[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS SO-CALLED NO RISK GAMING MACHINES ARE ILLEGAL UNDER STATE LAW.

SPORTS BETTING EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS.

TV ADS BEGIN IN THE BATTLE OVER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING.

A STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS KICKED OFF THE BALLOT AND RENOMINATED FACES NEW LEGAL CHALLENGES.

A JUDGE RECORDS THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND THE STATE AUDITOR TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES ABOUT SENSITIVE RECORDS.

WITH A FALL FEEL OUT THERE, 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 PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT WILL, SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

LEAH KNEE MEYER, REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN AND AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

KENTUCKY'S NEW ENERGY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL INCLUDE MEMBERS WHO OPPOSED ITS CREATION.

UP FIRST, THE DEBATE RETURNS OVER SO-CALLED GRAY MACHINES OUTLAWED BY THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR, NOW THE MAKER OF A RISK FREE GAMING MACHINE WANTS THOSE DEVICES TURNED OFF WHILE THE LEGAL CHALLENGES ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

LIAM, A DEVICE LAST YEAR IN THE SESSION NO DOUBT A LOT OF MOM AND POP GAS STORES AND OTHERS INDICATED THEY MAKE MONEY WITH THE GRAY MACHINES BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SAYS THE CHANGES MADE BY THE MANUFACTURE DON'T MAKE THEM COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW.

>> VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE IT STRONGLY SPLIT THE G.O.P.

IN THE SESSION.

A BAN DID PASS AND WAS SIGNED BY "GOVERNOR'S AWARD IN THE ARTS."

BASICALLY, THE GRAY MACHINES ARE CALLED GRAY MACHINES PAUSE OF A MURKY GRAY LEGAL AREA THEY ARE IN.

AND AFTER THE BAN THAT WAS PASSED A MANUFACTURER OF THESE SLOT STYLE MACHINES THAT SAID WE CAME OUT WITH A VERSION CALLED NO RISK THAT THE WAY THEY FORMATTED THE MACHINES THEY SAY THEY COMPLY WITH THE BEEN.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DISAGREES SAYS THAT IT'S STILL A MEIGLE GAMBLING USED A COURT CASE GOING BACK TO 1915 TO MAKE HIS CASE AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THESE MACHINES OBVIOUSLY DISAGREES WITH COLEMAN.

BUT IS TURNING OFF THE NO RISK MACHINES FOR NOW.

>> Bill: BECAUSE YOU SAY IT REFERS TO HE A 1915 LAW.

SOME LAWS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND OTHERS HAVE NOT.

AS WE HAVE A MURKY LANDSCAPE AS IT REGARDS GAMING IN THE STATE, RIGHT?

>> SURE, YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU CAN CAN ARGUE THAT, I GUESS, FORMS OF GAMBLING OR GAMING OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT HAVE BEEN AROUND IN KENTUCKY FOR A WHILE.

OBVIOUSLY SPORTS BETTING WAS PASSED ALSO A TIGHT VOTE AS WELL.

AND, YEAH, IT'S JUST VERY KIND OF PRESENT IN SORT OF WITH THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BETS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN SPORTS GAMES AND DO VARIOUS ACTIONS LIKE YOU KNOW, VARIOUS SMALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GAMING.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THAT GAMING LANDSCAPE KEEPS EVOLVING IN KENTUCKY?

>> DEFINITE WHETHER I.

YOU MENTIONED THE GRAY MACHINES NO RISK BETTING MACHINES.

AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOSE IN THE STATE.

I THINK EITHER BETWEEN 500 AND 700 THERE IS A DISPUTE ABOUT THE NUMBERS BUT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THEM.

AND THAT'S BEEN SINCE THIS LAW WAS PASSED LAST YEAR.

