[♪♪] >> Bill: ABORTION TAKES CENTER STAGE IN THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE.

CAMERON ADJUSTS HIS POSITION ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATE BAB AND BESHEAR STARTS AN AD FEATURING A YOUNG WOMAN TELLING HER STORY.

KENTUCKY REMEMBERS BRERETON JONES WHO DIED AT AGE 84.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS DECIDING WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE GERRYMANDERED HOUSE DISTRICT LINES AND WHAT MIGHT A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEAN HERE IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE ON THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF FALL.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME 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, McKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

RYLAND BARTON MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

AND BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

AND ALSO TONIGHT WILL THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESS THE GROWING GAP IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.

AND THE PRESIDENTS OF THE KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU AND THE STATE AL ANNOUNCED THEY ARE A.F.L.-C.I.O.

ANNOUNCED THEY ARE STEPPING DOWN.

THE HEATED GOVERNOR'S RACE IN KENTUCKY'S NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION.

REPUBLICAN NOMINEE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON SEEMED TO SHIFT HIS POSITION AND SAY THAT HE WOULD SIGN A BILL ALLOWING EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST IF THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT.

A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT, THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN DROPPED AN AD BASED ON CAMERON'S PREVIOUS POSITION WHICH DREW CAMERON'S IRE.

>> THIS IS TO YOU DANIEL CAMERON.

TO TELL A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHE MUST HAVE HAVE THE BABY OF HER STEPFATHER THAT RAPED HER IS UNTHINKABLE.

I'M SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE WOMEN AND GIRLS NEED TO HAVE OPTIONS.

DANIEL CAMERON WOULD GIVE US NONE.

>> ANDY BESHEAR IS RUNNING THE MOST DESPICABLE CAMPAIGN IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

HE LECTURES US ON PARTISANSHIP AND UNITY AND THEN RUNS DISGUSTING FALSE ATTACKS.

I'VE SAID IF THE LEGISLATURE WERE TO BRING ME A BILL WITH EXCEPTIONS, I WOULD SIGN IT.

>> Bill: McKENNA, FIRST ON THE CAMERON POSITION SHIFT CAMERON REPEATEDLY SAID HE WAS FOR ENFORCING KENTUCKY'S LAW AS IS.

IS THIS A BIG ADJUSTMENT IN HIS STANCE?

>> THIS IS A PRETTY BIG ADJUSTMENT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM HIS MESSAGING IN THE PAST.

HE'S REPEATEDLY SAID THAT HE SUPPORTED THE LAW AS IT IS AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THESE EXCEPTIONS.

DURING THE PRIMARY, HE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT HIS DEFENSE OF THE TRIGGER LAW IN COURT.

BUT IN MORE RECENT STUMP SPEECHES HE STEPPED AWAY FROM THAT.

>> Bill: DID HE INDICATE HE WOULD PRESS THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THIS?

I KNOW YOU TALKED TO HIS CAMPAIGN AFTER HE MADE THE STATEMENT.

>> YES, I DID ASK FOR CLARIFICATION BUT THE CAMPAIGN SAID THAT CAMERON IS THE PRO-LIFE CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE.

HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE LAW.

BUT IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WERE TO BRING HIM A BILL THAT INCLUDED THESE EXCEPTIONS HE WOULD SIGN IT.

SO IT'S PUTTING THE ONUS ON THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: RYLAND DO WE KNOW WHAT PROMPTED THIS ADJUSTMENT FROM CAMERON?

>> I THINK A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE EVOLVING POLITICS IN KENTUCKY AND ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY SENSE THE DOWNFALL OF ROE VS. WADE SINCE THE DOBBS DECISION LAST SUMMER.

THIS HASN'T BEEN TESTED TOO MUCH IN KENTUCKY YET THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO NOT TAKE THIS UP DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION EARLIER THIS YEAR THOUGH THERE WAS A BILL FILED TO ADD THOSE EXCEPTIONS RAPE AND INCEST WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE LOW HANGING EXCEPTIONS HERE POLITICALLY.

AND I THINK THAT IT FINALLY BECAME RIPE ENOUGH THAT I THINK BESHEAR DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO SOMETHING THAT HE WAS GOING TO ATTACK CAMERON ON AS BEING TOO EXTREME ON.

ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR WHEN KENTUCKY VOTERS REJECTED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE ADDED ANTIABORTION LANGUAGE TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT IS THE SIMPLE WAY OF SAYING IT THERE WAS NO RIGHT TO ABORTION THAT COULD BE FOUND UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

SO I THINK BESHEAR IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE TO SEE THIS IN A STATE LIKE KENTUCKY THAT'S VOTED FOR SO MANY ANTIABORTION POLITICIANS OVER THE YEARS FOR HIM TO GO ON OFFENSE AGAINST CAMERON ON THIS ISSUE AND I THINK THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A WINNING ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE OVERPLAYED THEIR HAND OVER THE YEARS.

>> Bill: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR CAMERON TO NAVIGATE THIS.

THE FAMILY FOUNDATION PUT A A STATEMENT SAYING THE VALUE OF A PERSON IS NEVER DETERMINED HOW SOMEONE IS CONCEIVED AND REITERATED THE BAN WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS.

DOES THAT COMPLICATE THINGS FOR CAMERON?

>> IT DOES.

IT MEANS HE HAS TO STRADDLE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING IN HIS PARTY.

AND ONE OF THEM BEING A REALLY RESOLUTELY AGAINST ABORTION IN EVERY SINGLE CASE.

THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO SEE ANY DAYLIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.

WHEREAS I THINK THE PREVAILING VIEW OF KENTUCKY VOTERS IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.

AT LEAST SOMEWHERE THAT IS NOT THE EXTREME.

>> Bill: BILL, THE BESHEAR AD IS ATTENTION GETTING FEATURING THAT YOUNG WOMAN TELLING HER STORY BUT IT DID COME OUT A COUPLE DAYS AFTER CAMERON HAD TAKEN THE NEW POSITION AND THEN OF COURSE AFTER THAT HE CALLED THE AD DESPICABLE.

>> HE DID.

BUT I MEAN THIS IS JUST POLITICS AT SOME LEVEL N HIS RESPONSE TO THE AD HE ALSO MADE A CLIMB THAT'S' CLAIM BESHEAR SUPPORTS ABORTION UP TO THE TIME OF BIRTH WHICH IS ALSO NOT TRUE.

CAMERON SAID SOMETHING WASN'T TRUE ABOUT BESHEAR AND TRYING TO RESPOND TO THIS AD.

SO AT SOME LEVEL THIS IS POLITICS.

THIS IS THAT WAS CAMERON'S POSITION UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THIS.

SO IT'S SOME LEVEL THIS IS HOW THE PLAYS OUT.

>> Bill: McKENNA I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO PARS WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE AND CAMERON'S INDICATING THAT IT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO GET A BILL TO THE GOVERNOR NOT NECESSARILY THAT HE WOULD TRY TO PERSUADE THE LEGISLATURE?

>> RIGHT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS A REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY.

AND THERE WAS A BILL INTRODUCED IN THE LAST SESSION BY REPUBLICAN HOUSE WHIP JASON SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP THERE THAT WOULD HAVE ADDED THESE EXCEPTIONS OF RAPE AND INCEST TO THE TRIGGER LAW.

BUT THE BILL DID NOT ADVANCE AT ALL.

>> MAYBE IT'S WORTH SAYING TOO THAT CAMERON DIDN'T SAY HE SUPPORTS THESE EXCEPTIONS HE SAID IF THE LEGISLATURE SENDS THEM TO ME I'LL SIGN IT.

HE'S NOT SAID WHAT HE PERSONALLY BELIEVES ABOUT THIS.

>> Bill: RYLAND -- >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THIS IS SO FRONT OF MIND FOR KENTUCKIANS AND PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND CERTAINLY REPORTERS ACROSS THE STATE LIKE McKENNA WHO ARE REPEATEDLY ASKING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

DO YOU SUPPORT EXCEPTIONS ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION AND HE REPEATEDLY SAID HE SUPPORTS THE LAW AS IS.

THAT WAS HIS RESPONSE TO IT.

THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THIS COMES FROM.

>> Bill: IT WAS A SURPRISE ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN HE GOES ON LOUISVILLE RADIO SHOW AND TAKES THAT DIFFERENT POSITION, RIGHT?

>> I THINK IT REALLY WAS.

