IT'S DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE, STILL WORKING ON A STATE BUDGET AND OTHER PROPOSALS.

THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD SELECTS A NEW EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WHO NOW AWAITS CONFIRMATION FROM THE STATE SENATE.

WILL THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESS CHILD CARE?

SOME NUMBERS SHOW THE CHALLENGE SOME PARENTS ARE FACING.

AND MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, INCLUDING NEW JOBS AND FEDERAL INVESTMENTS.

AS SPRING FINALLY ARRIVES, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMENT ON KENTUCKY, A LOOK BACK AND AMALSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY WORKING JLS TONIGHT, MA KENNA HORSILY, POLICE DETECTIVES REPORTER, CHRIS OTT, REPORTER FOR WDRV IN LOUISVILLE.

AND REPORTER FOR THE "HERALD-LEADER."

AND THE 150th RUN FOR THE ROSES WEEKS AWAY AND THE DERBY FESTIVALS GET UNDER WAY WITH THE PREVIEW.

LET'S START OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT FROM THIS WEEK.

THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS CHOSEN A KENTUCKIAN TO BE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

ROBBIE FLETCHER IS RIGHT NOW THE SUPERINTENDENT OF LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

HE HAS BEEN IN THAT POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

FLETCHER IS ALSO A FORMER PRINCIPAL IN MARTIN COUNTY, STARTED AS A MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER IN INEZ AND HAS DEGREES FROM MOREHEAD STATE AND U.K.

SOUNDS LIKE A COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE WITH A LOT OF KENTUCKY CREDENTIALS.

>> AS YOU SAID, HE HAS HAD A CAREER IN EDUCATION IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN CANDIDATED BY KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

HOW MUCH MORE KENTUCKY THAN THAT CAN YOU GET 1234 BUT HE TENTATIVELY, AFTER FACING SENATE CONFIRMATION, HAS A START DATE OF JULY 1 AND WILL BE APPOINTED AS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER UNTIL 2028.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE SENATE HAS HAD THE TASK OF VETTING AN EDUCATION COMMISSIONER AFTER A LAW THAT WAS PASSED LAST SESSION.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT GOES WITH SIX DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> DO WE KNOW THAT PROCESS?

WILL IT GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE AND THEN TO THE FLOOR?

DO WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WILL BE HANDLED?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE TREATED LIKE A RESOLUTION.

TYPICALLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF COMMITTEE HEARING AND THEN WE WILL SEE IT GO TO THE FULL SENATE.

>> WE HAVE SOME INDICATIONS THAT THE CONFIRMATION FOR THE COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE MAY NOT BE EASY.

TODAY KENTUCKY SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER DAMON THAYER INDICATED HE MIGHT VOTE AGAINST FLETCHER.

>> FROM WHAT I KNOW SO FAR, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE A NO VOTED IF HIS CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION COMES TO THE FLOOR, BUT IT'S STILL PRELIMINARY.

MY MIND COULD BE CHANGED.

WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE WE DO ON EVERY GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEE.

>> SO, FLETCHER HAS RESPONDED TO THAT, RIGHT?

>> YES, HE SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA EARLIER THIS EVENING THAT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF EARNING THE TRUST OF ALL LEGISLATORS IN ORDER TO GET THIS SENATE CONFIRMATION.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD WAS KIND OF CONSIDERING WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH CANDIDATES IN HER COMMENTS, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD SAID THAT FLETCHER IS AN AMBASSADOR AND A STATES PERSON AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP ABILITIES IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE CHOSEN FOR THIS POSITION, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

HE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THAT IN SEVERAL QUOTES AND ONLINE AS WELL.

HE TOLD THE BOARD THAT HE VIEWS THE TRUST FROM PARENTS AS ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS THAT AN EDUCATIONER CAN HAVE.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING TONE FOR HIM TO TAKE.

>> WHAT NOBODY KNOWS IS WHAT HAPPENS IF HE IS NOT CONFIRMED, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

THERE IS A CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT ABOUT THAT, VOIDING THE CONTRACT IF HE IS NOT APPOINTED BY THE SENATE.

BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>> THE NEW COMMISSIONER WILL START THE JOB AT A CHALLENGING TIME.

KENTUCKY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CAMPAIGN OVER PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL CHOICE.

SO, AGAIN, AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE WHERE HAVE YOU TO THREAD THE NEEDLE, THEY HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IT IS THE LEGISLATURE THAT PUT THIS AMENDMENT ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE AND POTENTIALLY DIVERTING SOME TAX DOLLARS TO PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

AND THEY ALSO NEED THEIR APPROVAL AND THEY WOULD WANT THEIR SUPPORT GOING FORWARD.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY TRICKY TO BE AN EDUCATION COMMISSIONER THESE DAYS.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DO HAVE TO-- YOUR CONSTITUENCY IS BROADER THAN JUST THE KIDS AND PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS.

SO TO SPEAK.

>> AND THEN THERE IS A MOVE TO SELECT THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FUTURE IN PARTISAN ELECTIONS.

WOULDN'T THAT CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THIS SHOW BEFORE, THAT THERE IS A TIME A FEW DECADES AGO WHEN THE IDEA WAS TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.

BUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THROUGH ACTIONS OF BOTH PARTIES, WE'VE SEEN EDUCATION BECOME PERHAPS THE TOP POLITICAL ISSUE AND I THINK THESE FUTURE MOVES AND THIS NEW SENATE CONFIRMATION IS JUST IN KEEPING WITH THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK FLETCHER'S TENURE AS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER COULD SEE A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN HOW PUBLIC EDUCATION LOOKS IN KENTUCKY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD MOVE MONEY AWAY FROM SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OR THAT COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING HE HAS TO FACE IF THAT GETS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC.

THERE IS ALSO THIS TREND OF MORE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

THAT'S NEW.

AND THESE PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.

SO WE ARE KIND OF SEEING A TREND OF MORE LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> WHAT DOES THE NEXT COMMISSIONER NEED TO DO TO KEEP FROM RUNNING AFOUL OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THE WAY THAT COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS DID AND ULTIMATELY LEFT WHAT WAS HIS HOME STATE AS WELL?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO WHAT THE CHAIR SAID ABOUT A STATES PERSON THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER, SOMETHING NEW WE HAVE SEEN BUT SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE WANTED DURING JASON GLASS' TENURE.

HE GOT A LOT OF HEAT FOR IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE LGBTQ STUDENTS AND HE EVEN SAID WHEN HE WAS LEAVING, HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PART OF IMPLEMENTING SENATE BILL 150 LAST SESSION.

AND THAT DREW THE IRE OF SOME LAWMAKERS.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING THIS SETUP.

>> KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

YOU AND I GO BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION WAS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

>> I MEAN WE HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE, AND BECAUSE THERE WAS A MOVE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT, I MEAN THAT WAS PART OF THE THINKING WAS TO GET POLITICS OUT OF SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE SORT OF GONE BACK TO SOME OF THAT NOW OR HEADED BACK TO THAT ANYWAY.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THIS ALL GOES.

KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT.

IT'S A BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE REAL RUSH OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A BUDGET AND DEAL WITH SOME OTHER PENDING BILLS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD COMMITTEE DAYS THIS WEEK AND DIDN'T GO INTO SESSION UNTIL THURSDAY.

BUT TWO DAYS WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A PROAT NEWSY WEEK.

MA KENNA, WE ARE HEARING ABOUT A POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THEIR DIFFERENCES AND THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF HASHING OUT THE DIFFERENCES AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE AND WE WILL SEE A VOTE NEXT WEEK.

>> AND BILL, ULTIMATELY, THAT SPENDING PLAN SPEAKS TO WHAT THE PRIORITIES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARE?

>> IT'S HOW YOU SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GO DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE OR THE LAST DAY TO GET THIS DONE.

I MEAN I WAS THERE AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS WHEN THEY PULLED PLUG ON THE CLOCK IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER AT MIDNIGHT ON THE LAST DAY SO THEY COULD GO INTO 2:00 IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET EVERYTHING DONE BY THE TIME THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP CONSTITUTIONALLY.

THIS IS NOT NEW TO MASH IT ALL TOGETHER AT THE LAST MINUTE.

>> UNPLUG THE CLOCK BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

ONE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THIS SESSION HAS BEEN HOUSE BILL 5, THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT.

SUPPORTERS SAY KENTUCKY NEEDS TO CRACKDOWN ON CRIME.

OPPONENTS THIS WEEK PRESENTED SOME NUMBERS SHOWING MOST CRIME IS DECREASING IN THE STATE.

AND THE ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE BILL HAS ALWAYS STIRRED A LOT OF DEBATE.

THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY BILL FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> YES, AND IT IS CURRENTLY WITH BESHEAR.

SOY SO HE CAN VETO IT OR SIGN IT.

EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN I ASKED HIM HIS PLANS FOR THAT BILL, HE SAID HE WAS CAREFULLY REVIEWING IT AND WOULD LOOK OVER IT TO MAKE SURE IT MAKES COMMUNITIES TRULY SAFER IN KENTUCKY.

HE DID VOICE SOME SUPPORT FOR THE CAR JACKING STATUTE THAT'S IN THERE, BUT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROVISIONS REGARDING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND ALSO COSTS TO INCREASE FOR CORRECTIONS.

>> THERE IS A LOT IN THIS BILL.

YOU NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO BEEN A PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND SORT OF AN INDIRECT WAY.

>> THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT IS INTERESTING JUXTAPOSITION RIGHT NOW.

MY COLLEAGUE, MARCUS GREEN UNCOVERED A FEW DAYS AGO, THAT THERE IS ALSO THIS-- IT'S CALLED COLLOQUIALLY, THE LOUISVILLE BILL THAT WOULD MAKE SOME CHANGES SUCH AS MAKING THE MAYOR AND METRO COUNCIL OF LOUISVILLE INTO NON-PARTISAN RACES, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME LANGUAGE ADDED TO THAT THAT WOULD SEEM TO STOP LOUISVILLE FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DUPLEXES, YOU KNOW, TRIPLEXES.

THEY CALL IT THIS MIDDLE HOUSING.

IT'S SHOT BIG APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BUT AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, MULTIUNIT BUILDINGS.

AND SO WE COULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE ON THE ONE HAND THE LEGISLATURE IS PASSING A BILL THAT MANY SEE AS CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WHERE HOMELESSNESS IS PERHAPS MOST ACUTE IN LOUISVILLE, ALSO MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BUILD HOUSING.

>> NOW WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT MAKING THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS PARTISAN, THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS AND MAKING LOUISVILLE ELECTIONS NON-PARTISAN, RIGHTS?

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PLAN AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY.

>> GET AGO DENGS LATE IN THE SESSION IS THE BILL THAT ADDRESSES ADULT BUSINESSES.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT WOULD PROTECT CHILDREN.

MANY SAY IT TARGETS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

DOES THAT APPEAR ON THE VERGE OF PASSAGE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK SO THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT ON THERE.

THIS IS A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED LAST SESSION, BUT IT WAS INTRODUCED KIND OF LATE IN THE SESSION, SO IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS LAST TIME SO THIS IS KIND OF ANOTHER ITERATION OF THAT.

>> IT'S NOT MOVED VERY QUICKLY THIS TIME EITHER THOUGH.

AND YOU MENTIONED LGBTQ, THE SPONSOR DID AN AMENDMENT TO TAKE OUT REFERENCE TO THE WORD DRAG IN TERMS OF DRAG SHOWS, BUT THE DESCRIPTIONS IN THE BILL STILL DESCRIBES A DRAG SHOW, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT DRAG SHOWS.

THERE IS ISSUES WITH THE DEFINITION AND I THINK IF IT DOES PASS ON THAT ISSUE, AT LEAST, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A CHALLENGE ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT GROUND THAT THIS IS ACTIVITY PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

>> IF I OWNED A STRIP CLUB, BILL, I MIGHT BE UP IN FRANKFORT LOBBYING FOR THE BILL.

THERE IS LANGUAGE ABOUT SUCH ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES CAN'T BE CLOSE TO THIS OR CLOSE TO THAT, CLOSE TO A SCHOOL, PARKS, ET CETERA, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR COMPETITION TO COME INTO THE MARKET.

>> WHAT IF ONE CHANGED OWNERSHIP?

WOULD THAT GRANDFATHER CLAUSE STILL BE... >> HAVE I NO IDEA.

>> EXISTING BUT I DON'T THINK IT SPEAKS TO THAT.

>> THERE IS A PROPOSED BILL THAT WOULD BAN VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS.

IT WAS NARROWED THIS WEEK TO ONLY AFFECT COVID VACCINES, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND THIS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK ON PARTY LINES.

AS YOU SAID, THIS ONLY TARGETS COVID VACCINES, TICHENOR HAS SAID SHE WANTS TO KEEP COVID VACCINES FROM BEING REQUIRED FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, EMPLOYMENT OR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT IN THE SESSION FOR THIS TO MOVE, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE ON A LOT OF THE BILLS.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

>> AND ONE THAT MIGHT STIR A LOT OF DEBATE.

>> IT'S ALSO WORTH ASKING, WHY ARE YOU TARGETING COVID AND NOT REQUIRED SHOTS WHEN KIDS ENTER SCHOOL OR T.B.

TEST FOR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS THAT ARE REQUIRED OR OTHER THINGS?

IT'S BECAUSE YOU KNOW, CORONAVIRUS COVID SHOTS GOT TANGLED UP IN THE WHOLE DEBATE OVER PERSONAL LIBERTY VERSUS PUBLIC HEALTH UNDER, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR SO.

AND PEOPLE SEEING IT AS A PERSONAL LIBERTY ISSUE TO NOT HAVE TO TAKE A COVID SHOT.

AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, IT'S TARGETING THIS.

>> DIVERSITY EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION DEI IN PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAS BEEN A MAJOR DISCUSSION THIS SESSION.

IS THERE LIKELY TO BE ACTION TO CURTAIL THOSE EFFORTS?

I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A MERGER OF TWO BILLS.

>> THE SENATE-- I'M SORRY, THE HOUSE BASICALLY REWROTE THE SENATE BILL TO INSERT THE LANGUAGE FROM THE HOUSE'S BILL INTO THE DEI VESSEL, AND THE LANGUAGE FROM THE HOUSE IS MUCH STRONGER.

IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, BAN ANY SORT OF RACE-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.

IT WOULD DEFUND UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE WHOSE JOB IS TO CARRY OUT DEI NISHS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WHAT THE SENATE DOES WITH THAT.

IT IS NOW OVER TO THEM AND WHETHER THE ULTIMATE VERSION IS SOME COMPROMISE OF THAT OR MOVES FORWARD AND STUDENTS ARE SORT OF RISING UP ABOUT THIS.

THERE WAS A PROTEST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE THAT I COVERED EARLIER THIS WEEK WHERE A FEW DOZEN STUDENTS CAME OUT AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SCHOOL'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AND PASSED A RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY OPPOSE THESE THINGS AND THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO PRESSURING THEIR ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE A STRONGER PUBLIC STANCE AND OF COURSE THAT IS TOUGH POLITICS FOR-- WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION.

>> THE LEGISLATURE WRITES THE CHECKS.

>> THE LEGISLATURE DOES WRITE THE CHECKS IN MANY CASES FOR UNIVERSITY PRIORITIES SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS AND THEIR APPROPRIATIONS AND SUCH AND SO, YES, THAT CAN BE TRICKY POLITICS AS WELL.

>> IT HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING DEBATE TO WATCH.

>> IT'S KIND OF RARE TO SEE A BILL COME OUT OF ONE CHAMBER, GO TO ANOTHER CHAMBER AND THAT PRIMARY SPONSOR DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE BILL LOOKS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WHEN SENATE BILL 6 WENT INTO A HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETING, THE PRIMARY SPONSOR, SENATOR MIKE WILSON WAS NOT PRESENT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE WILL DO WITH THE OVERHAULED VERSION.

THIS BILL GOES MUCH FARTHER THAN HIS ORIGINAL BILL DID.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WILL SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

BESHEAR HAS REPEATEDLY VOICED SUPPORT FOR DEI.

SO I THINK IT WILL LIKE LIKELY SEE A VETO FROM HIM ON THIS ONE.

>> DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAUCUS REGGIE THOMAS OF LEXINGTON HAS HIS WAY OF DISAGREEING WITH REPUBLICANS WHILE STILL BEING RESPECTFUL AND TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK THAT ON MANY SOCIAL ISSUES, AND ISSUES LIKE THIS ONE WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN TUNE WITH THE STATE.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE ARE ISSUES ON WHICH THE LEGISLATURE IS OUT OF STEP WITH THE MIND SET OF THE MARKET OF KENTUCKIANS?

>> OH I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY THAT.

DEFINITELY I WOULD SAY THAT.

YOU KNOW, KENTUCKIANS ARE GENERALLY FORWARD THINKING PEOPLE.

AND THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO GENERALLY GET ALONG WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES AND DIFFERENT GROUPS.

>> SO, BILL, AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE FROM THE SENATOR.

>> IT IS AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE.

YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION FOR INSTANCE WHERE SENATOR THOMAS SAYS THE LEGISLATURE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE STATE.

YOU CAN THINK VOTERS IN KENTUCKY TURNED DOWN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON ABORTION AND THEN LAST YEAR THEY RE-ELECTED BESHEAR IN A CAMPAIGN OVER DANIEL CAMERON WHERE ABORTION WAS A VERY KEY PART OF THAT RACE, SO YOU COULD MAKE A CASE THERE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE STATE ON THAT.

>> CHRIS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP PRATT IS A GEORGETOWN REPUBLICAN.

HE IS LEAVING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

HE PROPOSES SOME MAJOR CHANGES TO KENTUCKY'S CHILD LABOR LAWS.

>> YES, THIS BILL WOULD CONTINUE A PATTERN OF KENTUCKY REMOVING WORKER SAFETY REGULATIONS THAT THE STATE HAD CRAFTED ON ITS OWN AND REVERTING BACK TO THE BASIC FEDERAL STANDARDS.

SO, IN THIS CASE, THAT WOULD BE FOR TEENS WHO ARE WORKING-- THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF PROHIBITIONS IN THE LAW RIGHT NOW RELATED TO THE HOURS THAT THEY CAN WORK-- THAT ARE MEANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN ALSO GO TO SCHOOL.

I DID SEE THAT THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE ADDED BACK INTO THE BILL THAT WOULD RESTORE OR MODERATE IT A BIT TO WHERE BETWEEN 11 P.M. AND 6 A.M., TEENS ON SCHOOL NIGHTS COULD NOT WORK UNLESS THEY MET CRITERIA INVOLVING THEIR SCHOOL OR PARENTAL SUPPORT.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE CHILD CARE ISSUE.

IT APPEARS MOMENTUM HAS LOST FOR ANY MAJOR OVERHAUL BILL.

THERE IS SOME MONEY IN THE STATE BUDGET.

KENTUCKY FACES A CLIFF IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE LATER THIS YEAR.

>> YES, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE.

