REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

SOME GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS RETURNED FOR I A NEWSPAPER OFFERS A REWARD TO CATCH VOTE BUYING.

THE U.S. SENATE RACE HEATS UP AS BOTH CANDIDATES DROP NEW ADS.

WITH ABORTION ON THE BALLOT, OPPOSING SIDES WORK TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE AMENDMENT.

THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENTS IN A CHALLENGE TO THE STATE'S EDUCATIONAL CHOICE LAW.

MIDWAY THROUGH OCTOBER, MORE FROST ON THE PUMPKINS, 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 TESSA DUVAL, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD- JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN LOUISVILLE.

AND MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALSO TONIGHT, MONEY ROLLS INTO FRANKFORT FAST ENOUGH TO TRIGGE AN INCOME TAX REDUCTION.

BUT LET'S START OUR DISCUSSION THE RACE AT THE TOP OF THE KENTUCKY ELECTION BALLOT.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR RAND PAUL AN DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHARLES BOOKER RELEASING NEW ADS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THEIR VOTERS ENE.

>> AS A VETERAN MY FEELINGS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG ABOUT CHARLES BOOKER, ABOUT VOTING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

HONESTLY I'M DISGUSTED WITH RAND PAUL.

ANYBODY THAT WOULD SAY, HEY, JOHN, YOU DIDN'T REALLY SERVE, YOU DIDN'T GET SICK BECAUSE YOU WERE IN CAMP LEJEUNE, IT'S INSULTING.

>> I'M RAND PAUL.

I MADE IT MY TOP PRIORITY TO HELP OUR VETERANS.

FOR YEARS VETERANS HAVE STRUGGLED DRIVE LONG DISTANCES TO FARAWAY VA HOSPITALS.

EVERY DAY I WORKING WITH VETERANS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY DESERVE.

>> Bill: SO, MORGAN, THERE WERE NO DEBATES IN THIS RACE.

PAUL HAS A LOT MORE MONEY TO SPEND, SO BOOKER HAS TO MAKE EVERY DOLLAR COUNT AS HE TRIES TO REACH VOTERS.

IS HE -- WHAT DO THEY DO AT THIS POINT?

OBVIOUSLY NOW VETERANS NOW AN ISSUE LATE IN THE GAME HERE.

>> Morgan: SURE.

I MEAN, IT'S COMMON TO SEE CANDIDATES TRY TO TALK DIRECTLY TO VETERANS WHO VOTE ABOUT WHY THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR THEM, AND YOU KIND OF SEE IN THAT AD SENATOR PAUL SEEMS TO BE SORT OF EMPHASIZING HIS CONSTITUENT SERVICES, HIS OFFICE WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH VETERANS.

ON THE FLIP SIDE YOU HAVE BOOKER WHO IS MAKING HIS CORE ARGUMENT IN A LOT OF WAYS WHICH IS SORT OF TRYING TO ARGUE THAT SENATOR PAUL AT BEST PROVIDES LIP SERVICE TO HELPING KENTUCKIANS OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, DEMOGRAPHICS OR PLACES, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DO THAT IN PRACTICE.

EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS, AND RAND PAUL IS DEFINITELY DOMINATING THE AIRWAVES.

>> LIKE YOU SAID WITH RAND PAUL HAS MONEY TO SPEND BUT CHARLES BOOKER SIMPLY DOES NOT.

I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT BOOKER HAS NOT HAD AN AD ON TV SINCE AUGUST AND CURRENTLY HAS NO BUYS PLANNED FOR OCTOBER, AND SO HE'S REALLY RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THAT'S FOCUSED VERY LARGELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GETTING PEOPLE TO SHARE HIS CONTENT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HIM ON TV AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A ONE-SIDED RACE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TV AD BUYS.

>> Bill: AND YOU MIGHT WONDER IF THE ISSUES WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF THERE WAS PARITY IN THE SPENDING BUT AGAIN, PAUL CAN RUN SEVERAL DIFFERENT MESSAGES AT ONCE BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT HE HAS, SO HE WAS TALKED ABOUT FIGHTING INFLATION AND OPPOSING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA, AND THEN HE LAST WEEK TALKED ABOUT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.

IS HE LOOKING AT POLLING THE CHOSEN WHAT RESONATES WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS?

>> WELL, I THINK LIKE YOU SAID HE'S GOT THE MONEY TO SEND SEVERAL MESSAGES BUT CERTAINLY THE TRANSGENDER ATHLETES, THERE IS YOU SEE A KENTUCKY ATHLETE IN THAT AD SO SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE IN HIS HOME STATE THAT HE REPRESENTS.

YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A CULTURE WARS, SOCIAL ISSUE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE PRONE TO VOTE FOR RAND PAUL REALLY CARE ABOUT.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, THIS RHETORIC FROM SENATOR PAUL AND FROM OTHER REPUBLICAN POLITICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE UP FOR OFFICE ABOUT BASICALLY BEING CRITICAL OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES COMPETING IN SPORTS IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN MANY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND ANTI-LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING STEPS TO RESTRICT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS' ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LIFE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE RESTRICTED BASICALLY SAID THAT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, AS YOUNG AS MIDDLE SCHOOL, CAN'T BE ON THE SAME SPORTS TEAM THAT MATCHES THEIR -- THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

AND THIS IS COMING ALSO AT A TIME WHEN YOU SEE WITH THIS RHETORIC AND YOU SEE A PROMINENT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THAT DEALT WITH THREATS AND HARASSMENT RECENTLY FOR PROVIDING GENDER-AFFIRMING, CARE FOR TRANSGENDER PATIENTS, SO THIS IS ALL KIND OF IN THE ATMOSPHERE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: AGAIN, BOOKER BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO GET ON TELEVISION, IS HAVING DIFFICULTLY RESPONDING TO ANY OF PAUL'S CHARGES, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND WE DID TALK ABOUT EARLIER HOW THERE WAS NO DEBATE IN THIS RACE, BUT CHARLES BOOKS DID REP KET'S INVITATION TO COME ON, AND SKO THAT GAVE HIM A HALF HOUR TO TALK ABOUT DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS, AND AGAIN WITHOUT THE MONEY TO PUT ADS ON TV THAT IS SOMETHING HE HAD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

>> Bill: MORGAN, DEMOCRATS HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO THREAD THE NEEDLE AND WIN IN KENTUCKY AS ANDY BESHEAR DID IN 2019.

OFTEN A LOT OF DIFFICULTLY WINNING OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

DOES BOOKER HAVE TO FIND PLACES WHERE HE CAN MAKE INREEDS IN THESELY LAST THREE WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN?

>> Morgan: ABSOLUTELY.

AND ESPECIALLY WINNING STATEWIDE, IT CAN BE HARD JUST TO WIN LIKE A LOCAL RACE AS A DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY THESE DAYS, BUT WINNING STATEWIDE IS, YOU KNOW, SUPER HARD.

SO, YEAH, I THINK BOOKER COULD LOOK AT BESHEAR'S PLAYBOOK.

HE HAD VOTERS TURN OUT IN HUGE NUMBERS COMPARED TO -- WHO VOTED FOR THE OTHER GUY IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

HE FLIPPED CAMPBELL AND KENTON COUNTIES IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THEY VOTED FOR BESHEAR INSTEAD OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

WON WARREN COUNTY WHICH IS ANOTHER BIGGER COUNTY WITH A COLLEGE.

AND ALSO EVEN IF HE LOST LIKE SOME SUBURBAN PLACES LIKE OLDHAM COUNTY NOT BY MUCH SO KIND OF SHRINKING BY HOW MUCH YOU LOSE BY IN THOSE CASES AND FLIPPING KEY COUNTIES COULD BE SIGNIFICANT.

>> SENATOR PAUL AND SENATOR McCONNELL APPARENTLY AT A FUNDRAISER IN LOUISVILLE TONIGHT FOR OHIO SENATE CANDIDATE J.D.

VANCE, SO THAT WAS INTERESTING REPORTING THIS AFTERNOON.

IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA THAT PAUL IS COMFORTABLE SPENDING HIS TIME, TESSA, HELPING ANOTHER CANDIDATE AT THIS POINT.

>> Tessa: YEAH, GOING BACK TO THE MONEY, GOING BACK TO NOT FEELING THE NEED TO APPEAR TO KET, HE HASN'T EVEN REALLY ADDRESSED CHARLES BOOKER IN MANY OF HIS ADS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO, TO BE TOTALLY HONEST.

>> Bill: SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS IS URGING KENTUCKY VOTERS TO READ THOSE TWO PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BEFORE GOING TO THE POLLS TO TRY TO KEEP THE LINES MOVING.

IN FACT, STATE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO BE AT THE POLLING PLACE THERE TO MARK YOUR BALLOT.

THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CERTAINLY ARE CONSEQUENTIAL.

AMENDMENT 2 ON ABORTION IS NOW GETTING MORE ATTENTION WITH THE GROUPS PUSHING FOR IT AND AGAINST IT, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN MANY CASES, MORGAN, YOU'LL SEE NEIGHBORS WITH OPPOSING SIGNS UP, SOMEBODY ACROSS THE STREET OR NEXT DOOR.

THAT'S A PRETTY BASIC DISAGREEMENT WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD, ISN'T IT?

>> Morgan: SURE.

IT'S SAFE TO SAY SMOG LIKE ABORTION I THINK IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE HOE DOESN'T HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON IT AND OFTEN A PRETTY STRONG PERSPECTIVE.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE WITH AMENDMENT WHICH WHICH IS ON THE BALLOT AND GIVES KENTUCKIANS A CHANCE TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO CUT OFF THE POSSIBILITY OR -- OF RESTORING ABORTION ACCESS IN THE STATE WHERE IT'S MOSTLY BANNED NOW, YOU VOTE YES TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS REMAINS REDUCED OR IF YOU THINK YOU WANT TO LEAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE ABORTION ACCESS HERE, YOU VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT AND 2, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE MAYBE WE'LL SEE JUST HOW STRONG IS THE DISAGREEMENTS ARE IN DIFFERENT AREAS DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME PLACE CAME OUT TO VOTE YES VERSUS NO.

>> Bill: THE QUESTION IS HOW STRONG ARE THESE CAMPAIGNS.

HOW STRONG DO THEY HAVE TO BE TO CARRY THE DAY, THE CAMPAIGN VOTING NO ON AMENDMENT 2 HAS RAISED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY.

YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS THAT HAVE COME IN.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> Tessa: THE SIDE URGING VOTERS TO SAY NO HAS RAISED MORE THAN $3 MILLION COMPARED TO THE YES FOR LIFE GROUP WHICH HAS RAISED ABOUT $600,000, SO THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE DISCREPANCY, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OUTSIDE GROUPS, SO ON THE YES SIDE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PUMP MONEY INTO THAT.

ON THE NO SIDE YOU'VE GOT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, ACLU, A LOT OF GROUPS LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS AND ARE HOPING FOR A REPEAT IN KENTUCKY.

BUT MY COLLEAGUES REASONABLE HAD A STORY LOOKING AT VOTER REGISTRATION, AND WHILE VOTER REGISTRATION AMONG WOMEN WAS UP IN SEPTEMBER, IT WASN'T REALLY BEFORE THAT AND NOT IN THE SAME SURGE THAT KANSAS SAW AHEAD OF ITS ABORTION VOTE, AND SO IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS A SIGN MAYBE NOT AS GOOD FOR THE FOLKS URGING THE NO VOTE.

>> Bill: IF YOU TRY TO READ TEA LEAVES, A LOT OF THINGS TO LOOK AT.

THE PRO-LIFE YES FOR LIFE ALLIANCE HAD AN OP ED PUBLISH IN HERALD-LEADER YESTERDAY URGING VOTERS TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT 2.

THEY SAID POINTEDLY, AND IN PART, ABORTION IS NOT HEALTH CARE.

JESS, IS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY?

>> Jennifer: YES, H. >> Jess: YES, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS WATCHING THIS ISSUE VERY CLOSELY, AND I THINK THAT IF YOU TALK TO MOST DOCTORS THEY WOULDCH VERY DISAGREE WITH THAT OP ED.

THE DOCTORS I'VE TALKED TO SAY ABORTION CARE IS PART OF THE TOTALITY OF CARE THAT DOCTORS PROVIDE TO WOMEN AND PEOPLE WITH UTERUSES, AND PREGNANCY IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES MEDICALLY IN A PERSON'S LIFE, AND THINGS DO GO WRONG, AND SO DOCTORS SAY THEY WANT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITY OF ABORTION CARAT THEIR DISPOSAL SHOULD THINGS GO WRONG AND THEY NEED TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

>> Bill: I WILL MAKE NOTE THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS WAITING TO SEE THE RESULT OF THIS BEFORE THEY MAKE A RULING ON THE KENTUCKY TRIGGER BAN, TRIGGER LAW ON ABORTION, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

ONE WEEK AFTER VOTERS GO TO POLLS, THE SUPREME COURT WILL ESSENTIALLY TAKE UP THIS ISSUE.

>> Bill: TESSA, AMENDMENT 1 ABOUT WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE CAN CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION IS REALLY THE LONG READ.

THAT DETAIL IS REQUIRED UNDER A SUPREME COURT RULING IN THE CASE MATTERS' LAW BECAUSE -- MARSY'S LAW BECAUSE THAT WAS PASSED WITH A OVERREPLILY SIMPLIFIED READ FOR FOLKS AT THE POLLS, AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID, NO, THE WHOLE THING THAT IS TO BE ON THERE, AND SO IT IS THIS YEAR.

>> Tessa: RIGHT.

AND TALKING ABOUT POSTAGE EARLIER, THAT IS HOW LONG AMENDMENT 1 IS, IS THAT VOTERS WILL NEED TWO STAMPS TO SEND THEIR BALLOT BACK.

IT'S ALMOST 160 WORDS.

THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT TO READ IT BEFORE YOU GO TO THE POLLS.

YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR EYES TO GLAZE OVER BEFORE YOU VOTE.

>> Bill: AND WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT COMMAND BECAUSE THAT, MORGAN, WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN FRANKFORT, RIGHT?

>> Morgan: ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT NOW KENTUCKY IS NOT ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAS A LEGISLATURE THAT IS PASSING LAWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A SET PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THEY COME IN IN JANUARY AND THEY LEAVE BY APRIL, AND THAT'S IT.

SO THIS, THOUGH, AND THE ONLY WAY IT CAN COME BACK IS IF THE GOVERNOR CALLS THEM IN AND SAYS, HERE'S YOUR AGENDA OF WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER PASSING.

AND RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR IS A DEMOCRAT, AND THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LEADING IN THE LEGISLATURE, SO THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SESSION WHEN IT FEELS THE NEED AND TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON WHEN THEY MAKE LAWS.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN TERMS OF THE POWER BALANCE AND THEIR INTERESTS TO PASS LEGISLATION.

>> Bill: DOES THE SHEER LENGTH AND DETAIL OF THAT AMENDMENT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PASS?

>> Tessa: I WOULD THINK SO.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING PERHAPS OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, THERE'S JUST SORT OF AES HESITANCY TO APPROVE THAT.

LEAVE IT AT STATUS QUO.

IF THEY BROKE, WHY FIXES IT KIND OF THING.

>> Bill: JESS, THERE BE A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE AND LOCAL RACES TO WATCH, AND IT APPEARS A LOT OF CONTENTIOUS SCHOOL BOARD RACES ACROSS THE STATE AND CERTAINLY THE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA.

>> Jess: YEAH, THE SCHOOL BOARD RACES ARE GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.

THE CYCLE.

MOSTLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY SINGLE INCUMBENT.

THERE'S FOUR RACES.

HAS DRAWN A VERY CONSERVATIVE CHALLENGER.

AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS MOVEMENT OF VERY MOBILIZED CONSERVATIVE PARENTS WHO FIRST MOBILIZED AROUND BEING OPPOSED TO REMOTE LEARNING DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEN MASK MANDATES.

AND FINALLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO CURRICULUM THAT CENTERS BLACK VOICES, LGBTQ VOICES THAT THEY REFER TO AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

SO THESE CANDIDATES COME OUT OF THAT ULTRA CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT.

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE -- THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN KENTUCKY THAT WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE HOW THOSE YARDS GOING TO TOMORROW AT THE POLLS, AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT VOTERS THINK ABOUT THOSE IDEAS.

>> Bill: AND, MORGAN, IS SENATOR McCONNELL'S SPHERE SORT OF INVOLVED IN THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE TO SOME EXTENT?

>> Morgan: IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL GOT A COPY OF A LETTER THAT WENT OUT KIND OF INVITING FROM A BUSINESSMAN-NIGHT INVITING FOLKS TO DETAIN TO THIS PAC THAT WOULD THEN SUPPORT REPUBLICAN BILL DURHAM'S CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR, AND THE LETTER SAID, YOU KNOW, FOR MORE INNO ON THE PAC, ESSENTIALLY CONTACT THESE TWO GUYS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO McCONNELL INVOLVED IN REPUBLICAN HERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE INVOLVED.

REPUBLIC POLITICS.

NOT LIKE A DIRECT McCONNELL IS STUMPING FOR DURHAM BUT CERTAINLY THIS OUTSIDE GROUP THAT'S GOT CONNECTIONS AND IS SAYING VOTE FOR HIM.

>> Bill: AND THEN THE DEMOCRATIC MAYOR NOR GOVERNOR CRAIG GREENBURGH RAN AN AD ON ABORTION THAT HAS CAUSED SOME STIR.

>> Morgan: CRAIG GREENBERG HAS BEEN EMPHASIZING THAT E HE OPPOSES THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON ROE V. WADE.

HE SAID HE WENT HAVE LOUISVILLE POLICE PURSUING CRIMINAL CASES FOR PEOPLE PROVIDING ILLEGAL ABORTIONS AND PUSHED THAT IN AN AD.

ON THE FLIP SIDE REPUBLICAN BILL HAS DEAD GREENBERG IS MAKING IT SEEM LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE POLICE HUNTING DOWN PREGNANT PEOPLE FOR ABORTIONS, WHICH YOU CAN'T EVEN BE CHARGED IF YOUR PREGNANT AND GET AN ABORTION HERE IN KENTUCKY ANYWAY SO HE KIND OF ARGUES THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ABOUT.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF VOTING, SOME FILLING OUT THOSE ACTEE BALLOTS AND SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN MAILED IN AND RETURNED FOR INSUFFICIENT POSTAGE.

DES A, IN 2021 THE STATE PICKED UP THE COST POSTAGE.

NOT THE TIME.

>> Tessa: 2020 WAS A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE, WE HAD EMERGENCY MAIL-IN VOTING.

THERE WAS NO VACCINE YET.

YES.

JUST A VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> Bill: AND I INTERVIEWED THE SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS THIS WEEK WHO SAID THAT YOUNGER KENTUCKIANS ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO GO TO THE POLLS THAN OLDER VOTERS, AND ADAMS SAID THAT'S PART OF AN OVERALL TREND WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE.

>> Jonathan: WHY IS TURNOUT SO LOW AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS IN PARTICULAR?

>> Adam: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE ACROSS BOARD.

I'M NOT JUST LIMITED TO VOTING.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT JOINERS.

THIS YOUNGER GENERATION, THEY DON'T JOIN ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY DON'T JOIN CHURCHES.

THEY DON'T ENGAGE SERVINGLY AND VOLUNTEER THE WAY THAT THEIR PARENTS' GENERATION DID OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS' GENERATION DID, AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING GOING FORWARD IN OUR STATE IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE CIVIC SECTOR THAT'S SO RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRESS IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

>> Jonathan: MORGAN, IS THAT WHY SO MUCH PUBLIC POLICY LEANS POURED OLDER VOTERS THAT SHOW UP?

?

>> Morgan: YEAH, SURE.

THAT'S A PRETTY LONG-TERM TREND AND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNG TODAY, I WOULD SAY 35 AND UNDER, LIKE THIEVE LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF UPHEAVAL AND HAVE A LOT OF -- I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SCEPTICISM FROM THEM ABOUT -- FROM A LOT OF THEM ANYWAY ABOUT WHAT EITHER PARTY HAS TO OFFER, AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SCEPTICISM EXPRESSES ITSELF BY NOT GOING TO THE POLLS.

>> Bill: MAGOFFIN COUNTY A NEWSPAPER IS PROVIDING $3,000 TO PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE VOTE BUYING, A COUNTY THAT HAD VOTE BUYING CONJUNCTIONS VICKS A FEW YEARS AGO.

TESSA, YOU THINK OF THAT AS SOMETHING IN THE PAST.

APPARENTLY THERE ARE STILL SOME POCKETS OF IT.

>> Tessa: THIS NEWSPAPER BELIEVES SO.

WE KNOW THAT ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY HAVE BEEN VERY WELL RUN, AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT ANY NEWSPAPER USING ITS POSITION WOULD ADVOCATE FOR ACCURATE, FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF VOTING.

>> Bill: JESS, THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THE CHALLENGE OF THE STATE'S SCHOOL CHOICE LAW.

YOU COVERED ARGUMENTS IN FRONT OF THE COURT.

THIS WAS HOUSE BILL 563.

WHAT DO THE TWO SIDES SAY?

>> Jess: FIRST, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 563 DOES DOES BECAUSE THE ARGUMENTS ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON THE MECHANICS OF IT.

SO HOUSE BILL 563 WAS PASSED IN 2021, AND IT CREATES A TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM.

THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT VIEWERS MAY KNOW AS A VOUCHER PROGRAM, A SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM -- BUT IT IS DIFFERENT ENOUGH ITS PROPONENTS SAY IT DOES NOTE RUN AFOUL OF THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION, WHICH PREVENTS THE STATE FROM JUST GIVING MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND SO THE WAY THIS PROGRAM WORKS IS IT SETS UP A TAX CREDIT, SO A DONOR OR AN INDIVIDUAL CORPORATION WOULD DETAIN TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND -- DONATE TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND, AND IN RETURN FOR THAT DONATION THEY WOULD GET A TAX CREDIT FROM THE STATE OF UP TO 97%.

THEN TEAMS COULD APPLY IS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND USE THOSE FUNDS TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN SOME COUNTIES.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE STATE IS REIMBURSING DONORS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS FUND.

AND PROCEED OPPONENTS OF THE FUND SAY -- PROPONENTS OF THE FUND SAY THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT CONSTITUTIONAL.

IT'S DONORS DOING THE GIVING, NOT THE STATE, SO IT GETS AROUND THIS PROVISION IN STATE CONSTITUTION, AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE SUPREME COURT IS TRYING TO DECIDE, ARE THESE FUNDS YOU WILL BE.

MONEY AND THEREFORE THEY CAN'T GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR ARE THEY PRIVATE DONATIONS.

>> Bill: COULD YOU DETECT WHERE THIS ADJUSTS LINDSAY BASED ON THEIR LINE OF QUESTIONING?

>> Jess: IT'S HARD.

I WOULD SAY JUST BEING THERE, IN THE ROOM, IT DID SEEM THAT THE JUSTICES HAD MORE PROBING SKEPTICAL QUESTIONS FOR PROPONENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND, ESPECIALLY JUSTICE LIZBETH HUGHES WHO IS ACTUALLY A FORMER TAX ATTORNEY HAD SOME VERY PROBING QUESTIONS, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR.

SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN UPHELD IN OTHER STATES WHERE THE CONSTITUTION PREVENTED THE FUNDING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT, OF COURSE, EVERY STATE CONSTITUTION IS DIFFERENT, THE LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THE PRECEDENT IS DIFFERENT, SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THIS WHAT COURT DECIDES.

>> Bill: AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COURT DECIDES, DOES THIS END UP BEING A PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NEXT YEAR IN 2023, MORGAN, THAT KELLY CRAFT MENTIONED IT IN HER ANNOUNCE WANT VIDEO.

>> Morgan: YEAH, TESS WAS ACTUALLY AT ONE OF HER RALLY IS WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

>> Tessa: THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT EDUCATION WILL BE A HUGE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NEXT YEAR.

KELLY CRAFT HAD THIS LINE IN HER KICKOFF SPEECH WHERE SHE SAID ABC IS NOT CRTs AND THAT'S THE KIND OF DAG TAG LINE THAT VOTERS WILL REMEMBER.

AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT IS A REALLY HOT ISSUES THAT'S PLAYING OUT IN A LOT OF SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

>> Bill: WE'LL TALK REAL QUICKLY ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE THIS WEEK, A FAVORABLE POLL FOR ANDY BESHEAR CLOSE TO 60% APPROVAL, MORGAN.

>> Morgan: MORE GOOD NEWS FOR GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

HE'S HAD MULTIPLE APPROVALS THAT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD IN A COUNTRY WHERE IT'S HONESTLY KIND OF HARD TO HAVE VERY GOOD APPROVAL FOR ALMOST ANY, YOU KNOW, STATEWIDE PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

SO, YEAH, CERTAINLY LOOKS GOOD FOR HIM.

SEEMS LIKE HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, ALTHOUGH THAT HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL PARTICULARLY IF YOU TALK TO SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, BETWEEN THAT, HAD AN HANDLING THE DISASTERS THAT WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY HAD HERE BETWEEN THE TORNADOES AND THE FLOODING, IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE, AT LEAST A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS ARE OVERALL LINING WHAT HE'S DOING, AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR HIM ALTHOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE A SLOG TO WIN IN REPUBLICAN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND DANNELL CAMERON RELEASED A VIDEO FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS WEEK REMINDING FOLKS THAT HE HAS THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

>> Tessa: THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP A LOT 1 WOULD DONALD TRUMP STICK WITH THIS ENDORSEMENT GIVEN THAT ONE OF HIS FORMER AMBASSADORS HAS THROWN HER HAT INTO THE RACE WITH KELLY CRAFT.

THIS VIDEO I THINK ANSWERED A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> Bill: IF MONEY GIVES YOU OPTIONS, KENTUCKY IS IN A GOOD SPOT.

ONCE AGAIN REVENUE ROLLED IN IN SEPTEMBER, THE THIRD HIGHEST MONTH FOR TAX RECEIPTS IN HISTORY, AND AT THIS POINT WITH MORGAN, KENTUCKY HAS NOW HIT FIRST TRIGGER TO BEGIN REDUCING THE STATE INCOME TAX.

>> Morgan: YEAH, AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG DEAL FOR REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN FRANKFORT.

OBVIOUSLY, A KEY PART OF A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS' PITCH IS SORT OF LOWER TAXES, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG -- A BIG SHOW OF 1 HEY, WE ACTUALLY DID THAT IN THIS ARENA.

>> Bill: JESS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PUBLIC FORUMS HELD BY JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE DISTRICT'S WAY OF ASSIGNING STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS, AND SOME HISTORIC MOVEMENT IS UNDERWAY THERE.

>> Jess: YES, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

ER JEFFERSON COUNTY FOR DECADES HAD AN INTEGRATION PLAN THAT MOVED STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY SO THAT SCHOOLS COULD BE RACIAL INTEGRATED.

IT'S KIND OF BEEN CHIPPED AWAY AT OVER THE YEARS, AND THE BOARD REASONABLE PASSED A PLAN THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY -- IT WILL LIKELY, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, RESEGREGATE JCPS, BUT PROPONENTS OF THE PLAN SAY IT WILL FINALLY ALLOW STUDENTS IN THE WEST END, WHICH IS MAJORITY BLACK, TO ATTEND SCHOOL CLOSE TO HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

SO THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THAT.

AND THEN ALSO THERE'S BEEN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ABOUT TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO NAME SOME OF THESE NEW SCHOOLS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT IN THE WEST END BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SCHOOLS BUILT IN THE WEST END IN DECADES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE NAMED.

>> Bill: DO THEY COME UP WITH THE GUIDELINES, HOW TO DO THOSE NAMES, RIGHT?

MORGAN, WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING AS WE HEAD TOWARD ELECTION DAY THESE NEXT THREE WEEKS CAMPAIGNING?

>> Morgan: WHAT HAPPENS WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 WHERE THE STAKES ARE SUPER HIGH.

I MEAN, BASICALLY IF PEOPLE VOTE YES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2, THAT EFFECTIVELY COULD JUST TIE THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S HANDS IN TERMS OF SAYING, YEAH, THE CURRENT NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN IS FINE.

OR IF YOU VOTE NO ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2, MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN THE NEAR TOTAL BAN.

SO TO ME I THINK THAT'S A MASSIVE, MASSIVE STORY FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: TESSA, DOES IT APPEAR THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION GOING ON ABOUT THAT BEHIND THE SCENES AMONG KENTUCKIANS ABOUT THAT AMENDMENT?

>> Tessa: U.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK KENTUCKIANS KNOWNESS SOMETHING BEING WATCHED AROUND THE NATION.

CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF OUTSIDE INTEREST FROM ACTIVIST GROUPS.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM AND WILL THERE BE A REPEAT OF KANSAS IN I THINK IT WILL BE HARDER TO PULL OFF IN KENTUCKY BUT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL IT'S ALL OVER.

>> Bill: AND THE DEATH TOLL IS NOW 43 FROM THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS SUMMER, AND ALL OF US WERE PULLED FROM OUR REGULAR BEATS TO COVER SOME OF THAT, AND YOU HAD A STORY YESTERDAY ABOUT WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THE CLEANUP AND THAT TRAGIC NEWS THAT THERE WERE MORE FATALITIES.

>> Tessa: RIGHT, YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED AT HIS TEAM KENTUCKY UPDATE ON THURSDAY.

WE KNOW SINCE HIS PREVIOUS UPDATE, HE HAD TAKEN A WEEK OFF, THAT ONE OF THE MISSING WOMEN HAD BEEN, HER BODY HAD BEEN RECOVERED AND THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL DEATH, SO TWO MORE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY I GO BANKRUPT TO FRE 43.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR ASKING THOSE WHO ARE CONFLICT OF SIMPLE MARIJUANA CONVICTION WHO HAVE OTHERWISE CLEAN RECORDS TO APPLY FOR PARDONS.

HE DOESN'T SAY HE'S GOING TO GIVE THEM BUT HE'S RESPONDING TO THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST, RIGHT?

>> Tessa: RIGHT, SO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED FEDERAL PARDONS FOR PEOPLE WITH SIMPLE MARIJUANA POSSESSION CONVICTIONS AND URGE GOVERNORS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO DO THE I'M SAME.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY GUIDANCE FOR THIS AND DID ASK THE DMV OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO POINTED FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY THAT WOULD EFFECT.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.

HE HAS URGED PEOPLE WHO ONLY HAVE A MARIJUANA CHARGE TO APPLY FOR PARTNER.

>> Bill: MOST OF THE TIME THAT WILL BE A STATE.

THAT IS MORE THAN THE FLA, THE PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO DO.

THOUGH THERE ARE CONTINUING EFFORTS TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY THE KENTUCKY FLOODS.

THE KENTUCKY RISING CONCERT IN ROUP AUBURN BROUGHT IN $2.5 MILLION FORE FLOOD VICTIMS.

DOZENS OF PEOPLE CLEANING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS DO THE GOT TO ATTEND AND TAKE THEIR MINDS OFF THEIR STRUGGLES AT LEAST FOR A ABOUT IT.

BY THE END OF THE EVENING STAPLETON, CHILDERS WERE JOINED ONSTAGE BY RICKY SKAGGS AND PATTY LOVELESS FOR SOME MEMORABLE MUSIC.