November 6, 2024 • 9 mins
John McCarthy, Founder/Managing Partner of McCarthy Strategic Solutions, discussed President Trump's victory, his goals for his new term, how local elections will shape what happens in Frankfort, and the downfall of Amendment 2...
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
News radio WA forty wuhs. Terry miners here. John McCarthy
is with me, a general partner of McCarthy's strategic Solutions,
and he's a national committeeman to the Republican National Committee
for the Republican Party of Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
John, Hello, Terry, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
To have you on? Brother, glad to be here. I
figured you you're sitting back with a cool drink and
I kind of enjoying the party. You're smoking a cigar.
What's happening right now?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
That was last night, but no, it was late in
the morning until we got the results. But we're certainly
excited about the opportunities that rest that exist in front
of our country, our state with the outcome of the
elections last night. I thought it was really important words
(00:49):
that Donald Trump said that it's time for our country
to start the healing process with addressing some of the
major issues that obviously the voters felt were very important,
like increasing costs of basic necessities and immigration and international security,
or you know, some of the things that really powered
this election and the people in so many different states
(01:13):
to give our president the not just the electoral college
vote which has happened numerous times recently, but also the
popular vote. The timing and message and coordination was pretty phenomenal,
even amongst all the other noise that was out there
to have this great outcome for the Republican Party nationally
(01:34):
and locally.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, there's a lot of noise that continues because people
say he said he's going to seek revenge on his enemies.
It's like this sounds like somebody talking about two kids
on the school yard in the fourth grade or whatever.
It's It's well, there's no energy going to be expended
on that. I mean, he's got to work on a
hundred day plan to get ready for the inauguration. Off
(02:00):
we go.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, we've never had a president elected who can't run
again in the sense that's been separated with an agenda
by the people that then sets up whoever is going
to run next. But at the same time, these are
real important issues, the tax issues that face, the renewals
that are there from twenty seventeen that he passed have
(02:23):
to be renewed. You have again the immigration issue. He
has an opportunity to find a way to fund the
necessity's government yet address the you know, ever increasing costs
of government. I mean, I really believe there's an opportunity
with this Republican controlled Senate, and looks like to me
(02:46):
the Republicans are going to control the House and to
really work on some things to put our fiscal house
in order and position the United States as a as
the world power again without having a level at all
on the debt, because I mean, there really is an
opportunity for us to look at the cost drivers within
government and take a chance to step back and see
(03:09):
what's really important in necessity to serve government and to
serve the people. But you've got to make sure that
we are doing the things to make the economy go,
to address immigration, and to make sure our country is
safe in the in the in the freedom that we
enjoy is protected on a daily basis.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
We have to talk about mass deportation though scares a
lot of people, and obviously it's been kind of out
of control. So and that's also an immense change in
what happens for the actual citizens citizenry of the United
States when so many resources are diverted here to what
(03:50):
what you noted too, Not all these are legit, these
people that are coming across the border. So we've we
have to untangle that mess as well.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Well, if you look at the voter turnout in different populations,
the significant of the Latino vote in across the country
in support for Donald Trump, you would, you know, is
a signal that they want responsible responsibility return to the
immigration process as well as the economic opportunity that exists
(04:22):
in our country to continue to grow and thrive. And
I think that's the that's the approach that's going to
be taken. As far as deportation it goes, you know,
I can't imagine. I mean, we can only imagine what
that looks like, of course, and that's the fear that
comes that was sold in this campaign on so many
issues by the other side that just you know, the
(04:46):
reality of doing that is is quite uncomfortable, quite honestly,
no doubt.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Ok.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I think that's a big battle.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Indeed, you are the former chair of the Republican Party
of Kentucky, so here here locally obviously you held serve
Essentially you still have a super majority, correct in the
Kentucky legislature.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Absolutely, we have eighty members of the House and we
have thirty one members of the Senate and a few
changes because people retire, but all those races. So yeah,
supermajority is well intact. And when I started in two
thousand and four as chairman of the Republican Party, we
we didn't have had We just took the majority in
the Senate, but we did not have the majority in
(05:29):
the House, and we probably only had about fifty out
of one hundred and twenty county judges. And now we
probably have ninety eight county judges in the state of Kentucky.
And growth has happened everywhere. I mean the local races
there in Jefferson County, you know, the Republicans now in
Metro Council having twelve votes picking up all three seats
(05:50):
in the South End. It was a significant impact, very
surprising even the Republicans because you have some good people
who do good work, like a Rick Blackwell on the council.
But the wave and the quality of the candidates that
were offered to the voters, you know, make a difference.