$330 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY AND ANNUAL FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THESE PANDEMIC ERA FUNDING BILLS THAT HAS BEEN PROPPING UP THE CHILD CARE SECTOR.

SO THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF THE BUDGET ARE NOT THE SAME.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT ULTIMATELY COMES OUT.

AND THE BASIC GIST OF IT IS THAT THE STATE IS PROPOSING TO SPEND A LOT MORE THAN THEY HAVE BEFORE ON SUBSIDIZING CHILD CARE; HOWEVER, IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT KENTUCKY WILL BE LOSING IN THESE FEDERAL PAYMENTS.

SO ONE EXAMPLE IS THEY CALL THEM STABILIZATION PAYMENTS BUT THEY'RE BASICALLY STRAIGHT UP SUPPORT CHECKS WRITTEN TO DAYCARES.

THAT'S WORTH ABOUT $200 MILLION.

AND THAT IS NOT IN EITHER VERSION OF THE BUDGET.

BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS IN THERE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, KEEPING THE STATE'S CCAP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PAYMENTS TO DAYCARES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN, KEEPING THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS HIGHER THAN THEY HAD BEEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND STILL ONLY ABOUT 80%-OF-THE- MARKET RATE OF TABLING CARE OF THAT CHILD.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE KENTUCKY WILL CHANGE THE WAY IT FILLS THE U.S. SENATE VACANCIES.

IT APPEARS WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS GOING FORWARD.

>> THIS WILL BE THE SECOND CHANGE SINCE 2021, WHEN WE CHANGED THE PROCESS LAST TIME.

THIS MOVED OUT THE SENATE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY A HOUSE BILL SO IT JUST NEEDS THE FLOOR VOTE OF THE SENATE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNORS GOVERNORS MUST CHOOSE AN APPOINTEE AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IF A SENATE VACANCY SHOULD ARISE.

SO THAT'S TO KEEP WHOEVER WAS ELECTED THAT PARTY IN OFFICE, IF SOMEONE WERE TO LEAVE OFFICE, BESHEAR HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THIS SINCE IT HAS BEEN FILED.

HE SAID THAT BEFORE HIS TENURE, GOVERNORS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHO FILLS THE SENATE VACANCY AND SHE CHALKED THIS UP TO PARTY POLITICS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES ON ANY VETOES THAT MAY COME ALONG AS THERE IS OFTEN A FESTIVAL OF VETO OVERRIDES AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HE DOES ON HOUSE BILL 509, THE OPEN RECORDS ACT, SORT OF ADDRESSES AND TWEAKS THAT.

>> I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.

IT WENT THROUGH THE SESSION, A LOT OF CONCERN THAT IT PUT SOME RECORDS OFF LIMITS TO BE DISCOVERED UNDER THE OPEN RECORDS ACT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE FINAL-- WHAT IT FINALLY COMES DOWN TO.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR SHOWED A NEW LEADERSHIP FOR HIS JUSTICE AND SAFETY CABINET AND FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE KEITH JACKSON HAD BEEN INTERIM SECRETARY.

HE WILL NOW GET THE JOB PERMANENTLY.

>> YES, SO THIS KIND OF COMES AS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONTROVERSY IN THAT CABINET.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR MORE STRICTER OVERSIGHT OF THE CABINET, ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES IN THE FUTURE.

>> RANDY WHITE WILL LEAD THE JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL.

THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING AREA.

>> AND AS AN INDICATOR OF HOW DIFFICULT THIS JOB IS, I THINK WHAT IS THE FIFTH OR SIXTH COMMISSIONER THERE IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS-- A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THAT JOB.

IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CRITICISM, A REPORT THAT SAID THERE IS TOO MUCH USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND PEPPER SPRAY, YOU KNOW, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, ON THESE TEENAGERS IN THESE JUVENILE JUSTICE DETENTION CENTERS.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT COMING TO BELL COUNTY PROVIDING MORE THAN 1500 JOBS AND PROVIDE POWER FOR MORE THAN 60,000 HOMES.

