAT HAS PART OF OUR STATE IN IT AS DO OTHER STATES ALL OR PART OF THEIRS.

THERE ARE U. WHY COUNTIES THAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE IN DISTRESS.

UWE.

45% OF THE TOTAL COUNTIES IN THOSE 13 STATES THAT ARE IN DISTRESS, 45% OF THEM ARE IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

37 OF THOSE IN DISTRESSED COUNTIES ARE IN OUR STATE.

THESE ARE THINGS WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF.

WE WILL NEED A SPECIAL SESSION FOR TAX AND PENSION SO THAT WILL BE COMING.

WE'VE TALKED WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOSE OF YOU IN THE HOUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S COMING IT WILL GET DONE IN HAVEN'T 2017.

WE HEARD THE ROAR OF THE VOTERS.

I TALKED ABOUT IT AFTER THE ELECTION.

THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE ASSEMBLED HERE, MOST OF YOU HAR WATCHING, YOU ASKED FOR CHANGE TO COME, AND CHANGE HAS COME.

CHANGE HAS COME IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY IN THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO COME.

IT'S HUMBLING TO US, IT'S INSPIRING TO US THE DEGREE TO WHICH YOU OVERWHELMINGLY, THE VOTERS, TURNED THIS HOUSE IN PARTICULAR AROUND.

THOSE FIRST SEVEN BILLS THAT WE MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THOSE ARE THE FIRST BILLS EVER IN THE MISTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY THAT WERE SIGNED BY A GOVERNOR, A SPEAKER, AND A PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE THAT WERE ALL REPUBLICANS.

IT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTY, ALTHOUGH IT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THAT RESPECT, BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THE FACT THAT AS SO MANY OF YOU DID, YOU VOTED YOUR VALUES AND NOT YOUR PARTY, AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT YOU SENT HERE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO YOU.

AND I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

I HAVE SAID THAT I WANT US TO BE THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE REASONS WHY.

I WON'T SAY THAT AGAIN EXCEPT THAT EVERY TIME I'M OUT THERE, EVERY TIME I MEET WITH A COMPANY I MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WE WILL DO WHAT IS NEEDED.

I DON'T WANT TO SINGLE OUT ANY PARTICULAR COMPANIES BUT THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES SMALL AND SOME VERY LARGE THAT HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO COME HERE THAT UNDERSTAND WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT WE CAN, THAT WE ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL, THAT WE ARE INNOVATIVE, THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE ARE INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND WE ARE INVESTING IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GO HAND IN HAND.

LAST YEAR I HAPPENED TO SINGLE OUT A SINGLE DISCIPLINE THAT NO PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN KENTUCKY ACTUALLY CONFERS TO REASON.

IT HAPPENED TO RHYME WITH SUMMITATURE.

BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BASED ON THE REACTION THAT EVERY THIRD APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM GRADUATING FROM A KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HAPPENED TO HAVE A DEGREE IN THAT.

I MENTION IT SIMPLY BECAUSE MY ARGUE THEN IS THE SAME AS IT IS NOW.

WE NEED TO USE THE MONEY YOU ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

ON BEHALF OF OUR TAXPAYERS TO INVEST IN EDUCATION WHERE WE CAN GET GOOD RETURN ON IT AS TAXPAYERS.

INTERPRETIVE THIS THIS IS NOT WHERE THE JOBS OF THE 21st CENTURY ARE.

THEY'RE JUST NOT.

THEY'RE JUST NOT.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO INVEST WHERE WE CAN GET GOOD RETURN TO THAT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FROM OUR UNIVERSITIES AS WELL.

WE'RE MOVING TOWARD OUTCOMES BASED FUNDING.

THAT WILL BE COMING IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

WE'VE GOT TO START TO BE BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

WE NEED TO START REACHING DOWN FARTHER INTO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS STARTING TO TEACH FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND FISCAL DISCIPLINE.

WE NEED TO START TEACHING THE VERY THINGS THAT ONCE WERE TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

WE NEED TO START TEACHING 6:00.

THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BECOME AND BE CIVICS.

YOU WILL SEE LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH THESE BODIES THAT WILL HELP TO US EDUCATE PEOPLE BETTER AND PREPARE THEM FOR WORK IN THE 21st CENTURY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS REAL QUICKLY.

WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY NOT ONLY MOVE TO OUTCOMES BASED FUNDING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS SIGNED OFF ON.

SOME DIDN'T LIKE IT.

NOBODY FULLY LIKED IT AND THAT'S WHY WE KNOW IT WAS ABOUT AS GOOD AS WE'RE GOING TO GET.

THE NOBODY FULLY LOVED THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT WASN'T A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT WAS PASSED REQUIRING THEM TO LOOK AT IT.

WE GAVE THEM THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE THE RULES SO THAT'S NOW SOMETHING THAT WE'LL MOVE LEGISLATIVELY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THEY CAME UP THE WITH RULES.

WEAVER NOT GOING TO LEAD THE WITNESS ON THAT ONE.

WE ALLOWED THEM TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THEY'RE ALL GOING TO TAKE PART OF PART.

WE'RE GOING TO REWARD THOSE UNIVERSITIES THAT INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT ALLOW THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE GOING TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

AND IT WILL BE GOOD FOR KENTUCKY.

WE NEED KENTUCKY TO NOT BE ONE OF SEVEN STATES IN NORTH AMERICA THAT STILL HAS A ON PUBLIC EDUCATION DOLLARS BECAUSE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT WE'RE NOT DOING AS WELL AS WE COULD BE.

WE'VE GOT GREAT TEACHERS.

WE'VE GOT GREAT ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE GREAT SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS.

BUT THE REALITY IS THEY'RE BURIED IN BUREAUCRACY, THEY'RE BURIED UNSUCH AN UNBELIEVABLE MESS AS IT RELATES TO ALL OF THE EXTRANEOUS AUDITING AND TESTING AND THINGS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO.

THIS HAS GOT TO CHANGE.

AND SO EXPECT IN THE LEGISLATURE MOVEMENTS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD THAT YOU WILL SEE MOVEMENT ON THIS FRONT.

