LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL CALLS A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL GODSEND FOR KENTUCKY, BUT ALL O KENTUCKY'S GOP HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED NO.

A GRIM MILEPOST.

KENTUCKY PASSES 10,000 COVID DE THE TO-DO AND WISH LISTS KEEP GROWING FOR THE 2022 LEGISLATIV GOVERNOR BESHEAR GATHERS WITH SOME STATE TROOPERS AND SAID HE WILL PUSH FOR A MAJOR PAY RAISE FOR THEM.

FALL COLORS ARE POPPING BUT THE TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPING, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 AR JANET PATTON OF THE LEXINGTON H MARCUS GREEN, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND JOE SONKA OF.

THAT COVERS FRANKFORT AND ANYTHING ELSE IT GETS INTERESTED IN IN THE week.

ALSO TONIGHT, RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES NAVIGATE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS, AND THE SENATE CANDIDATES, RAND PAUL AND CHARLES BOOKER, HIT THE ROAD WITH VERY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS tonigh WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WILL SEND ABOUT ABOUT $5 BILLION TO .

PRESIDENT BIDEN INDICATED IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WHICH COVERS NORTHERN KENTUCKY, IT DO MEAN A FIXED TO THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS BRIDGES IN THE COUNTRY, AND SO MY GUESS IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CHOICE THAT YOUR GOVERNORS ARE GOING TO MAKE AND WANT TO GET DONE, AND WE CAN GET IT DONE NOW.

>> Bill: MARCUS, AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WILL BE IN IN TRILLION DOLLAR BILL FOR KENTUCKY, WILL THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE FINALLY GET FIXED?

>> Marcus: IT CERTAINLY SEEMS ITS MOMENT IS NOW.

THERE'S MONEY IN THIS MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT'S COMING TO KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE MANY BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT THE BRENT SPENCE COULD QUALIFY UNDER.

AND THIS POLITICAL WILL.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SIGNALED HE WANTS TO PUT SOME MONEY TOWARDS IT.

SENATOR STIVERS HAS INDICATED THIS AS WELL.

SO IT SEEPS LIKE IF IT'S GOING TO GET DONE, IF THIS COMPANION BRIDGE OF THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO GET DONE, NOW THE SOME TIME OF BRENT SPENCE.

>> Bill: THE LOUISVILLE BRIDGES ARE TOLLED AND THEY WERE BUILT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE FOLKS THERE WERE TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT DONE WAS TO HAVE A TOLL.

CAN THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY BRIDGE INTO CINCINNATI BE DONE WITHOUT A TOLL?

>> Marcus: IF WE SET ASIDE THE FACT THAT IN 2016 THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THAT SAID TOLLING WANT USE BE AN OHIO-KENTUCKY CROSSING, THERE SILL IS GOING TO BE SOME AFRICANS FROM LEGISLATORS IN LOUISVILLE IF IT'S DONE, IF THE BRENT SPENCE IS DONE WITHOUT TOLLS, AND THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE, AS YOU SAY, THIS WAS THE LINE THAT WE WERE GIVEN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME THAT YOU COULDN'T BUILD A MASSIVE MEGAPHONE IN KENTUCKY WITHOUT TOLLS.

THAT HAD TO BE PART OF THE FUNDING EQUATION.

AND SEEMINGLY THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OUT WOULD GIVE KENTUCKY THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR ITS SHARE WHICH IS ABOUT $1.3 BILLION OF THE BRENT SPENCE WITHOUT TOLLS.

AT LEAST THAT SEEMS TO BE TO GOAL OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE GOAL OF SOME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: IS THE I LIKELY A NEW BRIDGE OR COMPANION BRIDGE OR FIXING UP WHAT'S THERE LAUNCH THE PROJECT CALLS FOR A COMPANION BRIDGE SIMILAR TO LOUISVILLE WHERE A NEW I-65 BRIDGE WAS BUILT ALONGSIDE THE EXITING KENNEDY AND OTHER POTENTIAL RETROFITS TO THE EXISTING BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, REGARDLESS IT'S A MEGA PROJECT, ONE OF TWO ELLING MEGA PROJECTS IN KENTUCKY.

THE OTHER IS THE I-69 BRIDGE.

AND SO THIS BILL, REGARDLESS OF THE SCOPE OR WHAT'S ULTIMATELY DECIDED UPON AS FAR AS THE BRENT SPENCE SEEMS TO HAVE THE MONEY THAT CAN GET IT, IF NOT TO THE FINISH LINE, GET IT GOING IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY.