AND I THINK THE TIMING OF THAT IS INTERESTING THAT THIS WEEK ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME THE WEEK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE EXCEPTIONS TO RAPE AND INCEST.

BUT IT IS A REMARKABLE CHANGE FOR HIM.

>> Bill: BESHEAR AND CAMERON APPEARED FOR INTERVIEWS IN LOUISVILLE IN THE HEAT OF ALL OF THIS ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THINGS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON BUSINESS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IN CAMPAIGN THOSE DEBATES ARE COMING UP NOW.

NOW THAT THINGS ARE HEATING UP, WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE IN THOSE FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTERS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT ONE THE TONE IS SOURED A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK WE SAW THAT A LITTLE BIT AT THE END OF THE FORUM WITH THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS WEEK WHEN THE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED TO SAY SOMETHING NICE AND THEY WENT ON TO CAMERON WENT ON TO SAY HE SEEMS TO BE A NICE FAMILY MAN I WOULD HAVE HAD NICER THINGS TO SAY BEFORE THAT AD WAS AIRED WE WILL SEE THAT TONE CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE.

THE GLOVES ARE OFF AT THIS POINT.

THAT ABORTION DISCUSSION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, EDUCATION FUNDING.

THE DEBATE OVER TEACHER RAISES.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OVER THE SUMMER-LIKE PUBLIC PROTECTION AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHEREAS THEY WERE AS -- TO A CERTAIN EXTEND THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING NICE AND THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT TURNING A LITTLE SAY SOUR.

>> Bill: AND WHEN YOU ADD THE TICKING CLOCK TO THE WHAT IS GOING ON WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.

IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THINGS GET MORE TENSE?

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK BACK AT THE DEBATES DURING PRIMARY ESPECIALLY THE ONE HERE AT KET AND THOSE WERE PEOPLE OF THE SAME PARTY.

LET'S IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Bill: THE FINISH CAN BE PUSHED TO THE FINISH LINE CAN BE TOUGH.

>> IT TIGHTENS UP AT THE END AND IT GETS NASTIER THE CLOSER IT GETS.

>> Bill: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TENSION AND IN THIS CURRENT RACE BUT KENTUCKIANS ARE REMEMBERING FORMER GOVERNOR BRERETON JONES WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 84.

JONES WILL LIE IN STATE MONDAY AT THE KENTUCKY CAPITOL.

HE MADE HIS MARK IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY HELPING START THE BREEDERS CUP AND PAVING THE WAY FOR HISTORICAL RACING WHICH NOW FUELS GAMING CENTERS AROUND THE STATE.

DURING HIS TERM AS GOVERNOR JONES WAS A PIONEER IN PUSHING HEALTHCARE REFORM.

HE PRESSED NEW ETHIC STANDARDS AND HE ALSO SURVIVED A HELICOPTER CRASH DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

BILL, YOU KNOW AS WE LOOK BACK THE ONE THING EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT WHEN THEY MENTION BRERETON JONES IS HOW NICE HE WAS.

>> I COVERED THAT 91 RACE AND I DID OUR PROFILE SO I SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME AND TRAVELED WITH HIM AROUND THE STATE.

FOR A WHILE.

AND SO THAT I COULD DO INTERVIEWS AND HE WAS TRULY A NICE GUY TO TALK TO PERSONALLY AND THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER ABOUT HIM.

>> Bill: YOU'VE LOOKED THROUGH HIS RECORDS AND COVERED THOSE FOUR YEARS.

HE DID TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN KEY AREAS.

WE MENTIONED ETHICS AND HEALTHCARE.

>> HE STARTED AN ORGANIZATION TO INCREASE HEALTHCARE ACCESS BEFORE HE WAS GOVERNOR.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT HE HAD DONE IN COOPERATION WITH DOCTORS BEFORE HE WAS GOVERNOR.

SO HE CONTINUED INTO HIS ADMINISTRATION AND PUSHED FOR THINGS THAT REALLY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN 93, 94 THAT WERE PRECURSORS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PASSED LATER BY THE U.S. CONGRESS.

OBAMACARE.

SO I MEAN SOME OF THOSE SAME IDEAS GOT TRANSFERRED INTO THAT.

>> Bill: IT WAS A PIONEER McKENNA IN THAT AREA.

>> A BIG DEAL FOR A STATE LAW TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO A FEDERAL LAW ESPECIALLY A COMPANY DECADES LATER AFTER IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED.