AND I WILL AGAIN LEAVE TO IT THOSE LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS IN COMMITTEE AND THEN IN THESE BODIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT GOOD THING ARE COMING.

WE WILL SEE SCHOOL CHOICE COMING TO KENTUCKY.

WE WILL SEE AN ABOLISHMENT OF COMMON CORE STANDARDS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

COMMON CORE WILL BE GONE FROM KENTUCKY.

[ APPLAUSE ] THERE'S GOING TO BE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TOWER SCHOOLS AND THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ABOVE ALL.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR OUR PARENT AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS.

WE ARE GOING THE SEE MEDICAL REVIEW PANELS COMING.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE TORT REFORM COMING TO KENTUCKY.

THE EXACT FORM AND FASHION IS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THESE THINGS WILL BE DEBATED.

BUT WE NEED TORT REFORM IN THIS STATE.

OUR MEDICAL PROFESSION NEEDS IT.

OUR RETAIL PROFESSION NEEDS.

IT BUSINESS IN GENERAL NEEDS IT.

THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THINGS AND MOVE THINGS AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE BEEN BEGGING FOR THIS.

WE ARE A STATE THAT IS ALSO VERY HIGHLY REGULATED.

STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE INSTITUTE THAT SAY THAT WE HAVE 30% MORE REGULATION THAN THE AVERAGE STATE, THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE FIVE MOST HIGHLY REGULATED STATES IN AMERICA.

THE REASON I WEAR THIS BUTTON AND OTHERS DO AS WELL, I'VE SENT ONE TO EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF YOU IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE -- FEEL FREE TO WEAR THEM, THEY MAKE A GREAT CONVERSATION START PER PEOPLE MIGHT ASK YOU TO CUT THEIR HAIR.

IT'S A LITTLE PAIR OF SCISSORS CUTTING THROUGH RED TAPE.

PEOPLE AREN'T SURE WHAT IT IS SO IT DOES CREATE GOOD CONVERSATION.

I'VE PLEDGED TO CUTTING 30% OF ALL THE RED TAPE IN THIS STATE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

WITH YOUR HELP WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

SOME OF IT WILL BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY, COME EXCLUSIVELY, SOME WILL BE DONE BY UPDATING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN NEEDED TO BE UPDATED FOR HAD A LONG TIME.

WE TALKED ABOUT PENSION AND TAX REFORM.

THEY ARE COMING.

THEY WILL COME IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

WORK IS ALREADY BEING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES WITH FOLKS.

PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE, PEOPLE NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE, PEOPLE IN PRIVATE BUSINESS, PEOPLE IN STATE AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES IN OTHER PLACES.

WE DON'T NEED R. TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.

LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TRIED THAT HAVE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL 5E WE HAVE GOT TO DO THESE TOGETHER.

PENSION AND TAX REFORM HAVE GOT TO BE DONE TOGETHER BECAUSE IF THEIR NOT DONE TOGETHER THIS STATE IS GOING TO BECOME FINANCIALLY INSOLVENT.

WE HAVE $82 BILLION IN PENSION OBLIGATION, AS I SAID.

WE ONLY TAKE IN 10 TO $11 BILLION A YEAR.

SO EIGHT TIMES WHAT WE BRING N ANY ONE YEAR CURRENTLY IS ALREADY OWED.

IF WE TOOK EVERY CENT WE BROUGHT IN IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS WE WOULD ONLY GET BACK TO THE TOP OF A HOLE THAT WE HAVE DUG FOR OURSELVES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT IS TAX EXPENDITURES, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL IN THIS BODY AND I MEAN THIS SINCERELY BE, THINK BIG, BE BOLD.

THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO BE.

THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED OF US.

IT WILL NOT BE EASY.

IT WILL NOT MAKE YOU POPULAR WITH EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY LIKES SPENDING A LITTLE MORE OF EVERYBODY'S ELSE MONEY, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE BOLD, HARD DECISIONS.

THESE TAX EXPENDITURES, MORE THAN 300 OF THESE DIFFERENT LOOPHOLES, WE EXEMPT MORE INCOME IN KENTUCKY THAN WE TAKE IN.

THAT'S GOING TO TO HAVE CHANGE, AND I'M TALKING NICKLE THINGS.

THIS TAX IS GOING TO MOVE A PENNY AND THIS ONE IS GOING TO GO UP A FOO CENTS A GALLON.

THESE MIGHT BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT I GO BRINGING EVERY SINGLE SACRED COW, BRINGING THEM ALL OUT OF THE OF THE BARN AND SOME OF THOSE SACRED COWS ARE GOING TO BE RETURNED TO THE BARN A SACRED COWS AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE TURNED INTO HAMBURGER AND I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

[ APPLAUSE ] ANOTHER THING YOU WANT TO SAY AND I'LL TAKE THE HEAT FOR IT AND YOU CAN ALL BLAME ME FOR IT IF YOU'D LIKE.

I'LL SAY THIS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND NOT SUPPORTED ME THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A TAX NEUTRAL PLAN.

WE CANNOT PAY OFF EIGHT TIMES WHAT WE BRING IN IF WE SIMPLY RESHUFFLE THE DECK.

THIS IS A STATE THAT NEEDS TO MOVE ULTIMATELY FROM A PRODUCTION BASED TAX ECONOMY TO A CON SUM BASED TAX EXCEPT WE WILL GET RID OF THE INVENTORY TAX.

WE WILL GET RID OF THE DEATH TAX.

THESE ARE THINGS AMONG OTHERS THAT WILL BE GONE.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO THIS AS PART OF A BROADER PLAN THAT NOT ONLY LOWERS THE OVERALL TAX YOU ARE BURDEN, MAKES IT MORE FAIR, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, MORE IN LINE FROM FEDERAL POLICIES BECAUSE OUR STATE WAS HAS ONE OF THE MOST CONVOLUTED TAX PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE BUT HATES TOSS DAWN DONE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE P. THAT IS GOING TO BE THE TASK BEFORE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

PLEASE GET READY.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DO BUT WE CAN DO IT.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS COMING COMING.

WE PASSED AP EXPUNGEMENT BILL.