>> Bill: WOULD THERE BE LIKELY BE SOME PROJECTS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT KENTUCKY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF?

>> Marcus: IT'S A REALLY WIDE RANGING BILL.

THERE'S EVERYTHING FROM DAM REMOVAL TO WATER TO EVEN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.

THERE ARE $7.5 BILLION IN THIS BILL FOR A NETWORK OF NATIONAL CHARGING STATIONS FOR THE PROPOSAL IN HARDIN COUNTY IS GOING TO COME TO FRUITION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A NEED AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECOME MORE AND MORE PART OF OUR DRIVING INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO LOTS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.

LOTS OF MONEY OUT THERE.

IT ALL DEPENDS HOW THE RULERS WRITTEN AND WHAT KENTUCKY DECIDES TO APPLY FOR.

>> Bill: AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, JOE, I'M A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR ABOUT.

MR. LEVERIDGE THIS MONEY BE SENT TO THE STATE CAPITAL CATED BY THE LEGISLATURE, AS SOME OF THE OTHER FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN, OR DOES THIS COME WITH SO MANY STRINGS ATTACHED THAT YOU BETTER NAME YOUR PROJECT FIRST?

>> Joe: YEAH, I THINK ESPECIALLY THOSE FRATERNAL ORDER POOLS OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT STATES CAN APPLY FOR, ESPECIALLY THOSE, IF KENTUCKY APPLIES FORE THAT, THEN IT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE EARMARKED JUST FOR A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL LIKE THE BRENT SPENCE.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE POLITICS A LITTLE BARBECUE, AND WE CERTAINLY SAW THAT ON DISPLAY IN THE VOTE HERE.

A DEEP SPLIT AMONG KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS.

YOU HAD SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL CALL AT A GODSEND.

THE REST OF THE DELEGATION, ALL REPUBLICANS, VOTED AGAINST IT.

AND CONGRESS ANDMAN ANDY BARR CALLED THE BILL PART OF I, QUOTE, BIG GOVERNMENT SOCIALIST AGENDA.

SO THAT'S ALL INTERESTING.

>> Marcus: SOCIALIST ISN'T THE FIRST WORD YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT JIG WHO MITCH McCONNELL IS BUT THAT WAS THE LABEL THAT BARR AND MANY OTHER REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT ON THIS BILL THAT, OF COURSE, McCONNELL TRAVELED TO THE KENTUCKY AND CHAMPIONED AND SAID IT WAS LONG OVERDUE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR KENTUCKY.

I THINK WE'RE USED TO SEEING SENATOR RAND PAUL AND R THOMAS MASSEY KIND OF BUCK THE REST OF THEIR PARTY, BUCK McCONNELL ON CERTAIN VOTES, VERY SMALL GOVERNMENT REPUBLICANS, BUT IT'S KIND OF DIFFERENT TO SEE PEOPLE LIKE ANDY BARR STEP OUT AND SO HARSHLY CRITICIZE A BILL THAT MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE CHAMPION OF.

>> Bill: THE BRIDGE IS IN MASSEY'S DISTRICT.

>> Joe: THE NO VOTE DID NOT SURPRISE ME FROM THOMAS MASSEY.

WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, A VOTE FOR $1 TRILLION, HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO VOTE YES ON ANY KIND OF BILL THAT SPENT THAT MUCH.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL TERNAL BE FOLLOWING WHAT HAPPENS ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE PASSED A GLIM MILESTONE THIS WEEK.

10,000 COVID DEATHS IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF POPULATION OF VER SHALES OR MAYFIELD, AND MORE THAN 20 OF OUR COUNTIES HAVE LESS THAN 10,000 PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED SUNDAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

JANET, WE ALL KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A TIME OF GREAT LOSS, UNCERTAINTY.

WE WATCH THOSE NUMBERS CLOSELY AGAIN AS WINTER APPROACHES AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT WE KNOW THAT COVID IS UNPREDICTABLE.

>> Janet: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF STRANGE.

