KENTUCKY CHAMBER HAS OPENED KENTUCKY'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY BRINGING TOGETHER THE STATE'S LARGEST GATHERING OF BUSINESS LEADERS, LEGISLATORS, AND LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR AN EVENING OF NETWORKING AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION.

WE KNOW THAT CHAMBER DAY SPEAKERS HAVE ALWAYS PROMPTED A LOT OF DISCUSSION, AND THIS YEAR CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE AN EXCEPTION.

NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR HOUSE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER REPRESENTATIVE ROCKY ADKINS TO COME TO THE STAGE.

REPRESENTATIVE ADKINS HAS SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 1987 AND REPRESENTS ELLIOTT, LEWIS AND ROWAN COUNTIES.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE ROCKY ADKINS.

[APPLAUSE] BE >> WELL, LET ME FIRST OF ALL SAY THAT I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT 10 DAVID, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE.

I'M HONORED TO BE WITH YOU.

FOR ALL OF THOSE CHAMBER OF COMMERCES FROM PIKEVILLE TO PADUCAH, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DOVER DAY ON THE GROUND AND IN THE EVERY DAY ON THE GROUND AND IN THE TRENCHES TO MAKE YOUR TOWNS A BETTER PLACE.

GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

[APPLAUSE] WE ALL KNOW THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT DEAL BUT IT'S A 30-YEAR INVESTMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT THAT I BELIEVE IS PUT US IN THE POSITION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR TODAY.

I WOULD FIRST OF ALL LIKE TO MENTION THE INVESTMENTS THAT'S BEEN MADE IN PUBLIC INVESTIGATION AT EVERY LEVEL.

ELEMENTARY, SECKERY EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, BUCKS FOR BRAINS, AND YES, GOVERNOR PATTON, THE CREATION OF A KENTUCKY COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE WHICH HAS PUT US IN A PLACE TO HAVE A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY OVERNIGHT TO MEET THE STRAYS NEEDS.

INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'VE BEEN HONORED WHEN I WROTE THE BUDGET FOR SIX YEARS FOR TRANSPORTATION IN SIX YEARS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CABINET, THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO ROADS AND BRIDGES AND WATER AND SEWER, REGIONAL AIRPORTS, RAIL, THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS THAT WE HAVE CREATED AS WELL AND WEEKS, YES, THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING A BROADBAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY REGARDLESS IF YOU LIVE IN THE HEAD OF A HOLLER OR WHETHER YOU INITIATIVE INNER CITY WHERE OUR CHILDREN OUR WORKFORCE, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO COMPETE IN THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY.

THE CREATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'VE REFRESHED, WE HAVE RETOOLED, AND WE'VE UPDATED OVER TIME.

AND, YES, THE KENTUCKY ENERGY INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACT THAT WE PASSED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

LET US PUT KENTUCKY IN A POSITION TO LEAD AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENERGY FIELD NEVER WAY, FROM COAL TO AGRICULTURE AND THE RENEWALLABLE ENERGIES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, THE CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH AT UK, AND A PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AT THE SPEED ENGINEERING SCHOOL CAUD THE COME CENTER, THE CENTER FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

CARBON CAPTURE, SEQUESTRATION.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS GOING ON HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND WE WORKED AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND WE DO ALL OF THIS TO ALLOW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE LOW COST ENERGY THAT HAS ALLOWED KENTUCKY TO HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR THAT HAS CREATED THE KIND OF JOBS THAT YOU ARE PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE.

WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON INNOVATION AND CREATION.

WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE A PLACE CALLED THE GATTON ACADEMY AND YES, JOE CRAFT, A PLACE LIKE THE CRAFT ACADEMY MORE HEAD STATE UNIVERSITY.

BUT I WOULD TILL HERE TIGHTEN CHALLENGE TONIGHT IS THAT WE STILL HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO.

WE HAVE PARTS OF OUR STATE THAT ARE DOING VERY WELL, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE CONTINUES TO DO WELL.

BUT WE'VE GOT PARTS OF OUR STATE THAT ARE STRUGGLING, PARTS OF OUR STATE THAT NEED LEADERSHIP AND VISION, PARTS OF OUR STATE THAT CAN DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY TO CREATE JOBS AND BRING AN INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING DIVERSIFICATION ALL THE WAY FROM THE RIVER COUNTIES OF WESTERN KENTUCKY, MAYOR FISCHER, WHAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT ON MONDAY, THE INNER CITIES THAT STILL NEED HELP IN CERTAIN AREAS TO THE COAL FIELDS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

FOLKS, I STAND HERE TONIGHT AS A CASUALTY OF A DOWN TURN IN THE COAL INDUSTRY.

I STAND HERE AS ONE OF THOSE 12,000 PEOPLE IN THE COAL INDUSTRY THAT LOST THEIR JOB WITH 1200 PEOPLE ONE DAY AND WALKED OUT THE DOOR, AND 12,000 MORE THAT'S INDIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT INDUSTRY IN SOME SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION.

I'M HERE TO TILL WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAND UP THE HAVE THE VISION THAT WE NEED FOR THE FUTURE TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE AND LIFT UP ALL PARTS OF THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY TO BRING HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY AS I HAVE SAID FROM PIKEVILLE TO PADUCAH.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT, BUT IT'S EXCITING TO TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION, DIVERSIFICATION.

AUTOMATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES ACROSS THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH.

BUT AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT, THE NUMBER ONE EXPORT INDUSTRY IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY HAPPENS TO BE THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

LAVIN $.7 BILLION INDUSTRY, AND IT AND IT'S ME THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND AN INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS 300,000 TO 500,000 JOBS OVER THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS AND WHY DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?

BECAUSE WE ARE EDUCATING THAT WORKFORCE HERE IN KENTUCKY NOW AT PLACES LOOK THE SPACE SCIENCE CENTER, THE AVIATION CONSOLIDATE EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, SPACE TANGO, AND THE LIGHTER MATERIALS BEING WORK ON AT THE SPEED ENGINEERING ZEAL UNIVERSITY HAVE LOUISVILLE.

IT AND IT'S WE THAT WE HAVE THAT CHANCE TO BUILD A 21st CENTURY ECONOMY WITH A 21st CARRY WORKFORCE AND BRING THAT HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY AND DO AWAY WITH THE PEAKS AND THE VALLEYS THAT WE SEE IN SOME REGIONS WHERE PEOPLE DESERVE THAT SAME HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH.

I BELIEVE WE'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE I THINK KENTUCKY HAS A GOOD STORY TO TELL.

AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT A GOOD STORY TO TELL, YOU BETTER TELL IT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TILT,, I MEAN, GOING TO TILT FOR YOU.

TELL IT.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO TELL IT FOR YOU.

I AM HERE TO TELL YOU WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES AHEAD, AND WE DO NEED THE HARD WORK AND THE BIPARTISANSHIP OF WORKING TOGETHER, AND WE NEED THE VISION OF LEADERSHIP AS WE MOVE IN TO THE NEXT YEARS AHEAD.

FOR THE SESSION THAT IS COMING UP, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE'S MANY CHALLENGES, BUT IN THE YEAR 2000 WHEN ANNUAL SESSIONS WENT PAST, WE HAD A 30-DAY SESSION WHICH WE'RE IN NOW AND A 60-DAY SESSION WHICH IS THE BUDGET.

