>> Casey: IF GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRIDES TWO VETOES FROM GOVERNOR ANDY PRESSURE.

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PARI-MUTUEL WAGER TAX MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE AND A PROPOSAL TO HELP ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMING.

ALL ON DAY 52 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING FOURS "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

THE KENTUCKY SENATE VOTED TO END THE COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY, OVERRIDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S VETO, A MOVE THE GOVERNOR SAYS PUTS $50 MILLION IN FEDERAL FOO STAMP FUNDS IN JEOPARDY.

THE CURRENT STATE OF EMERGENCY IS SET TO EXPIRE IN APRIL.

SENATOR DONALD DOUGLASS of NICHOLASVILLE IS SPONSOR OF SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150.

HE SAYS IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR KENTUCKY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FO.

>> IN LISTENING TO THE GOVERNOR, HE SEEMS TO WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY NEED THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY.

AGAIN, HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR SNAP BENEFITS.

H'M.

BUT -- AND IF HE END THIS EMERGENCY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL OF THAT.

THE ONE THING HE DOESN'T MENTION IS THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY APPLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS MANY OTHER STATES HAVE DONE, AND HE CAN SOLVE THAT ISSUE.

WE DON'T NEED TO PLAY POLITICS.

>> Casey: SEVERAL DEMOCRATS PUSHED BACK.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY OF LOUISVILLE SAID THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE OF THIS EMERGENCY ORDER.

SENATOR DAVID YATES OF LOUISVILLE SAID THE RISK OF OVERRIDING THIS VETO DO OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS.

>> THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW THAT IS A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BY ENDING THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY EARLY IS LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS THAT INCREASE THE AMOUNT PAID TO NEEDY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR FOOD BECAUSE THE COST OF FOOD HAS GONE UP AS A RESULT OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH VOTE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I HOPE THAT WE SIT AND WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.

IN EVERY ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED.

THESE ARE THE WEAKEST AMONG US.

THE RATIONALE FOR PASSING THIS, WHICH IS CLEARLY POLITICAL -- THERE IS NO BENEFIT WHATSOEVER THAN TAKING A JAB AT THE GOVERNOR HERE, THERE'S NO BENEFIT WHATSOEVER OTHER THAN A POLITICAL PLAY.

THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND POLITICAL GAMES NEED TO BE SET ASIDE WHEN WE GET INTO INTERFERE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING, AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING RIGHT now >> Casey: SEVERAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS EXPLAINED WHY THEY SUPPORTED THE VETO OVERRIDE.

THAT INCLUDES SENATOR JOHN SCHICKEL WHO SAID THIS OVERRIDE IS LARGELY SYMBOL.

>> THE SYMBOLISM IS WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND TO SUGGEST THAT FEDERAL FUNDING SHOULD BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY WHEN WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, INFLATION IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL, HURTING WORKING FAMILIES, AND THAT WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OPEN JOBS HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION, AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.

>> Casey: THE VETO OVERRIDE OF THE SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150 NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR CONS THE SENATE ALSO VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF HOUSE BILL 4.

THE BILL REDUCES INSURANCE BENEFITS IN KENTUCKY FROM 26 WEEKS TO A VARIABLE DURATION BASED UPON THE STATE'S AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAY REDUCED BENEFITS WOULD FORCE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK.

SENATE MAJORITIES FLOOR LEADER DAMON THAYER EXPLAINED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE VETO OVERRIDE.

>> THERE ARE 100,000 VACANT JOBS IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

ACROSS ALL SECTORS, EVERY INDUSTRY, HELP WANTED SIGNS ARE UP EVERYWHERE.

IF YOU ARE A -- AN ABLE-BODIED HEALTHY KENTUCKIAN, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR YOU TO NOT HAVE A JOB.

>> Casey: IN HIS VETO, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BILL ISN'T FAIR TO PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS WHERE JOBS ARE HARDER TO FIND.

SENATE DEMOCRATS ECHOED HIS CON.

>> I THINK THE WORST PART OF THIS BILL, AS I ARGUED WHEN WE HAD AT THIS TIME FIRST TIME, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE PERIMETERS THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO RELOCATE FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

SOME COUNTIES HAVE A 2%, 3% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

SOME HAVE A 35% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP HERE, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THIS BILL, AGAIN I SUBMIT TO EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER, IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GHOST COUNTIES.

>> IT'S AN INSULT TO RURAL KENTUCKY AND IT'S AN INSULT TO TRADESMEN AND WOMEN AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OF RURAL KENTUCKY, AND I SPEAK FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN MY DISTRICT, PARTICULARLY WHO TRADESMEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE GOOD WAGES AND SOME DO HAVE TO TRAVEL 1 BUT DUE DO POLICIES AND OTHER INSTANCES, HAVING TO FIND WORK ELSEWHERE.

BUT THIS ONLY -- OTHER STATES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS HAVE ALSO FOUND IT'S HAMPERED LOCAL ECONOMIES AND EXACERBATED JOB LOUSE.

IT'S NOT BEEN ALL BENEFICIAL.

>> Casey: SPONSOR OF HOUSE BIL 4, REPRESENTATIVE RUSSELL WEBBE OF SHEPHERDSVILLE, SAYS HE THINKS THE BILL WILL GROW KENTUCKY'S WORKFORCE.

SENATOR WIL SCHROEDER OF WILDER AGREES AND EXPLAINS WHY HE VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN OTHER STATES, IN FACT, DO THIS MODEL, STATES LIKE FLORIDA JA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND THEY HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS, SO THE MIGHT BE THE CASE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE STATES HAVE STUCK TO A FLAT 26, BUT LET'S COMPARE OURSELVES TO STATES OR COMPARE THIS MODEL, RATHER, TO STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS.

WHAT HAS THEIR SUCCESS RATE BEEN?

>> Casey: THE OVERRIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF HOUSE BILL 4 PASSED THE SENATE BY A VOTE OF 21 TO 12.

FOUR REPUBLICANS, SENATORS JIMMY HIGDON, BRANDON SMITH, JOHNNY TURNER, AND PHILLIP WHEELER, JOINED THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE VETO OVERRIDE.

THE HOUSE ALSO OVERRODE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF HOUSE BILL 4, MEANING THE BILL CUTTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS NOW LAW.

A NUMBER O VOICED OPPOSITION TO THE OVERRIDE, WITH SOME SAYING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE MAKIN CHANGES TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AGAIN IN FUTURE SESSIONS.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT WILL HURT OUR MOST VULNERABLE WORKING KENTUCKIANS IF THEY GET HIT BY ANOTHER PANDEMIC OR THEY SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOB, THEIR BENEFITS WILL BE CUT.

AND I'M REALLY SORRY THAT WE'RE DOING THIS TO ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS STATE.

>> REALITY IS WHEN THEY GO ASKING AND LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT THEY CAN DRAW, AND THEN WHEN THEY GET A JOB BASICALLY MAKING HALF OF WHAT THEY WERE MAKING BEFORE, IT WON'T COVER THEIR BILLS, IT WON'T COVER THE NECESSITIES FOR THEM TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY ON.

THIS IS SADLY GOING TO BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.

>> THE MISCONCEPTION IS THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO WORK ANYMORE, THAT PEOPLE ARE SITTING HOME AND DRAWING BENEFITS.

I DON'T KNOW.

THAT MAY BE TRUE IN YOUR COUNTIES.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT IN LETCHER COUNTY WE JUST HAVE LESS PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO WORK.

OUR WORKING AGE POPULATION DECLINED BY 19%.

AND OUR LABOR FORCE HAS DECLINED BY 33%.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN IN SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY.

ALL THIS IS GOING TO DO IS CAUSE MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM MY COUNTY AND THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE NEED.

>> Casey: THE HOUSE VOTED TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR' HOUSE BILL 4 VETO 57 TO 38, COMPLETING THE VETO OVERRIDE.

LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED MEASURES THAT COULD CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE FOR GAMBLING IN KENTUCKY, PASSING LEGISLATION T LEGALIZE SPORTS GAMING AND OUTLAWING GRAY MACHINES.

TODAY THE HOUSE APPROVED TWO MORE MEASURES IMPACTING THE GAMING.

FIRST, HOUSE BILL 607 ADJUSTS THE TAX RATE FOR PARI-MUTUEL WAGERERS OR THE TYPE OF WAGERIN TYPICALLY USED FOR HORSE RACES.

ERLANGER REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG SPONSORS THE MEASURE.

HE SAYS IT WILL EQUALIZE THE TAX RATE FOR ALL TYPES OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING, MAKING IT A CONSISTENT WITH 1.5% ACROSS T HE EXPLAINED OTHER PARTS OF HIS MEASURE TO THE HOUSE MEMBERSHIP.

>> IT ELIMINATES THE ANTIQUATED EVERY TRACK WAS ASSESSED A 15-CENT FEE FOR EVERYONE THAT WALKED INTO THE TRACK.

WELL, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHURCHILL AND KEENELAND, THEY HAVE TICKETS, THEY HAVE URN URN TURNSTILES.

THEY THOUGH KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE COME IN IN AND ON IT EVERY DAY.

CHURCHILL TOWNS, KENTUCKY OTHERS HAVE NO IDEA.

THEY WERE ESTIMATING.

IT'S $150,000.

WE'RE TAKING THAT OUT.

WE DON'T WANT TO DC THERE'S NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TURN TILES AND DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP EVERY DAY.

WE INCLUDE LANGUAGE TO REQUIRE THE KENTUCKY RACING COMMISSION TO BE SELF-FUNDING.

WE'VE BEEN SUBSIDIZING THEM OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR YEARS.

THERE'S ENOUGH OF THE HRR MACHINES NOW THAT THEY CAN LEVY FEES ON THOSE TO HANDLE THEIR OPERATIONS.

SO THAT'S GOING TO SAVE $3 MILLION A YEAR.

IT REQUIRESSOMETERS TO MAINTAIN A SELF-EX CLUES LIST AND SHARE THAT LIST WITH THE RACING COMMISSION.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 607 WILL DIRECT SOME OF THE MONEY THE STATE GETS FROM THE PARI-MUTUEL TAX TO EQUINE PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND AT BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE'S EQUINE PROGRAM IS ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE TAX TO HELP WITH THEIR PROGRAM CAPS ON THE AMOUNT THEY CAN RAISE FROM HISTORICAL HORSE RACING MACHINES HAS MEANT FUNDING HAS BEEN DECREASING IN RECENT YEARS.

LOUISVILLE REPRESENTATIVE AL GENTRY PROPOSED AN AMOUNTED TO RAISE THAT CAP.

>> THIS HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IT HAS DONE IS HL HAS ALLOWED THIS PROGRAM TO GROW QUITE A BIT AND BEEN ABLE TO PUT A LOFTY FUNDS INTO RECRUITING AND MARKETING AND BRINGING STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE THIS STATE INTO THIS PROGRAM.

TO WHERE IT IS NOW HALF OF THE STUDENTS THAT COME INTO THIS PROGRAM COME FROM OUT OF STATE.

A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE GRADUATES STAY HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WELL, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TYPE EMPLOYEES IN OUR WORKFORCE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCING.

>> Casey: HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT 2 WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE ON A VOICE VOTE.

BUT A DIFFERENT LOUISVILLE REPRESENTATIVE OPPOSED HOUSE BILL 607.

LISA WILLNER SAYS THE DOESN'T SET THE TAX HIGH ENOUGH SHE SAYS KENTUCKY'S TAX RATE ON PARI-MUTUEL WAGER IS LOW WHEN COMPARING IT TO OTHER STATES.

>> WHAT I AM OPPOSED TO IS AN EXPLOSION OF NEW SLOT MACHINE FACILITIES AND ADDITIONAL SLOT MACHINES ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE GENERATING ENORMOUS INDUSTRY PROFITS FOR A POWERFUL FEW, WHILE CONTRIBUTING NOTHING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND ONLY A TINY FRACTION OF WHAT A REASON PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE FOR KENTUCKY'S GENERAL FUND.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO PULL THE HANDLE ON THIS CASINO SLOT MACHINE SCAM TO FIND OUT WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES WHEN THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

THIS BODY HAS ALREADY CHOSEN THE WINNERS AND THE LOSERS.

THE WINNERS ARE THE WEALTHY CORPORATIONS WHO PUT A STRANGLEHOLD ON THE SLOT MACHINE INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY.

THE LOSERS ARE OUR MOM AND POP BUSINESSES, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLKIDS NEEDING TEXTBOOKS AND TRANSPORTATION, OUR PUBLIC WORKERS, OUR SENIORS NEEDING HEALTH CARE, MEDICATION, AND A SECURE RETIREMENT, AND OUR FAMILIES NEEDING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

>> Casey: LOUISVILLEAN NIMA KULKARNI REPRESENTS THE AREA THAT SURROUNDS CHURCHILL DOWNS, AND SHE AGREED WITH WILLNER THA THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY IS NOT .

PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> HOUSE BILL 607 WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE GENTLEMAN IN KENTON, IS AS EMPTY GESTURE, IS A SHOW OF LIP SERVICE, IS AN INSUT TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY AND THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

THESE FACILITIES ARE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO PAY HIGHER EFFECTIVE TAX RATES IN MORE STATES.

OF THE EXPONENTIAL INCREASING IN PROFITS THAT THEY WILL SEE, NONE WILL GO TO THE HORSEMEN, TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UP BEFORE DAWN FEEDING AND WATERING THE HORSES, WASHING THEM, GROOMING THEM, WALKING THEM, WHO SLEEP ABOVE THE STALLS AND TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH THEM.

NONE WILL GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR ROADS, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS BILL BECAUSE WE AS A BODY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO FAIRLY TAX HHR REVENUES INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO SUBSIDIZE AND BAIL OUT CORPORATIONS WITH RECORD BREAKING SOARING PROFITS.

I'M VOTING NO FOR THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT WHO DID NOT LOOK AT THE ME TO WORRY MORE ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THAN THEIR BEST INTERESTS.

WE ARE LOSING HERE.

AND NEED TO STOP BEING BEHOLDEN TO CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE NOT TREATED US FAIRLY AND THAT HAVE NOT OPERATED IN GOOD FAITH.

>> Casey: BUT ANOTHER LOUISVILLE REPRESENTATIVE, JASO NEMES, SAYS THAT CHURCHILL DOWN IS IMPORTANT TO THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE.

HE SUPPORTS HOUSE BILL 607.

>> THE CHURCHILL DOWNS DOES PAY PROPERTY TAX IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THEY HAVE HEADQUARTERS THAT ARE -- THAT'S NOT AT THE TRACK.

THERE'S PROPERTY TAXES THERE.

THEY PAY LOTS OF TAXES IN EMPLOYMENT TAXES FROM THE GOOD JOBS THAT THEY HAVE IN MY COMMUNITY, IN MY DISTRICT.

LETTERS, WITH THE ALSO, WITH THE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DONE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THAT IS BECAUSE CHURCHILL DOWNS AND KEENELAND AND OTHER PLACES ARE PRIDE POINTS IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PRIDE POINTS.

AND WE WANT TO MIKE SURE THAT THAT'S AN ATTRACTION FOR LOVES AND FOR TOURISTS IS FOR EYEBALLS ON KENTUCKY.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF BUT IT'S NOT JUST A PRIDE THING.

IT ALSO ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> Casey: THE CHORUS OF REPRESENTATIVES SANG SAYING THE REVENUE FROM PARI-MUTUEL RACING ISN'T ENOUGH CONTINUED WHEN ATTICA SCOTT EXPLAINED HER NO V BUT WHILE VOTING YES, JIM DUPLESSIS SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE BILL BECAUSE THE MEASURE DOES BRING MORE TAX REVENUE INTO THE STATE THAN IT CURRENTLY DOES.

>> I VOTED NO BECAUSE WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THE TAX REVENUES THAT 23 NEED FROM INSTANT HORSE RACING.

SLOT MACHINES THAT COULD GO TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND SCHOOLS OR SOCIAL SERVICES, BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY LOW TAX RATE, AND I VOTED NO BECAUSE, AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD SOME OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, TRIED IN 2021 TO PUSH FOR A MUCH HIGHER TAX RATE FOR THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY JUST TO FIND OURSELVES BACK WHERE WE STARTED.

I VOTED NO BECAUSE SOME OF YOU WERE DUPED DURING THE 2021 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY A PLEDGE FROM THE INDUSTRY TO WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY TO REVISE AND RAISE THE TAX STRUCTURE ON HISTORICAL RACING MACHINES, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I VOTED NO BECAUSE HOUSE BILL 607 COMES NOWHERE CLOSE TO ADEQUATELY RAISING THE TAX STRUCTURE AND ACTUALLY SENDING TAX REVENUES BACK TO THE INDUSTRY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I COULD SUPPORT.

>> THIS BILL HERE WILL RAISE $7 MILLION FOR OUR STATE AND MAKE SENSE THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THE 1.5% ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS BILL, AS A, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WANT TO SEE THAT PARI-MUTUEL WAGER IS HIGHER THAN 1.5%, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGED NEXT YEAR WHEN I'M GONE.

THAT NEEDS TO BE HIGHER THAN IT IS, BUT AT LEAST THIS BILL DOES RAISE $7 MILLION FOR OUR state.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 607 PASSED THE HOUSE 66 TO 29 AND IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE SENATE.

AFTER PASSING ANOTHER MEASURE TO ADJUST THE GAMING LANDSCAPE, HOUSE MEMBERS APPROVED A BILL THAT COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH PROBLEM GAMING.

KENTUCKY CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAV A PROGRAM TO HELP ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMING.

HOUSE BILL 609 ESTABLISHED THE KENTUCKY PROBLE ASSISTANCE BOARD.

THE BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING PROGRAMS TO CERTIFY ADDICTION COUNSELORS AND PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON GAMBLING ADDICTION KOENIG SAYS IT'S TIME KENTUCKY PROVIDE HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

>> THIS FUND WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AWARENESS, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, AND CERTAINLY WE HOPE THAT WITH MORE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION, WE WOULD NEED LESS FREMONT.

RIGHT NOW -- LESS TREATMENT.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE MONEY WAGERED THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS, PARI-MUTUEL, LOTTERY, CHAIR TANGLE, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE LEGAL SOURCES -- CHARITABLE, WE REQUIRE NOTHING OF YIN.

ANYONE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STOP PROBLEMS FROM HAPPENING AS BEST WE CAN.

AND SO I THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS MONEY AND CREATE THIS FUND AND SOLVE THAT ISSUE FOR THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Casey: THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF HOUSE BILL 609 WOULD HAVE APPROPRIATED $225 MILLION FROM THE POKERSTARS SETTLEMENT TO CREATE THE PROBLEM GAMING BOARD AND KEEP IT RUNNING.

KOENIG SAYS THAT $225 MILLION MAY HAVE KEPT THAT BOARD RUNNIN QUOTE, PERPETUITY.

BUT A PROPOSED AMENDMENT FROM JAMES TIPTON SET TO REDUCE THAT NUMBE HIS AMENDMENT REDUCED THE APPROPRIATION FROM $225 MILLION TO $50 MILLION.

>> WE ALL UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY NEEDS IN OUR STATE.

THE GENTLEMAN FROM JEFFERSON 36 WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE KERS NON-HAZARDOUS PENSION SYSTEM IS ONLY FUNDING AT 16.8%.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY MEETING WITH MEMBERS IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW TO DISCUSS THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND WHAT OUR BUDGET WILL BE.

WE COULD GO ON WITH NEEDS AND NEEDS AND NEEDS.

SO THE QUESTION IS THAT WAS THE RIGHT POLICY DECISION.

FOR US RIGHT NOW TO MAKE ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO THIS FUND, AND I CERTAIN SUPPORT ESTABLISHING THIS FUND AND GETTING IT GOING.

IF WE ADOPT HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT 1, I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE END OF THE CONVERSATION OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT, HOW IT'S ALLOCATED OUT OF THAT FUND, AND I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHETHER I'M HERE OR SOMEBODYES IS HERE IN THE FUTURE, START LOOKING AT HOW POSSIBLE THAT FUND COULD BE APPROPRIATED IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK IT'S ON FAIR THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GENERATING REVENUE FROM THESE GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS, FROM THESE GAMBLING VENUES, PROVIDE SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS.

>> Casey: KOENIG SAID THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT IF APPROVED BY THE HOUSE BUT SAYS THE STATE SHOULD THINK LONGER-T JIM DUPLESSIS MADE THE SAME ARGUMENT ABOUT THE STATE LOOKIN LONG-TERM BUT MADE THE CASE WHILE SAYING LEGISLATORS SHOULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, HERE ARE THE CONCERNS.

I MEAN, YES, THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR FUNDING FROM THE PROBLEM GAMING FOLKS ARE STARTING $1.5 MILLION A YEAR UP TO $3.7 MILLION IN YEAR FIVE AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE WHERE IT WOULD CREST, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 15, MAYBE IF WE GET GOOD RETURNS, 20 YEARS OF LIFE IDENTITY THIS $50 MILLION.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE BEING HERE IN 20 YEARS.

HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ON A GOLF COURSE SOMEWHERE.

NOT MANY OF US WILL BE HERE IN 15, 20 YEARS.

I'M SURE THE GENTLEMAN FROM JEFFERSON 30 WILL STILL BE HERE.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE A STATEMENT WHICH IS A STATESMAN LOOKS FAR INTO THE FUTURE.

A POLITICS LOOKS PAST THE NEXT ELECTION.

A POLITICIAN LOOKS PAST THE NEXT ELECTION.

ARE WE GOING TO LOOK SHORT TERP?

ARE WE GOING TO THINK LONG-TERM IN.

>> I THINK $25 MILLION IS A BETTER NUMBER THAN $50 MILLION BECAUSE, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE PUT $225 MILLION TOWARDS A -- OR TOWARDS THE CREATION OF THIS GROUP AND THAT FUNDS THEM FOR 15, 20 YEARS, I MEAN, THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE NEED TO PUT THE POWER OF MONEY AND COMPOUNDING INTEREST TO WORK FOR OUR STATE.

SO LET'S START THE COMMISSION.

LET'S HELP FOLKS -- LET'S HELP FOLKS WHO HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM, BUT LET'S DON'T FUND THAT FOR 15, 20 YEARS.

LET'S FUND IT FOR FIVE YEARS, TEN AT THE MOST, MR. SPEAKER, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM SPENCER'S BILL WOULD DO, AND LET'S LET THE REST OF THAT $175 MILLION OR $150 MILLION GO TOWARDS PAYING THE PENSIONS DOWN, WHICH WOULD BE -- DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE WE PUT IT ON, COULD BE AS MUCH AS 7.5% COMPOUNDED INTEREST.

THAT'S BIG MONEY, FOLKS.

IN 20 YEARS WE'VE DOUBLED OUR MONEY TWICE BY PUTTING IT TO WORK TOWARDS LIABILITY, BASICALLY DEBT, INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT TOWARDS SOMETHING el >> Casey: THE HOUSE APPROVED TIPTON'S AMENDMENT, LOWERING THE .

APPROPRIATION TO $50 million THEN THE HOUSE PASSED HB SAVING ACCOUNT 9 TO ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMING 81 TO 14.

LAST MONDAY NIGHT, RENEE SHAW WAS JOINED BY LEGISLATORS CHRIS MCDANIEL, JASON PETRIE, REGGIE THOMAS AND BUDDY WHEATLEY TO DISCUSS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUDGET.

A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE BILL 1 IS CURRENTLY WORKING OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF TH BUT ON MONDAY, THE LEGISLATORS MADE CLEAR WHAT THEIR PRIORITIE WERE AND WHAT THEY HOPED TO MAKE .

IT INTO THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL.

>> AND TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT HERE WE WERE DEALING WITH A MASSIVE FINANCIAL ISSUE OF THE STATE'S PENSION SYSTEM, AND THAT ISSUE GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE-FOR-MANY, MANY YEARS, AND AS WE SET ABOUT THE STEPS TO DISCIPLINE OURSELVES TO PAYING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT INTO THAT PENSION SYSTEM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REGULARLY GOT SET ASIDE WAS EMPLOYEE RAISES, AND THE FACT IS WE HAVE CREATED THROUGH THAT A VERY GOOD DISCIPLINE FOR FUNDING THE PENSION SYSTEMS BUT NOT A VERY GOOD DISCIPLINE FOR APPROPRIATELY CHANGING PAY RATES INSIDE OF THE STATE WORKFORCE.

SO THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT WE HAD WAS TO BEGIN TO WORK ON ADJUSTING STATE WORKFORCE PAY SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN APPROPRIATE PEOPLE INSIDE OF GOVERNMENTAL SERVICE.

AFTER THAT WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZED, LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC PENSION PAYMENTS.

THOSE ARE KEY.

EDUCATION IS WELL OF HAD FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PRIORITIES, WHETHER THEY BE IN INFRASTRUCTURE OR JUSTICE, TO MAKE SURE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN APPROPRIATELY FUNCTION FOR THE PEOPLE IT'S CALLED TO SERVE, BUT LETTERS WE TOOK A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE SPENDING SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO INVEST THE IN STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND AS WELL AS HAVE MONEY LEFTOVER IN THE ENT OR FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT POLITE BE UNFORESEEN.

>> THIS BUDGET DOES NO FUND UNIVERSAL PRE-K WHICH WA WOULD CAUSE OVER THREE YEARS ONLY 340 MS. .

WE'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY, RENEE, TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN THE STATE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

WE'VE GOT TO MONEY TO DO THAT BUT WE DON'T THAT.

RENEE, WE DON'T EVEN FUND 52-DAY CAN'T WHICH WAS A.

>> Renee: SCHOOL -- FUND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTNER.

THEY SAY AFTER MEETING FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER THROUGH NOVEMBER, THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND CHAIRMAN PETRIE WILL TELL YOU THEY FUNDED THAT IN THE HOUSE.

THEY SAID WANT WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THAT.

THE SENATE JUST TAKES THAT AWAY.

AND THEN THIRDLY, RENEE, TEACHERS RAISES.

NOTHING.

THE SENATE BUDGET IS BASICALLY THUMBS THEIR NOSES AT TEACHERS.

>> THE HOUSE BUDGET DIDN'T HAVE THAT EITHER.

>> I THINK THEY'RE BOTH WRONG ON THAT.

THE GOVERNOR PROVIDED RAISES FOR TEACHERS.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FUTURE, RENEE, WHO SOMETIMES, WHO MANY TIMES COME OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS TO PAY FOR ITEMS, AND WE DON'T GIVE THEM A RAISE AT ALL?

>> THERE IS A LINE IN THE BUDGET THAT SAYS WE'RE ASKING THE LOCALS TO CONSIDER THOSE RAISES.

WE PUSH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT INTO THAL LOCAL DISTRICTS SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE DISCRETIONARY FUND EASED UP SO THEY COULD DEAL WITH RAISES INVEST OTHER THINGS THAT THEY HAVE.

UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BEEN I THINK SINCE ABOUT 2008 OR THEREABOUTS THERE'S BEEN A STATE MANDATED RAISE.

UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE NO HIRE ORE FIRE AUTHORITY OVER TEACHERS AT THE STATE LEVEL, UNLIKE 18A EMPLOYEES EXECUTIVE BRANCH, SO FORTH.

WE HAVE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM AND THEIR PAY SCALES AND HOW THEY'RE FUNDED.

WE DID NOT HAVE THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE HAVE MANY FROM THE KSEA BOARD ASSOCIATIONS OF HOW MANY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN GIVEN STYE BEND.

YOU INCREMENTAL AND FULL RAISES TO GO OVER THE TOP OF THAT WITH A BULLDOZER MENTALITY AND SAGGERING TO MANDATE THIS DESPITE WHAT OUR PAY SCALE NEEDS ARE AT THALLAL LO LEV AND YOUR HISTORY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL I THINK IS INISSUE RESPONSIBLE AND NOT A PROPER FUNCTION OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S A LOCAL FUNCTION IS WHAT THAT IS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WHEATLEY, YOUR TAKE OH THAT, PARTICULARLY THE RAISES FOR TEACHERS.

>> WELL RENEE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN TONIGHT, I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL FOR THE TEACHERS' RAISES.

YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRMAN TALKS ABOUT PUSHING THOSE DOLLARS OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND MAYBE NOT HAVING THE KIND OF CONTROL THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OVER THE HIRING AND FIRING OF TEACHERS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THOSE KIND OF DOLLARS -- WE HAVE DONE PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS TO PERHAPS BE INVOLVED IN LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SO PROVIDING A RAISE LIKE THIS WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BOOST, WE THINK, TO THE TEACHERS, AND IT SAYS A LOT, AND THERE'S -- WE KNOW THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH, THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO DESERVE THE RAISES, BUT TEACHERS TO NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET, THAL INTOIC GESTURE OF JUST THE RAISE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, WE HAVE THE DOLORES THIS TIME AND RECOGNIZING THESE ARE NOT OUR DOLLARS.

THESE ARE THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, AND WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE WITH THESE FUNDS.

WE DO HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT AT THIS TIME.

IT'S NOT A TIME TO BE FOOLISH WITH OUR DOLLARS, WITH THE BUDGET DOLLARS, BUT WE DO HAVE THE DOLLARS THIS TIME.

AND FOR MANY YEARS, AND I THINK THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE A&R HAD SAID SINCE 2012, WE PRACTICALLY HAVE HAD TO CUT EVERY YEAR AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A CONSERVATIVE OUTLOOK ON THE BUDGET, TOO, BUT THIS IS A TYPE THAT WE CAN BE BOLD, WE SHOULD BE BOLD.

>> Casey: YOU CAN SEE THE FULL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET FROM LAST WEEK'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF DAY 52 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR ses WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 11:00 EASTERN TIME FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, CALL 1-80 YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET.

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THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.