[♪♪] >> Bill: A PAGE.

KENTUCKY HISTORY IS TURNING.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL ANNOUNCES HE WILL STEP DOWN FROM HIS SENATE LEADERSHIP ROLE.

IN FINANCIAL STRATEGIST FOR THE MORE THAN 800 BILLS ARE BEING CONSIDERED INCLUDING ONE FROM A REPUBLICAN THAT WOULD PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATE'S ABORTION BAN.

PROPOSED CHANGES IN STATE LABOR LAWS STIRRED DEBATE.

A BILL IS BARRING SCHOOLS FROM SPENDING MONEY ON POLITICAL ISSUES.

AS WE ROAR INTO MARCH, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND McKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

THE DEADLINE FOR NEW BILLS COMES AND GOES MAKING JUNE TENT A STATE HOLIDAY AND BUSINESSES TAKE CASH ARE AMONG THE PROPOSALS.

LET'S BEGIN WITH MITCH McCONNELL'S DECISION IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK TO GIVE UP HIS SENATE LEADERSHIP POSITION.

HE SAID FATHER TIME IS UNDEFEATED.

HE ALSO SAID THAT ONE OF LIFE'S MOST UNDER APPRECIATED TALENTS IS TO KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO LIFE'S NEXT CHAPTER AND THE 8 TO-YEAR-OLD McCONNELL ALSO SAID THIS.

>> AS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHEN I WOULD DELIVER NEWS TO THE SENATE, I ALWAYS IMAGINED A MOMENT WHEN I HAD TOTAL CLARITY AND PEACE ABOUT THE SUNSET OF MY WORK.

A MOMENT WHEN I'M CERTAIN I HAVE HELPED PRESERVE THE IDEALS I SO STRONGLY BELIEVE.

THAT DAY ARRIVED TODAY.

>> Bill: McCONNELL HAD WANTED TO BE IN THE SENATE FROM THE TIME HE WAS AN INTERN WHEN HE WAS A IN THE SENATE HE RELISHED THE ROLE FOR MANY YEARS AND DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR A MAJOR CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE TO END.

COULD WE SEE THIS COMING?

>> YOU KNOW, HERE IN KENTUCKY WE DID HEAR PUBLICLY SOME SURPRISE FROM REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

FLOOR LEADER STEVEN RUDY FILED A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW KENTUCKY FILLS SENATE'S VACANCIES.

BUT YOU KNOW McCONNELL HAS HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON REPUBLICAN POLITICS BOTH NATIONALLY AND HERE IN THE STATE LEVEL, HE NATIONALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE CREDIT HIM WITH PUTTING THE SUPREME COURT INTO THE STATE THAT IT IS NOW.

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR TRUMP APPOINTMENTS TO THAT.

AND THAT LED TO THE OVERTURN OF ROE VS. WADE AND OTHER COURT CASES.

HERE IN KENTUCKY, SINCE HE'S GONE TO THE SENATE, BOTH SENATE SEATS THAT KENTUCKY HAS MORE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND CONTROL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS GONE TO REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: AND ALEX, YOU THINK OF HIS TIME AND THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTS THAT HE WAS IN.

HE WENT THERE WHEN RONALD REAGAN WAS REELECTED IN 1984.

AND IT IS JUST A MUCH DIFFERENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE NOW.

>> HE HAS SEEN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES SHIFT OVER THE DECADES.

AND I MEAN I DON'T THINK YOU SERVE THAT LONG AND YOU AREN'T SEEN BY CONSTITUENTS, YOUR COLLEAGUES AS SEQUENTIAL.

ARGUABLY IF YOU LIKE WHAT HE HAS DONE HE IS ONE OF THE MOST CON GWEN SHALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ONE OF THE LEAST POPULAR SENATORS.

PROBABLY BROUGHT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

HE HAS GIVEN KENTUCKY CLOUT.

HE'S ALSO SEEN HIS PARTY SHIFT FROM WHAT REPUBLICANS USED TO BE WHEN HE WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO NOW THE SORT OF BENT THAT IS TAKING OVER THE G.O.P.

WHICH IS SORT OF MORE FOCUSED ON SOCIAL WEDGE ISSUES THAT HE HAS NOT FOLLOWED.

