[♪♪] >> Renee: IN WASHINGTON, KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER IS LEADING THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT EFFORT AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN.

THE KEB KEN GOVERNOR'S RACE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN HISTORY AND THE MOST WATCHED IN THE COUNTRY.

A NOVEL STRIKE EFFORT BY UNITED AUTO WORKERS WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE HERE?

CHURCHILL DOWNS RELEASES A REPORT ON RACE HORSE DEATHS AT THE TRACK.

HALFWAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, PUMPKINS AND COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE SHOWING UP AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: 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 ARE PHILLIPP BAILEY, LOUISVILLE BASED NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA TODAY".

CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFURT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL.

ALSO TONIGHT UEKU AND BEYOND REMEMBERS ROY KID WHO DIED THIS WEEK AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE SAYS HE IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

LET'S BEGIN WITH AN UPDATE ON THE AUTO STRIKE IN THE STATE WHERE VEHICLES ARE BIG BUSINESS.

CHRIS, THIS IS CALLED A TARGETED STRIKE.

HOW MIGHT IT AFFECT KENTUCKY?

>> WELL IT'S NOT AFFECTING KENTUCKY SO MUCH YET.

BUT WHAT THE UAW IS DOING HERE IS BASICALLY USING A SCALPEL INSTEAD OF A HAMMER TO TAKE IT TO THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS.

THEY WANT SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS THAT THEY FEEL THEY ARE OWED FOR PAST SACRIFICES.

AND SO THEY ARE DRIVING A HARDLINE.

THEY HAVE NEVER STRUCK ALL THREE COMPANIES AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO SO IN TERMS OF RESOURCES THEY'VE STOCKED AWAY FOR STRIKE FUNDS.

AND ALSO IT'S VERY DISRUPTIVE.

SO THEY'VE PICKED THREE PLANTS ONE IN MISSOURI, ONE IN OHIO, ONE IN MICHIGAN, PRODUCTS LIKE THE JEEP RANGLER, PRODUCTS LIKE THE FORD BRONCO AND THEY ARE STRIKING THOSE PLANTS BUT THEY SAY THIS STRATEGY COULD ESCALATE COULD GROW TO MORE PLANTS OVER TIME IF THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT GOING THEIR WAY.

THIS NEW APPROACH THEY SAY IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE COMPANIES GUESSING AS TO WHICH FACILITY MAY GO DOWN NEXT.

AND OF COURSE IN KENTUCKY WE HAVE TWO FORD PLANTS AND ONE GM PLANT THAT MAKES CORVETTES.

THE FORD PLANTS ARE IN LOUISVILLE.

AND ACTUALLY THERE IS NO GREATER CONCENTRATION OF AASSEMBLY PLANT WORKERS IN THE FORD NETWORK THAN IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: IF THIS DRAGS ON WE COULD SEE PICKET LINES IN KENTUCKY?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET THE UAW DOESN'T WANT TO TIP THEIR HAT IN ANYWAY.

IS IT GOING TO BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEY ADD MORE PLANTS?

A WEEK?

A FEW WEEKS?

THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US ANY INDICATION AS TO HOW EXACTLY THIS WILL UNFOLD AND OF COURSE IT'S ALL SUBJECT TO HOW MUCH MOVEMENT THE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO MAKE IN THEIR OFFERS AND COUNTEROFFERS WITH THE UNION.

>> Bill: IT ALL COMES AT A TIME OF CHANGE.

ARE THESE EV BATTERY PLANTS BUILT IN KENTUCKY ARE THEY LIKELY TO UNIONIZE?

>> BILL, I WAS AT A RALLY WITH THE UAW PRESIDENT WHO CAME DOWN FROM DETROIT AND WAS ADDRESSING WORKERS AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT IN LOUISVILLE.

AND AT THE END HE WAS STANDING ON THE BED OF A PICKUP TRUCK AND HE TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE FACTORY WORKERS.

ONE WORKER SAID THIS BATTERY PLANT THAT IS GOING DOWN IN E TOWN, IS THIS GOING TO BE UAW?

ARE THESE GOING TO BE UNION JOBS?

AND WE HAD TO SORT OF GET THE LONG COMPLICATED ANSWER TO THAT.

AND THE WORKER FELT LIKE WHAT GOOD IS THIS IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE?