WE SAID WHEN WE PASSED ANNUAL SESSIONS THAT IT WAS THE TIME TO DO MODIFICATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

IT WAS A TIME TOO LOOK AT CERTAIN THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE ANDREASED AND ADDRESS THOSE AND MOVE ON.

BUT YOU WOULD KNOW THAT SINCE WE HAVE PASSED ANNUAL SESSIONS WANTS WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THE 30-DAY SESSION, IT'S A 100-YARD DASH.

IT WILL BE THERE WILL BE OVER 500 BILLS INTRODUCED IN THIS SESSION, AND AS OLD POINT GUARD, MY COACH WAYNE MARTIN HERE TONIGHT, HE WOULD TELL US TO SLOW THE TEMPO DOWN AND TAKE CARE OF THE BALL.

MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE METH OL CAL IN OUR MOTIONS IN WHAT WE DO, AND THAT, YES, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES THAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER.

THE CALL I RECEIVED, SPEAKER, THAT WE WOULD SET AT THE TABLE AND HAVE A WORKING GROUP ON PENSIONS, THAT WE WOULD HAVE A WORKING GROUP TO TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE, THE STAKEHOLDERS.

I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT WE HAVE A A CHANCE TO WORK ON, ISSUES THAT WILL BE COMING UP LIKE THE MODIFICATION OF THE TAX REFORM BILL THAT PASSED, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP OUR NON-PROFITS WHICH ARE BEING TAXED TODAY.

THE SCHOOL SAFETY BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED, AND I SIGNED THAT BILL TODAY AS THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ALONG WITH MY FRIEND BAM CARNEY WHO IS THE MAJORITY LEADER TO WORK ON THATTAL SCHOOL SAFETY BILL.

AND, FOLKS, I STAND HERE TONIGHT AS A 23-YEAR CANCER SURVIVOR.

I HAD THAT CHEMO.

I TASTED IT.

I FELT IT.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT IS TIME FOR US TO DEBATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAUSE THE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE IS THERE, THAT IT HELPS PATIENTS NOT ONLY LIKE ME BUT IT HELPS OTHER PATIENTS THAT HAVE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT ARE LEAVING KENTUCKY AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME TO FRANKFORT.

WE NEED YOUR ADVICE.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT.

WE NEED YOUR DIRECTION.

WE NEED YOUR EXPERTISE.

I APPRECIATE THIS BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

TODAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE OVER ISSUE, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS, AND THAT IS BUILDING THAT ECONOMY TO CREATE THOSE KIND OF JOBS THAT OUR PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: THANK YOU, LEADER ADKINS.

NEXT I'D LIKE TO INVITE SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER MORGAN McGARVEY TO THE STAGE, THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK IN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.

SENATOR McGARVEY HAS SERVED IN LEGISLATURE SINCE 2012 AND REPRESENTS JEFFERSON COUNTY.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, ROCKY.

I FEEL LIKE THE SECOND PREACH AT THE TENT REVIVAL.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TO THE CHAMBER.

I AM HAPPY TO BE MERE AND ILL I AM THRILLED TO BE IN THIS NEW ROLE.

I'MAL ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE NEW FACES THAT WE SEE IN FRANKFORT.

SOME WILL TELL YOU THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN.

WE'RE GOING INTO SESSION ON SATURDAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO REPEAL RIGHT TO WORK.

WE'RE REINSTALLING PREVAILING WAGE.

[ NOT AUDIBLE ] >> A FACT CHECK HERE FOR YOUR SPEECH.

THANKS.

ENJOY IT.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> REALLY?

SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

[LAUGHTER] MAYBE WE'LL REMEMBER NEXT NOVEMBER.

[LAUGHTER] ACTUALLY, THE SCORE IS CLOSER THAN IT SEEMS.

OKAY?

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOOTBALL TEAM MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY BLUE WAVE THAT SMASHED THROUGH THE STATE LAST YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY ADD UP ALL THE VOTES CAST FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS, IT WAS REALLY MORE OF AN EVEN 45-55 SPLIT.

[LAUGHTER] IF THE GLASS ISN'T HALF FULL, I'M AT LEAST PUTTING ICE IN IT.

BUT 45% OF KENTUCKY ABS VOTED FOR DEMOCRATIC POLICIES.

THIS IS NOT A SUPER MAJORITY MANDATE.

AND AS WE SAW LAST SESSION, SUPER MAJORITIES DON'T GUARANTEE GOOD GARVIN ANSWER ANYWAY.

A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, NOTICE AND INPUT PRODUCED TWO SESSIONS IN 2018 THAT CAUSED MOST LEGISLATORS GO TO GO HOME UNHAPPY.

BUT WE REALLY DO HAVE A CHANCE FOR A FRESH START, AND ALREADY I'M SEEING INITIATIVES WHERE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN WORK TOGETHER.

YESTERDAY REPUBLICAN SENATOR MAX WISE INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 1 WITH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, THE SCHOOL SAFETY BILL.

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WE'D GO INTO THE HALL AND WE'D PRACTICE THOSE TORNADO DRILLS.

MY FIRST GRADE TWINS PRACTICE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS.

THIS IS A FRIGHTENING REALITY FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALIKE.

AND WHILE THIS BILL DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING I WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS IT, BY ASSEMBLING A TRULY BIPARTISAN COALITION TO LISTEN AND GET INPUT FROM EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, THE BILL DOESN'T JUST FORTIFY OUR SCHOOLS BUT INSTEAD IT RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR SOFT PROTECTIONS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, RESILIENCY, STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS, THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT STUDENTS IN TODAY'S WORLD.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, AT A VOIDS TRYING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS BY ARMING TEACHERS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, AND ALREADY THERE'S PROPOSALS FOR NEW REVENUE.

YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY KENTUCKY ANSWERED DRIVE CARLOADS OF CASH ACROSS THE RIVER INTO INDIANA AND OHIO TO GAMBLE AT THEIR CASINOS.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT.

I GUESS IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, THERE'S TWO WAYS TO STOP IT.

WE COULD BUILD A WALL, A BIG BEAUTIFUL WALL.

[LAUGHTER] MAYBE EVEN GOVERNOR BEVIN COULD GET IF BUCKEYES AND THE HOOSIERS TO PAY FOR IT.

[LAUGHTER] OR WE COULD JUST FINALLY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET KENTUCKIANS DECIDE IF WE WANT TO KEEP THAT MONEY HERE.

WE SHOULDN'T BURY -- [APPLAUSE] THANK YOUY.

WE SHOULDN'T BURY OUR HEADS IN THE SAND.

WE SHOULD JOIN THE 32 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IT'S HUMANE AND IT GENERATES REVENUE.

WE CAN ALSO REALIZE SAVINGS FROM UPDATING OUR ANTS QUATED BAIL REFORM SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR 37,000 KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE OF NO RISK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WERE LOCKED UP SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CASH.

A SYSTEM THAT PUTS YOU IN JAIL BECAUSE OF YOUR EMPTY WALLET ISN'T JUST, AND OUR UNJUST SYSTEM COSTS THE KENTUCKY TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY $120 MILLION.

WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS JUST ONE OF MANY WAYS IN WHICH KENTUCKY POLITICS OR KENTUCKY POLICIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT PEOPLE OF COLOR.