HE DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH TRUMP VERY WELL.

HE IS A FASCINATING CHARACTER FOR SURE CONSEQUENTIAL AND NOT POPULAR EVEN AMONG PEOPLE IN HIS PARTY.

WHAT WAS RAND PAUL'S STATEMENT IT WAS SUPER CURT AND THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.

>> Bill: G.O.P.

LEADER FOR 17 LEADER IN THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY THAT IS THE LONGEST 10 USE EVER FOR TENURE EVER FOR SOMEONE IN A SENATE LEADERSHIP POSITION.

AND KENTUCKY ONCE HAD ALAN BARCLAY IN A SIMILAR ROLE.

HIS BEING IN THAT POWERFUL POSITION WAS HISTORIC FOR KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH.

LIKE ALEX SAID THERE IS A SENSE WITHOUT HIM AT THAT TABLE KENTUCKY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY AS IT DID AN OUT SIZED VOICE FOR KENTUCKY AND THE SURROUNDING REGION IN LEADERSHIP POSITION.

YOU KNOW HE'S THE ONLY PARTY LEADER IN EITHER HOUSE THAT IS FROM OUR REGION.

AND WE'RE A SMALL STATE WE ARE RARELY TALKED ABOUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE UNLESS WE ARE ATTACHED TO McCONNELL'S NAME.

A LOT OF THE TIME KENTUCKY COMING UP IN THAT CONTEXT.

BUT IT IS WORTH SAYING, I THINK, I DON'T THINK McCONNELL'S INFLUENCE IS DONE.

HE HAS A COUPLE YEARS LEFT AND PAST THAT POINT HE HAS NOT ANNOUNCED WHETHER OR NOT HE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION AND HIS CONNECTIONS HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST INFLUENCES WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE HAS HAD AN INFLUENCE ON STATE POLITICS IN FUNDRAISING AND A NATIONAL LEVEL AND THOSE CONNECTIONS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS WHETHER THE FUNDRAISING GAME WILL STAY THE SAME.

I THINK HE IS STILL GOING TO BE A PLAYER.

JUST STEPPING AWAY FROM THE FORMAL LEADERSHIP ROLE.

>> Bill: McKENNA YOU MADE REFERENCE TO INSTATE REPUBLICANS LIKE ROBERT STIVERS GIVING McCONNELL SO MUCH CREDIT FOR BUILDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY.

THEIR STATE HEADQUARTERS IS NAMED FOR HIM IN FRANKFORT?

>> YES.

IN HIS COMMENTS THIS WEEK, STIVERS VALUED McCONNELL A TREMENDOUS LEADER IN THE SENATE.

HE CREDITED HIM WITH CHANGING THE BODY POLITIC IN FRANKFORT AND WE ALSO SAW OTHER NOTABLE REPUBLICANS SUCH AS SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS, RUSSELL COLEMAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON GIVE THEIR FLOWERS TO McCONNELL AND THEY HAVE TIES TO HIM AS WELL.

>> Bill: THIS SETS OFF A LOT OF SPECULATION.

AGAIN, IF YOU SAID HE COULD RUN AGAIN HE HAS $8 MILLION IN THE BANK.

THAT IS A GREAT STARTING WAR CHEST IF THAT IS HIS DECISION.

BUT MANY THINK HE WILL SUNSET HIS CAREER IN THE SENATE AS A WHOLE IN 2026.

AGAIN, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR BESHEAR DISAVOWED INTEREST IN A 2026 RACE.

REPUBLICANS FILED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SAY IF THERE COMES TO BE A VACANCY BEFORE THE ACTUAL ELECTION AS YOU WERE MAKING A REFERENCE, THAT WOULD BE A SPECIAL ELECTION NOT AN APPOINTMENT.

>> RIGHT.

AS THE NEWS OF THAT BILL COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, BESHEAR DID EXPRESS FRUSTRATION THAT REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING UP THIS LEGISLATION AGAIN.

THEY MOST RECENTLY CHANGED THIS PROCESS IN 2021.

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A SENATE VACANCY SINCE THEN.

BUT STIVERS WHO DID SPONSOR THAT LEGISLATION HAS EXPRESSED HE IS OPEN TO HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AGAIN.

