Louisville Republican Ken Fleming has a deep interest in helping to improve mental health services and access.

And in addition to the growing use of artificial intelligence technology or A.I., states across the country are grappling with child care issues and dwindling revenue from fuel taxes due to electric vehicle use.

I spoke with Representative Fleming about those matters on Wednesday.

Well, child care is a big one where we're starting to hear and see a lot of challenges throughout the country.

There's a tax increase in single mothers and about single fathers and trying to get them back in the workforce.

We need to be more creative.

I know the General Assembly has passed some things about doing that that's been really creative.

The other thing is is transportation, where we're looking at decreased revenues and IDs and all those things coming in and the roads are are deteriorating and our we are in the worst position several, several years ago when it comes to bridges and give my aerial survey a mapping background.

I know for sure that the infrastructure is in bad shape.

And so we look at where there are some interesting ideas.

It still needs to be cultivated because it becomes a sort of a sticky wicket.

Yeah.

In terms of trying to figure up a different revenue stream or, you know, shortening is up now.

Now, one thing of course, I'm a I'm a on aviation I and people think I'm crazy when I say this like there will be a time we'll have hovercraft, you know, it may not really it may not obviously won't be in the next 15, 20 years.

Right.

But it will be introduced because you're looking at hovercraft that will transport in major cities from one point to another port, like a taxi to air taxi.

Right.

So you'll see that.

And that will take this pressure off the roads.

Oh, wow.

Well, yeah, hopefully.

Hopefully I'm alive.

To see that.

What are you thinking in terms of as we get how many months from the start of the legislative session in 2025?

What do you see as being some of the issues that will be tackled?

It's not a budget year, so that opens up some bandwidth.

What do you think just from conversations here that could be topics of discussion?

Well, I think I think when it comes to help and taking care of the family in terms of prescription drugs, they are helping the elderly in there and in nursing homes and so forth.

There's been talk about, you know, these tax credits and so forth.

But, you know, that that's a great idea.

But as we continue to move from 6 to 4, looking at three and a half, you know, those tax credits might not not be that that significant.

But, you know, for next year, it's going to be I mean, we're still going through and trying to look at what those items are going to be in terms of important, important.

And this is the during this off in our off session session, this is where we talk to our constituents.

We do our research, we talk among ourselves and say, all right, what's bubbling up where we say or not only that, we always look back, say what needs to be corrected, what needs to be modified in the last General Assembly, and if not the last one, even the one before that.

Right.

So, as you know, 38 sessions is not a budget here.

It's more of a clean up.

But as we move on, it seems like it's becoming a little more a little more substance.

Yeah, more, more robust.

But it is what it is.

But I'll tell you, I can take is an A in a in a good situation from a financial standpoint.

We just need a when you say to focus a lot on I mean for me I'm looking at more mental health.

Mental health from a funding and policy standpoint is still taboo.

We have made significant Pride's strides and and I've worked with with my colleagues across the aisle.

We come together, we come up with some solutions or we're moving things forward.

So when it comes to health, I'm already looking at mental health issues.

Yeah, well, we'll be looking to see how the all that advances in the next legislative session.

It's been a pleasure, Representative Ken Fleming, to have a few minutes of your time.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Take care.

You too.

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