REQUIRING A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT STATEMENT FOR BILLS WE PASS CAN MAKE THIS BETTER.

NOW, I KNOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO JUST BE A PREVIEW OF THE 2019 29 SESSION OR AS SOME CALL IT, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

[LAUGHTER] BUT WE NEED TO THINK BIGGER THAN THAT.

FOR TOO LONG OUR BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE FOCUSED SOLELY ON TODAY'S PROFITS AND OUR POLITICIANS HAVE WORRIED ONLY ABOUT TOMORROW'S ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE TO FACE FORWARD.

STRATEGIC THINKING IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

I KNOW IT WILL SOUNDS CORNY, BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE.

I'M A SIXTH GENERATION KENTUCKIAN ON BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY.

IN FACT, WHEN MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT, SHE GOT OFFERED A JOB IN DALLAS, AND I AGREED TO IT AS LONG AS SHE COULD FIND A WAY TO HAVE THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF HER PREGNANCY WORKING IN LOUISVILLE SO OUR KIDS COULD BE BORN HERE.

THEY WERE.

YOU KNOW, I RECENTLY SPOKE TO A LEADERSHIP KENTUCKY CLASS THOUGH.

WE HAVE A FIVE-MONTH-OLD AT HOME.

I WANT HER TO DO WELL AND HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES SO I'M LOOKING 22 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, AND I ASKED THE PEOPLE IN THAT CLASS, DO YOU THINK THE JOBS WILL BE HERE THAT WILL ALLOW HER TO STAY?

NOBODY RAISED THEIR HAND.

WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER.

IN A RECENT ET MATERIAL DAVE ADKINSON SAID TO HAVE INTO OUR STATE FORWARD, WE CAN'T SHORTCHANGE EDUCATION.

IT'S A MYTH THAT WE HAVE HELD K-12 EDUCATION HARMLESS OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND IN NOMINAL DOLLARS NOT ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.

WE'RE SPENDING AS MUCH ON HIGHER EDUCATION NOW AS WE DID IN 1994.

HOW IS IT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE NO TROUBLE COMING UP WITH AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR TAX BREAKS FOR CORPORATIONS BUT FOR YEARS WE HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT REEL NEED TO ATTRACT EMPLOYERS.

A PACKAGE OF EDUCATION FUNDING THAT WILL RESTORE THE AMBITION, ENERGY AND PROGRESS CREATED BY PROGRAMS LIKE BUCKS FOR BRAINS, AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT SUPPORTS OUR TEACHERS INSTEAD OF INSULTING THEM, AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO MANDATE UNIVERSAL PRE-K PUBLIC EDUCATION, EVEN AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT RECOGNIZES THE FAULT IN THE NOTION OF COLLEGE FOR ALL.

LET'S BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY AND VOCATIONAL TECH SYSTEM FOR THE EMERGING ECONOMY.

I SAY THIS AS A DEMOCRAT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM ALONE WON'T SOLVE OUR EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES AND UNHELPFUL REGIONISM THAT HAVE HELD US BACK.

FOR EXAMPLE, OUR STATE'S UNIVERSITIES NEED TO BE GOVERN UNDER ONE UNIFIED SYSTEM WITH ONE CHANCELLOR.

I MEAN, RICK PITINO'S IN GREECE.

CAN'T UK AND U OF L FINALLY COME TOGETHER?

AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR A ATTRACTING AND RETAINING GOOD JOBS BUT WE ALSO NEED HEALTHY WORKERS.

THE KENTUCKY'S ADOPTION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BROUGHT AUTHORIZING NEARLY 500,000 PEOPLE, AND IT'S PUMPING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR STATE.

LET'S NOT SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOTOVER PARTISAN POLITICS, AND IN DOING SO DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE OR ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED.

YES, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE KENTUCKIANS WILL SUPPORT INVESTMENTS WITH FUNDS FROM A MODERNIZED TAX SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR BETTER EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FULFILLING OUR PROMISE ON THE PENSIONS.

AND HERE'S THE REAL DEAL.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC REVENUE WITH WHICH TO INVEST.

BUSINESSES INVEST OR DIE.

GOVERNMENTS INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE OR RISK FAILING THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

THERE'S ALSO THINGS WE CAN DO THAT DON'T COST TAXPAYER MONEY.

LET'S LEAD THE WAY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY.

WE CAN BE PRO-BUSINESS AND PRO-WORKER.

I'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TELL ME WE HAD TO PASS RIGHT TO WORK TO SEND A SIGNAL FOR COMPANIES THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

OKAY.

LET'S SEND A SIGNAL TO THOSE SAME BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR WORKERS.

LET'S PASS A STATEWIDE FAIRNESS BILL SO OUR WORKERS KNOW THEY CAN'T BE FIRED FOR THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

IT'S 2019.

NOT ONLY SHOULD WE NOT DISCRIMINATE, IT'S TIME FOR EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, LET'S PASS REPUBLICAN STATE SENATORAS FORGY KERR'S WORKER PROTECTION ACT.

WE CAN ALSO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR SURROUNDING STATES AND RAISE OUR MINIMUM WAGE.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW YOU CAN WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK, 52 WEEKS A YEAR, AND ONLY MAKE $15,000.

I THINK IT'S TIME-TO-THAT KENTUCKY WOKE UP AND LOOKED AROUND.

WE'VE BEEN SLEEPING.

INTOXICATED WITH THE STATUS QUO, WHILE OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN AWAKE TO THE POSSIBILITIES CREATED BY INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THERE IS STILL TIME TO GET.

AND TO GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE READY TO HELP.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: THANK YOU, LEADER MCGARVEY, AND THANK YOU, LEADER DAMON THAYER FOR THAT CAMEO, AN EXERCISE IN BIPARTISANSHIP FOR SURE.

NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE HOUSE SPEAKER, DAVID OSBORNE, TO COME TO THE PODIUM.

SPEAKER OSBORNE HAS SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 2005 WHERE HE REPRESENTS OLD HAM COUNTY, HAS A STINT AS ACTING SPEAKER, AND THEY LIKED HIM SO MUCH THEY MADE IT OFFICIAL ON TUESDAY, SO PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU STORE.

HAVING ME TONIGHT.

-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

I'VE GOT THE TELL YOU YOU GOT US OFF ON A BAD START.

IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE MORNING WHEN WE RELEASED THE TAG LINE, #MOREBOLDER.

THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS EASIER TO SOUND FUNNY WHEN I WAS FOLLOWING RAY JONES.

[LAUGHTER] THE DAY BEFORE I GET STARTED, IS IT POSSIBLE IF WE COULD QUE UP A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THIS CLOCK HERE?

I'M JUST AFRAID THAT THE COURTS GOINGTO INVALIDATE MY SPEECH IF I DON'T READ IT THREE TIMES IN THE ENTIRETY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING UP ON THE NEWS REAL CLOSELY THIS WEEK, BUT I'M PRETTY STUART ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS NOT SUED ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL THIS WEEK SO I'M A LITTLE JUMPY.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ADDRESSING YOU AS THE DULY ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT'S OFTEN REFERRED THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT PHRASE A LOT LATELY BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT OUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, BUT IT'S ALSO OUR JOB TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE IN KENTUCKY.