IT SEEMS TO BE ZIGZAGGING UP AND DOWN FROM KAY TO DAY IN TERMS OF -- DAY TO DAY IN TERMS OF NUMBERS OF POSITIVITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE PLATEAUED AT THIS POINT, AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR WHEN IT IS STARTED TRENDING BACK UP INTO THE WINTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WITH CHILDREN FIVE AND UP NOW ABLE TO GET VACCINATED AND WITH SO MANY MORE PEOPLE GETTING BOOSTERS SHOTS, THAT THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THOSE NUMBERS.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER STATES NOW IT'S REALLY STARTING TO LOOK GRIM AGAIN, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT THAT SCHOOLS ARE DROPPING MASK MANDATES IN SOME CASES AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY FOR SOME CASES.

>> Bill: UK HAS PLACED 24 EMPLOYEES ON LEAVE SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T COMPLY FULLY WITH THE COVID TESTING PROCEDURES THEY HAD IN PLACE.

>> YEAH, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT COMPLIED FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS AND IS THAT'S WHEN THE RULE WAS PUT INTO PLACE.

UK DOESN'T HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE.

WITH THAT THEY DO IS REQUIRE YOU TO BE TESTED WEEKLY AT UK IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, AND THESE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE OUT OF 20,000 EMPLOYEES SO THAT'S A REALLY SMALL NUMBER WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING ANOTHER IT IN THOSE TERMS.

ABOUT 1 FRISK STUDENTS ARE ALSO SORT OF NOT ABLE -- 146 STUDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES.

THEY ALSO HAVE NOT COMPLIED FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S LIKE 26,000 STUDENTS AT UK, SO THESE ARE STILL REALLY SMALL NUMBERS.

>> I KNOW YOU TALK TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESTAURANT.

OPERATORS AND SO FORTH.

HOW ARE NECESSITY RIGHT NOW APPROACHING OR PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF VACCINE MANDATES BECOMING THE RULE OUT THERE?

MOST OF THAT IS ON PAUSE RYAN BY THE COURTS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON HAS FILED ACTION TO STOP THAT.

BUT ARE MOST BUSES IN BUSINESSES IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY FACE CERTAIN PRESSURE FROM THE WORKFORCE AND MAYBE DIFFERENT PRESSURE FROM CUSTOMERS?

>> Janet: YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF -- YEAH, THEY HAVE TO BALANCE THIS BECAUSE IN A LOT OF CASES, I'VE SEEN BUSINESSES THAT ACTUALLY ADVERTISE, WE ARE 100% VACCINATED FOR RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES.

THOSE THAT DON'T SAY THAT IN MOST CASES ARE LARGELY VACCINATED, AND THEY HAVE TO WALK A FINE LINE BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID IF THEY -- IF THEY DO SAY, OKAY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED FOR A SMALL BUSINESS, FOR INSTANCE, THE VACCINE -- VACCINATE OR TEST WEEKLY IS ONLY FOR 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE, SO MOST SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

THEY JUST IN SOME MEASURE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY WORRY ABOUT LOSING THEM, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY ONLY LOSE ONE OR TWO, IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> Bill: AS THE HOLIDAYS QUICKLY APPROACH, RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS FACE THE WORKFORCE ISSUE THAT YOU WERE ALLUDING TO, AND SUPPLY SHORTAGES.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AT THIS MAKE IT OR BREAK IT TIME OF THE YEAR FOR SO MANY.

RIGHT?

>> Janet: A LOT OF RESTAURANTS TELL ME NEVER KNOW FROM WEEK TO WEEK WHAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON A DELIVERY TRUCK OR WHAT'S GOT NOT GOING TO BE AT SAM'S OR COSTCO WHICH THEY GO NOR WEEKLY SUPPLIES OR PRICES OF GONE WAY UP, AND I'VE HAD RESTAURANTS THAT SAY WE'RE A BARBECUE JOINT BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY RIBS RIGHT NOW SO THAT'S KIND OF OFF THE MENU.

>> Bill: THE MENUS JUST HAVE TO CHANGE.

>> Janet: THE MENUS HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS.

PRICES IN SOME CASES HAVE STARTED TO GO UP AT RESTAURANTS, AND MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, I THINK.

THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IS STILL A REALLY BIG PROBLEM, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS COME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT AND YOU'RE TOLD SILL STILL THERE'S NO PLACE -- WE CAN'T SEAT YOU, ONLY TWO TABLES, THAT THERE'S NO ONE TO WAIT ON YOU, IT STARTS TO BRING IT HOME.

>> Bill: THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE IS IMPACTING EVEN SCHOOLS.