IT'S REALLY DIFFUSED ACROSS THE STATE AND WE ALSO HAVE, ITY YOU REFERENCED THIS EARLIER, HISTORICAL RACING GAMES THAT IS QUESTION OF DOES IT TAKE SKILL IS IT PURE LUCK ARE WE TELLING YOU INNED ADVANCE WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO WIN.

IT'S COMPLICATED AND WAYS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND INROADS TO BEGIN SOME FORM OF LEGAL BETTING IN THE STATE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HEARING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT IN THE LEGISLATURE ESPECIALLY AS WE OPEN NEW ROADS LIKE SPORTS BETTING AS WE TALK ABOUT NEW WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN BET.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT IN-PERSON SPORTS BETTING TURNED A YEAR OLD THIS WEEKEND AND REVENUE FROM IT IS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.

$37 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE HAS ROLLED IN.

THERE WAS A SPIKE IN JULY DURING THE PARIS OLYMPICS.

AUSTIN, THE PROJECTION WAS 20-25 MILLION SO MORE REVENUE THAN FIRST BEEN THOUGHT.

THERE IS ALSO SOME CONCERN, THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCE, PROP BETS WAGERING ON WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER MIGHT DO IN A GAME?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN BET ON THE SILLIEST STUFF.

IT MAKES SENSE FROM THE CORPORATION STANDPOINT.

YOU WANT TO EXTRACT AS MUCH VALUE AS YOU CAN OUT OF A GIVEN GAME.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WORTH ADDING IN THIS WHOLE GAMING DISCUSSION IS THAT A LOT OF THIS IS RELATED TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY.

WHO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOBBYING PRESENCES IN FRANKFORT.

SPORTS BETTING IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT AS BENEFITING THE HORSE INDUSTRY BUT IT DOES, BECAUSE THE ONLY IN-PERSON SPORTS BETTING YOU CAN DO IS AT A TRACK OR ONE OF THEIR LICENSED HISTORICAL HORSERACING FACILITIES.

SAME WITH THE SKILL GAMES, FIGHTS A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THAT AS YOU HAVE ONE GROUP THAT HAS MACHINES THAT ARE QUASI GAMBLING YOU COULD CALL IT.

AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER GROUP, THE HORSE TRACKS WHO HAVE QUASI GAMBLING MACHINES IN THE HISTORICAL HORSERACING MACHINES.

SO THAT'S JUST WE KNOW THIS IS A BOOMING BUSINESS.

WE KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN.

BUT THE QUESTION IS WHO GETS TO BENEFIT?

AND IN WHAT WAY DOES IT HAPPEN?

>> Bill: THE QUESTIONS ARE STILL OUT THERE?

>> YES.

THE GRAY MACHINES INDUSTRY IS APPEALING STILL, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGING THIS LAW THIS GRAY MACHINES BAN.

IN CHURCHILL DOWNS HAS FILED BRIEFINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE BAN.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

THE ELECTION IS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT 2 TO THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO DIVERT TAX DOLLARS TO PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THE STATE'S DOCUMENT SAYS THAT MONEY HAS TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONLY.

THIS WEEK, A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE STARTED RUNNING ADS STATE-WIDE IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT.

>> STATES THAT HAVE HAD MATURING SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS THEY ARE FINDING PROFOUND BENEFITS.

STUDENTS HAVE HIGHER TEST SCORES AND LOWER SUSPENSION RATES AND THE BENEFITS ARE PROFOUND WITH LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

THAT COMPETITION ELEVATES RESULTS FOR EVERYONE.

SCHOOL CHOICE WILL GIVE KENTUCKY STUDENTS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, COULD THIS END UP BEING THE MOST HARD-FOUGHT CAMPAIGN ON THE KENTUCKY BALLOT?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY EXPECTS THAT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE CONTENTIOUS RACES IN DIFFERENT SPORTS OF THE STATE NO DOUBT.

WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESS THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE RACES.

AND ON THE STATE-WIDE BALLOT, THIS IS KIND OF SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING.