AND WHEN I SPOKE TO THIS ASSEMBLY LAST YEAR, I SAID THAT WE WOULD EMBARK ON A COURSE THAT WOULD TACKLE THE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT WE FACE HERE IN KENTUCKY, AND THAT AFTER WE DID THAT AND THE DUST SETTLED, THAT LEADER ADKINS AND I ON WOULD TAKE THAT MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY AND WE WOULD BE JUDGED BY THE ULTIMATE POLITICAL JURY.

I WAS CONFIDENT IN THE OUTCOME, BUT THAT JURY DID JUDGE US, AND THAT JURY JUDGED AND AFFIRMED THE WORK THAT WE DID OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN KENTUCKY AND THEN RETURNED US TO THE SUPER MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND IN THE SENATE.

[APPLAUSE] WHILE THEY AFFIRMED THE WORK THAT WE DID, THEY DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO AFFIRMING THAT WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR WORK.

WE'RE GOING INTO A SHORT SESSION, BUT IT IS ONE THAT LEAVES US WITH VERY, VERY LONG CHALLENGES THAT WE STILL HAVE TO TACKLE, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE PENSION CRISIS.

AS EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS, RESCUING OUR PUBLIC PENSIONS SYSTEMS REMAINS UNRESOLVED.

LAST YEAR THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOOK SIGNIFICANT ACTION TO RETURN PENSION SYSTEMS TO SOLVENCY, BUT AS THE YEAR DREW TO A CLOSE, KENTUCKY'S SUPREME COURT DESTROYED THAT SOLUTION IN WHAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BELIEVE IS A WRONG-HEADED DECISION.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, DECEMBER'S DECISION AND DECEMBER'S RULING WAS WRONG.

AND IT PUTS KENTUCKY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE IN JEOPARDY.

IT ENDANGERS THE FUTURE OF HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WERE PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

BUT NEVERTHELESS WE ARE HERE.

AND FOR ANYONE THAT THINKS THAT WE WILL FIND A QUICK SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A QUICK SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND.

QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE WILL EXIT THIS SESSION WITHOUT A SOLUTION.

IT'S NOT MY PREFERENCE.

IT'S NOT MY PLAN.

IT'S NOT MY HOPE.

BUT THAT'S THE TRUTH.

THE DIVISIVENESS THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BOTH POLITICALLY AND POLICY-WISE BY THIS PENSION DEBATE HAS BEEN THE MOST INSENDIATORY AND TOXIC OF ANY TIME OR OF ANYTHING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY 11:00 TENURE.

BUT -- LEGISLATIVE TENURE BUT FACTS DON'T CHANGE.

THE FACTS ARE THAT WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THE PENSION SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO REFORM IT.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY RESPECTS OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STATE WORKERS BUT ALSO RESPECTS THE TAXPAYERS OF KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] SHOULD WE FAIL IN THAT MISSION, THE PROMISES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE KEPT.

REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THIS PROBLEM, I CAN ASSURE YOU, BUT WE WILL NOT RUSH TO A VOTE.

WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A SOLUTION, A SOLUTION THAT WE ARE SURE WHEN IT PASSES WILL WITHSTAND THE POLICY, THE POLITICAL AND THE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT IT WILL SURELY FACE, A SOLUTION CANNOT SIMPLY BE SPOKEN OR COMMANDED.

A LOT OF HARD WORK AND EDUCATION, BOTH FROM OUR NEW MEMBERS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS, WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN AND HAVE TO BE DONE BEFORE A NEW VOTE CAN BE TAKEN.

THIS THE TRUTH AND THESE ARE THE FACTS.

KENTUCKY WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY, AND THE HOUSE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT PRESERVES OUR STATE'S FINANCIAL FUTURE, AND FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS OUT THERE, I ASSURE THAT YOU YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD AND CONSIDERED AS WE CONSTRUCT A PLAN THAT WILL SOLVE KET'S FINANCIAL CRISIS.

WE WILL -- KENTUCKY'S FINANCIAL CRISIS.

WE WILL LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

WE WILL LEAD WITHOUT RHETORIC AND PERSONAL ATTACKS THAT WEIGHED SO HEAVILY OVER THE DEBATE THIS PAST YEAR.

LET ME ALSO ADDRESS A FEW OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE TOPS OUR PRIORITY LIST, SCHOOL SAFETY.

AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, CHAIRMAN CARNEY -- OR CHAIRMAN WISE AND LEADER CARNEY UNVEILED BIPARTISAN BICAMERAL LEGISLATION YESTERDAY THAT NOT ONLY PROTECTS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OUR CITIZENS BUT PROVIDE THAT WE WILL HAVE THE SAFEST SCHOOLS THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE, AND YOU CAN DO BOTH.

[APPLAUSE] I AM HOPE THANKFUL THAT BILL WILL FIND BIPARTISAN AND WIDESPREAD POLITICAL SUPPORT, AND IT IS TRULY BIPARTISAN.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF THAT COMMITTEE.

CHAIRMAN CARNEY, REPRESENTATIVES REED AND BLANTON FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY, REPRESENTATIVESSERS AND REPRESENTATIVE BROWN, THEY DID OUTSTANDING WORK AND THEY'RE TO BE A FRAUD PLAUDED FOR IT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE OR TAX CODE.

LAST YEAR'S TAX REFORM LEGISLATION, AS HAS BEEN SAID, NOT ONLY LIFTED OUR BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS BUT IT INCREASED OUR INDIVIDUAL TAX FAIRNESS FROM 29th TO 17th, AND DESPITE THE RHETORIC PUT OVER $900 MILLION BACK IN THE POCKETS OF WORKING KENTUCKIANS.

WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK WE DID LAST YEAR ON THAT BILL.

IN THE FIXING OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THIS YEAR WILL MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BEGIN THE WORK OF REFORMING A AGGRESSIVE WELFARE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO STOP THROWING UP ROADBLOCKS TO JOINING THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF FEDERAL LAWS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ENTER THE WORKPLACE.

NEVER AGAIN SHOULD WE HEAR THE TERMS "I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THAT JOB."

AND FINALLY, AN ISSUE THAT I TAKE VERY PERSONALLY IS THE MATTER OF KINSHIP CARE.

THERE'S ONE THING THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE KNOWN FOR, IT IS TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.

THE SCOURGE OF DRUGS AND BROKEN FAMILIES HAS RAVAGED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COMMONWEALTH.

I'VE BEEN STRUCK AS I'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE BY STORIES OF GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, NIECES, NEPHEWS THAT HAVE TAKEN CARE OF SIBLINGS.

ONE COUNT JUST RECENTLY PUT THAT 96,000 KENTUCKY KIDS ARE LIVING IN NON-PARENTAL -- LIVING WITH NON-PARENTAL RELATIVES OR CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS.

THAT'S UP FROM 2013, 56,000.

IT'S AN EPIDEMIC.

IT'S AN EPIDEMIC THAT THE COMMONWEALTH MUST ACT TO ADDRESS.

I'M A REPUBLICAN.

I BELIEVE IN LIFE.

I BELIEVE IN FAMILIES, AND I BELIEVE IN KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER.

AND WE HAVE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE TIRES OF KIDS.

THEY ARE OUR FUTURE, AND IF WE FAIL THEM NOW, THEN WE WILL LOSE THEM FOREVER.

[APPLAUSE] LET ME WRAP UP TONIGHT BY ADDRESSING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS ONE THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW.