SO THESE BATTERY PLANTS ARE NOT FORMALLY PART OF THE UAW NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT THEY VERY MUCH ARE CONTEXTUALLY PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY ARE HANGING OVER THE UAW WANTS THESE JOBS TO BE THE SAME STANDARDS, WAGES ET CETERA THAT THEY'VE BARGAINED FOR IN THE TRADITION AUTO INDUSTRY AND THE COMPANIES HAVE SET IT UP SUCH THAT THEY SAY THEY ARE NEUTRAL ABOUT WHETHER THEY GO UNION BUT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THE FUTURE WORKERS OF THE EV PLANTS CHOOSE THAT OPTION.

THEY ARE NOT JUST GOING TO GRANT THEM THAT STATUS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY HAS A RIGHT TO WORK LAW DOES THAT MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR UNIONS?

>> IN GENERAL IT DOES.

ALTHOUGH IF YOU ASK THEM THE BIGGER UNIONS SINCE IT'S GONE INTO EFFECT IN 2017 THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF RETAINING THEIR MEMBERSHIP ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

WHAT RIGHT TO WORK DOES IS ALLOW PEOPLE TO IN A UNIONIZED WORKPLACE TO OPT-OUT OF ANY SORT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE UNION.

BUT MOST OF THE BIGGER UNIONS SAY THEY STILL GET 90 SOMETHING PERCENT OF WORKERS CHOOSING TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT TO THE UNION.

SO IT NOT AS BAD OF A DEAL AS THEY MAY BE PROJECTED WHEN IT HAPPENED.

>> Bill: A LOT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON AND A LOT OF POLITICS.

A KEY KENTUCKIAN GETS THE SPOTLIGHT IN WASHINGTON AS CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER WILL OVERSEE THE G.O.P.

EFFORT TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN CHAPMAN PICKED COMER TO LEAD THE INQUIRY.

>> NO MONEY EVER CHANGED HANDS WHILE JOE BIDEN WAS VICE-PRESIDENT AND I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT.

JOE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIS SON'S DEALINGS AND JOE NEVER MET WITH OR SPOKE WITH ANY OF THE FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO HAD WIRED THE FAMILY MONEY.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN PROVEN WRONG BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN OUR INVESTIGATION.

>> Bill: PHILLIP, COMER HAS USED HIS POST AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS SON HUNTER AND NOW IT'S OFFICIALLY AN INQUIRY.

DOES THE SPOTLIGHT GET BRIGHTER FOR COMER?

>> IT IS FAIR TO QUESTION HUNTER BIDEN'S BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND EVALUATE THE CONNECTION TO THE PRESIDENT AND HOW COMER HANDLES THE INQUIRY WILL BE CRITICAL TO WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATION OR I PARTISAN STUNT.

SPEAKER McCARTHY PUT A LOT OF FAITH IN CONGRESSMAN COMER WHO AT TIMES HAS FOUND CERTAIN CONTRADICTIONS THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN MADE IN THE PAST.

FOR EXAMPLE THE SWORN TESTIMONY OF DEVON ARCHER THE ASSOCIATE OF HUNTER BIDEN WHO SAID THE PRESIDENT DID ATTEND ONE OF HIS SON'S UKRAINIAN MEETINGS IN A DINNER IN 2015.

SOMETHING THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN DENIED IN 2020.

BUT COMER SOMETIMES IS A BIT SLOPPY ON THESE NEWS INTERVIEWS PARTICULARLY ON TELEVISION WHERE HE TALKS AND EXAGGERATES CERTAIN THINGS AND OVERPLAYS THIS HAND.

LAST MONTH IN AN INTERVIEW HE SAID THE BIDEN FAMILY RECEIVED OVER $20 MILLION FROM OUR ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD.

IF YOU CHECK THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THAT MONEY WENT TO HUNTDER BIDEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATES NOT HUNTER BIDEN OR THE BIDEN FAMILY.

WHAT COMER IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS MORE THAN SHOW SMOKE HE HAS TO SHOW PEOPLE WHERE IS THE FIRE.

>> Bill: WELL, WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TIME-FRAME HERE?

IS IT THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS?

OR HOW LONG MIGHT THIS INVESTIGATION OR INQUIRY LAST?