WE KNOW THAT PAC, PROTECT FREEDOM PAC IS A RAND PAUL-LINKED AND JEFF YEAHS WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE WHO HAS BACKED MANY OTHER CAMPAIGNS LIKE THIS ONE IN OTHER STATES.

SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH HE IS SPENDING ON THIS JUST YET.

BUT WE KNOW HE HAS DEEP POCKETS AND WE SUSPECT THAT TO BE A REALLY HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE.

>> Bill: WE ANTICIPATE THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INDICATE THEY WILL CAMPAIGN AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SOME MONEY AT HIS DISPOSAL MAYBE TO PUT INTO THE RACE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS MONEY BOTH THROUGH HIS PAC IN THIS TOGETHER, AND THEN HIS WHATEVER YOU WEATHER APP TO CALL IT, DARK MONEY, NONPROFIT POLITICAL GROUP HECK BENT INC., A PLAY ON ONE OF THE PHRASES THAT HE USES SOMETIMES.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO USE THEIR BULLY PULPIT WHICH BOTH OF THEM HAVE.

THEY GET FREE ORGANIC EARNED MEDIA AT THESE PRESS CONFERENCES.

AND HE'S GOING TO USE IT AND HE'S USED IT BEFORE TO REALLY HAMMER ON THE EDUCATION ISSUES AND HE'S HAD SUCCESS WINNING ELECTIONS THAT WAY.

I THINK THEIR SIDE THINKS THAT THAT COMBINED WITH ORGANIZATION FROM TEACHER RELATED GROUPS AND MONEY THAT WILL COME IN ON THEIR SIDE AS WELL IS A WINNING STRATEGY.

>> Bill: LIAM THOUGHTS ON THE MESSAGING THAT AD?

>> I MEAN IT WAS SUNNY H. SORT OF A POSITIVE UPBEAT FEEL TO IT.

IT WAS INTERESTING THE SENSE IT ECHOED RHETORIC FROM THOSE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS SAYING THAT THIS AMOUNTING FOR PUBLIC FUNDING TO GO TO NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVING MORE SCHOOL CHOICE WILL HELP LOWER INCOME FAMILIES IN PARTICULAR.

NOW, SAY TAKE THE RHETORIC OUT AND MORE RURAL PLACES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WE SAW THIS A LITTLE BIT DURING THE FANCY FARM PICNIC IN EARLY AUGUST REPUBLICANS IN WEST KENTUCKY SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT WERE SPECIFIC IN SAYING THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FINE HERE.

WE HAVE GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR STUDENTS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT MAY NEEDNA, I GUESS, THIS OPTION.

AND JUST IN PARTICULAR, INTERESTING MESSAGING THERE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE'S GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF MONEY THROWN AT THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT NECESSARILY AWARE THE AMENDMENT IS ON THE BALLOT.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

AND SYLVIA TO THAT POINT, YOU COVERED SOME DOOR KNOCKING THAT WENT ON IN LOUISVILLE AND THAT WAS BY THE PRO AMENDMENT 2 FOLKS AND HOW WERE THOSE DOORS ANSWERED?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD YOU GO TO OBVIOUSLY.

AND WHAT PART OF LOUISVILLE WHAT PART OF THE STATE YOU GO TO.

BUT THERE WAS PRETTY MIXED IN THE DOOR KNOCK BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO DID THINK THERE WAS A BENEFIT TO LETTING THEIR CHILDREN GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL TO HAVING THE STATE POTENTIALLY FUND THAT.

TO ALSO THE IDEA THAT IF MY CHILD GOES TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, MY MONEY SHOULDN'T GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT MY CHILD IS NOT ATTENDING.

I DID HEAR THAT.