>> Bill: AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE REPUBLICANS TO FORWARD THREE CHOICES TO THE GOVERNOR OR WHATEVER PARTY HELD THE SEAT AT THE TIME IN THIS CASE THE REPUBLICANS.

AND THERE HAD BEEN SPECULATION OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WOULD DEFY THAT?

>> YES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING LAST YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE.

CAMERON OFTEN PUSHED BESHEAR ON PUBLICLY COMMITTING TO FOLLOWING THE LAW OR NOT.

AND BESHEAR DIDN'T DO THAT.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THIS LEGISLATION IS COMING FROM.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SENATOR McCONNELL WILL LEAVE THAT POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN NOVEMBER.

AND WILL THEN SERVE OUT HIS TERM IN THE SENATE PRESUMABLY.

LET'S TRANSITION TO A BUSY WEEK IN FRANKFORT WHERE THE DEADLINE PASSED FOR FILING NEW BILLS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THERE WERE LOTS OF THEM.

ONE OF THOSE BEING FILED UNDER THE WIRE CAME FROM REPUBLICAN KEN FLEMING OF LOUISVILLE IT WOULD PROVIDE SOME LIMITED EXCEPT HONORS TO KENTUCKY NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN.

ALEX THIS WAS PROMISED BY SOME REPUBLICANS.

IT CLEARLY BECAME A POLITICAL FACTOR IN THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> RIGHT.

ABORTION WAS ONE OF THE PREMIER SOCIAL ISSUES BETWEEN DANIEL CAMERON AND "GOVERNOR'S AWARD IN THE ARTS."

REPUBLICANS AGAIN AS YOU MENTIONED WAITED UNTIL THE FINAL DAY THAT A BILL COULD BE FILED AND THE BILL LOOKS HOW WE EXPECTED IT TO.

KENTUCKY'S ABORTION LIEU RIGHT NOW DOES NOT ALLOW FOR RAPE OR INCEST EXCEPTIONS OR A NONVIABLE PREGNANCY.

HIS BILL INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE INTERESTINGLY HIS RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS UNDER HIS BILL IF YOU ARE RAPED YOU CAN CONCEIVABLY GET AN ABORTION BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

AS MANY WOMEN DON'T KNOW THEY ARE PREGNANT AT SIX WEEKS.

THERE IS NOT A MIRROR BILL IN THE HOUSE.

AND EVEN SO ONCE HE FILED IT, UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WHEN THE CAUCUS HAS SORT OF PROMISED TO FILE A BILL TO THIS END LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PUBLICLY NONCOMMITTAL.

EVEN THOUGH HE FILE TO DO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL MOVE.

BUT IT'S FILED AND DAVID YATES BILL WHICH DOES THE SAME THING.

NEITHER OF THEM HAVE MOVED YET SO WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: YOU ARE HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT ITS POSSIBLE FATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ITS FATE WILL BE.

I DON'T KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TRACTION.

LAST YEAR THE MAJORITY WHIP FILED A SIMILAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND ALOUD ABORTIONS FOR PEOPLE RAPED OR VICTIMS OF INCEST UP TO 15 WEEKS IT WAS A LONGER TIMELINE.

MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE HERE.

BUT THAT BILL REALLY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE AND THERE IS A CHANCE THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

THE G.O.P.

PRO-LIFE CAUCUS IS PRETTY STRONG IN KENTUCKY AND THEY ALREADY STARTED FILING BILLS THAT HAVE THE IDEA OF MAKING ABORTION UNTHINKABLE THAT IS A TAG LINE FOR SOME OF THE MEMBERS.

>> Bill: THERE IS A VIDEO TO BE SHOWN IN SCHOOLS AS AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

SO THAT BILL IS THE BB OLIVIA BILL ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT SCHOOLS SHOW A VIDEO ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

AND IT'S PRETTY CLOSELY TAILORED TO A VIDEO THAT IS PRODUCED BY A PRO-LIFE ANTIABORTION GROUP.

AND IT HAS SOME INACCURACIES ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS THAT HAVE A SLANT TOWARDS THE ANTIABORTION MOVEMENT.

>> Bill: ALEX, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS APPEARED IN FRANKFORT WITH A LETTER SIGNED BY 300 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ASKING FOR ABORTION ACCESS TO BE RESTORED IN THE STATE?