>> AND THE OTHER THING WE'RE RUNNING INTO WE DIDN'T TAKE A FORMAL VOTE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN INQUIRY WHICH WOULD LAST WEEKS, MONTHS, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN TALKING TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY URGING THEM TO IMPEACH JOE BIDEN.

THERE IS ALREADY THIS SORT OF CITIZEN STINK OF IT BEING POLITICAL THAN LEGITIMATE.

>> Bill: DEMOCRATS SAY IT IS ALL POLITICAL.

AND THE REPUBLICANS SEEM MORE UNITED OR WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECT OF THE MEETINGS THEY HAVE HELD THIS WEEK IN WHICH HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY LAID OUT HIS REASONS FOR DOING THIS.

>> FROM THE OUTSET SPEAKER McCARTHY HAS NOT HAD A UNITED CONGRESS.

ALREADY, THIS WEEK, FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ RIGHT AFTER THE INQUIRY WAS ANNOUNCED WENT ON THE FLOOR TO DENOUNCE McCARTHY SAYING YOU HAVE NOT DONE TERM LIMITS AND BALANCED BUDGET VOTES AND YOU ARE USING THIS INQUIRY AS A DISTRACTION AND JUST TODAY, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE HAD A MEETING A PROFANITY LACED MEETING WHERE McCARTHY CHALLENGED THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT-WING MEMBERS SAYING IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ME ON BRING IT ON TO ME.

NO, THERE ISN'T A UNIFIED MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

MANY VIEW THIS INQUIRY AS AN ATTEMPT TO GET JUICE OR GET ADRENALINE BACK INTO THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS THEY ARE FACING A NUMBER OF SERIOUS ISSUE, MAINLY BEING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE RIGHT-WING MEMBERS ARE STILL MAD AT McCARTHY OVER THE DEBT CEILING DEAL HE MADE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: AND ON THE OTHER END OF THE U.S. CAPITOL A PROMINENT KENTUCKIANS MITCH McCONNELL TRYING TO STEER FOCUS TO AVOIDING A FEDERAL SHUTDOWN AND CONTINUING THE AID TO UKRAINE AND THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

PHILLIP THERE ARE COMPETING AGENDAS RIGHT NOW FOR THE PRIORITY.

>> RIGHT.

McCONNELL SAID IN THE PAST LOOK, PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE RARE.

I AM PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE RARE.

SPEAKER DOES NOT NEED MY ADVICE HOW TO RUN THE HOUSE AND THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

EVERYONE KNOWS, BILL, THAT LOOK IF THERE IS AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE MORE THAN LIKELY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CONVICTION IN THE DEMOCRATIC INVOLVED SENATE THIS IS COMING OFF AS A POLITICAL ISSUE THAN A LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATION.

AND McCONNELL'S POSTURE IS I'M NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED WITH THIS I'M NOT -- HE AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE A CLOSE FRENEMY RELATIONSHIP.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS A TEST FOR CONGRESSMAN COMER.

HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW MAINSTREAM AMERICANS THIS IS A LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THERE AND HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT THUS FAR IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR HIM.

>> Bill: AND A DEMONSTRATION HOW STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS ARE INTERTWINED THESE DAYS, REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON STOOD WITH CONGRESSMAN COMER AND EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT EFFORT.

>> EVERYBODY I WANT IT SAY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT KEVIN McCARTHY'S DECISION TO OPEN A FORMAL INQUIRY INTO IMPEACHING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> Bill: WELL, JOE, INTERESTING.

THAT WE HEARD THAT AND SO WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN VIDEOING THAT AND PUTTING IT OUT?

>> THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LOST HIS CAMPAIGN WHICH IS NATIONALIZE THE RACE INSTEAD OF MAKING IT CAMERON VERSUS BESHEAR AND BIDEN VERSUS TRUMP.

HE THINKS BIDEN VERSUS TRUMP NARRATIVE AMONG VOTERS IN THE MONTHS OF THE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO HIM.

THE CAMERON VERSUS THE BESHEAR ONE THAT IS LESS SURE.

YOU STILL HAVE BESHEAR WITH HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS AND CAMERON IS TRYING TO CHIP INTO THAT WITH ALL THE G.O.P.

PACTS PUTTING ADS ON THE AIR.

>> Bill: THERE HAD BEEN RECORDING THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS COMING TO LEXINGTON NEXT WEEK.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS OFF NOW?