THE TENSIONS ARE GOING TO RUN HIGH.

DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A PRIMARY.

REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE A PRIMARY.

ANDY WILL SUE SOMEBODY.

ROCKY WILL GET HIS BULLHORN OUT.

[LAUGHTER] AND WE'LL HAVE A BIG DEBATE ABOUT THE ISSUES THIS FALL.

AND WE WILL MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

I WOULD JUST ASK EVERYONE INVOLVED, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR POLICY YARDS ROOTED IN THE GOOD GOODNESS OF THIS STATE, THAT YOUR PLAID FORMS RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING GREATNESS AND POTENTIAL OF OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT YOU BRING FORWARD VISIONS THAT TAKE US INTO THE FUTURE AND NOT RETURN US TO THE PAST.

I'M OFTEN ACCUSED OF BEING POLYANIC BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOBLE, THAT WE ARE COMPELLED AS LEADERS TO SET THAT TONE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR IDEALS NOT ABOUT FIGHTING BUT ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

WHILE WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT HOW WE GET TO THE ULTIMATE OUTCOMES, THOSE OUTCOMES ARE NOT DIFFERENT.

THEY ARE THE SAME.

WE ALL WANT MORE JOBS.

WE WANT BETTER SCHOOLS.

WE WANT BETTER THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I'M A REPUBLICAN, AND I WILL SUPPORT REPUBLICANS, BUT I'M A KENTUCKIAN FIRST, AND THE MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE IN POLITICS THIS YEAR IS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER.

NEXT UP, THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY SENATE, ARE ROBERT STIVERS.

YOU WILL PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE.

PRESIDENT STIVERS THAT IS SERVED OR SENATE SINCE 1997 AND REPRESENTS CLAY, KNOX, LEE, ALLSLY, WHITLEY COUNTIES.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, RENEE AND BE DAVE ADKINS.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GOT GONGED THIS GREETER FIRST TIME THAT I SPOKE HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO, I GOT GONGED.

BUT TRULY TO ALL OUR DIGNITARIES, THANK YOU ALL.

TO OUR SPONSORS, THANK YOU AS WELL.

TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE COME HERE TONIGHT, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO COME SPEAK WITH 1500 OF YOUR NEW-FOUND BEST FRIENDS.

I. FIRST WANT TO START BY RECOGNIZING A GROUP.

THAT IS A GROUP OF POLITICAL FIGURE SPOUSES.

SO THERE IS NO GROUP, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT PUTS UP WITH MORE BASED ON WHAT WE DO THAN OUR SPOUSES, AND TO THAT I WANT TO SAY TO MY WIFE REGINA, THE GOVERNOR'S WIFE, SPEAKER OSBORNE, REPRESENTATIVE ADKINS, SENATOR McGARVEY, WE OWE THIS GROUP A GREAT DEFENDANT GRATITUDE AND HANKS, AND IF WE COULD THANK THOSE SPOUSES OF ALL POLITICAL PERSONNEL.

[APPLAUSE] NOW, I'M WATCHING THIS CLOCK SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE BRIEF.

I DO APPRECIATE HAVING THE STAGE WITH MY GOOD FRIEND ROCKY ADKINS.

I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A NEWS FLASH.

STATE SENATOR, REPUBLIC STATE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS IS GUARANTEEING THAT ROCKY ADKINS WILL BE BACK ON THIS STAGE NEXT YEAR AS THE LONGEST-SERVING MINORITY LEADER IN KENTUCKY STATE HISTORY.

[LAUGHTER] GREG STUMBO'S MEMORY IS NOT GONE.

AS TO MY GOOD FRIEND MORGAN McGARVEY, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU IN THE FRAY.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THERE'S NOT A LOT OF JOB SECURITY IN THE POSITION YOU CURRENTLY HOLD.

[LAUGHTER] YOU MIGHT WANT JOHN YARMOUTH TO RETIRE BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE REACHED YOUR POLITICAL PINNACLE IN THIS FORUM RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE THINKING I'M KIND OF HARSH TONIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT TRULY, I WANT TO STOP AND SAY A FEW THINGS IN MY BIO IT TALKS ABOUT SOME RECOGNITIONS I HAVE HAD, BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS, FOR WHATEVER SUCCESSES WE HAVE HAD IN THE SENATE SINCE 2013 WHEN I CAME BECAME THE SENATE PRESIDENT, IT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SURROUND ME.

I DID NOT KNOW DAMON THAYER WAS GOING TO DO THAT BEFORE I WAS GETTING READY TO SAY THIS, BUT TRULY DAMON THAYER, JIM HIGDON, DAVID GIVENS, DAN SEUM, MICHAEL WILTSON, ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED WITH ME IN LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN WHAT HAVE BEEN THE TRUE IMPETUS BEHIND ANY SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE HAD.

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO FORGET ONE OTHER PERSON BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SAY, YOU FORGOT JULIE RAQUE ADAMS.

HOW COULD YOU FORGET JULIE RAQUE ADAMS?

BUT SHE IS A WOMAN WHO IS RETURNING TO A LEADERSHIP ROLE WHERE THE SENATE REPUBLICANS SINCE VIRTUALLY ALL MY CAREER HAVE HAD A WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP, AND IT BODES WELL FOR THIS STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT WOMEN IN BOTH PARTIES WHO TAKE LEADERSHIP ROLES.

WE HAVE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEAN ANNE HAMPTON, TREASURE RER ALLISON BALL.

I HEAR ONE CLAP OUT THERE.

ALLISON, YOU'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER WHO THAT ONE WAS.

[LAUGHTER] AND ALSO, AS PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED, WE HAVE AY LADY FROM LEXINGTON WHO IS ON LOAN TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS THE AMBASSADOR TO CANADA, AND IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE WE CAN SAY THAT OUR AMBASSADOR, KELLY CRAFT, IS A KENTUCKIAN.

AND MAYBE ONE OF THESE DAYS -- [APPLAUSE] -- SOONER THAN LATER SHE MAY SEEK POLITICAL OFFICE BECAUSE I THINK SHE WOULD BE QUALIFIED, WITH HER PERFORM AS AMBASSADOR, TO DO SO AND WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE.

NOW,, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO COME HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN IN THE SESSION, BUT I WANT TO DIGRESS JUST A LITTLE BIT, AND TELL YOU FOR YEARS IT HAS BEEN MY CAUCUS AND MY GROUP'S BELIEF THAT WE NEEDED TORT REFORM, WE NEEDED PENSION REFORM, WE NEEDED RIGHT TO WORK, WE NEEDED TO CREATE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY, AND WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE HAVE DONE COMING OUT OF SENATE, FOR THOSE LOUISVILLEANS, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL A NEW YEAR'S IF, AND I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO MARY PHISH PERP IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR MAYOR FISCHER AND MIKE HOWARD WHO IS NOW DECEASED WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THE IMPETUS OUT OF SENATE AND REWORK THE BUDGET OUT OF THE SYSTEM TO WHERE THIS YEAR YOU WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER.

ANOTHER THING WE'VE DONE HERE A FEW YEARS AGO -- DON'T KNOW WHERE PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO IS, BUT MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL ISSUES IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COMMONWEALTH STADIUM, EITHER, WAS THE FUNDING TO COME TO A CENTER DEDICATED FOR RESEARCH TO DEAL WITH ALL THOSE POOR HEALTH CARE INDICES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS STATE.