>> RIGHT.

IT IS AN ASK THAT WILL NOT BE ANSWERED.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR REPEAL OF THE ABORTION LAWS AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

BUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING FROM A DOCTOR'S PERSPECTIVE, I THINK ABOUT A DOZEN OF THEM APPEARED IN FRANKFORT TODAY, IS TO REITERATE WHAT DOCTORS HAVE TOLD ME, WHAT THEY HAVE SAID SINCE ABORTION BECAME ILLEGAL IS THAT PARTICULARLY FOR OBGYN'S THE NARROW ABORTION LAWS HOW THEY FEEL IT COMPROMISES THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTHCARE.

AGAIN BECAUSE KENTUCKY'S LAWS DO NOT HAVE EXCEPTIONS FOR WOMEN WITH NONVIABLE PREGNANCIES EVEN IF A CHILD IS NOT GOING TO SURVIVE OUTSIDE OF THE WOMB AS LONG AS IT HAS A HEART BEAT A DOCTOR CANNOT GIVE A MEDICALLY RECOMMENDED TERMINATION.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN DOCTORS COME AND SPEAK IN-PERSON.

THEY SIGNED A LETTER BEFORE.

BUT, AGAIN, THEY MET WITH DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO FALL ON DEAF EARS BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING THE SAME ARGUE THAT OPPONENTS HAVE MADE.

>> Bill: SIMILAR BILLS TO PROTECT IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION IS THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN ALABAMA?

>> RIGHT.

THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT BASICALLY RULED THAT EMBRYOS ARE HUMAN BEINGS SO A COUPLE SUED OVER THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR EMBRYOS IN A FERTILITY CLINIC BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED HUMAN BEINGS THEY SUED UNDER ALABAMA'S WRONGFUL DEATH LAW.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS COME TOGETHER.

WE SAW SENATOR WESTERFIELD A REPUBLICAN FILE A BILL TO PROTECT IVF ACCESS AND IT WOULD PROTECT IVF PROVIDERS FROM CRIMINAL LIBERTY IN THE EVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE THIS WEEK ABOUT LABOR LAWS IN FRANKFORT.

THAT CAME AFTER HOUSE BILL 500 WOULD MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT SPONSORS WOULD PUT KENTUCKY MORE IN LINE WITH FEDERAL RULES.

SOME LABOR ADVOCATES SAY IT WOULD TAKE AWAY LUNCH BREAKS AND COULD HURT PAY.

>> PRATT, THE REPRESENTATIVE IS FRAMING IT AS COMING IN LINE WITH FEDERAL STANDARDS.

BUT WHAT IT DOES, IT TAKES AWAY KENTUCKY SPECIFIC LABOR PROTECTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD KENTUCKY AUTHORITIES COULD NO LONGER CITE EMPLOYERS FOR NOT HAVING MEAL AND REST BREAKS.

IT ALSO WOULD TAKE AWAY KENTUCKY'S SEVENTH DAY OVERTIME STATUTE WHICH ONLY KENTUCKY AND CALIFORNIA HAVE IT.

IT USED TO BE MORE COMMON.

IF SOMEBODY EVEN IF THEY DON'T WORK MORE THAN 40 HOURS IF THEY WORK FOR SEVEN DAYS STRAIGHT THEY WOULD GET OVERTIME T WOULD GET RID OF THAT AND IT MEANS EMPLOYERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR TRAVEL TIME OR PREPARING FOR WORK IF IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THE MAIN ACTIVITY OF THE JOB.

AND THERE'S CONCERN AMONG LABOR ADVOCATES THAT WOULD APPLY TO SOMEONE WHO TRAVELS A LOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY LIKE AN HVAC PERSON OR AMBULANCE AND IT HAS CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON PROTECTIVE GEAR.

PRATT SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE BILL WILL HURT THE PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, I READ THE WORDING AND THERE IS AMBIGUITY IT'S UNCLEAR.

BUT PRATT SAYS IT'S NECESSARY TO CUT DOWN ON CONFUSION TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS IF THEY ARE THE SAME THING.

>> Bill: A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO GO ON THAT.

THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION ABOUT CHILD LABOR LAWS THIS WEEK?