A HUGE HYDRO POWER PROJECT THAT WILL REPLACE AN OLD COAL MAIN.

>> INCREDIBLE NEWS FOR BELL COUNTY, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN HISTORY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

TODAY, WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE LEWIS RIDGE COLD TO PUMP STORAGE HYDRO POWER PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR $81 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS TO HELP CONSTRUCT A FIRST OF ITS KIND $1.3 BILLION PROJECT THAT IS A COAL-TO-PUMP STORAGE HIGH HYDRO POWER FACILITY IN BELL COUNTY.

>> BILL, YOU SAW SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS THERE FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

WHAT IS THIS FACILITY?

>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY A GIANT 60-ACRE RESERVOIR UP ON THE HILL AND THE WATER FLOWS DOWN FROM TURBINES TO A LOWER RESERVOIR AND GETS CAUGHT, GENERATES ELECTRICITY ON THE WAY DOWN.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY AKIN TO A PEEKING PLANT.

PROVIDE POWER UP TO 80 HOURS DURING PEAK TIMES DURING VERY HOT AND VERY COLD DAYS.

THAT SORT OF THING.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE IN WHICH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN INVESTING IN ALL, YOU KNOW, PUTTING GOVERNMENT MONEY INTO ALL SORTS OF CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS, INCLUDING IN KENTUCKY, NOT JUST THE FORD EV BATTERY PLANTS BUT I WAS JUST AT A BATTERY PLANT IN ELIZABETH TOWN, A PLANT THAT MAKES MATERIALS FOR EV BATTERIES, A JAPANESE COMPANY IS BUILDING THERE AND THE TREASURY SECRETARY CAME TO CELEBRATE THAT AND TALK ABOUT SOME 90 GOOD PAYING JOBS BEING CREATED THERE.

>> THE STOP GAPS KEEPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN OPERATION CONTAINED SOME MAJOR FUNDING FOR KENTUCKY, CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS ANNOUNCED 5 MILLION AND 45 MILLION FOR SOMERSET NORTHERN BYPASS.

OTHER BILLS CONTAIN SOME EARMARKS FOR FLOOD CONTROL, ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR SPACE PROGRAMS AT MOREHEAD STATE AND HAZARD.

BILL ROGERS HAS LONG BEEN AN ENIGMA, A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN THAT CONSISTENTLY KNOWS HOW TO BRING DOLLARS TO HIS DISTRICT.

>> CONSERVATIVE ON A LOT OF ISSUES BUT NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR BRINGING FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP HIS DISTRICT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE POORER ONES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO ROGERS HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED IT'S PROPER TO BRING THAT MONEY HOME.

FOR A WHILE, REPUBLICANS BAN ISSUED EARMARKS BUT BROUGHT THEM BACK SO HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT SYSTEM PRETTY SUCCESSFULLY.

>> IT IS HARD TO OVERSTATE THE INTEREST IN THIS YEAR'S 150th RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

A MILESTONE, IT MARKS THE COMPLETION OF SOME MAJOR RENOVATIONS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

CHRIS, THE DERBY FESTIVAL ACTUALLY STARTS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE PREVIEW.

>> HARD TO BELIEVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, CHURCHILL DOWNS IS THERE REALLY MAKING A BIG DEAL OF THIS SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY DERBY AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO THE TRACK ARE REALLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, IT IS WOW.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A BIG PART OF THEIR BUSINESS.

THEY ARE TRYING TO PREMIUMIZE THE EXPERIENCE AT THE DERBY, SELL HIGHER TICKETS AND IT'S A MEANINGFUL SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE COMPANY.

>> 43 DAYS AWAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE COUNTING FOR THE DERBY.

MAYBE WE'LL GET A LUCKY HORSE SINCE ALL OF OUR KENTUCKY TEAMS ARE OUT IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, RIGHT?

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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