>> I MEAN THERE WAS ROMNEY CARE MITT ROMNEY SPONSORED SOMETHING SIMILAR.

THE WORTH REMEMBERING ABOUT JONES THERE'S REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE GOVERNORS WHO WANTED TO SUCCEED THEMSELVES BUT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO.

JONES GOT OUT OF THE WAY AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO PASS A SUCCESSION LAW THAT THAT IS WHY ANDY BESHEAR WITH RUN FOR A SECOND TERM.

>> HE ONLY DID THE FOUR YEARS AND HE RETURNED TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY FROM WHICH IS WHERE HE CAME FROM.

AND THAT WAS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE OBVIOUSLY AS FAR AS WHAT HE WAS DOING OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, FOR HIS LOVE OF HORSES HE DID FOUND THE NONPROFIT KENTUCKY EQUINE EDUCATION PROJECT AND HEADED THE THOROUGHBRED COMMISSION AND HE HAD SEVERAL AWARD RACE WINNING HORSES ON HIS FARM.

>> WE MENTIONED BILL HE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT IN 1982 IN THAT HELICOPTER CRASH A REAL SCARE FOR HIM AND FOR THE STATE AT THE TIME.

>> ANYTIME THE STATE'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS IN A HELICOPTER CRASH IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

JONES WAS ON THERE.

THERE WERE SIX OR SEVEN OTHER FOLKS ON THE FLIGHT AS WELL THEY WERE ALL INJURED.

THE PILOT WAS INJURED THE POST SERIOUSLY.

BUT NTSB SAID THE PILOTS HAD NOT LATCHED A COVER ON AN ENGINE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED IT.

IT WENT DOWN IN FRANKLIN COUNTY NOT FAR FROM FRANKFURT BUT IT WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> Bill: STORY I WILL TELL ON INAUGURATION DAY IN 1991, ALWAYS A BIG CEREMONIAL DAY AND COLD IT'S IN DECEMBER.

THERE HAD BEEN A LONG SPEECH AND GATHERING OUT ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL.

AND THE GOVERNOR TURNED THE BRAND NEW GOVERNOR TURNS TO GO BACK INTO THE CAPITOL AND THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.

WELL, I HAPPENED TO HAVE GONE INSIDE TO SEE THEM SETTING UP FOR THE RECEPTION THAT EVENING AND I OPENED THE DOOR FOR THE GOVERNOR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CAPITOL HE ALWAYS REMEMBERED THAT AND WE HAD FUN TELLING THAT STORY.

RYLAND, SOMETIMES YOU WONDER IF PEOPLE AS CONGENIAL AND CORDIAL AS JONES WAS, WOULD DO WELL IN POLITICS TODAY.

>> I MEAN THEY MIGHT DO WELL BUT IT WOULD BE HARD TO BE THAT WAY IN A BIG GENERAL ELECTION.

JUST LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY.

I THINK SOME OF THAT STILL HAPPENS BEHIND DOORS IN POLITICS.

BUT IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA AGE IN A ERA WHERE EVERYTHING CAN BE SECURITY ANIED QUICKLY AND WIDESPREAD IT'S A LOT OF THINGS RACE TOWARDS THE TENSION THE NASTINESS AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

I THINK WE ALL HOPE WE CAN FIND OUR WAY THROUGH IT AND MAYBE THAT IS THE GOAL OF OUR GENERATION.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT WASN'T AROUND.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS REWARD OUTRAGE AND THEY STOKE OUTRAGE.

AND SO YEAH WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT WHEN BRERETON JONES WAS GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE HOUSE LINES WERE GERRYMANDERED.

McKENNA TELL US ABOUT THE ARGUMENT?

>> THIS CASE REVOLVES AROUND THE LATE HE HAVE REDISTRICTING MAPS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PUT OUT AND THE QUESTION AT THE BASIS OF THIS CASE IS DOES THE STATE CONSTITUTION PROHIBIT GERRYMANDERING WHICH IS WHEN A MAJORITY PARTY CAN REDRAW DISTRICTS TO HEAVILY FAVOR THAT PARTY IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION DOES ADDRESS THIS AND DOES PROHIBIT GERRYMANDERING AND REPUBLICANS ARGUE THAT IT DOES NOT AND REDISTRICTING IS BEST LEFT UP TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY DOES NOT USE A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION TO SET THE LINES AS SOME STATES DO.