>> YEAH, I'VE SEEN THE INVITATION REPUBLICAN SOURCE TOLD ME TODAY THAT HAS BEEN CANCELED.

I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING OFFICIAL BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL BE HERE.

>> Bill: AND TRUMP ENDORSED CAMERON IN THE RACE.

AND SO WILL NOT MAKE THAT APPEARANCE AT LEAST IN HIS BEHALF OR JOIN AN APPEARANCE WITH HIM HERE.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD WANT DONALD TRUMP TO VISIT KENTUCKY.

HE IS POPULAR STILLTH THIS STATE EVEN AS HE IS RUNNING AWAY WITH THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT.

AND JOE'S RIGHT.

THIS IS BETTER FOR CAMERON IF THE RACE IS REFERENDUM ON BIDEN AND TRUMP PART TWO.

WE DID A RECENT POLL, BILL, FOUND THAT 70% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THE ECONOMY IS GETTING WORSE.

AND MORE VOTERS THINK THAT TRUMP IS BETTER AT THIS THAN BIDEN BY ABOUT 20% 46-26 PERCENT MARGIN THINK TRUMP IS BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY THAN BIDEN.

>> I DON'T THINK CAMERON SHOWED UP AT THE DESANTIS FUNDRAISER AND THAT HAS MORE TO DO WITH DESANTIS.

>> Bill: THOSE FUNDRAISERS ARE QUIET EVENTS.

THE KENTUCKY RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS ALREADY THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IN HISTORY THIS WEEK, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN SAYS HE DEPOSITED $15 MILLION IN HIS WAR CHEST.

6 MILLION LEFT FROM THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN.

6 MILLION RAISED SINCE THE PRIMARY.

AND 3 MILLION FROM THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE HAS OVER 4 MILLION LEFT.

CAMERON HAS RAISED ABOUT TWO MILLION AND LESS THAN 1.5 MILLION LEFT.

JOE, WHAT CONCLUSIONS CAN WE DRAW FROM THE MONEY CHASE AT THIS POINT?

AND THERE IS A LARGER PICTURE OUT THERE WHEN YOU FIGURE IN THE PACTS, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS A HUGE LEAD OBVIOUSLY IN FUND RAISING AND THIS IS REALLY REFLECTED WHAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE AIRWAVES SINCE THE PRIMARY.

THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN WENT UP WITH TV ADS RIGHT AFTER THE PRIMARY AND NONSTOP UP UNTIL TODAY.

CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN WAS ON GOT UP ON THE AIR LATE AND THEY HAVEN'T SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU HAVE THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN SINCE THE CAMPAIGN IS SPENDING OVER $10 MILLION CAMERON A MILLION AND-AND-A-HALF WITH THAT THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN HAS THREE TIMES THE WAR CHEST THAT CAMERON HAS LEFT AND THEY'VE RESERVED $2 MILLION THEY SPENT $2 MILLION TO RESERVE ADS FOR THE FINAL MONTH OF THE CAMPAIGN THEY FEEL SET.

BUT THE REAL PLAYER WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPENDING ON TV ADS IS THE OUTSIDE PACTS THE ONES AFFILIATED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AND THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION.

AND THOSE ARE PRETTY SPLIT THAT EVENS IT UP A LITTLE BIT FOR CAMERON BECAUSE THOSE OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE THERE.

>> Bill: WHAT DOES IT SAY WE HAVE ALL THESE PACT ADS THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY COMING IN FROM ELSEWHERE TO INFLUENCE THE KENTUCKY ELECTION?

>> LOOK, OF ALL THE RACES IN 2023 KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR'S RACE IS THE ONLY COMPETITIVE RACE.

THE OTHER OTHER RACES THAT GET ATTENTION NATIONALLY WOULD BE THE RACES FOR VIRGINIA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

FOR MANY CONSULTANTS AND OTHERS THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE TO TAKE A TEMPERATURE OF VOTERS AHEAD OF 2024.

YOU HAVE A VERY POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BUT IN A REPUBLICAN STATE THAT IS PRO TRUMP AND MAGA FRIENDLY.

FOR A LOT OF THESE DEMOCRATS LIKE BROWN IN OHIO AND TESTER IN MONTANA, THEY ARE LOOKING AT ANDY BESHEAR GOING HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO HAVE A PRO TRUMP PRO MAGA STATE AND STILL BE POPULAR.

FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EASY TIME FOR DANIEL CAMERON WHEN YOU ARE GOVERNOR AND HAVE 51% OR MORE THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO BE DEFEATED.

THAT WILL BE A HEAVY LIFT FOR DANIEL CAMERON.

KENTUCKY IS THE MAIN RACE BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY RACE AS A YARDSTICK AHEAD OF 2024.

>> Bill: BESHEAR CONTINUES HIS EMPHASIS ON THE ECONOMIC.

HE WAS IN A TOPPING OUT CEREMONY FOR THE BATTERY PLANT THAT IS COMING TO TRANS PARK IN BOWLING GREEN.

>> THIS IS A GAME CHANGING STATE CHANGING PROJECT HERE IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY.

COMBINED WITH A COUPLE OTHER PROJECTS IT MAKES US THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PRODUCTION CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> Bill: SO, CHRIS OTTS AS YOU SIT AND OBSERVE THIS RACE WHILE REPORTING ON THE AUTO STRIKE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT TWO CANDIDATES SPEAKING PAST EACH OTHER.

THEY WANT TO EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT ISSUES.

CAMERON CLEARLY ON SOCIAL ISSUES AND CRIME AND CLEARLY BESHEAR ON THE ECONOMY AND EDUCATION.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE VOTER WHO MIGHT SAY I THINK IT'S ALL IMPORTANT OR I HAVE MY OWN SET OF PRIORITIES?

>> I SUPPOSE IT'S DIFFERENT SETS OF PRIORITIES FOR DIFFERENT VOTERS.

BUT YOU THINK BACKFIRE YEARS AGO, MATT BEVIN HAD A DECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORD AND LIKED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND THAT DIDN'T END UP BEING DETERMINATIVE IN THAT RACE.

FOR SURE, GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS ANY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WOULD OR ANY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO SOAK UP AS MUCH CREDIT FOR THESE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE STATE.

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY'S TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BUT TO BE HONEST, WHILE THESE ARE GAME CHANGING STATE CHANGING INVESTMENTS, WE SHOULDN'T DENY THAT, THIS IS ALL BEING DRIVEN MAINLY BY FEDERAL POLICY.

BY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE FUNNELED TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION AND WE ARE SEEING THESE PLANTS COME TO GEORGIA, COME TO OHIO, COME TO MICHIGAN, THEY ARE GOING BASICALLY WHERE THE AUTO INDUSTRY ALREADY IS.

AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT AND WILL BE GAME CHANGING FOR THE STATE IS NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR STATES WITH AN AUTO INDUSTRY PROFILE.

>> Bill: THESE CANDIDATES ARE ON THE MOVE AT THIS POINT.

THEY WILL BOTH ATTEND THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVING AN EVENT NEXT WEEK IN LOUISVILLE.

JOE, CAN YOU CHANGE MINDS AT THIS POINT OR ARE THE MINDS MADE UP?

>> I THINK THIS RACE COMES DOWN TO IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS THE QUARTER OR THIRD OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN KENTUCKY WHO WHEN THEY ARE CALLED BY A POLLSTER NOT JUST THIS SUMMER BUT THE PAST THREE YEARS AND THEY ASKED DO YOU APPROVE OF THE JON THAT ANDY BESHEAR IS DOING THEY SAY YES.

SO IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHETHER THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY IN FAVOR AND APPROVE OF BESHEAR'S PERFORMANCE WHETHER THEY WILL CHANGE THEIR MINDS IN THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS.

WE'VE HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ADS HITTING BESHEAR AND THERE HASN'T BEEN PUBLIC EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT BESHEAR'S APPROVAL RATING TAKING A DENT.

SO THAT USED TO BE A PROBLEM DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE WHERE YOU HAD A LARGE DOMINANT MAJORITY OF REGISTERED DEMOCRATS TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS UNITED.

NOW IT'S REALLY GETTING ALL OF THOSE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WHO KEEP APPROVING OF BESHEAR AND TO GET THEM TO VOTE AGAINST HIM.

FOR ONE EXAMPLE I WAS AT A CAMERON EVENT IN LOUISVILLE, IT WAS A MOM'S FOR CAMERON EVENT WHERE HIS WIFE WAS THERE.