>> YES, THERE WAS THAT WAS ALSO PHILLIP PRATT AND IT WOULD APPLY MOSTLY TO 17 AND 16-YEAR-OLDS WHICH FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT NEARLY AS MANY REGULATIONS ON AS KENTUCKY DOES.

IT WOULD ALLOW 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS TO WORK LONGER AND FOR LATER HOURS.

THERE'S A LOT MORE PROTECTIONS IN KENTUCKY THAN THE FEDS HAVE.

THE MOST RECENT THE FEDERAL LAWS UPDATED WAS THE 1930s.

85 YEARS THAT THE ACT PASSED.

SINCE THEN KENTUCKY PASSED MORE.

AND THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THE LAWS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES AND HAVEN'T BEEN AN ISSUE OF CONCERN BEFORE SO WHY NOW?

>> Bill: ANOTHER PROPOSED BILL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD BE BANNED FROM SPENDING MONEY FOR POLITICAL CAUSE THAT APPEARS ON THE BALLOT AND THAT COMES THE A TIME WHEN A SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT COULD APPEAR ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL AND MANY EXPECT PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE THAT SHIFT IN MONEY TOWARDS PRIVATE SCHOOLS WOULD HURT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO McKENNA, THIS WOULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO END POLITICAL ACTIVITY WITH TAXPAYERS DOLLARS BY SCHOOLS.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO WHERE WE ARE ON THAT PIECE OF G.O.P.

LEGISLATION THAT IS A PRIORITY IN THE HOUSE, THAT HASN'T GOTTEN A COMMITTEE HEARING YET.

BUT I EXPECT IT WILL.

TO PUT A SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A FEW WEEKS AND BEFORE SESSION BEGAN.

SO WE'LL LIKELY SEE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOES PASS, I DON'T THINK IT WILL TOTALLY CURB THE PUBLIC EDUCATOR SIDE OF IT.

IN THE PAST WE'VE SEEN TEACHERS PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE.

SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THEM SPEAK OUT IF THAT BECOMES A BATTLE.

>> Bill: AND I GUESS SOME OTHER NICKEL TAXES AND OTHER ISSUES THAT COME UP WITH THAT A SCHOOL BOARD IS IN FAVOR OF WOULD BE COVERED AS WELL?

>> LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE IN A WAY POLITICAL IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE ELECTED AND THEY VOTE ON ISSUES IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO WHILE THIS IS PROBABLY AIMED AT SCHOOL CHOICE THIS COULD AFFECT A FEW AREAS AS WELL.

>> Bill: A BILL THAT WOULD THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION PARTISAN IS ALSO MOVING.

>> YES.

SO THIS CAME OUT OF THE SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.

IT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA A FEW TIMES BEFORE.

AND IT WASN'T TAKEN UP IN THE COMMITTEE.

BUT IT DID PASS THIS WEEK.

THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS BECOME AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY DURING THE BEVIN AND BESHEAR ADMINISTRATIONS.

AND REPUBLICANS WHO ARE BACKING THIS BILL THIS IS A G.O.P.

PRIORITY IN THE SENATE AS WELL.

REPUBLICANS WHO ARE BACKING THE BILL ARGUE THAT THIS BOARD AFFECTS A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO KENTUCKIANS ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THAT DIRECTLY.

>> Bill: TO MAKE IT CLEAR IT CREATES ELECTIONS NOW IT IS APPOINTED AND THEY WOULD BE PARTISAN ELECTIONS.

>> THIS WOULD BE PUTTING THEM ON THE BALLOT IN KENTUCKY.

>> CURSIVE WRITING CAME UP THIS WEEK IN FRANKFORT AS WELL.

AND YES THIS IS FROM A SENATOR AND IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING THAT BILL DID RECEIVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

SHE BROUGHT WITH HER SOMEONE WHO CALLED THEMSELVES A CURSIVE CRUSADER AN EXPERT AND GAVE TIPS TO THE SENATORS ABOUT THEIR HANDWRITING.

THAT DREW INTEREST WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THAT MOVE.

>> Bill: SENATE BILL 147 HAS ALSO BEEN MOVING.

ITS SUPPORTERS SAY IT RESTRICTS ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES AND WOULD PROTECT CHILDREN.