AND I DID HEAR FROM SOME PEOPLE PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS IN PARTICULAR, WHO SAID THAT THIS WOULD DIVERT MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

OR THE IDEA THAT IF MY CHILD DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL THEN I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR T THERE IS A MIXTURE OF OPINIONS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S DIVISIVE WITHIN A SMALL GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

AND IT'S WORTH NOTING ABOUT THAT AD IT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOO COULD BENEFIT THAT IS ALSO RHETORIC I'VE HEARD FROM AMENDMENT 2 SUPPORTERS WHICH I THINK IS QUITE PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER UNIONS HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST THAT IDEA FOR SURE.

BUT THE IDEA THAT MAYBE IF STUDENTS WHO NEEDED ADDITIONAL HELP OR NEEDED DIFFERENT RESOURCES LEFT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IT WOULD PUT LESS BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE IS JUST A LOT OF IDEAS WHAT COULD HAPPEN UNDER THIS AMENDMENT.

IT'S QUITE BROAD.

THE MESSAGING WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS REALLY BROAD TO MATCH IT.

>> Bill: AND AUSTIN THERE'S BEEN A THE OF DISCUSSION AND RULINGS WHO CAN WEIGH-IN ON THIS MATTER.

THERE WAS A FEDERAL COURT RULING CLEARING THE WAY FOR LOCAL POLITICAL PARTIES AT THE SAME TIME, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN BARRED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR EXPENDING TAX DOLLARS OR TIME AGAINST IT.

>> YEAH, YOU HAD BY THE LETTER OF THE REGULATION LOCAL PARTIES WERE KIND OF RESTRICTED TO ADVOCATING FOR PARTISAN CANDIDATES.

SO THEY WERE TOLD BY THE ELECTION FINANCE REGISTRY THAT THEY COULDN'T ADVOCATE EXPLICITLY ON AN AMENDMENT WHICH IS A NONPARTISAN THING.

THESE DO BECOME PARTISAN THERE IS NO R OR D ON THESE AMENDMENTS.

THEY WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T ADVOCATE FOR IT AND THEN IT GOT KICKED UP ALL THE WAY TO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS THAT SAID THIS IS A POLITICAL FREE SPEECH MATTER AND COUNTY PARTIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

AS YOU POINTED OUT WE'VE HAD CONTROVERSY OVER SCHOOL DISTRICTS POSTING ABOUT THIS.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE'S SOME HYPOCRISY IN LETTING SAYING A BETTER REGULATION IS NOT FAIR AND LETTING A COUNTY PARTY SPEAK OUT ON IT, BUT NOT LETTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEAK OUT ON IT.

THAT SAID A COUNTY PARTY IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES.

>> Bill: THEY ARE A GOVERNMENT AND THE SCHOOL IS.

>> AND THE SCHOOL IS TAXPAYER FUNDED THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THERE.

>> Bill: THERE ARE ALSO LEGISLATURE AND CONGRESSIONAL RACES ON THE BALLOT STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS FACING MORE LEGAL CHALLENGES IN HER ATTEMPT TO KEEP HER SEAT IN FRANKFORT.

THIS COMES AFTER TWO REPUBLICANS AT THE TIME SIGNED HER ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

SHE GOT ON THE BALLOT THROUGH RULINGS.

THEN WON THE PRIMARY.

AND WAS DISQUALIFIED.

RENOMINATED BY THE PARTY THEN, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S THE STORY.

YOU SAID IT BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE.

IT IS A LOT TO KEEP IN YOUR HEAD ALL AT ONCE IT'S GONE BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH.

NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW CHALLENGE IN A NEW COURT, FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT AND IT INCLUDES A NEW POWERFUL.

YOU HAVE WILLIAM CITES THE CANDIDATE WHO GOT THE 20% OF THE VOTES SUING ALONGSIDE THE PERSON WHO DID ORIGINALLY SUE WHO HAD THE SEAT BEFORE DENNIS MORE LANDER AND THEY ARE CITING A PASSED LAW IN FRONT OF A NEW COURT.

WHO KNOWS.

WE KNOW THAT COAL CARNEY DID GET THE NOMINATION FROM HER COUNTY PARTY.

BUT THEY CLAIM THAT SHE STOLE THE NOMINATION ESSENTIALLY AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> Bill: REPRESENTATIVE GROSSBURG REMAINED UNDER FIRE THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING STORY.

I THINK THIS MORNING, IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT RECENT, BUT THIS MORNING, YOUNG DEMOCRAT CHAPTERS IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON CALLED ON HIM TO RESIGN.

CITING ALLEGATIONS MADE IN OUR REPORTING.

AND THEY JOINED A KIND OF GROWING CHORUS OF DEMOCRATS THAT ARE CALLING ON THIS.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN HAVEN'T CALLED FOR HIM TO RESIGN BUT THEY'VE SUGGESTED THAT THERE'S SERIOUS ISSUE WITH HIS BEHAVIOR THAT'S BEEN REPORTED AND HE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER RESIGNING.

>> Bill: HE HAS DENIED IT ALL.

>> YES.

>> Bill: MORE THAN 100 LOCALITIES WILL HAVE VOTES ON WHETHER MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES CAN BE IN THEIR AREAS.

THEY WERE JUST UNDER 5,000 APPLICATIONS TURNED INTO THE STATE FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND DURING HIS WEEKLY NEWS BRIEFING GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THOSE WILL BE CONSIDERED.

>> WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM WITH A GOAL TO PROVIDING EVERYONE A FAIR SHOT TO BE PART OF THIS NEW AND EXCITING INDUSTRY.

THE RESULTS ARE CLEAR THERE'S OVERWHELMING INTEREST.

ESPECIALLY AMONG KENTUCKIANS THAT IS PROOF THAT THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO MEET ITS GOALS.

>> Bill: SYLVIA A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WE'LL FIND OUT AFTER THE ELECTIONS BUT LOCAL LEADERS MADE THEIR DECISIONS AND SETUP THE RULES.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

MY COLLEAGUES JUSTIN HICKS AND JOE SONKA MADE AN EXCELLENT MAP CHECK IT OUT THAT SHOWS WHERE THE COUNTIES HAVE DECIDED, WHICH ONES ARE PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT AND WHICH ONES MADE REGULATIONS SAYING YES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS IN OUR COUNTY AND CITY.

CITIES CAN OPT-OUT EVEN IF THE COUNTY SAYS WE ARE IN A CITY CAN OPT-OUT.

BUT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE IT ON THE BALLOT.

IT IS UNDER 30% OF COUNTIES WILL SEE IT ON THEIR BALLOT.

AND EVEN SOME CITIES WILL HAVE IT ON TWICE BECAUSE THE CITY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND THE COUNTY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.

IT IS A CLUSTER OF A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS.

>> Bill: AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO ALLOW IT IN A CITY AND NOT A COUNTY.

THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

>> YES.

IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF THE THE WET, DRY VOTES WITH ALCOHOL.

I'VE SPENT TIME, OF COURSE, REPORTING OUT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

AND PEOPLE SAY IN CONWAY COUNTY TALK ABOUT THE WET-DRY VOTE THAT HAPPENED IN 2012.

>> Bill: A JUDGE ORDERED THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND THE AUDITOR TO SETTLE THEIR DISPUTE OVER ACCESS TO SENSITIVE RECORDS.

LIAM THIS INVOLVES CHILD AND ADULT ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES.

THE AUDITOR SAYS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NEEDS THAT INFORMATION TO INVESTIGATE.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID CURRENT LAW PROHIBITS THEM FROM RELEASING THAT DATA?

>> IT IS AN ONGOING CORE BATTLE SPURRED IN PART BY LEGISLATION PASSED THIS YEAR THAT MOVED THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN IN THE CABINET OF FAMILY AND HEALTH SERVICES TO THE STATE'S AUDITORS OFFICE THAT ALLISON BALL CONTROLS AND THE OMBUDSMAN IS SAYING THEY NEED ACCESS TO THIS DATABASE WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WITHIN THE CABINET.