PEOPLE NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO WIPE CLEAN THEIR RECORD AFTER FIVE YEARS AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER NOT GETTING IN TROUBLE AFTER PAYING OFF THEIR OBLIGATION TO SOCIETY.

WE GET THEM A CHANCE TO EXPUNGE THAT FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FELONIES.

NOT FOR ALL BUT FOR THOSE WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE.

WE TALKED ABOUT TAKING OFF THE REQUIREMENT TO CHECK THE BOX.

THERE IS OTHER LEGISLATION MOVING ITS WAY THROUGH THAT WILL OPEN UP LICENSING AND THINGS OF THIS SORT TO THOSE TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

WE OWE PEOPLE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THEM.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR SOCIETY.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR ALL OF KENTUCKY.

AND IT WILL BE GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS.

WE'LL GET A BETTER RETURN ON THAT AS WELL.

I WANT TO JUST SIMPLY CHALLENGE YOU WITH A UM DUMBING THING IN CLOSING.

LAST YEAR I ASKED TO CONSIDER READING A BOOK.

IT WAS CALLED DREAM LAND BY A GUY NAMED SAM KIN I DON'T KNOW PEPS READ THAT BOOK.

IT -- QUINONES.

DREAMLAND IT IS CALLED.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER BOOK TO READ AND I'M GOING TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE TO YOU READ A BOOK THAT WILL MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT KENTUCKY IN WAYS YOU SHOULD BE THINKING WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT BECAUSE FRANKLY SOME OF THIS STUFF IS HARD READING.

HERE'S A BOOK THAT YOU NUMBER OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY READ.

IT GOT MORE PUBLICITY THAN ORDEAL LAND.

IT'S CALLED "HILLBILLYEG,LIG" BY J.D.

VANCE.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE CULTURAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE CHALLENGING SO MUCH OUR STATE EASTERN KENTUCKY IN PARTICULAR.

SO PLEASE READ THESE BOOKS.

HILLBILLYELIGY.

IT'S A GOOD READ.

I WILL SAY THIS AND I MEAN IT SINCERELY ESPECIALLY FOR YOU HOME SCHOOLS ARE, IT'S SALTY LANGUAGE.

ANY OF YOU HAVE SPEND TIME IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT YOU READ IS WHAT YOU HEAR.

JUST BEAR THAT IN MIND.

PARENT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ IT FIRST.

BUT IT IS A SOBERING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING BOOK THAT NEEDS TO BE READ BY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT KENTUCKY.

I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, TOO.

THIS IS A STATE THAT HAS SO MUCH GOING FOR IT.

WE ARE SO BLESSED.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS.

WE ARE GOING TO BECOME THIS HUB OF EXCELLENCE.

BUT AS SURELY AS I STANTSTAND HERE, AND I WANT THE SUPPORT OF THOSE OF YOU HAD IN THIS BODY, AND THIS INCLUDES YOU NUMBER IN THE JUDICIARY IN PARTICULARLY, I WANT TO BE IN KENTUCKY THE ABSOLUTE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO LIVE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO COMMIT WELFARE FRAUD.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO MILK THE SYSTEM AND ABUSE THE SYSTEM AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST STATE THAT YOU WANT TO LIVE, AND WE'RE DONE CLEANING THIS UP IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

IF YOU'RE -- [ APPLAUSE ] IF YOU'RE A SEXUAL PREDATOR YOU'RE NOT GOING DO WANT TO LIVE IN KENTUCKY.

IF YOU'RE A DRUG DEALING ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY WHO THE NOT A ADDICT BUT CREATING ADDICT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LIVE IN KENTUCKY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAMMER THAT.

[ APPLAUSE ] IF YOU'RE SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T RESPECT THE LAW AND RESPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND YOU ARE TAKING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ARE PROTECTING AND SERVING US AND THE LIVES OF OTHER KENTUCKIANS AS WELL, WE ARE GOING DO HAMMER YOU AND COME DOWN ON YOU AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO INITIATIVE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND THIS GOES WHERE I ASK IN, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN OUR TONIGHT COUNTY ATTORNEYS, IF YOU'RE A DEADBEAT DAD YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT MOVING TO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN KENTUCKY.

[ APPLAUSE ] RIGHT NOW KENTUCKY HAS AN EMBARRASSING 58% OF MONEYS THAT ARE OWED OR ACTUALLY BEING COLLECTED.

58% IS OUR AVERAGE.

AND HERE'S WHAT'S HEARTBREAKING, IS THAT THAT'S 40% OF IT THAT THE REST OF US ARE PAYING FOR.

IF YOU'RE HAVING CHILDREN AND YOU ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR RAISING THOSE CHILDREN FINANCIALLY, SHAME ON YOU.

I'LL SAY THAT IT APPLIES MOSTLY TO MALES AND I'LL SAY MALES BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT MEN.

REAL MEN PAY FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

REAL MEN TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE FOR FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDREN.

[ APPLAUSE ] THIS IS A HABITUAL PROBLEM AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS KNOWN AS PEOPLE WHO ARE HABITUAL IN THEY ARE THEFTS TO AVOID PAYING CHILD SUPPORT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAMMER THAT.

RIGHT NOW AS I SAID 58% A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR COUNTIES, I THINK 40 SOME ODD COUNTIES, ALMOST HALF OF OUR COUNTIES ACTUALLY ARE BELOW THAT AVERAGE.

I WANT TO SINGLE OUT, TOO, NOT TOW MAKE YOU FEEL BAD BUT FRANK REPLY I HOPE YOU DO FEEL A LITTLE BIT BAD AND I HOPE THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS THERE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IN LEE COUNTY AND IN OWLSLY COUNTY I KNOW THESE ARE POOR COUNTIES BIB KNOW THEY STRUGGLE 2 SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT BUT THE ACTUAL RATES AT WHICH NECESSITY COLLECT FOR THE CHILDREN IN THOSE COUNTIES ARE 34% AND 29%.

34% FOR OWLSLY, 29% FOR LEE COUNTY.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.

AND I'M CALLING ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS WHO HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO AT THE SAME TIME UPHOLD THE VERY BEST EXAMPLE WE HAVE, MORGAN COUNTY.

MORNING CROWN COLLECTS -- I'M SORRY.

FORGIVE ME.