And I think that's what happened locally.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So what do you think happens when the legislature gets
together again? Andy Basheer obviously can't He can veto things,
but he gets over overpowered by that. Andy Basheer is
not shy about taking credit for things that the legislature
has done. And we've all heard that back and forth
over and over again. So what does the next couple
of years look like in terms of the governor's relationship
(06:32):
with the legislature? Do they pretty much just say, yeah,
sit over there, we're doing what we're doing.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Well, they've done they look, they've what we've all witnessed.
The policy agenda for the Republicans since they took control
of twenty sixteen has done all grid things to reduce
our taxes, to put in our fiscal house in order.
I mean, when's the last time you heard in make
them plain about Kentucky's pension problem?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Right?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
When is the last time you know the issues that
are there? Is the governor will be concerned a little
bit about is we still have a broken unemployment insurance
problem that was a big part of COVID. So those
are the sort of differences that you'll see. The balance
of relationship is going to come with the fact that
are they unified on trying to find ways to create
(07:20):
jobs and opportunity in this state. They're both all all
parties are going to say they are. I think when
it really comes down to the action. Is the legislature
controls the actual funding of and where money is actually spent.
The administration has to execute on that, and it's a
choice that this governor is going to make of whether
(07:40):
he follows their instructions, because that's really the way the process.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Okay, we're going to run out of time, but I
got to get to Amendment two, of course, was overwhelmingly rejected.
And the complaints oftentimes from the other side is that
the schools are underfunded. Is that correct in your mind?
For the state legis do you think that they're they're
funding it to the proper levels?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Now, yeah, schools are funded in a proper level. I
think the the opportunities that the General Assembly are trying
to give the people of Kentucky is the ways to
improve the education outcomes with across our state. I mean,
if you look at the Jefferson County public schools, you
(08:23):
look at any school districts right now, they'll tell you
what the reading attainment level is in their in their
county for age groups you know, kindergarten to fifth grade,
to middle school and high school. That's the evaluation that
the General Assembly is really trying to get to if
more resources was the ultimate answer. Look, they have fund
(08:44):
fully funded teachers' pensions. They've given teachers the ability to
get pay raises through their school districts. They've they've provided
more funding to education than ever before, at both higher
education and in the in the grade schools.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Cross all amount of time, John, Johnathman, stop your amount
of time. I appreciate you jumping on. Thanks so much. Okay,
Terry soon All right. That is John McCarthy. He is
National Committee Manager of the Republican National Committee for the
Republican Party of Kentucky.
News radio WA forty wuhs. Terry miners here. John McCarthy
is with me, a general partner of McCarthy's strategic Solutions,
and he's a national committeeman to the Republican National Committee
for the Republican Party of Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
John, Hello, Terry, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
To have you on? Brother, glad to be here. I
figured you you're sitting back with a cool drink and
I kind of enjoying the party. You're smoking a cigar.
What's happening right now?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
That was last night, but no, it was late in
the morning until we got the results. But we're certainly
excited about the opportunities that rest that exist in front
of our country, our state with the outcome of the
elections last night. I thought it was really important words
(00:49):
that Donald Trump said that it's time for our country
to start the healing process with addressing some of the
major issues that obviously the voters felt were very important,
like increasing costs of basic necessities and immigration and international security,
or you know, some of the things that really powered
this election and the people in so many different states
(01:13):
to give our president the not just the electoral college
vote which has happened numerous times recently, but also the
popular vote. The timing and message and coordination was pretty phenomenal,
even amongst all the other noise that was out there
to have this great outcome for the Republican Party nationally
(01:34):
and locally.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, there's a lot of noise that continues because people
say he said he's going to seek revenge on his enemies.
It's like this sounds like somebody talking about two kids
on the school yard in the fourth grade or whatever.