SPEAKING TO MOMS HITTING BESHEAR ON PANDEMIC ISSUES, LEARNING LOSS.

AND SHE SAID SOMETHING LIKE WAS TELLING SHE SAID I HEAR THIS A LOT AND I'M SURE YOU DO, TOO, THAT ANDY BESHEAR IS NOT THAT BAD.

THAT IS THE CRUX OF IT IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO YOU NORM AALI WOULD BE VOTING FOR A REPUBLICAN IN KENTUCKY AND BESHEAR IS NOT THAT BAD.

IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS REPUBLICANS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CRACK THAT EGG.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE BEING A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS.

ANDY BESHEAR IS THE MOST LIBERAL GOVERNOR IN KENTUCKY'S HISTORY A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES WILL SAY THE THINGS I CARE ABOUT HE CAN'T AFFECT THEM BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN CONTROL.

THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN JOE MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF PARTY REGISTRATION.

THE STORY OF THIS YEAR HAS BEEN REPUBLICANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS U BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RELEASES THE RISING GROUP ARE INDEPENDENTS.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

WHERE DO THE INDEPENDENTS GO WHO ARE THEY?

I POINT BACK TO U.S.A. DAY TODAY THAT SHOWS THE INDEPENDENTS ARE BREAKING FOR TRUMP.

THAT IS A VERY TELLING MATTER.

WHO ARE THE INDEPENDENTS WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM AND HOW INFLUENTIAL THEY WILL BE.

>> Bill: NOW MORE THAN 10%.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NAMED AN INTERIM COMMISSIONER ROBIN KENNY WILL HOLD THE POST AND SHE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB LONG-TERM.

BRIGITTE FROM THE PRITCHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECENT TURNOVER IN THAT POSITION DESIGNED TO BE INSULATED FROM POLITICS.

AND NOTED THE CHOICE WILL HAVE TO BE HIRED BY THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

AND SHE HOPES FOR A FORWARD THINKER.

>> AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SEARCH FOR A NEW COMMISSIONER IT WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE POURED OF EDUCATION IDENTIFY THE RIGHT PERSON THAT IS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LEADER, WHO CAN LEAD OUR STATE INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: JOE, THIS COMES AS Dr. JASON GLASS IS SET TO LEAVE IT'S UNCLEAR WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS WHO WINS THE ELECTION.

IF CAMERON WINS THE ELECTION HE WILL BRING IN A CANDIDATE THAT THE SENATE WILL APPROVE.

BUT IF BESHEAR YOU WOULD ASSUME HE MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THAT THROUGH THE SENATE AND MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING A CANDIDATE TO APPLY FOR THAT JOB KNOWING ALL THE HEAT THAT GLASS FACED FROM THE LEGISLATURE IN THAT POSITION.

>> Bill: WATCHING THAT CAREFULLY.

KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE HAS ANNOUNCED HE WON'T RUN AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

HE SERVED AT EVER EVERY LEVEL OF KENTUCKY ENGLISHAL SYSTEM.

HE WAS A DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT JUDGE IN LEXINGTON BEFORE ELECTED TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND ELEVATED TO THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT WHERE HE WAS CHOSEN TO BE CHIEF JUSTICE.

JOE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAYS IT'S TIME FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR HIM AND HE WANTED TO SIGNAL HIS TIME FOR OTHER CANDIDATES TO STEP FORWARD.

>> HE SAID IT WAS A PERSONAL DECISION FOR HIM AND HE TOLD ME THIS WEEK IT, IT REALLY WASN'T BASED OFF OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS -- JUDICIAL ELECTIONS LAST YEAR.

YOU HAD TONS OF SPENDING BY OUTSIDE PACTS YOU HAD THE RACES THAT WERE OVERTLY PARTISAN WHERE JUDICIAL RACES ARE NONPARTISAN.

HE DID SAY TO ME THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS NOTABLE THAT THE CANDIDATES WHO RAN THOSE PARTISAN RACES ACTUALLY LOST THE RACE.

HE SAYS IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A WINNING STRATEGY THAT VOTERS WANT EXPERIENCE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY IS ONE OF SEVEN STATES PLAN TO TAX ELECTRICITY FOR CARS AND CRITICS SAY THAT IS DOUBLE TAXING AND KENTUCKY IS TRYING TO RECOUP GASOLINE TAX?