$280 MILLION, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO GO OUT AND COMPETE AND GET THE RESEARCHERS AND INVESTIGATORS FROM MB ANDERSON AND MAY OH AND OTHER PLACES TO LOOK TO CURE THOSE DISEASES THAT WE HAVE.

ALSO, I DON'T KNOW AND I SEE MY GOOD FRIEND MAC BROWN.

IF ANYBODY READ THE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES THE OTHER DAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT WE HAD CREATED A MAP IF ICATION OF KENTUCKY FOR THE BOURBON INDUSTRY THAT IS NOW BRINGING 1 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.

THIS WAS CREATED BECAUSE WE IN THE SENATE WERE THE IMPETUS FOR REPEALING THE AD VALOREM TAX ON BOURBON BARRELS WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO EXPAND AND HAVE UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS IN THIS AND STORAGE.

ALONG WITH THAT AND SENATE BILL 11 CREATED A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC SO WE NOW HAVE NINE OPERATIONS IN THE STEPH LOUISVILLE WHICH ARE BRINGING PEOPLE THERE AS THE GATEWAY TO THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AND THE BOURBON TRAIL.

WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF HELP.

DAVID OSBORNE SAID WE HAVE TO SPEAK THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH.

WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF HELP FROM SOME PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CHAMBER, AND WE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THIS CHAMBER WANTED AND THE THINGS WE HAVE ANNOUNCED -- IN THE THINGS WE HAVE ANNOUNCED.

BUT WHAT CHANGED?

THERE BECAME A NEW PLAYER IN THE SAND BOX BECAUSE WHEN LEGISLATION PASSES, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH BOTH CHAMBER, AND THAT CHANGE IN THE SAND BOX HAPPENED TO BE DAVID OSBORNE AND HIS GROUP OF CURRENT AND FORMER LEADERS, AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE SUCCESSES TWO YEARS AGO WITH THE REPEAL OF PREVAILING WAGE, RIGHT TO WORK LEGISLATION, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND EVEN A TAX CODE, AS WAS MENTIONED HERE, THAT THE CATO INSTITUTE SAID WAS MORE SIMPLIFIED AND MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TOOK US, AND WE HAVE VARYING STATISTICS, ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM ONE PUBLICATION TO 18.

SO WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO NOW?

WE HAVE TO DO MORE.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE MORE CHALLENGES.

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED PAY COUPLE OF BILLS RELATED TO THE REFORMS AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION AND PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

WE ARE IN TO SENATE BILL 1, WHICH WILL BE A BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFER.

IT WILL BE A GREAT TIME IN THIS LEGISLATURE AND IN THIS STATE IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO MOVE DOWN THIS PATH IN PERFORMING FORMING OUR WORKERS' COMP AND SMOOTHING OFF THE ROUGH EDGES OF THE TAX REFORM.

AND WE WILL DO THAT AND MUCH, MUCH MORE BECAUSE OF THIS DYNAMIC, THAT IS CURRENTLY HERE AND DID COOPERATION WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT I WANT TOIL SOMETHING AS TO WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS AND WHO WE NEED TO DO IT FOR, AND I KNOW MY TIME IS GETTING BRIEF.

WHY DO WE NEED TO DO THIS AND WHO FOR?

BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO I CALL THE DREAMERS AND DEFENDERS.

THE DREAMERS, JOE CRAFT WHO DECRAFT ACADEMY WHO ARE SHOOTING FOR THE STARS AND THE MOON, WHO ARE DOING DEEP SPACE PROGRAMMING TO CRACK AND MONITOR OUR UNIVERSE -- TRACK AND MONITOR OUR UNIVERSE WITH WHO ARE PUTTING EXPERIMENTS ON SPACEX AND GOING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

FOR THOSE DREAMERS, WE OWE IT TO THEM.

MANY PEOPLE ALSO IN THIS ROOM KNOW OF DEFENDERS THAT I WILL SPEAK OF, AND I HAVE VERY FEW TIMES, BUT WHEN YOU KNOW PERSONALLY THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO COME BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE DEFENDING THIS NATION, THIS PRESIDENT, WHOEVER IT MAY BE, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE CALLED, AND TO HAVE A SON WHO WILL BE SOON CALLED LANCE CORPORAL ROBERT TAYLOR STIVERS TELL YOU, WHEN I GET DONE WITH MY CAREER, DAD, I'M COMING HOME.

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS, AND MAY THE SUNSHINE BRIGHT ON THIS KENTUCKY HOME.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STIVERS.

RIGHT UNDER THE.

[ BUZZER ] THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS THE 62ENDS GOVERNMENT COMMONWEALTH KENTUCKY MATT BEVIN WHO WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 2015.

HE'S A HUSBAND, FATHER OF NINE CHILDREN, A VETERAN AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

GOVERNOR BEVIN HAS FOUND SEVERAL COMPANIES IN KENTUCKY AND INVESTED IN A NUMBER OF OTHERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND AROUND THE U.S.

THESE COMPANIES RANGE FROM MANUFACTURING TO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TO MEDICAL DEVICES.

GOVERNOR BEVIN HAS SERVED ON MANY NON-PROFITS BOARDS INCLUDING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR AMERICAN RED CROSS LOUISVILLE AREA CHAPTER.

HE HAS PERMANENTLY ENDOWED SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, GRANTS AND CENTERS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, MATT BEVIN.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, IT REALLY IS.

THANK YOU.

HOW ASOME IS THIS?

HOW ASOME IS IT TO BE A KENTUCKIAN TONIGHT, PRAHM REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, THIS IS FANTASTIC.

IT REALLY IS.

AND WE ARE BLESSED INDEED.

AS YOU HAVE HEARD BALL THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, ALL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, ALL THE POSITION BUILTS BEFORE POSSIBILD BE REMISS, I'M GOING SAY IT BECAUSE KNOWN E. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS LITTLE APPLAUSE GLUTE BACK IS BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SAY JULIE RAQUE ADAMS.

[APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT YOU'RE AWESOME.

ALL THE WAY BACK THERE.

REALLY AND TRULY HOW BLESSED ARE WE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE LOO YOURSELVES, PEOPLE IN POLITICS, NOT IN POLITICS, PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, IN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, IN THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, PAUL, HERE AT THE CHAMBER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO AT SO MANY LEVELS, JOE, FOR YOUR REASONABLE LEADERSHIP, DAVID, FOR YOU AND YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE SIDE.

WE'RE FORTUNATE, WE'RE BLESSED IN THIS STATE BY MUCH.

I WAS STRUCK BY THOSE WHO THANK SPOKE BEFORE ME.

IT IS ALWAYS FUN TO HEAR THOSE.

YOU COULD NEVER GUESS WHICH ONE OF THOSE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR THAT GOT UP HERE PREVIOUSLY.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

HYPOTHETICALLY IT WAS SOMEONE WHO RONALDO UGS HE HAD BEEN HERE SINCE 1987, AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE IN 181987 YOU CAN OPEN UP TO PAGE 6 IN HERE AND, SURE ENOUGH, THERE HE IS.

OUTSTANDING.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S ALWAYS GOOD AND I WOULD TAKE -- I WOULD TAKE -- LAY PRETTY GOOD ODDS ON ROBERTS SUGGESTION THAT HE'LL BE BACK.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, LET ME IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

I AM.