IT IS A LONGSTANDING TRADITION IN THE STATE, THAT THE PARTY IN POWER DRAWS THE LINES TO THEIR FAVOR?

>> IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THERE WAS A NONPARTISAN BODY TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT.

BUT IT'S NOT UNIQUETH THIS TIME AND NOT UNIQUE TO KENTUCKY.

AFTER THE 1990 CENSUS THEY REDREW REDISTRICTING AND IT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO IRON THAT OUT BECAUSE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT STRUCK IT DOWN AND BRERETON JONES VETOED ANOTHER VERSION AND IT WAS THE REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED AND THE REPUBLICANS WERE COMPLAINING AND IT GOT ONE PASSED IN 96.

AND EVEN THEN THE REPUBLICANS COMPLAINED THAT IT STILL DISADVANTAGED THEM.

>> Bill: IS THERE A REAL POSSIBILITY THESE DISTRICT LINES MAYBE THROWN OUT HERE RIGHT BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE AND THERE WILL BE A SCRAMBLE IN.

>> MAYBE.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT THESE MIGHT AFFECT 2024, 26 ELECTIONS.

>> THE JUDGE SAID THE LOWER COURT THAT THE MAPS WERE GERRYMANDERED BUT THE CONSTITUTION DIDN'T PROHIBIT THAT SO THE SUPREME COURT CAME TO THAT SAME CONCLUSION THEY WOULD GO FORWARD.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON THE FIGHT TO AVOID A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS CONTINUING AND WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE HERE IN KENTUCKY IF THAT HAPPENS?

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT YOU KNOW TOUCHES ALL 50 STATES AND EMPLOYS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE FELT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE FURLOUGHED.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS.

ESPECIALLY A STATE LIKE KENTUCKY WHICH HAS A COUPLE MILITARY BASES NOT ONLY HAS ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS BUT ALSO CIVIL SERVANTS.

THERE'S 800,000 CIVIL SERVE APARTMENT MILITARY EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD BE FURLOUGHED IF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GOES INTO PLACE.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS NOT A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY FOR SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

FOR EXAMPLE IN THE 2013 SHUTDOWN THE NATIONAL PARKS CLOSED AND THE 2019 ONE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND SO THESE THINGS CAN CHANGE AS THEY GO BACK AND FORTH.

HEADSTART THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING THAT HEADSTART PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

THERE'S JUST LIKE A LOT TO PARS OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

TSA WORKERS WOULD HAVE TO KEEP WORKING WITHOUT PAY.

SO IT WOULD CREE A 8 A MESS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THERE'S ACTUALLY POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE THINGS THEY ARE ARGUING OVER.

ONE OF THE BIG STICKING POINTS BEING FUNDING FOR UKRAINE.

RAND PAUL HAS BEEN TRYING TO HOLD-UP THIS PROCESS ON THAT ISSUE.

MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN SAYING THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF IT.

THERE'S IMPORTANT REASONS THAT THESE ARGUMENTS ARE HAPPENING.

BUT IF THEY DON'T PASS IT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SUFFER.

>> Bill: A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS.

AND McKENNA SENATOR McCONNELL SAID SHUTDOWNS HAVE BEEN A LOSING PROPOSITION FOR AND ARES IN THE PAST AND HE IS HOPING TO AVOID IT.

>> AS YOU NOTED HE SAID WHEN TALKING TO REPORTERS HE HAS SEEN A FEW OVER HIS YEARS IN THE SENATE.

BUT HE DID ALSO VOICE SUPPORT FOR HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN CHAPMAN WHEN ASKED -- KEVIN McCARTHY SAYING HE IS TRYING TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN.

>> Bill: ALSO IN WASHINGTON A KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL HAS INTRODUCED WHAT HE CALLS THE EDUCATING RESPONSIBLE FUTURE HUNTERS ACT THAT AIMED AT RESTORING FEDERAL FUNDING ENDED BY THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT.

>> THIS WAS A GUN CONTROL BILL PASSED AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN UVALDE THERE WERE 19 KIDS AND TWO TEACHERS MURDERED AND THEY PASSED A BILL IN THE WAKE OF THAT ONE PIECE THE WAY OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS PUT OUT GUIDANCE ON IT HAS CREATED SOME CONCERN THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HUNTERS SAFETY PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS.

AND ARBERY PROGRAMS AND ASH ARCHRY IN SCHOOLS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF KIDS THAT TAKE PART.

PAUL AND OTHER LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED MEASURES TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COULD STILL FUND THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> Bill: WELL, BACK IN KENTUCKY, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE COMING TO FRANKFURT IN EARLY JANUARY AND BEGIN ITS SESSION WHERE THE STATE BUDGET WILL BE SET FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS.

SOME COMPETING PRIORITIES ARE ALREADY BECOMING QUITE OBVIOUS.

SCHOOL FUND SOMETHING LIKELY TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS A REPORT INDICATES THAT THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS NOW WIDER THAN WHEN THE STATE SUPREME COURT ORDERED THE IMPLOSION OF THE SYSTEM BACK IN 1989.

JASON BAILEY OF THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY TOLD ME THIS WEEK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THAT GROWING DISPARITY.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, THE EDUCATION IS KEY TO PROSPERITY, TO WELL-BEING, TO HEALTH.

THOSE LINKS ARE BEING MADE ALL THE TIME.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY IN A DISTRICT OR AREA THAT MAY BE LACKS JOBS, LACKS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMPOUND THAT FACT BY UNDER FUNDING SCHOOLS IS GOING TO LEAVE THAT KIDS MUCH FURTHER BEHIND THEY WILL NOT DO AS WELL IN COLLEGE OR GET TO COLLEGE OR ACQUIRE THE EMPLOYMENT THEY WANT.

IT'S WIDENING GAPS WE ALREADY SEE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: BILL, I HAVE THIS QUESTION: WHY WOULDN'T THAT 1989 SUPREME COURT RULING THAT REQUIRES STATE-WIDE EQUITY IN FUNDING STILL HOLD?

>> WELL, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT IT DOES.

BUT I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO FILE ANOTHER LAWSUIT OR GO BACK TO COURT TO ENFORCE THAT.

YOU WILL REMEMBER IN 89 THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE FUNDING WAS SO OUT OF WHACK BETWEEN RICH AND POOR DISTRICTS THAT IT WASN'T EFFECTIVE.

THE DECISION THERE WAS LANGUAGE THAT SAID 80% OF THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY WERE NOT AS WELL-EDUCATED AS THE TOP 20%.

THAT LED TO THE REFORM ACT WHICH WAS A MODEL IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A PRECEDENT FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW BECAUSE THE FUNDING LEVELS HAVE GOTTEN BACK WORSE THAN AT THAT TIME.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED FOR LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

HISTORICALLY BLACK SCHOOL AS BEEN SHORTCHANGED $172 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS AND THAT REVELATION CAME IN A JOINT COMMUNICATION FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION?

>> THAT CAME FROM THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IT IS A LAND GRANT COLLEGE LIKE U.K. IS WHERE THEY WERE SETUP IN THE 1800'S TO PROVIDE AG EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CERTAIN FIELDS IN KENTUCKY STATE SET NEWSPAPER THOSE DAYS THERE WAS SEGREGATION BLACK STUDENTS COULDN'T GO TO THE OTHER COLLEGES.

MOST OF THE OTHER COLLEGES I WOULD GUESS.

SO THEY WERE SETUP AS LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS AND THE FEDS SAID THAT THEY WERE SHORTCHANGED BY $172 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS.

IT DIDN'T SAY YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE TAXES OR GIVE THEM MORE MONEY.

THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS HOW YOU COULD HELP THEM WITH FUNDING GOING FORWARD WITH A TWO TO ONE STATE FEDERAL MATCH OR TWO TO ONE FEDERAL STATE MATCH.

BUT THERE WAS A FINDING THAT THEY'VE NOT FUNDED THAT.

AND KENTUCKY STATE HAS HAD FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

AND GOT $23 MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET TO TRY TO MAKEUP FOR SOME OF THOSE.

>> Bill: WELL, THERE'S A RENEWED PUSH IN FRANKFURT TO EXEMPT DIAPERS FROM THE STATE SALES TAX.