>> EVEN THOUGH EV'S ARE A TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE CARS ON THE ROAD NOW, THE CONCERN IS A VALID ONE THAT IF THEY DON'T PAY GAS TAXES THEY DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE WEAR-AND-TEAR ON THE ROADS.

SO MOST STATES INCLUDING KENTUCKY HAVE MADE UP TO ARE THAT BY SAYING IF YOU HAVE AN EV OR I APLUG IN HYBRID YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA REGISTRATION FEE EVERY YEAR WHEN YOU PAY YOUR CAR TAXES YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY $120 FOR A FULL EV IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT THEY ARE ALSO DOING IS PUTTING A TAX IN ON THE ELECTRICITY THAT COMES OUT OF EV CHARGERS.

THE CONCERN WITH THIS IS THAT THERE'S LOTS OF COMMUNITY CHARGERS AT CHURCHES AND FARMERS MARKETNESS AND THESE ARE PUT UP FOR A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS THEY DON'T HAVE A SEPARATE METER TO MONITOR THE ELECTRICITY AND SOMEBODY HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY CAME OUT OF THAT CHARGER.

FILL OUT A FORM TO THE STATE, SEND IT IN EVERY MONTH WITH A CHECK.

IT IS A LOT OF RED TAPE.

AND SO THE ISSUE IS WILL THAT LEAD TO FEWER ORGANIZATIONS PUTTING IN THESE CHARGERS IF THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS GOING TO HAPPEN OTHER THAN PRICE, CHARGING IS THE BIG BARRIER TO GET OVER.

SO WE NEED MORE OF THESE CHARGERS NOT FEWER.

>> Bill: A REPORT IS INCONCLUSIVE WHAT LED TO AN INCREASE IN HORSE DEATHS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

TRACK SURFACES IS MORE VETERINARY PRECAUTIONS WERE MENTIONED.

>> BASICALLY, THIS REPORT FROM THE NEW HORSERACING REGULATORY AUTHORITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS KIND OF A COLLECTIVE SLUG SHRUG THERE'S NO DETERMINATIVE CAUSE I WILL CHANNEL ERIC CRAWFORD WHO WROTE THIS WEEK THAT CRITIC ALSO POINT OUT THE CAUSE IS HORSERACING ITSELF AND INEVITABLY YOU WILL HAVE INJURIES AND BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES OF THE HORSE BODY THAT THOSE INJURIES ARE GOING TO OFTEN LEAD TO UNRECOVERABLE INJURIES AND FATALITIES.

UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Bill: APP HARVEST CONTINUES ITS LICK WI DECISION.

>> CORRECT, THIS COMPANY HAD SPECTACULAR RISE AND A FASTER FALL.

AND NOW IT'S VARIOUS GREENHOUSES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY ARE GOING TO BE IN DIFFERENT HANDS.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THEY ACTUALLY KEEP OPERATING IN THOSE DIFFERENT HANDS BUT A JUDGE APPROVED THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE ASSETS TO OTHER PARTIES.

>> Bill: APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION HELD A CONFERENCE IN ASHLAND THIS WEEK.

PHILLIP WE ARE STILL CHALLENGING PART OF EVEN THE APPALACHIAN REGION?

>> RIGHT.

THANK GOD FOR MISSISSIPPI KEEPING KENTUCKY FROM BEING 50TH ON THE LISTS.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES HOW MUCH THE POVERTY QUESTION WILL COME UP.

WHOEVER WINS THE ELECTIONS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE MOST WRENCHING POVERTY IS IN KENTUCKY PARTICULARLY IN OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS.

>> REMEMBERING FORMER COACH ROY KID WHO DIED THIS WEEK.

KID TOOK EASTERN TO TWO NATIONAL TITLES HE WON 315 GAMES IN HIS CAREER FROM 1964-2002.

HIS PLAYER REMEMBER HIS TOUGH LOVE AND REMEMBERED FOR HELPING THE COMMUNITY IN ANYWAY HE COULD.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HAS NAMED A NEW PRESIDENT WHO KNOWS THE CAMPUS WELL.

KATIE SHORT THOMPSON WILL BE RETURNING TO NORTHERN WHERE SHE SPENT 14 YEARS ON THE FACULTY AS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR.

SHE HAS BEEN RUNNING AN EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY GROUP IN CINCINNATI.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.