I NOE KNOW THE FAYETTE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT CONSENT A LETTER HOME TO PARENTS ASKING FOR GRACE FOR CAFETERIAS WORKERS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE FOODS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE SERVING TO KIDS.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE FAYETTE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THAT THEY STILL ABLE TO SERVE HOT MEALS, SO NO KIDS ARE GOING HUNGRY.

THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF THE BREAKFAST ITEMS, THOUGH, THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS THINGS LINING POP-TARTS AND CEREALS, AND I THINK THE WAFFLE STICKS ARE -- FRENCHY TOAST STICKS ARE PARTICULARLY IN DEMAND.

>> Bill: RESTAURANTS, SCHOOLS, WHATEVER, PLAY UP WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO WITH THAT SAID, KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO PICK UP AND STATE TAX RECEIPTS WERE UP BY 10.5% IN OCTOBER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND THAT IS OUTPACING WHAT WAS PLANNED FOR.

SO, JOE, IT APPEARS THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE HEALTHY REVENUE COMING IN.

THERE IS A SURPLUS FROM LAST YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR.

IT APPEARS WE'RE ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER ONE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WITH THEIR HAND OUT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

>> Joe: YES, THERE ARE.

STATE WORKERS SALARIES OVER THE PAST DECADE HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY FLAT.

SOCIAL WORKERS ARE VERY -- HAVE VERY LOW SALARIES AND VERY STRESSFUL JOBS AND THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE RETAINING THOSE MEMBERS.

YOU HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE GOING TO WANT A RAISE.

POLICE ARE GOING TO WANT A RAISE.

THE SCHOOL FUNDING TASK FORCE WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT, THEY ARE PROPOSING FUNDING KINDERGARTEN, FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN GOING FORWARD.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RAISE THE SEEK FORMULA.

A A QUESTION OF HOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THERE AND -- TO SPEND BUT HOW THIN CAN YOU SPREAD IT AROUND TO EVERYONE THAT'S OVER THE PAST DECADE HAS NOT SEEN LARGE INCREASES OR ANY INCREASES ALL THE IN THEIR ALLOCATIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE CASES BEING MADE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR PROPOSED A MAJOR RACE FOR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE, AND IT WOULD INCLUDE A $15,000 BOOST FOR STARTING IF A FOR TROOPERS.

AND EVIDENTLY FOR ONGOING AS WELL FOR TROOPERS.

SO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING.

KSP COMMISSIONER PHILLIP BURNETT, JR. SAID THAT WOULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

>> THROUGH EXIT INTERVIEW ANALYSIS, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT OVER 70% OF THE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE RESIGN FROM OUR AGENCY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAVE CITED SALARY AS THEIR REASON TO LEAVING.

WITH THE EXPENSE OF FRANK A TROOPER, THIS IS A BUSINESS MODEL WE MUST CORRECT.

WITH THE EXPENSE OF TRAINING A TROOPER.

>> Bill: MARCUS, THERE YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE SAYING IT IS PAY THAT IS HIS BIG STUMBLING BLOCK RIGHT NOW.

MANCHES YEAH, AND HE CITED SOME REALLY DRASTIC NUMBERS IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FORM OFFICER LEVELS AND TROOPER LEVELS THAT ARE AT THEIR LOWEST SINCE 1988.

THERE WAS A DEFECT WHO SPOKE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE -- AISHA DEVELOPMENT SAID THEY'RE.

>> Al Cross: EVER AVERAGING EIGHT PEOPLE LEAVING PER MONTH, AND THAT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE NUMBER.

THEY'RE HOPING THAT BY INCREASING THIS PAY, THEY WILL MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO BECOME A TROOPER.

ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL INCLUDES A BODY CAMERA PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC BUT ALSO SOME PROTECTION FOR THE TROOPERS WHO MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY FALSELY ACCUSED, SO IT'S A TWOFOLD -- IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

POLICING HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND A LOT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY OVER THE PAST YEARS, AND WE'RE SEEING IS THAT MANY POLICE AGENCIES IN THE STATE, AS WELL AS AT THE STATE POLICE LEVEL.

>> Bill: SO, JOE, YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED $15,000.

CAN YOU SEE A MAYOR IS NOWHERE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ALLOCATE ANY LESS THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING FOR?