AND BESHEAR AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAVE BEEN ARGUING THAT THERE'S A SPECIFIC STATUTE THAT NOW THAT THIS OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE IS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE THERE IS A STATUTE THAT PREVENTEDS THEM FROM ALLOWING THAT ACCESS.

FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE TOLD BALL AND THE EXECUTIVE TO WORK IT OUT AND GET A MEDIATOR OF.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S NEW ENERGY PLANNING INCLUDES EXECUTIVES THAT OPPOSED ITS CREATION NOW THEY WILL BE ON THERE.

>> YEAH.

THERE IS A NEW ENERGY PLANNING COMMISSION BASICALLY, IT WOULD REVIEW FOSSIL-FUEL FIRED POWER PLANT RETIREMENTS ADDING NEW BUREAUCRACY TO A PROCESS THAT HAS A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY BEFORE THE KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THAT STATE UTILITY REGULATOR.

THESE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITYIES THEY SAID THAT THIS NEW COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD ADD JUST YET ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY IT WASN'T GOOD FOR BUSINESS AND NOW THEY ARE A PART OF IT SAYING THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INVOLVED IN ENERGY DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: AND RENEWABLE ENERGY UPDATE EAST KENTUCKY POWER GETTING PART OF A $10 BILLION FEDERAL GRANT THAT IS OUT THERE IN TOTAL.

WHAT WILL THEY DO?

>> CORRECT.

IT IS A PART OF A NEARLY $10 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO GET BUT IT COULD LIKELY BE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE USING IT TO BUILD OR BUY RENEWABLE ENERGY.

LIKELY, SOLAR ENERGY IN THE STATE BECAUSE WIND ENERGY THERE'S NOT AS MUCH POTENTIAL FOR WIND IN KENTUCKY.

THERE'S ONE LITTLE WIND TURBINE THAT THEY PUT IN MERCER COUNTY.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY AND MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE WAY.

>> Bill: WITH CONGRESS ON RECESS, MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN BUSY AND VISIBLE IN KENTUCKY AS HIS TIME AS G.O.P.

SENATE LEADER IS WINDING DOWN.

HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT A RANGE OF ISSUES.

MITCH McCONNELL TOLD A GROUP HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WAS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WAS GOING TO GET DONE WITHOUT CHARGING TOLLS.

>> I THOUGHT THE TIME WAS NOW AND I DID WORK WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP IN THE SENATE, TO PRODUCE A BILL THAT FIXED BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS AND SENT ANOTHER $5 BILLION DOWN TO KENTUCKY ROADS AND BRIDGES AND PROJECTS.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, McCONNELL STARTED THAT ANSWER BY NOTING HE CAN BE PARTISAN HE SAYS THAT HIMSELF.

AND HE SAID THERE ARE TIMES TO BE PRACTICAL AND HE WANTED THAT PROJECT DONE INTERESTING WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE IS OUT AND ABOUT?

>> YES, AND HE IS DOING A LAP OF THE STATE.

AND I WENT TO AN EVENT SIMILAR IN GEORGETOWN AND HE SPOKE AT SIMILAR LENGTH ABOUT HOLDING MERRICK GARLAND'S NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT WHICH I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY AND HE WOULD AGREE IS PARTISAN ACT AS WELL.

THIS DOES FEEL LIKE SOME SORT OF LEGACY SHAPING.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, LESS ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS AS A RESULT HE DOES SAY SOME ABOUT HIS PLANS TO GO FOR APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR.

SO IT MAKES YOU WONDER IS HE AND WRAING UP HIS LEGACY AS LEADER?

ORIGINNING TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR WRAPPING UP HIS LEGACY AS KENTUCKY SENATOR.

WHO KNOWS.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO IN REPUBLICAN CIRCLES RIGHT NOW WOULD SAY THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED, BUT MAYBE NOT SHOCKED IF HE DECIDED TO RUN AGAIN.