OPPONENTS CALL IT AN ANTIDRAG BILL.

ONE PERFORMER TESTIFIED THAT LAWMAKERS MIGHT BETTER SPEND THEIR TIME ADDRESSING OTHER ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE.

THIS GOT VERY CONTENTIOUS.

>> YES, THAT WAS A CALL FROM A PERFORMER WHO APPEARED IN DRAG AT THE HEARING.

AND THAT POINT WAS ECHOED BY SENATOR ANGEL WHEN SHE VOTED NO SAYING WE SHOULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN TARGETING DRAG SHOWS.

THE BILL IS IT LIMITS QUOTE-UNQUOTE ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES AND ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE THOSE FROM BEING WITHIN CERTAIN DISTANCES OF PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS.

AND IT ALSO SAYS THAT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PERFORMANCES CAN'T HAPPEN ON PUBLIC PRIORITY THAT MINORS CANNOT BE AT THEM.

AND IT TRIES TO DEFINE THEM.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT LGBTQ ADVOCATES HAVE POINTED OUT IT SPECIFICALLY TARGETS DRAG SHOWS AND DEFINES IT PULLS IT OUT.

IF THIS BILL WAS SPECIFIC TO SEXUAL CONDUCT FOR EXAMPLE SOME SENATORS POINTED OUT WHY IS IT MENTIONING DRAG SHOWS AND NOT ALL TYPES OF PERFORMANCES.

A BIG CHANGE HAPPENED TOWARDS THE LAST-MINUTE IN THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE THAT SPECIFICALLY PULLS OUT DRAG SHOWS THAT INCLUDE EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT.

NOT ALL DRAG SHOWS ARE COVERED UNDER THIS BILL.

BUT THERE'S THE QUESTION OF WHY THEY ARE MENTIONED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> AND IT'S BEING BECAUSE AS SYLVIA SAID THERE IS A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE WHICH MEANS THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE BILL WAS AMENDED.

AND THE SENATOR MADE THAT CHANGE AFTER MEETING WITH A LOUISVILLE DRAG QUEEN WHO PUBLICLY ASKED TO MEET WITH HER.

AND THE SENATOR AGREED.

AND PART OF WHAT INFORMED HER COMMITTEE WAS THIS CONVERSATION AND SHE NARROWED HER DEFINITION OF DRAG IT IS STILL OPAQUE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE SENATOR SAID DURING THAT MEETING THIS IS HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS WE DRAFT BILLS AND HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS AND GET INPUT AND CHANGE THE BILLS.

HOWEVER, STILL, THE DEFINITION OF SEXUAL EXPLICIT CONDUCT AS IT RELATES TO DRAG IS CONDUCT THAT IS CHARACTER TOURED AND EXAGGERATED WITH BIOLOGICAL SEX THAT IS DRAG.

SO IT'S LIKE WHERE IS THE LINE?

WHAT IS ACTUALLY BANNED REGARD THE THE BILL IS ADVANCING.

>> Bill: IT'S SET TO GO.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SET TO GO.

IT WILL RECEIVE FLOOR VOTES AND AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE BILL DESCRIBES SEXUAL CONDUCT AS CONTAINING NUDITY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS KAREN BERG THAT SAID WHY ARE WE PINPOINTING DRAG.

WHY JUST NOT INCLUDE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE WHY DO WE HAVE TO MENTION DRAG AT ALL.

>> Bill: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THAYER IS RETIRING FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND IS FILING BILLS THAT STIRRED DEBATE AND HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE STATEMENTS.

ONE WOULD ELIMINATE STATE LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

BUT THEN WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE CAMPAIGN REPORTING.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT WAS HE EXPRESSED RIGHT AFTER THAT DEADLINE PASSED.

I'M SURE WE WILL SEE MORE STATEMENTS AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION GOES ON BUT THAT BILL IN PARTICULAR, WOULD ELEGAL NATURE STATE LIMITS ON POLITICAL DONATIONS WHILE INCREASING REPORTING TO EVERY TWO WEEKS.

SO THERE ARE SOME SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERAL.

AND THEY SAY THAT THERE'S ALREADY PEOPLE WHO ARE DONATING A LOT OF MONEY TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN DARK MONEY GROUPS.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BRING THAT MONEY AND WHERE IT'S GOING INTO THE LIGHT A BIT MORE.