[APPLAUSE] SO ALL OF THE NONSENSE AND ALL OF THE SILLINESS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT AT THIS POINT THAT IF I SAY I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I WILL DO IT TO THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ENTIRELY IN MY CONTROL, LIKE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN, YOU CAN BET I'M GOING TO DO IT.

I'VE SAID I'M GOING TO DO IT.

I'M GOING TO DO IT.

THE FILING SIDELINE JANUARY 29th.

IT WILL BE DONE BEFORE JANUARY 29th.

I WILL BE RUNNING AGAIN FOR GOVERNOR.

ZOE LEST THERE BE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

I KNOW THIS WILL DIMINISH SOME OF THE JOY SOME HAVE ON HYPOTHESIZING ON ANY NUMBER OF SCENARIOS.

I DON'T HAVE TIME.

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME UP WITH JET STRATEGIES ABOUT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS OH -- HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR THIS?

HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME TO BE THAT SNEAKY?

THE EVALUATE I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

SO I SORT OF SAY I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I'LL DO IT, THAT WILL BE DONE.

SO LET'S TABLE THAT AGAIN NOW AND WHEN I SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 29th.

A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WAS STRUCK BY.

MORGAN.

MORGAN, I TRULY WILL SAY IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO LISTEN TO YOU SPEAK.

YOU HAVE A CERTAIN JAW DI DE VIVRE.

SEE THAT WAS A FRENCH WORD.

FOR ALL OF US WHO THINK I DON'T LIKE FRENCH LITERATURE.

YOU HAVE A CERTAIN JOY FOR LIFE THAT IS FUN AND IS ENGAGING, AND I FRESH APPRECIATE YOUR OPERATE MICHEL.

I'M LOOKING AT NOTES I TOOK WHERE YOU SAID "IT'S CLOSER THAN IT LOOKS."

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MORGAN, WHEN YOU CAN BE ELECTED TO THE TOP LEADERSHIP POSITION BY GETTING A MAJORITY OF VOTES AND YOU ONLY NEEDED TO CONVINCE POWER FOUR PEOPLE VOTE FOUR, NIGHTS CLOSER THAN IT LOOKS, I'M TELLING UP.

IT'S NOT.

BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

STAY STRONG.

BE OPTIMISTIC.

I LOVED HOW YOU ENDED IT, TOO, AND I APPRECIATE, TRULY GENUINELY APPRECIATED THE SENTIMENT HINTED BECAUSE THE WORDS WERE GOOD, WHICH IS WE NEED TO WAKE AND UP LOOK AROUND.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT KENTUCKY VOTERS STARTED DOING IN 2015, ACTUALLY, AND IN WANT 16 AND IN 2018.

NECESSITY WOKE UP, THEY STARTED LOOKING AROUND, AND YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

AND THE FACT THAT THIS CHAMBER HAD, WITH ALL RESPECT TO IT, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THINGS ON ITS AGENDA FOR MOST OF THE LAST THREE, FIVE, SEVEN, TEN YEARS UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THE REASON IT BECAME CHAMBER OF THE YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REASON ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE LIST IS A FRESH THING IS BECAUSE REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE AND REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE IS MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, AND THOSE OF YOU THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE, THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE CHILDREN HERE, THOSE OF YOU THAT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE.

SOMEBODY MADE THE COMMENT, AND IT'S TRUE ENOUGH, THE CHOICE IS A SIMPLE ONE.

YOU WILL HAVE CHOICES, AND I WELCOME, AND I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC, AND WITH ALL FUN THAT IT IS TO POKE AT PEOPLE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE, EVERYBODY WHO HAS COME UP HERE HAS TALKED ABOUT WITH ALMOST NO EXCEPTION, IT'S INTERESTING, THE PENSION CRISIS IS REAL.

I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

YOU KNOW IT TO BE TRUE.

AS WAS NOTED BY SPEAKER OSBORNE, IT ISN'T GOING AWAY.

THEY KNOW IT.

THE SENATE KNOWS IT.

YOU KNOW IT.

IT WILL BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT MUST BE ADDRESSED.

BUT THE REASON IT WAS WHAT IT WAS IS BECAUSE ONE PARTY IGNORED IT AND HAD THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND CONTROLLED APPROPRIATIONS AND CONTROLLED BUDGETS, CONTROLLED FUNDING FOR 96 STRAIGHT YEARS AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.

AND NOW THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY, A SENSE OF FERVOR AND AWARENESS.

FANTASTIC.

I WISH IT WERE PREMIUM I HOPE IT'S REAL.

AND I APPLAUD SPEAKER OSBORNE, I TRULY DO, FOR HIS WILLINGNESS, AND IT WAS NOTED AND APPROPRIATELY SO FOR REACHING ACROSS AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GATHER PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE FROM THE MINORITY PARTY TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

WHAT A REFRESHING CHANGE OF PACE THAT IS FROM THE LAST -- I DON'T KNOW -- 100 YEARS.

SERIOUSLY.

THERE IS A REASON THINGS ARE CHANGING.

THEY'RE CHANGING BECAUSE THE POLITICAL MOMENTUM IS CHANGING, AND IT'S NOT A PARTY.

IT'S AN IDEOLOGY.

IT'S A BELIEF THAT YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE THE WEALTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

SOMEONE SAID IT EARLIER AND IT'S TRUE.

WE NEED TO RESPECT THE TAXPAYER.

WE NEED TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FUNDING IT BECAUSE ALL OF IT COMES TECHS PENS OF THOSE OF YOU -- AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CREATED ALL THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE, AND THE ASPIRATIONS WE HAVE FOR MORE OF IT AND FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN WANTS SEVERAL HERE HAVE NOTED, FROM THOSE WHO HAVE YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY TO THOSE WHO HAVE FIVE-MONTH-OLD, THIS IS PREMIUM I HAVE NINE CHILDREN.

THERE ARE SOME IN THIS ROOM, I KNOW JUDE'S IN HERE SOMEWHERE, THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE MAYBE AS MANY KIDS AS I DO OR CLOSE TO IT, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT'S A LOT, AND I CARE ABOUT THEM.

MY KIDS ARE 20 TOW NINE.

ALL OF US CARE ABOUT THIS.

SOMEBODY ASKED ME LONG AGO WHAT I THOUGHT SUCCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

SUCCESS TO ME WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN I'M LONG GONE AND I'M ONE OF GOVERNORS WHO IS FORCED TO STITT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT ANY MEAN, COME ON!

AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO IT FOR ME EXCITEMENT IN THE BACK AS LONG AS I COME TO THESE THINGS WHEN I'M GONE BUT FOR ALL THE OTHER GUYS, CAN WE NOT MOVE THEM UP FRONT?

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, I COULDN'T EVEN SEE AND HEAR VERY WE'LL MY AGE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER FOR ME, I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.

MAKE THEM SIT BACK THERE WITH THE JULIE RAQUE ADAMS CROWD.

COME ON.

THERE THEY ARE.

AWESOME.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT, CHAMBER.

COME ON.

MOVE THEM UP FRONT.

YOU CAN LEAVE THE BEVIN THE GUY BACK.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

BUT THE LESS OF THEM, MOVE THEM UP.

BUT TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED, FORMER GOVERNORS, FORMER LEGISLATORS THAT WERE NOTED EARLIER, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THERE IS A LOT THAT HAS HAPPENED.