It's It's well, there's no energy going to be expended
on that. I mean, he's got to work on a
hundred day plan to get ready for the inauguration. Off
(02:00):
we go.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, we've never had a president elected who can't run
again in the sense that's been separated with an agenda
by the people that then sets up whoever is going
to run next. But at the same time, these are
real important issues, the tax issues that face, the renewals
that are there from twenty seventeen that he passed have
(02:23):
to be renewed. You have again the immigration issue. He
has an opportunity to find a way to fund the
necessity's government yet address the you know, ever increasing costs
of government. I mean, I really believe there's an opportunity
with this Republican controlled Senate, and looks like to me
(02:46):
the Republicans are going to control the House and to
really work on some things to put our fiscal house
in order and position the United States as a as
the world power again without having a level at all
on the debt, because I mean, there really is an
opportunity for us to look at the cost drivers within
government and take a chance to step back and see
(03:09):
what's really important in necessity to serve government and to
serve the people. But you've got to make sure that
we are doing the things to make the economy go,
to address immigration, and to make sure our country is
safe in the in the in the freedom that we
enjoy is protected on a daily basis.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
We have to talk about mass deportation though scares a
lot of people, and obviously it's been kind of out
of control. So and that's also an immense change in
what happens for the actual citizens citizenry of the United
States when so many resources are diverted here to what
(03:50):
what you noted too, Not all these are legit, these
people that are coming across the border. So we've we
have to untangle that mess as well.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Well, if you look at the voter turnout in different populations,
the significant of the Latino vote in across the country
in support for Donald Trump, you would, you know, is
a signal that they want responsible responsibility return to the
immigration process as well as the economic opportunity that exists
(04:22):
in our country to continue to grow and thrive. And
I think that's the that's the approach that's going to
be taken. As far as deportation it goes, you know,
I can't imagine. I mean, we can only imagine what
that looks like, of course, and that's the fear that
comes that was sold in this campaign on so many
issues by the other side that just you know, the
(04:46):
reality of doing that is is quite uncomfortable, quite honestly,
no doubt.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Ok.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I think that's a big battle.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Indeed, you are the former chair of the Republican Party
of Kentucky, so here here locally obviously you held serve
Essentially you still have a super majority, correct in the
Kentucky legislature.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Absolutely, we have eighty members of the House and we
have thirty one members of the Senate and a few
changes because people retire, but all those races. So yeah,
supermajority is well intact. And when I started in two
thousand and four as chairman of the Republican Party, we
we didn't have had We just took the majority in
the Senate, but we did not have the majority in
(05:29):
the House, and we probably only had about fifty out
of one hundred and twenty county judges. And now we
probably have ninety eight county judges in the state of Kentucky.
And growth has happened everywhere. I mean the local races
there in Jefferson County, you know, the Republicans now in
Metro Council having twelve votes picking up all three seats
(05:50):
in the South End. It was a significant impact, very
surprising even the Republicans because you have some good people
who do good work, like a Rick Blackwell on the council.
But the wave and the quality of the candidates that
were offered to the voters, you know, make a difference.
And I think that's what happened locally.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So what do you think happens when the legislature gets
together again? Andy Basheer obviously can't He can veto things,
but he gets over overpowered by that. Andy Basheer is
not shy about taking credit for things that the legislature
has done. And we've all heard that back and forth
over and over again. So what does the next couple
of years look like in terms of the governor's relationship
(06:32):
with the legislature? Do they pretty much just say, yeah,
sit over there, we're doing what we're doing.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Well, they've done they look, they've what we've all witnessed.
The policy agenda for the Republicans since they took control
of twenty sixteen has done all grid things to reduce
our taxes, to put in our fiscal house in order.
I mean, when's the last time you heard in make
them plain about Kentucky's pension problem?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Right?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
When is the last time you know the issues that
are there? Is the governor will be concerned a little
bit about is we still have a broken unemployment insurance
problem that was a big part of COVID. So those
are the sort of differences that you'll see. The balance
of relationship is going to come with the fact that
are they unified on trying to find ways to create
(07:20):
jobs and opportunity in this state. They're both all all
parties are going to say they are. I think when
it really comes down to the action. Is the legislature
controls the actual funding of and where money is actually spent.
The administration has to execute on that, and it's a
choice that this governor is going to make of whether
(07:40):
he follows their instructions, because that's really the way the process.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Okay, we're going to run out of time, but I
got to get to Amendment two, of course, was overwhelmingly rejected.
And the complaints oftentimes from the other side is that
the schools are underfunded. Is that correct in your mind?
For the state legis do you think that they're they're
funding it to the proper levels?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Now, yeah, schools are funded in a proper level. I
think the the opportunities that the General Assembly are trying
to give the people of Kentucky is the ways to
improve the education outcomes with across our state. I mean,
if you look at the Jefferson County public schools, you
(08:23):
look at any school districts right now, they'll tell you
what the reading attainment level is in their in their
county for age groups you know, kindergarten to fifth grade,
to middle school and high school. That's the evaluation that
the General Assembly is really trying to get to if
more resources was the ultimate answer. Look, they have fund
(08:44):
fully funded teachers' pensions. They've given teachers the ability to
get pay raises through their school districts. They've they've provided
more funding to education than ever before, at both higher
education and in the in the grade schools.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Cross all amount of time, John, Johnathman, stop your amount
of time. I appreciate you jumping on. Thanks so much. Okay,
Terry soon All right. That is John McCarthy. He is
National Committee Manager of the Republican National Committee for the
Republican Party of Kentucky.
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