SENATOR A DEMOCRAT OF LOUISVILLE, WANTS LAWMAKERS TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE UPCOMING SESSION AND McKENNA, SARAH LAD REPORTED ON THAT, AND IS THIS THE KIND OF LEGISLATION YOU KNOW THAT COULD GAIN SOME TRACTION AS IT'S TALKED ABOUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND BEFORE THE SESSION GETS GOING?

>> YEAH.

I CHECKED IN WITH MY COLLEAGUES SARAH, AND SHE SAID IT IS A GOOD SIGN THAT IT'S BEING HEARD IN THE COMMITTEE THIS IS SPONSORED BY DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE.

AND THIS IS A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEGISLATURE.

SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING MOVE THERE.

BUT THE PROPOSAL WOULD REMOVE THE 6% SALES TAX IF DIAPERS AND POTENTIALLY THE STATE COULD LOSE $6.1 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BUT THE IDEA HERE IS THAT DIAPERS ARE ESSENTIALLY GROCERIES AND NEEDED BY MANY FAMILIES ACROSS KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: BILL, THE FEDERAL JURY ISSUED A VERDICT IN THE KIM DAVIS CASE.

>> KIM DAVIS WAS THE CLERK IN 2015 WHEN THE SUPREME COURT LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE.

SHE REFUSED TO ISSUE LICENSES BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT IT CONFLICTED WITH HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT MARRIAGE.

IT TOOK EIGHT YEARS TO TWO COUPLES SUED FOR DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THAT BEING DENIED LICENSES.

TOOK EIGHT YEARS TO GET TO COURT BUT THERE WAS A RULING THAT ONE COUPLE WOULD GET $100,000.

>> Bill: THE LONG TIME LEADER OF THE KENTUCKY A.F.L.-C.I.O.

SAYS HE WILL SOON BE STEPPING DOWN.

HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNION FEDERATION.

RYLAND HE NOTES PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES BOTH OVER THE YEARS.

OF COURSE THEY CHALLENGED THE RIGHT TO WORK LAW AND LOST.

BUT HE SEES RENEWED INTEREST AMONG YOUNG WORKERS IN ORGANIZING.

>> RIGHT TO WORK ALSO JUST WHICH IS LED TO A DECLINE IN UNION MEMBERSHIP IN KENTUCKY BUT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR A REAL THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SMALL SHOPS STARTING TO UNIONIZE.

NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE A.F.L.-C.I.O.

BUT LIKE THE LABOR MOVEMENT HAS BEEN POPPING BACK UP IN INTERESTING WAYS.

THIS WEEK, TOO, WITH THE ONGOING STRIKES AND WILL THEY WON'T THEY STRIKES WITH SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST AUTO MANUFACTURERS.

HE DECIDED TO NOT SEEK REELECTION AND THIS IS HAPPENING AT AN INTERESTING TIME AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO TAKES THAT STOP.

>> Bill: A BIG DECISION IN DECEMBER.

THE KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU'S PRESIDENT IS STEPPING DOWN AS PRESIDENT IN DECEMBER AS WELL AFTER 15 YEARS.

BILL HE HAS BEEN VERY INFLUENTIAL AS A VOICE ON RURAL ISSUES.

>> HE HAS.

HE AND HIS FAMILY RUN AN APPLE ORCHARD MY FAMILY AND I GO THERE EVERY FALL I WAS THERE LAST SUNDAY AND I SAW HIM THERE.

HE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AND HE IS CONGENIAL AND EFFECTIVE IN THAT JOB.

>> Bill: AND IN BOTH CASES THEY WILL STAY INVOLVED.

HE WILL STAY INVOLVED IN THE UNION ACTIVITIES AND ALSO HANEY SAID HE WILL STAY INVOLVED WITH THE KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THAT LOST SHAKER OF SALT, A MAJOR ATTRACTION IS COMING TO NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

THE NEW MARGUERITAVILLE RESORT IS BEING BUILT ON THE OHIO RIVER IN NEWPORT SEEING A LOT OF REDEVELOPMENT.

IT WILL INCLUDE 264 GUEST ROOMS, MEETING AND EVENT SPACE, A JWB GRILL NAMED FOR JIMMY BUFFETT AND A 12TH FLOOR POOL WITH A 5:00 SOMEWHERE BAR THAT WILL OVERLOOK CINCINNATI.

THE STATE HAS GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO $33 MILLION IN TAX INCENTIVES.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]