>> Joe: WELL, I THINK REPUBLICANS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE USED FUNDING THE POLICE AS KIND OF A WEAPON AGAINST DEMOCRATS IN CAMPAIGNS AND POLITICALLY, PUTTING THE DEFUND POLICE LABEL ON THEM, BUT HERE YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO IS PROPOSING A $15,000 A YEAR RAISE, SO ARE YOU NOT GOING TO MEET THAT?

IT WOULD BE HARDER TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, THAT DEMOCRATS ARE ANTI-POLICE OR WANTED TO DEFUND POLICE IF HE DIDN'T AT LEAST MATCH THEM, AND I YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY DECIDED, LET'S GO UP TO $20,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE ANXIOUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT'S A LARGE PART OF THEIR BIASES, LAW AND ORDER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY WILL FEEL THEY SHOULD MATCH.

>> Bill: A POSSIBLE A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

K-12 SCHOOL FUNDING SEEMS TO BE GETTING SOME TRACTION AHEAD OF THE SESSION.

THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM A TASK FORCE TO FULLY FUND ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, AND STUDENT TRANSPORTATION WHICH THE LOCAL DISTRICTS OFTEN BEAR A LOT OF THAT COST, AND TO REVISIT THE WAY ALL OF SCHOOL FUNDING ESSENTIALLY IS DONE.

>> USUALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING, YOU TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL FUNDING WITH PER PUPIL FUNDING.

THIS TOOK AT -- TACKLED THE ISSUE FROM ANOTHER ANGLE LOOKING AT THE LOCAL COST OF TRANSPORTATION, DEALING WITH THE FORMULA, WITH THE STUDENTS AND ATTENDANCE, SO IT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT TACK AND THE SAME KIND OF ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE SAY HOW DO WE FULLY FUND EDUCATION AND THEY'RE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK BESIDES JUST THE SEEK FORMULA.

>> Bill: JANET, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING WHEN A 20-21 ANNUAL KIDS COUNT COMES PUTS OUT WE HAVE THIS YEAR'S DATA FROM THE KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES.

ONCE AGAIN IT SHOWS REAL DISPARITIES, IMPROVEMENT OUT THERE BUT ALSO OBVIOUSLY SOME AREAS TO WORK ON.

>> Janet: YEAH, I MEAN, THE GOOD NEWS IS IN THE AGGREGATE THE NUMBERS HAVE IMPROVED.

IT USED TO BE ABOUT ONE IN FOUR KENTUCKY HAVE KIDS WAS IN POVERTY, NOW IT'S ABOUT ONE IN FIVE, BUT THE EXCEPTIONS ARE STARK AND GLARING, AND IF YOU LOOK A FAYETTE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY, MINORITY CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR AND, AND THIS IS MATCHING WHAT'S IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND SOME COUNTIES THERE, ABOUT 40% OF THEM ARE IN POVERTY.

SO YOU'VE GOT IN SOME CASES A BROAD-BASED IMPROVEMENT BUT THE EXCEPTIONS ARE QUITE DRAMATIC.

>> Bill: AND WHILE THERE IS THAT SHARED EXPERIENCE PERHAPS SADLY BETWEEN THE RURAL CHILDREN ON THE ONE HAND AND THE INNER CITY KIDS, HOW YOU GET AT THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE SOLUTION OTHER THAN MORE MONEY.

>> Bill: WELL, AWARE OF THE BUDGET SURPLUS HERE IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COMING IN, THE STATE'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ARE ALSO EYEING INCREASES.

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF CUTS, THEY'VE GOTTEN SOME SLIGHT INCREASES RECENTLY, BUT DR. AARON THOMAS OF THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY EDUCATION MADE IT CLEAR IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ME TODAY THAT THERE WILL BE A STRONG PUSH FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> WE'LL BE PUSHING MORE.

WE'RE DYLANING DOWN ON PERFORMANCE FUNDING.

WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON ASSET PRESERVATION.

WE'RE GOING FOR BUCKS FOR BRAINS THIS TIME.

THERE'S SOME MONEY IN LEGISLATURE.

OUR ARGUMENT IS WE ARE AN INVESTMENT.

WE GIVE YOU A 62% RETURN ON YOUR MONEY.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER WE'VE BEEN CUT IN THE PAST.

THIS IS ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: JOE, THERE YOU HAVE THOMAS TALKING INVESTMENTS IN RETURN, REPUBLICAN BUSINESS LANGUAGE.