>> Bill: AND MEANING THAT YOU COULD JUST CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO A CANDIDATE?

>> RIGHT.

YES.

AND SO I THINK IN LIGHT OF LAST YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE THE MOST EXPENSIVE, I THINK BETWEEN OUTSIDE GROUPS IN BOTH CAMPAIGNS THERE WAS OVER $65 MILLION SPENT IN THAT RACE.

SO AS WE SEE CAMPAIGNS IN THE FUTURE TEND TO BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE THIS WOULD AFFECT HOW WE VIEW THAT MONEY.

>> Bill: ANOTHER BILL WOULD PROVIDE ANNUAL SALARIES FOR LAWMAKERS AND GIVE OTHER EXPENSE AND TRAVEL ALLOWANCES.

AND SORT OF BASED ON A POSITION THAT A LAWMAKER HELD IN THE LEADERSHIP OR ANOTHER ROLE THEY MIGHT PLAY.

>> RIGHT.

SO THAYER WOULD NOT BE BENEFITING FROM THE BILL BECAUSE HE IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AS WE'VE NOTED.

BUT IN THE HOUSE, WE'VE ALSO SEEN A DEMOCRATIC BILL THAT IS LIKE THIS FILED FROM ANOTHER LAWMAKER WHO'S LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE REPRESENTATIVE RAVEN.

WE'LL PROBABLY SEE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS.

LAWMAKERS FREQUENTLY SAY THAT THE PAY IS NOT ENOUGH AND THAT IS AN ISSUE WHEN GETTING PEOPLE TO RUN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: SENATOR NEAL IS GOING TO INTRODUCE A BILL THAT WILL MAKE JUNETEENTH FOR A STATE HOLIDAY AND THERE'S BIPARTISAN TALK BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

>> IT HASN'T.

AND JUNT IS THE END OF SLAVERY IT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

HE HAS FILE TO DO AGAIN.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE.

>> I DO NOT THINK SO.

>> IT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY AND HE WANTS TO MAKE IT A STATE HOLIDAY AND I ASSUME HE WILL CONTINUE FILING IT.

>> Bill: A BILL WOULD REQUIRE BUSINESSES IN THE STATE TO ACCEPT CASH AS A FORM OF PAYMENT.

MANY HAVE GONE CASHLESS IN RECENT YEARS.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT ESPECIALLY ISSUE IN A LOT OF BIGGER CITIES WAS IN NEW YORK AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR ME.

AND THE ISSUE WITH GOING CASH BUILDING, IS THAT IT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT THEY DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD THEY NEED TO PAY IN CASH.

SO THAT'S THE IMPETUS BEHIND THAT BILL.

AS WE SEE MORE BUSINESSES GO CASHLESS, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THIS PICK UP MORE STEAM.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY IS PLANNING TO BEGIN A $260 MILLION RENOVATION OF THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING THAT WAS GOING TO START RIGHT AFTER THE SESSION.

THAT'S BEEN DELAYED TO AFTER THE SESSION NEXT YEAR, TO 2025.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> YEAH, THAT WILL BE INTERESTING, BECAUSE BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE CANNOT MEET IN THE CAPITOL WHILE THAT RENOVATION IS HAPPENING.

THEY HAVE TO MEET ELSEWHERE IN FRANKFORT WITH THE DELAY IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME TO SOLIDIFY THE PLANS.

>> QUITE A SCENE ON THE SECOND STREET BRIDGE WHEN THE TRUCK WAS DANGLING ON THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

>> I SAW THE PICTURES, I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE BRIDGE IS STAYING CLOSED.

THERE WERE OTHER CARS INVOLVED.

I ACTUALLY HAVE HEARD FROM THE FAMILY OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS ON THAT BRIDGE AND SHE SEEMS OKAY BASED ON PRELIMINARY INFORMATION.

>> SHADY RAYS ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION IN LOUISVILLE.

AND TODAY, GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED THAT KENTUCKY RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN ECONOMIC PROJECTS PER CAPITA FIRST IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION.

THE RANKING IS FROM THE SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE 2023 ABOUT GOVERNOR'S CUP RANKINGS.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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