THIS IS ABOUT THE 2019 LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK.

IT'S ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD.

AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE YOU ARE LEGISLATORS.

IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, AND YOU'VE HEARD THEIR HEART LITERALLY AND THEIR PASSIONS AND THEIR MOTIVATIONS, AND I APPLAUD THEM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING THEM.

SO I'M NOT GOING GIVE A WHOLE LOT ABOUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND PROPOSALS BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

BUT AS PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS ARENA, THE IDEA OF WORKFORCE IS EVERYTHING, AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND HAVE ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD NOT BACKWARDS.

SPEAKING OF LOOKING BACKWARDS, HONORSLY, IF I HAD BEEN A LITTLE MORE FORWARD THINKING AND CLEVER AND HAD MORE FUN WITH IT, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT A RECYCLING BIN UP HERE WITH ME BECAUSE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE NAMES THAT ARE COMING OUT ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE DISH WON'T SAY WHICH ONE -- BUT TALK ABOUT A RECYCLED BUNCH PEOPLE, IT'S ALL THE SAME OLD NAMES AND FAILED CANDIDATES AND IDEAS BEING RECYCLED.

THAT IS A CHOICE YOU WILL HAVE AT MANY LEVELS FOR MANY OFFICES IN 2019.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU WANTS YOU HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED, BE ENGAGED BUT DON'T LOOK BACKWARDS.

DON'T LOOK BACKWARDS.

THINGS ARE CHANGING.

THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

INVESTMENT IS HAPPENING IN SPITE OF THE PENSION CRISIS AND OUR LOOMING INSOLVENCY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SITTING IDLY BY AS WE HAVE FOR YEARS AS PEOPLE TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH AND EAST AND WEST OF US HAVE EATEN OUR LUNCH.

WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN THAT.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MOMENTUM HERE AND THE GROWING SUPPORT WITHIN THE CHAMBER FOR SUPPORTING MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL GO TO FRANKFORT AND ACTUALLY VOTE FOR THE VERY THINGS THAT YOU ARE ESPOUSING AS YOUR TOP DESIRES TO SEE DONE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

BE ENGAGED.

I SAID THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN REAL QUICKLY.

I HOPE FUTURE LEADERS IN FRANKFORT ARE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT WHO HAVE NEVER YET RUN OR PERHAPS HAVE RUN AND DID NOT WIN.

WE NEED GOOD MEN AND WOMEN TO STEP UP.

THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH DOES DEPEND ON IT.

ED MIN BURKE NOTED ALL IT ADDICTION FOR EVIL TO PRIALAL VALE IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.

WHAT IT TAKES FOR STAG NANCY TO PREVAIL AND NON-STAGNANT MIND PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING.

WHAT IT TAKES FOR GOOD BUSINESS POLICY TO PREVAIL FOR NON-BUSINESS MIND PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING.

DON'T DO NOTHING.

DO SOMETHING.

BE BETTER OR WHATEVER THE NEW HASHTAG IS.

BE THAT.

REALLY AND TRULY, IT IS US -- IT'S OURS.

OF AND BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE'RE THE PEOPLE.

WE'RE IT.

THIS IS OUR COMMONWEALTH.

THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS RELATED TO WORKFORCE ARE THINGS LIKE THE $100 MILLION THAT WAS PUT UP AS AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, LOCAL COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO GET TOGETHER IN ADVANCE, COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL, SUBMIT THAT PROPOSAL AND COMPETE NOT BASED ON POLITICS, NOT BASED ON WHO YOUR LEGISLATURE WAS OR WHO YOU KNEW AND WHO GREASED WHOSE WHEELS, BUT BASED ON THE MERITS OF THE APPLICATION, COMPETING FOR A PIECE OF THAT $100 MILLION.

THE WHOLE $100 MILLION WAS DISSEMINATED BECAUSE YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SOME OF YOU WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN SUBMITTING $540 MILLION WORTH OF APPLICATIONS.

$100 MILLION OF WHICH WERE FUNDED, BUT ANOTHER $150 MILLION OF PRIVATE AND LOCAL MONEYS CAME ALONGSIDE, AND SO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS IN WE'VE INVESTED A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTING THE REMAINDER OF THAT QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE STARTED THINGS LIKE KENTUCKY WORK MATTERS WHERE WE SAID IT ISN'T JUST THE TRADITIONAL FOLKS THAT WE'RE PURSUING BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE SECOND AND THIRD CLASS PARALLEL TRACKS THAT WE NEVER INTENDED TO BECOME SECOND AND THIRD CLASS BUT HAVE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IGNORED, MARGINALIZED?

PEOPLE COMING OUT OF OF OUR PRISON SYSTEMS.

WE'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT THAT, AND I APPLAUD IT.

THERE'S BEEN TALK FOR YEARS.

THE ONLY PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HAS ALL HAPPENED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS UNDER REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

EXPUNGEMENT BILLS.

A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS IN SENATE BILL 120 AND OTHERS.

I WON'T TAKE YOU THROUGH THEM.

THESE ARE ADMIRABLE.

THERE IS MORE YET TO BE DONE.

AND I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS WILL GET DONE.

IT'S PEOPLE RETURNING FROM THERE.

IT'S PEOPLE COMING OUT OF RECOVERY.

IT'S PEOPLE COMING OUT OF MORE TRADITIONAL THINGS LIKE THE MALE MILITARY AND COMING BACK BUT NOT HISTORICAL HAD THEIR STILL SET BEING-MONTH-OLD ABLE TO BE APPLIED IN THE CIVILIAN SECTOR.

IT'S PEOPLE WITH TRADITIONAL DISABILITIES, PERHAPS BLINDNESS OR OTHER INFIRMITIES.

HOW CAN WE FIND WAYS TO PUT PEOPLE LIKE THIS ON TRACK BECAUSE NEVER HAVE WE NEEDED IT MORE.

NEVER.

WE HAVE, UNDER REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AN UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER ONLY TELLS A SMALL LITTLE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE 10.

MORE IMPORTANT NUMBER AND 100 THAT I'LL TELL YOU IS IMPRESSIVE, IS THAT THE HIGHEST WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY IS RIGHT NOW UNDER REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

IT IS.

IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S REPUBLICAN.

IT'S BECAUSE THE VALUES THAT ARE ESPOUSED BY THAT PARTY, THOSE CONSERVATIVE VALUES THAT ONCE UPON A TIME AND NOT THAT LONG AGO WERE FOUND SCATTERED AMONGST BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, LESS SO NOW.

THERE'S NOT MUCH ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU NOW, BUT THAT SAID, WHAT IS ON THIS SIDE IS MORE CONSERVATIVE.

AND IT IS THOSE VALUES THAT ARE CHANGING THINGS.

IT IS MY CHARGE TO EACH OF YOU IN POLITICAL OFFICE AND OUTSIDE, LET US COME TOGETHER ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER, ADDRESSING FINANCIAL ISSUES, EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES WITH FISCAL REALITY IN WAYS THAT WE FOCUS ON BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE FINITE RESOURCES IN GETTING GREATEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCKS.

THAT'S ALL WE ASK.

HEPATITIS NOT THAT MUCH.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE TO -- IT'S NOT THAT MUCH.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE GOT IT DONE.

UNITED WE STAND.

DIVIDED WE FALL.

THANK YOU.