BUTLER COUNTY.

LET ME MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THIS RIGHT HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE -- IT IS MORGAN COUNTY.

MORNING COUNTY.

78%.

THAT'S NOT 100.

SHOULD BE 100.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT OUR GOAL A YEAR FROM TODAY IS THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IS COLLECTING AT LEAST 78% OF THE MONEYS THAT ARE OWED TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES.

LET WHAT MORGAN COUNTY IS DOING BE THE STANDARD FOR KENTUCKY.

THAT'S YOU CHALLENGE I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE.

I ALSO WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU ONE OTHER THING.

I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO BEAUTIFY YOUR COMMUNITIES.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE'RE CLEANING UP THIS CAPITAL.

WE'RE CLEANING UP OVERSIGHTS.

WE'RE GOING TO BENING CONTRACT UP OUR REST STOPS AND OUR WELCOME CENTERS BUT YOU WANT TO START SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING CALLING BEAUTIFYING THE BLUEGRASS, AND I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT THE COMPACT DETAILS OFPORT.

LIEU GHENT GOVERNOR AND I WILL BE WORKING ON THIS.

BUT BUT WE WILL PROMISE TO COME AND THROW A PICNIC FOR WHATEVER COMMUNITY IS THE WINNER, THE RULES OF WHICH WILL BE DEFINED.

IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE WE'LL PROBABLY BREAK IT INTO SIZES OF COMMUNITIES BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY IN THE THE COMMONWEALTH.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT FROM PIKEVILLE TO PADUCAH.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF COMMUNITIES IN BETWEEN THOSE AND EVEN THOSE BEYOND THOSE.

I WOULD ASK YOU, PLEASE, FIND WAYS TO CLEAN UP YOUR COMMUNITY.

FIND WAYS TO PICK UP TRASH, TO BEAUTIFY, TO TAKE PRIDE, TO INSTILL PRIDE, TO BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AS KENTUCKIANS.

WE ARE BLESSED INDEED.

I WANT TO FINALLY SAY ONE OTHER THING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO TRULY SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING, FOLLOW ALONG THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO WHAT NOW PASSES FOR TRADITIONAL MEDIA, IT'S DYING FOR A REASON.

IT'S DYING AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE TABLOID-LIKE FOR A REASON.

IT'S BREATHLESSLY DISCOVERING THINGS AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IRRELEVANT WHILE IGNORING THINGS LIKE MURDER RATES, IGNORING THINGS LIKE FAILING SCHOOLS, IGNORING THINGS LIKE DISCRIMINATION SUITS BEING FILED AGAINST PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, THINGS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE ARE BEING IGNORED BASS WE'RE BREATHLESS HIS LOOKING AT THINGS THAT ARE IDIOTIC.

AND I WOULD CHALLENGE THOSE WHO WOULD PURPORT TO BE MEDIA TO FOCUS ON THINGS THAT MATTER, TO ELEVATE KENTUCKY, TO FOCUS ON WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE KENTUCKY, HOW WE CAN BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES.

YOU WILL SEE ME STARTING TO USE MORE LIVE FACEBOOK AND OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH WHATEVER YOU WANT IN TERPS BELIEVABILITY OR NOT BUT TO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU READ IT TOMORROW AFTER IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

COMMUNICATE WITH US THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

CALL THEM.

COMMUNICATE WITH THEM REGULARLY.

EXPECT GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR YOU.

IF WE ARE TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES, IF WE ARE TO BE THE HUB OF EXCELLENCE IN AMERICA FOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING, IT'S GOING TO TAKE US DOINGEL THINGS LIKE LIVING BY THE GOLDEN RULE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TREATING OTHER PEOPLE THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED.

IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE US CLEANING UP AFTER OURSELVES, TAKING PRIDE, CLEANING UP TRASH, BRINGING GOOD IDEAS FORWARD.

DOING THING LIKE CUTTING RED TAPE.

AND IF YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR THAT GO DO RED TAPE REDUCTION.COM.

GIVE US IDEAS.

WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THIS STATE UP.

WE WORK ARE YOU.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

GET OUT THERE.

VOLUNTEER.

TAKE PRIDE IN KENTUCKY AND GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY GOD PLESS THE COMMONLY OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THE FINAL WORDS OF THE 2017 STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

I'M CASEY PARKER.

IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL BE HEARING FROM RENEE SHAW WHO WILL BE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBBER STIVERS AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JEFF HOOVER BUT RIGHT NOW I'M SITTING HERE WITH AL CROSS, THE DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE ON RURAL JURON JUMPERRISM AND UNT KNEW ISSUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

AOL, WHAT WERE THE MAJOR TAKE A WAYS FROM THE SPEECH?

>> THE TAKEAWAY IS THAT MATT BEVIN IS GOING TO RAISE TAXES, AND HE'S GOING TO DO IT IN A SINGLE SPECIAL SESSION THEY'LL BE ABOUT PENSION REFORM AND TAX REFORM, TWO THINGS THE STATE DESPERATELY NEEDS.

FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD THE NOTION THAT YOU COULD HAVE TAX REFORM AND IT HAD TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL BECAUSE THERE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE STRONG RESISTANCE ESPECIALLY FROM REPUBLICANS TO RAISING TAXES.

BUT HE IS NOW GRIPPED THE BIT.

HE IS GOING TO RAISE TAXES, AND HE WILL USE PENSIONS AS THE PRIMARY RATIONALE FOR THAT.

WE DO NEED A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE PENSION SYSTEM BUT HE HAS SET A LOWBALL ESTIMATE FOR WHAT THE PENSION SYSTEM CAN REALLY RETURN.

HE'S BASING IT ON TREASURY BILL RETURNS.

NOW, THE PENSION SYSTEM IS GOING TO PAY OFF BETTER THAN TREASURY BILLS, I THINK.

SO THAT'LL GIVE THEM SOME MORE MONEY TO WORK WITH, MONEY TO SPEND, MONEY TO GET RE-ELECTED ON.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S HIS MOTIVATION BUT, YOU KNOW, DOING BIG THINGS REQUIRES A CERTAIN AUDACITY AND COURAGE, POLITICAL STRATEGY, AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF TOLD ME A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RAISE REVENUE, THAT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME BECAUSE THIS STATE IS IN SUCH A FIX IN TERMS OF ITS PENSIONS AND ITS TAX BASE THAT REVENUE DOES NEED TO BE RAISED.

AND THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO DO IT WITH THE HELP OF A LEGISLATURE WITH A REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY.

WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT BUT THAT CLEARLY IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY IF THE LEGISLATURE FOLLOWS WHAT GOVERNOR BEVIN WANTS TO DO.

>> AL, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THE GOVERNOR TOUCHED ON INCLUDING GIVING US ANOTHER BOOK RECOMMENDATION IN HILL BILL.

>> I HAVE READ IT AND IT IS A BOOK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD READ.

IT'S NOT PRIMARILY ABOUT APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY.

IT'S MORE ABOUT MIDDLETOWN OHIO AND FOLKS WITH APPALACHIAN, KENTUCKY ROOTS WHO MOVED THERE BUT IT DOES HAVE APPLICATION TO APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY.

HE ALSO RECOMMENDED GREENLAND, WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY SAM QUINONES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH, OHIO JUST ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER FROM SOUTH SORE KENTUCKY IN SOUTH PORTS PORTSMOUTH.

>> BUT OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

>> YES.

THOSE ARE BOTH PLAN OF BOOKS BUT THIS V GOVERNOR IS A BETTER BOOK REVIEWER THAN HE IS YOU BUREAUCRAT HE COULDN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF APPALACHIAN COMMISSION.

I THINK VOTERS WILL FIND THAT LESS IMPORTANT AND MORE IMPORTANT THAT HE THINKS THEY OUGHT TO READ BOOKS LIKE THIS WHICH ARE ABOUT THE ENDEMIC VERY HARD-TO-SOLVE PROBLEMS IN YOU LARGE PART OF THE STATE.

>> BUT THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ON.

WHAT ELSE STUCK OUT TO YOU?

WHEN I LOOK FOR NEW THINGS, STUFF WE REALLY HADN'T SEEN BEFORE, HEARD BEFORE.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME VISIONARY LINES.

HE ONLY HAD ONE LINE I THINK WHERE HE SAID HE HAD A TRUE VISION, AND THAT WAS TO MAKE KENTUCKY THE HUB OF ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IN SOMETHING OF AN ALLUSION TO TRUMP, HE SAID IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT WE'RE MOVING ON THAT FRONT.

TRUMP'S EMPHASIS BEING THE RECOUPMENT OF MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT HAD BEEN LOST.

I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS STATE BE A HUB OF ENGINEERING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EDUCATE A THE LO MORE ENGINEERS, AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH THE OUTCOMES BASED FUNDING OF UNIVERSITIES.

THAT'S A LITTLE ARCANE FOR THIS AUDIENCE FOR US TO GO INTO TONIGHT, BUT IT WILL PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, HE MENTIONED THE NEED FOR CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL ON CIVICS AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINE, WHICH I HADN'T HEARD HIM TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.

HE ALSO SAID FOR THE YOUNGER CITIZENS HE WANT TO MAKE KENTUCKY THE MODEL FOR THE ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS.

AND THAT WOULD BE A 180-DEGREE TURN FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW BECAUSE WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THE WORST STATE WHEN IT COMES TO INCIDENTS OF CHILD FATALITIES AND NEAR FATALITIES AMONG CHILDREN WHO ARE WARDS OF THE STATE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE IMPROVING.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> WELL, AL, THANK YOU.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE RENEE SHAW IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS WITH PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND SPEAKERY OF J HOOVER.

RENEE.

-- SPEAKER JEFF HOOVER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CASEY.

I, OF COURSE, AM JOINED AFTER THE SPEECH, THIS IS OUR ROUTINE TO TALK TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER JEFF HOOVER.

FLAD TO HAVE YOU ON THIS SIDE.

I'LL START WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT MR.

STIVERS FIRST.

TELL US YOUR REACTIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TONIGHT.

>> I THINK IT WAS AN ENERGETIC SPEECH.

I THINK IT WAS A SPEECH OF WHERE THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO GO.

HE SET OUT A VISION WHEN HE RAN TWO YEARS AGO.

AS HE SAID, THE STATE HAD SPOKEN.

THE NUMBERS OF CHANGED.

WE HAVE A NEW SPEAKER HERE, AND HE TAKES THAT AS WELL AS WE TAKE THAT AS A MANDATE TO OPEN UP OUR BOUND RUSS AND SAY WE'RE OPENED UP FOR BUSINESS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS OF HIS SPEECH TONIGHT.

>> SPEAKER HOOVER, DID HE SAY ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU OR RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, TOO?

>> NOTHING THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME.

I THINK I TOLD YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AUGUST WANTED TO HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN KENTUCKY AND OUTLINE THOSE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING, AND I LIKE HOW HE STARTED, AND HE TALKED VERY POSITIVELY ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN DONE AND THINGS HE'S WORKING ON, BUT HE ALSO MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CHALLENGES FACING US IN THIS STATE AND I APPRECIATE HIM DOING THAT.

>> HE TOLD US IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS WHO DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE IN KENTUCKY IF THE AGENDA HE SEIZE AND VISION HE SEES COMES TO REALITY.

HE SEEMED TO SAY TONIGHT, GENTLEMEN, THAT TAX REFORM -- HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR ABOUT BLIGHTS GOING TO BE TAX NEUTRAL, REVENUE NEUTRAL TONIGHT, RIGHT?

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID IT NOT BE REVENUE NEUTRAL.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WITH THE PROPOSAL IS.

I'VE TALKED TO PRESIDENT STIVERS ABOUT THAT.

WE KNOW WE HAVE MONUMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THIS STATE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WOULDN'T WA TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND YOU ARE OUR MEMBERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND HAVE TO HAVE BUY-IN.

SO I KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR, EVERY GOVERNOR WANT MORE MONEY.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

WE'LL US HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE ALMOST IS AND WHERE WE CAN GO WITH IT.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE COMMENTS ON NOT REVENUE NEUTRAL TAX REFORM?

>> I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT IF WE CAN DEVELOP A TAX CODE, AND YOU HEARD HIM SPEAK OF SOME OF THEM IN THE INVENTORY TAX, HE FEELS THAT IS RESTRICTIVE ON, AS HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION LOOK THE RIGHT TO WORK LEGISLATION.

IF RERE MOVE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS TO GROWTH AND BUSINESS, WE GROW JOBS, WE WERE GROW INDUSTRY, WE CREATE MORE TAX REVENUES, AND FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IT DOES GROW REVENUES.

WE DO GET MORE REVENUES IN OUR COFFER TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES LIKE THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY THAT HAS BEEN GROWING OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

SO I THINK THAT IS FROM THE AREA WHEN YOU HEAR HIM SPEAK.

WILL IT BE REVENUE NEUTRAL?

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT ITS DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE THAT WHEN YOU GROW REVENUES BECAUSE YOU GROW JOBS.

>> AND THE SENATE TODAY ACTED ON A PENSION TRANSPARENCY BILL, SENATE BILL 2 THAT THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR JOE BOWEN HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK YOU'LL HAVE BETTER SUCCESS IN THIS SESSION.

HOW IMPACTFUL IS THAT IN HELPING TO SHORE UP THE PENSION SYSTEM?

BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY WEB SUNSHINE BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO THE ABOUT UNFUNDED LIABILITIES?

>> IT REALLY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES BUT IT EXPLAINS TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, THE TAXPAYERS OF KENTUCKY WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEMS ARE.

AND BY BEING ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT IN FRONT OF OF THEM WHERE WE HAVE NOT, IT WILL SHOW WHEN HE MAKES THE STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM, WHY.

AND THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE ISSUES KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE BASIS FOR IT, THE NEED THAT WEAVE HERE AS LEGISLATORS.

>> SENATE BILL 1 WHICH IS SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MIKE WILSON'S BILL THAT WOULD REPEAL COMMON CORE AND PUTS UP A PROCESS FOR REVIEWING AND REVISING ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN KENTUCKY IS COMING BEFORE COMMITTEE TOMORROW ON THURSDAY, I BELIEVE.

>> IT IS.

IT IS SOMETHING WHERE THE SPEAKER AND HIS CAUCUS HAVE WANTED TO BE BRIEFED ON IT AND HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

WE HAVE KIND SLOWED IT DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A BIG POLICY BITE.

AND IT IS A CHANGE BASED ON THE ESSA.

AND SO WE'RE SLOWLY WALKING THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT IS BY FAR MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN JUST WHEN WE THINK OF RIGHT TO WORK.

IT HAS MULTIPLE FACETS TO IT, AND IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND WE WILL BE MOVING IT.

BUT WE WANT TO MOVE IT IN A WAY THAT THE SPEAKER AND HIS CHAMBER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDER IT HAD.

>> AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER ABOUT SENATE BILL 1 AND ALSO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

GOVERNOR BEVIN STEELED TO BE VERY SURE THAT CHART SCHOOL LEGISLATION WILL BECOME A REALITY THIS SESSION.

>> I THINK EVERYONE IS WORKING TOWARD THAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT CONSTITUTIONALITY.

WHAT WE CAN DO AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION NOW WITH SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL, HOUSE LEGAL COUNSEL, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS WELL.

I THINK EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THERE TO DO SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE WITH REGARD TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING A COMFORT LEVEL FROM A LEGAL ANALYSIS STANDPOINT.

WITH REGARD TO SENATE BILL 1 AS PRESIDENT STIVERS SAID, IT IS A MAJOR POLICY CHANGE IN THIS STATE, AND FOR MANY OF OUR MEMBERS WE HAVE 23 BRAND NEW MEMBERS, I KEEP SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE 23 NEW MEMBERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO GET A GOOD FEEL OF THE PROCESS AND WITH A MAJOR POLICY CHANGE LIKE THIS, WE WANT TO TAKE OUR TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I APPRECIATE WHAT THE SENATE HAS DONE SO FAR IN SORT OF SLOW WALKING IT TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED, BUT I THINK WE WILL PASS SOMETHING.

I FEEL I THINK SO WITH REGARD TO SENATE BILL 1, YES.

>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE THE DAYS TO COME ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL WILL SAY YOU WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS GENERAL SESSION OF 2017?

>> I THINK WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO DO THE SENATE TRANSPARENCY PIECE, THE PENSION TRANSPARENCY.

IT PASSED TODAY.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON MEDICAL REVIEW PANELS.

EVERYONE WANTS TO DO THAT AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT STIVERS ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'LL GET DONE.

LOOK, I ALREADY THINK AFTER THE FIRST WEEK IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS SESSION AND WE STILL HAVE FOUR AND A HALF WEEKS TO GO TO DO SOME MORE GOOD THINGS.

>> BUT YOU TOLD US LAST NIGHT WE DO COULD SHORTEN THE SESSION.

IS THAT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT?

>> I THINK WE'VE SORT OF BACKED OFF ON THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE LIKE SENATE BILL 1, LIKE MEDICAL REVIEW PANELS WEEK LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO SET AN ARTIFICIAL DATE TO END OTHER THAN WHEN YOU ABSOLUTE HAVE TO.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOO GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THOSE IMPORTANT BILLINGS DONE.

IT WOULD TERRELL NOT BE GOOD TO SAY WE'RE -- WE'VE GOT 24 DAYS LEFT, AND IT WOULD REALLY NOT BE GOOD TO CUT IT OFF AT 19 AND WE STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED CHARTER SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

LOOK, WE'VE SAVED $700,000 ON THE HOUSE SIDE JUST IN SALARIES COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO.

SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A COST OF A SPECIAL SESSION IF WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE AT A LATER TIME.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU THE FINAL WORD, SENATOR STIVERS.

WHAT DO YOU WITH AN TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE THE END OF SESSION?

AND HOW SOON DO YOU THINK A SPECIAL SESSION ON TAX REFORM AND PENSION REFORM COLLECTIVELY COULD HAPPEN?

>> LET ME DEAL WITH THE LAST QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN PREDICT WHEN A SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE CALLED.

IT'S MATTER OF BEING PREPARED.

EDUCATING US, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.

AS TO WHAT I WANT TO SEE GET DONE, I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER WE'RE NOT GOING TO CLOSE OUT EARLY.

WE STILL HAVE THE BILLS HE'S SPOKEN OF.

PERPS BASED FUNDING STILL HAS TO COME.

WE HAVE SOME PAROCHIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE SOME STATEWIDE IMPLICATION LIKE THIS UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AND DEALING WITH THAT GOVERNANCE ISSUES.

SO WE HAVE INSTANCES OF THAT THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEM WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING HERE FOR FULL 30 DAYS, AND I THINK EVEN AS WE SPEAK, WHETHER WE GET ALL THESE THINGS PASSED, IF WE GET NOTHING ELSE PASSED, WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SESSION BASED ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE HAD IN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR STIVERS.

THANK YOU, SPEAKER HOOVER.

IT'S GOOD TO TALK TO BOTH OF YOU AGAIN.

WE'RE GOING TO THROAT BACK OVER TO CASEY PARKER BELIN AND AL CROSS.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

AL, WE JUST HEARD FROM SPEAKER HOOVER AND PRESIDENT STIVERS.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT THEIR COMMENTS?

>> WELL, PRESIDENT STIVERS SAID MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE THAT.

THAT BEING REVENUE NEUTRAL WITH TAX REFORM.

I THINK HIS REMARKS SUGGESTED THAT THEY WANT SEE REVENUE GROW FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH, NOT JUST FROM TAX INCREASES.

I THINK THAT THE HOUSE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIEW.

YOU KNOW THE HOUSE GETS ELECTED EVERY TWO YEARS, AND THERE'S A STRONGER TRADITION IN THAT BODY FOR WANTING SOME OF THE GRAVY TO TAKE BACK HOME TO THE DISTRICT IF YOU RAUST TAXES, AND THAT MAY BE WHAT WAS ON THE -- RAISE TAXES, AND THAT MAY BE WHAT WAS ON MOVER'S MIND WHEN HE SAID -- JEFF HOOVER'S MIND WHEN HE SAID MEMBERS HAVE TO HAVE BUY-IN AND WE WANT TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

SO TAX REFORM IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST COMPLICATED PIECE OF LEGISLATION YOU COULD OFFER TO THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND THEY ARE JUST NOW GUNG TO TALK ABOUT IT.

-- BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT IT BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF YET TOM COULD DOWN THE PIKE.

>> THANK YOU, AL.

WEAR WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO RENEE IN THIS HOUSE CHAMBERS.

SHE IS WERE HOUSE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER ROCKY ADKINS.

RENEE.

>> AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WITH US THE NEW MINE OR THE LEADER IN THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE ROCKY ADKINS.

SO GOOD TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

I DO WANT TO GET YOUR JUST IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TONIGHT AND WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK HE GAVE A PAST HISTORY OF LAST YEAR AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR THE HOUSE WAS CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS AND THE SENATE WAS CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, AND WE AGREED UPON A BUDGET AND MANY INITIATIVES THAT HE MENTIONS TONIGHT AS PART OF HIS SUCCESS THAT HE FELT LIKE WAS THING THAT WERE GOOD FOR KENTUCKY.

MANY OF THOSE THINGS WERE CENTERED AROUND THE $1.2 BILLION WE PUT IN TO HELP THE PENSION SYSTEM WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE I A CHALLENGE, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO ADDRESS THAT AS HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

HE MENTIONED THE MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION DEALING WITH THE DRUG EPIDEMIC AND THE MONEY WE PUT IN TO ADDRESS HEROIN FOR ADDICTION AND TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE.

THE MONEY THAT WAS PUT IN FORSOOK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, $100 MILLION FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POOL OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN DISTRIBUTED, $65 MILLION OF THAT $100 MILLION TO HELP TRAIN AND BUILD FACILITIES FOR OUR FOLKS ACROSS KENTUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHLY SKILLED AND HIGHLY TRAINED WORKFORCE, DUAL CREDITS PROGRAM WAS ANOTHER ME MEANINGSED.

MANY OF THE SUCCESSES WERE BASICALLY ISSUES FROM LAST YEAR AND INITIATIVE THAT WERE PASSED AND BUDGET ITEM THAT WERE PUT IN AS WELL.

THERE'S NO QUESTION MOVING FORWARD I THINK TAX REFORM AND I THINK THE PENSION ISSUE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE.

I THINK WE AGREED TO A PENSION OVERSIGHT BOARD TO REALLY LOOK INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM, $3 MILLION FOR AN AUDIT.

HE DIDN'T MENTION THAT TONIGHT BUT I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU COME WITH THE PROPOSALS OF HOW TOADLESS ADDRESS THOSE THINGS AND WHETHER THERE CAN BE AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND I WANT TO SAY, RENEE, WHERE WE CAN AGREE, WE WILL AND WE'LL WALK SHOULDER IN SHOULDER AND WE'LL TRY AND COMPROMISE AND TRY OUR BEST TO BE FOR PROPOSALS WE CAN BE FOR BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE THAT WILL STAND UP AND BE THAT LOYAL OPPOSITION, THAT WILL BE THAT VOICE FOR THOSE WE FEEL ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND, AND WE'LL BE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THE VOICE THAT HOLDS THE MAJORITY ACCOUNTABILITY.

I WOULD LIKE TOW SAY THIS.

I DO DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT HE MENTIONED TONIGHT, AND I DO THAT RESPECTFULLY, BUT I DO DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THAT KENTUCKY'S NOT A COMPETITIVE STATE.

I THINK WE ARE COMPETING WITH OUR SURROUNDING STATES.

OUR MAJOR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN KENTUCKY IS INVESTING $1.2 BILLION ATE TOYOTA, $2.4 BILLION AFFORD, OVER THAN THE HAVE IF HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AT SORE ARE CORE VERMONT, THE REFEWER THAN RI IN KENTUCKY, UPS ARE INVESTING MAJOR DOLLARS TO GROW THOSE INDUSTRIES AND ALSO PROVIDE JOBS.

WE DO HAVE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE BEING CHALLENGED, AND LET ME TELL YOU I KNOW EASTERN KENTUCKY AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE CHAMBER.

I I'VE LIVED THERE ALL OF MY LIFE.

THE DOWNTURN IN THE COAL ECONOMY, I'M A VICTIM.

SO NOBODY NEEDS TO TELL ME THE CHALLENGES OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

I UNDERSTAND THEM VERY WELL.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR COAL AND ENERGY.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR 21st CENTURY JOBS IN MY REGION OF KENTUCKY.

AND ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS OUR NUMBER ONE EXPORT INDUSTRY, AND PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THIS, IT'S NOT COAL, IT'S NOT CARS, IT'S NOT BOURBON.

IT HAPPENS TO BE THE AERONAUTICS AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, AN $8.7 BILLION INDUSTRY AND WE'RE TRAINING THAT WORKFORCE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AT MORE HEAD STATE UNIVERSITY SPACE SCIENCE CENTER AND AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY'S EKU ASSESS AVIATION SCHOOL.

BOEING AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO NEED OVER HALF A BILLION EMPLOYEES OVER THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.

YOU REMEMBER WHEN GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY WAS A QUIET LITTLE TOWN?

TOYOTA WASN'T THERE AND NOW IT IS.

WELL, I SEE SOMEONE LIKE A BOEING SAYING WE GOT TO GO FIND OUR WORKFORCE.

WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT A $28 MILLION FACILITY BEING BUILT AS WE SPEAK, THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AT ROUND TECH.

THAT'S THE KIND OF VISION, THAT'S THE KIND OF 21st CENTURY JOBS.

LET ME MENTION ONE OTHER AREA THAT I DISAGREE.

I THINK THAT WE GOT TO REALLY HAVE A GOOD STRONG DEBATE ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AS A FORMER SCHOOLTEACHER, MY DAD WHO TAUGHT FOR 50 YEARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, I'M EYE STRONG SUPPORTIVE AND OUR HOUSE CAUCUS, OUR HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS BEEN A LOUD VOICE, A STRONG VOICE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE.

WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION TODAY AND YOU CYPHER SIPHON OFF MONEY FOR CHART SCHOOLS I WORRY ABOUT THAT AND I WORRY ABOUT THE EVIDENCE FROM OTHER STATES ON HOW THAT'S WORKING.

YOU DON'T TEAR DOWN THE WAGES OF WORKING PEOPLE.

YOU PAY WORKING PEOPLE THE WAGES THEY DESERVE.

YOU DON'T PASS POLICIES LIKE REPEAL OF PREVAILING WAGE.

WE LIFT UP THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT AS PEOPLE MAKE BETTER WAGES THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT THOSE MONEYS BACK INTO THIS ECONOMY AND THEY'RE ABLE TO BUILD YOU, IS TO ECONOMY AND WE INVEST IN EDUCATION AND WE DO THE THING THAT WE NEED TO DO INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO REALLY MAKE KENTUCKY THE STRONG COMMUNITIES WE WANT IT TO BE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> ONE FINAL COMMENT FROM YOU, YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY AND I THINK HE WAS REFERENCEnd GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THERE ARE SOME CIRCUIT COWS THAT COULD BE TURNED INTO AM HAMBURGER.

HOW DID YOU INTERPRET THAT?

AND DOES THAT STRIKE ANY CONCERN OR FEAR IN YOU ABOUT WHAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS COULD BE SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO HELP SHORE UP THE PENSION ISSUE OR FOR OTHER ENDEAVORS?

>> WELL, RENAULT, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE THAT STATEMENT TONIGHT.

HE NEEDS TO BRING HIS PROPOSAL FORWARD.

THEY HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN THESE CHAMBERS NOW, AND HE NEEDS TO BRING THOSE SACRED COWS OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT IS GENERAL LIKE BUT I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY NEED TO BE LINK CAREFULLY, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY NEED TO BE -- LISTENING CAREFULLY AND ENGAGED IN THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES AS WE MOVED FORWARD.

THE.

PEOPLEY OF KENTUCKY NEED TO VOICE THEIR I LOUDLY'S WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE THESE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT POLICY DECISIONS.

SO AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR ON TAX REFORM, LET'S SEE WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS.

AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR ON SACRED COWS, LET'S SEE WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE.

AND THEN WHEN WE SEE THOSE THINGS I'LL BE FLAD TO COMMENT ON WHERE I THINK OUR HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WILL HEAD.

>> THE RELEVANCY OF THE KENTUCKY EPIDEMIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE?

AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COMMUNICATE TO BUILD A STRONGER CARES FOR DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE VERY THINGS THAT BUILT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY, AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WAS BUILT ON A STRONG -- ON THE BACKS OF STRONG MIDDLE CLASS.

IT WAS BUILT RIGHT ON THE BACKS OF HARD-WORKING EVERYDAY ORDINARY PEOPLE.

IT WAS BUILT ON THE BACKS OF THE STRONG SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT WAS BUILT ON THE BACKS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES.

IT WAS BUILT ON THE BACKS OF REACHING OUT A HAND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NEED A HAND UP, NOT A AND HAND OUT BUT A HAND UP.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TIE MESSAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO START THAT TOMORROW WITH A ROLLOUT ON YOU AGENDA AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT JOBS, TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, FAULK A HEALTHIER KENTUCKY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DRUG EPIDEMIC AND HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT MOVING FORWARD SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR WHAT I BELIEVABILITY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN MY OPINIONS WA BUILT ON LIFT CAN UP THE MIDDLE CLASS, IT WAS BUILT ON SUPPORT HAVE A STRONG EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND IT WAS BUILT ON THE INVESTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> WE'LL BE AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW MORNING.

I THINK IT'S AT 10:00 A.M.

THANK YOU, LEADER ADKINS, SOCH VERY FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

THANK MY COLLEAGUE CASEY PARKER BELL AND AL CROSS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATING TONIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO SEND YOU BACK TO REGULARY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING ALREADY IN PROGRESS BUT DO MAKE SURE YOU INJO US TONIGHT AT 11:00 P.M.

FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" FOR A RECAP OF TODAY'S EVENTS.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE'LL SEE IN YOU A LITTLE BIT.