>> Bill: IT IS INTERESTING LIKE HE IS KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT HE IS KEEPING IT OPEN.

HE'S TALKED A LOT ABOUT MOST OF THE EVENTS I HAVE BEEN TO HE HAS LAID OUT HIS LEGACY IS SHAPING THE JUDICIARY ONE OF HIS BIGGEST INFLUENCES.

AND HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN POLICY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF CROWDS THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON FOREIGN POLICY HE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT A LOT AND AMERICA IS A LEADER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HIM SHAPING HIS LEGACY IN TERMS OF ENDING HIS CAREER IN POLITICS.

BUT I THINK HE CERTAINLY IS TRYING TO SETUP WHAT HE'S DONE SO FAR AND HOW INFLUENTIAL HE HAS BEEN IN POLITICS.

>> Bill: ONE OF HIS STOPS WAS TO HELP CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE CONDITION KEN REPUBLICAN PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS BEING DONE WITH $3 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMPANIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.

TOM DIGS INTO THOSE RECORDS.

>> HE'S STILL REPORTING.

>> Bill: SO THAT WAS INTERESTING THIS WEEK.

AUSTIN, SENATE CAMPAIGNS CAN BE ROUGH AND TOUGH AND FORMER U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE CHARLOTTINGS BOOKER THE NOMINEE A COUPLE YEARS AGO IS STILL PAYING CAMPAIGN DEBT ON HIS RACE AGAINST SENATOR RAND PAUL.

>> HE IS.

THE CAMPAIGN STILL HAS $130,000 IN DEBT WHICH IS ROUGHLY WHERE THEY WERE AT THE END OF 2022 WHICH WAS HIS ELECTION YEAR.

IT ENDED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

NOW, HE'S BEEN TAKING DONATIONS IN SINCE TO TRY AND GET THAT DEBT GET OUT FROM UNDER THAT DEBT.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR VENDORS TO HELP YOU FUNDRAISE IN THE FIRST PLACEMENT HE HAS BEEN STUCK IN THIS CYCLE OF GETTING SOME DONATIONS IN AND STILL THE EXPENSES TO GET THE DONATIONS IN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> Bill: EASY TO SEE WHY SOME ARE HESSTANT TO JUMP IN WHEN LURED TO MAKE A RACE.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING IN THE WEEKS AHEAD?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE DANIEL GROSSBURG STORY MENTIONED CONTINUES TO PROGRESS IF AT ALL.

THE GROSSBURG CAMP HAS BEEN ADAMANT AND DIGGING HERE HEELS IN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RESIGN AS PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ON THEM TO DO.

I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE EXCITED ABOUT A HANDFUL OF RACES THAT THEY COULD GROW PARTICULARLY THEIR NUMBERS IN THE HOUSE IN SUBURBAN LOUISVILLE, A LITTLE BIT NORTHERN KENTUCKY A LITTLE BIT IN LEXINGTON.

THOSE WILL BE INTERESTING.

THOSE ARE THE TWO I'M WATCHING.

>> Bill: 15,000 NEW VOTERS THIS WEEK THAT WE LEARNED THAT CAME IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST THAT WAS INTERESTING.

LIAM EKU AND WESTERN ARE PLAYING AND THERE'S DRAMAS OVER THE JERSEYS.

>> WESTERN KENTUCKY WAS GOING TO HAVE A WHITE-OUT NIGHT.

EASTERN KENTUCKY SAYS WE'RE GOING TO WEAR OUR WHITE AWAY JERSEYS AND WESTERN KENTUCKY IS MAD BECAUSE EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL BE WEARING THE WHITE JERSEYS ON A WHITE-OUT NIGHT.

>> Bill: IT WAS TO BE A BIG NIGHT.

>> GO TOPS.

THEIR MASCOT IS BETTER.

>> Bill: I AM AN EKU GRAD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.