>> Joe: THAT'S WHO YOU WANT TO APPEAL TO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FUNDS IN KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS AN AREA FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, AND YOU SEE STATE FUNDING GOING DOWN AND DOWN AS TUITION GOES UP AND UP.

THEY CERTAINLY WANT A PIECE OF THAT PIE AND BE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THAT LIST, CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: THOMAS MAKES THE CASE THAT HIGHER PAY MEANS MORE TAXES PAID TO STATE GOVERNMENT, AND SO IT ALL COMES BACK AROUND.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES IN HIGHER ED, AND I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH THOMPSON, HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS GROWING GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN ATTENDING COLLEGE, AND HE AM SCOLDED THE YOUNG MEN OUT THERE SAYING THEY ARE MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY BY NOT PURSUING DEGREES OR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS.

IT'S' TREND WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

>> I THINK THIS TREND HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR SOME TIME.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SIGHT LAID OUT SO STARKLY, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SOLUTION IS EXCEPT THAT WE NEED TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER, JOE.

WE NEED TO -- BILL, YOU TOO.

WE ALL NEED TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT DOES HAVE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES AND IT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON BECAUSE IT DOES FACTOR INTO HOW OUR SOCIETY IS GOING TO FUNCTION GOING FORWARD AND EDUCATION IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEDROCK OF A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS STATE AND IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Janet: I THINK WOMEN HAVE HAD IT SORT OF HAMMERED IN OUR HEADS FOR SO LONG THAT WE ARE AT AN ECONOMIC DISPARITY WHEN IT COMES TO SALARIES.

WOMEN TRADITIONALLY DO STILL MAKE LESS THAN MEN AND EVEN AS PROFESSIONAL LIVES GO ON, END UP WITH LESS IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER FACTORS, THAT WE HAD IT REALLY HAMMERED HOME TO US THAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY HERE.

YOU HAVE TO START OUT ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

>> Bill: JOE, YOU MENTIONED KSU.

THERE'S A $62,000 CONTRACT TO APPROVE BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR KSU TO HIRE A LOBBYIST FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> Joe: THE HIRE JOHN MCCARTHY'S FIRM WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD PERSON AND FIRM TO HAVE LOBBYING FOR YOU BEFORE THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO NEED SOME INFLUENCE TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH EMERGENCY FUNDS AS THEY GO CONSIDERING THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

>> Bill: ANY NEWS ON REDISTRICTING AND WHERE NAS?

ARE THERE SOME MA'AM MAPS DRAWN UP SENATOR THAT WE HAVEN'T IAN?

>> Janet: I'M CERTAIN THERE ARE.

EVERY DAY THAT PASSES IT LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION.

FROM EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD, GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SAID STIVERS, OSBORN KEEP COMING TO ME, SHOW ME THE MAPS, THERE'S A CHANCE I COULD DO THAT, BUT IF THEY DON'T DO THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SCRAMBLE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY ON PUSHING BACK THE FILING DATE.

SO THAT'S -- ODDS DON'T LOOK GREAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: KENTUCKIANS PAUSED TO HONOR VETERANS ON THURSDAY.

THERE WERE LOTS OF COMMEMORATIONS AND GESTURES BY BUSINESSES AND SO ON.

MARCUS, THE GOVERNOR, YARMOUTH AND OTHERS ALL SPOKE IN LOUISVILLE AT WHAT WILL BE A NEW VA HOSPITAL THAT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING.

>> IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 15 YEARS IN MAKING.

MAYBE LONGER.

THIS NEW FACILITY WILL REPLACE AN AGING HOSPITAL, MORE THAN 100 BEDS OPEN BY 2025.

AND LIKE MANY THINGS IN LOUISVILLE THIS HAS BEEN SLOW SLOGGING BECAUSE OF WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT, LOCATION, AND ALSO FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT, BUT AFTER YEARS AND YEARS OF DEBATE, IT'S FINALLY HAS HAD GROUND BROKEN, SO WHAT THE WILL BE INTERESTING FROM A LOUISVILLEAN PERSPECTIVE IS TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT AREA.

IT'S ALREADY A VERY CONGESTED AREA ON THE OUTDEFICITS LOUISVILLE BY THE WATER AND EXPRESSWAY SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> Bill: CAMPAIGN '22 OBVIOUSLY OFF AND RUNNING, JOE, SENATOR RAND PAUL TRAVELED THE EASTERN STATE, MET WITH VETERANS GROUPS AND OTHERS.

DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKER GOT AN IMPORTANT ENDORSEMENT FROM THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONGRESS KONGMAN JOHN YARMOUTH ENDORSE HIM AND WITH THIS ENDORSEMENTIT LOOKS LIKE BOOK MAY BE CLEAR IN TERMS OF PRIMARY.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT THE PRIMARY SO YOU DOES LOOK LIKITES GOING TO BE BOOKER VERSUS PAUL GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE TIME BEING.

IT'S RARE YOU SEE A CONTRAST, SO STARK BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES IN TERMS OF THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN SOCIETIER WHEN YOU HAVE BOOKER CALLING FOR A MASSIVE INVESTMENT TO END POVERTY AND YOU HAVE RAND PAUL, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST SMALL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES.

HE WANTS TO LOWER THE POWER AND THE TAXATION AND THE SPENDING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY SHAPING UP FOR AN INTERESTING RACE.

CERTAINLY THE TIDES IN KENTUCKY SEEM TO BE ON RAND PAUL'S SIDE DEFINITELY BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: IN THE I 3rd DISTRICT THAT OPEN SEAT FER YARMOUTH IS MORNING McGARVEY, ATTICA SCOTT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND WE'RE NOW HEARING FROM A FORMER DEMOCRATIC CHAIR JENNIFER MOORE, AND SHE REVEALED TO YOU A TIMELINE.

>> SHE TOLD ME LAST MONTH THAT WE WOULD BE DECIDING SOON, AND SHE TOLD ME TODAY THAT SHE'S GOING TO MAKE HER DECISION BY THE END OF THE YEAR, SO THAT'S STILL QUITE A WAYS AWAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, McGARVEY KEEPS PICKING UP ENDORSEMENTS AND GETS LARGE FUNDRAISING MONEY.

THE MORE THAT MOORE SITS OUT OF THIS, THE POSSIBLY IT'S EASIER FOR McGARVEY TO GAIN MORE MOMENTUM AND HARDER FOR HER TO GET BACK IN.

>> Bill: A JUDGE RULED JIM JUSTICE SHOULD WITH A KENTUCKY $2.9 MILLION OVER VIOLATIONS A SOME EASTERN KENTUCKY COAL MINES AND WE'RE WATCHING THAT.

>> Joe: THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AS WELL BUT, OF COURSE, THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL THIS MONEY BE COLLECTED, WILL IT BE COLLECTED, AND SO -- BUT, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE TAKE A STEP BACK.

THIS IS A GOVERNOR OF THE STATE BEING TOLD HIS COMPANY HAS TO PAY.

WILL HE PAY?

WE'LL INTERESTED TO.

>> Marcus: WE KNOW WHERE HE LIVES.

>> Bill: ON THE BORDER.

JANET, YOU REPORTED A BIG BEAUTIFUL HORSE FARM THAT IS LISTED FOR SALE.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Bill: NO PRICE LISTED.

>> Pastor: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WITH THAT TO GET ME FOR CHRISTMAS, DINA SPRINGS IN PARIS, IT WAS BUILT BY FRANK STRONACH.

IT IS DOES LOOK LIKE AN AUSTRIAN CASTLE AND IT IS 2300 ACRES I THINK, ROOM FOR ABOUT 1,000 HORSES, SO YOU CAN REALLY SPREAD OUT AND MAKE SOMETHING THERE, BILL BINGE ALL UNDER ONE FENCE.

>> Janet: IT'S ONE CONTIGUOUS PROPERTY.

IT'S ASSESSED I THINK THE FAIR MARKET VALUE UNDER THE PDA IS $20 MILLION.

I THINK IT WILL GO FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> Bill: EL WAVE TO CHECK THAT OUT.

THERE IS A NEW LEADER FOR THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION.

TUCKER DAVIS WHO WORKED IN INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN THE JOB OF ADVOCATING FOR COAL AND KEEPING IT IN THE MIX OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND IN ADDITION TO VETERANS-DAY THURSDAY ALSO MARKED THE 47th ANNIVERSARY OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WHICH FIRST AIRED NOVEMBER 11, 1974.

THAT TRADITION CONTINUES, AND BY THE WAY, STAY WITH US FOR A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO FOUNDING HOST AL SMITH HOSTED BY RENEE SHAW.

THAT'S NEXT.

AND NEXT MONDAY, "KENTUCKY TONIGHT," A CONVERSATION ABOUT STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS.