June 9, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including new candidates announcing to run for election to U.S. Congress representing the sixth district. Panelists: Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal; Laura Cullen Glasscock, The Kentucky Gazette; and McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
MORE CANDIDATES FOR
CONGRESS IN A RARE OPEN RACE IN
CENTRAL KENTUCKY.
U.S. SENATOR RAND PAUL FACES
TOUGH CRITICISM FROM PRESIDENT
TRUMP OVER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL
BUDGET BILL.
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS LOOK FOR A
WAY BACK AFTER A HEY PROFILE
PARTY SWITCH AND TOUGH TRENDS.
THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY
(00:28):
KENTUCKY TASK FORCE HOLDS ITS
FIRST MEETING.
JUNE BRINGS HEAT AND MORE STORMS
AND COMMENT IS ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:50):
ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT ON
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE, LAURA CULLEN
GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.
HANNAH PINSKI, POLITICS REPORTER
FOR THE CURE CURE.
AND MCKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LAND
(01:12):
EARN.
LET'S BEGIN WITH POLITICS
TONIGHT WITH ALL THE EXPERTS
HERE AS THE RACE FOR CONGRESS
AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS GETTING
MORE CROWDED.
CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR'S DECISION
TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE IS
OPENING UP THE SIXTH DISTRICT
SEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2012.
THIS WEEK, A REPUBLICAN MADE HIS
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND
ANOTHER DEMOCRAT ENTERED THE
(01:33):
PRIMARY.
REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE
RYAN DOTSON MADE HIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IN WINCHESTER.
>> I AM A SOCIAL ISSUE GUY AND I
DO ATTACK THOSE THINGS BECAUSE
WE ARE IN CULTURE WAR.
BUT I'M ALSO A BUSINESSMAN.
AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO BE
ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF MY
(01:54):
SENATOR AND SECURE THE GREATEST
FUNDING THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS
EVER SEEN.
I WILL BE THE THORN IN THE SIDE
OF EVERYBODY THAT IS GOT A D
BEHIND THEIR NAME.
ESSENCE OF DOTSON WHO
IS CONSERVATIVE ON FISCAL AND
SOCIAL ISSUES.
HE SAYS HE DOES EXPECT TO FACE
(02:14):
OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARY
BUT DOES HE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE
FROM COMING OVERTLY FROM THE
RIGHT SITED OF THE ISSUES IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY?
>> I DEFINITELY THINK HE IS
TRYING TO APPEAL TO A VARIETY OF
REPUBLICANS AND WHAT THEIR
CERTAIN PRIORITIES ARE STEMMING
FROM THE CULTURE WARS AND FISCAL
SPENDING.
(02:34):
WE'VE SEEN HIM IN FRANKFORT AT
THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CULTURE
WAR ISSUES.
WHETHER OR NOT IT GIVES HIM AN
ADVANTAGE WE'LL SEE,
PARTICULARLY IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT YOU HAVE FAYETTE COUNTY
WHICH HAS MORE MODERATE
REPUBLICANS AND WE'LL HAVE TO
SEE IF THAT EMPHASIS ON CULTURE
WARS RESONATES WELCOME PAIRED TO
OTHER COUNTIES.
(02:56):
DOTSON IS A PASTOR AND
A BUSINESSMAN AND HE DOES INTEND
TO RAISE MONEY RATHER THAN SELF
FUND HIS CAMPAIGN.
IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE TO HIM
FOR BY GETTING IN THE RACE
FIRST?
>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY AN
ADVANTAGE FOR ANY POLITICIAN WHO
WANTS TO ENTER A RACE EARLY.
IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME TO BUILD
NAME RECOGNITION WITH VOTERS AND
(03:18):
SHARE MORE OF THE MESSAGE WITH
DONORS HOPING TO GAIN SUPPORT
BEFORE HEADING INTO THAT
ELECTION CYCLE.
AND ALSO, ONE THING THAT DOTSON
AND OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES
OR LEGISLATORS WHO MAY WANT TO
GET INTO THE RACE HAVE AN
ADVANTAGE OF THEY ALREADY HAVE A
RECORD WITH VOTERS A PUBLIC
RECORD SHOWING THEIR VOTES,
SHOWING BILLS THEY'VE FILED.
(03:39):
THEY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON
COMMITTEES IN FRANKFORT AND MAKE
NEWS AND SHARE THEIR OPINIONS
THAT WAY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES
COMING INTO THIS ELECTION.
>> IN A WAY, TOO, THE CONVERSE
CAN BE TRUE.
THAT RECORD CAN BE HELD AGAINST
PEOPLE IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
A DISTRICT LIKE THE SIXTH WHICH
HAS FAYETTE COUNTY YOU HAVE TO
(04:00):
LOOK AT MODERATE REPUBLICAN
VOTERS, I THINK.
DOTSON'S MESSAGE WAS AGGRESSIVE
AND SAYING A THORN IN THE SIDE
OF ALL THE DEMOCRATS, NOT
CONCEDING THAT WHEN HE BECOMES
IF HE WINS, THE HOUSE SEAT HE
HAS TO REPRESENTATIVE THE
DISTRICT NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
THAT VOTED FOR HIM IN A PRIMARY.
(04:21):
WE HEAR OTHER NAMES
MENTIONED.
AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, STATE
REPRESENTATIVE DEANNA FRASER
GORTON AND OTHERS.
HOW DO THE CANDIDATES
DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IF THIS
COMES TO BE A CROWDED G.O.P.
PRIMARY?
>> BY SPEAKING WITH VOTERS AND
GETTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE.
(04:42):
BY THE RACE THEY HAVE UNTIL NEXT
YEAR AND ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF
GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE
EARLY IS THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR
MESSAGE THROUGH YOUR OWN
CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS EARNED MEDIA
SPEAKING TO REPORTS AND HAVING
PRESS CONFERENCES.
AND IF YOU ARE A STATE LAWMAKER
MAKING NEWS IN FRANKFORT AS
WELL.
>> AND YOU GET TO DEFINE
YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR OPPONENTS
(05:02):
GET TO DEFINE YOU.
YOU GET TO GET YOUR POSITIVE OUT
TO McKENNA'S POINT BEFORE
SOMEONE ELSE CAN START ATTACKING
YOU.
EARLY JANUARY BUT YOU
HAVE TO FILE.
THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE ON
THE DOTTED LINE THEN SO THEY
HAVE TIME.
>> YES, THERE'S CERTAINLY TIME.
I BELIEVE FILING DOES NOT OPEN
(05:23):
UNTIL NOVEMBER.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE
SEEING ALL THE CANDIDATES JUMP
IN THE RACE SO EARLY.
WE'RE I THINK, LESS THAN A YEAR
FROM THE PRIMARY.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHO ELSE WILL JUMP IN AHEAD.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE,
FORMER SA STATE REPRESENTATIVE
CHERLYNN STEVENSON CHERYL GOT IN
THE RACE LAST MONTH AND THIS
(05:44):
WEEK SHE GOT COMPETITION FOR THE
NOMINATION.
FORMER LEXINGTON CITY COUNCILMAN
DAVID KLOIBER JUMPED IN.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE NEVER HAD
BEFORE.
PEOPLE ARE READY TO STOP TALKING
ABOUT THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND
START TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES
THAT REALLY MATTER TO US AND
THAT'S JOBS AND OUR HEALTHCARE,
(06:05):
HOUSING AND EDUCATION.
I THINK BY FOCUSING ON THAT IN A
WAY WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE LAST
DECADE, WE CAN REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND FLIP THE SEAT.
LAURA HERE ARE THINGS
WE KNOW ABOUT KLOIBER.
HE LOST THE RACE FOR LEXINGTON
MAYOR TO THE POPULAR INCUMBENT
LINDA GORTON IN 2022 AND
(06:25):
DEMONSTRATED IN THAT RACE A
WILLINGNESS TO SPEND PERSONAL
MONEY TO SHORE-UP HIS CAMPAIGN
AND HE GOT ON TELEVISION IN THAT
RACE.
>> HE DID.
HE SPENT ABOUT HE RAISED ABOUT
ALMOST $700,000 IN HALF A
MILLION OF THAT WAS HIS OWN
MONEY HE LOANED TO THE CAMPAIGN.
AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT SPENDING
THAT TELEVISION HE STILL TOOK
(06:46):
LESS THAN 30% OF THE VOTE
AGAINST MAYOR GORTON AND SHE IS
VERY POPULAR.
AND I DON'T REALLY THINK PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO REMEMBER HIS NAME.
FOLKS LIKE US WOULD.
BUT I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE
JOE IS GOING TO REMEMBER A
FORMING LEXINGTON COUNCILMAN
RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
THAT BEING SAID, HE DOES HAVE
THE MONEY TO START GETTING OUT
(07:07):
NOW.
DEFINING HIMSELF.
SETTING UP THE CAMPAIGN AND
GETTING GRASSROOTS FOLKS
ORGANIZED AND WORKING FOR HIM.
DID IT McKENNA DID IT
STRIKE YOU THAT HE REELED OFF
HEALTHCARE, JOBS, THE ECONOMY
AND HOUSING SOME MAJOR ISSUES
THAT HE SEES BEING THE
(07:29):
DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR.
>> DEFINITELY.
AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING
ABOUT THAT LINE IS THAT IT'S
KIND OF A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE IF
YOU WILL IT'S PERSONAL TO PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN THAT
DISTRICT.
IT WILL PLAY WELL AT A LOCAL
LEVEL BUT IT SPEAKS TO WHAT THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS
DOING AS WELL PARTICULARLY AS
WE'RE SEEING IN CONGRESS AS
(07:50):
DEBATES GO ON ABOUT FUNDING OR
CUTTING MEDICAID CHANGES,
HEALTHCARE IS AT THE FOREFRONT
OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS NOT
ONLY HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT
NATIONALLY AS WELL.
>> CAN I INTERJECT.
IT'S ALSO THE OPPOSITE IN A WAY
OF WHAT DOTSON WAS SAYING DOTSON
WANTS THE PARTISAN POLITICS,
LIKE I SAID HE CAME ACROSS
(08:12):
AGGRESSIVE THORN IN THE SIDE
WHERE KLOIBER SAYS WE NEED TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
INTERESTING APPROACH.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW CROWDED THAT
RACE WILL GET BUT KLOIBER IS
HOPING TO LEVERAGE COMMON SENSE
AND HIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
HE IS FACING FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN
STEVENSON THAT COULD BE AN
(08:32):
INTERESTING RACE?
>> I THINK WHAT WILL BE
INTERESTING TO SEE IS SO FAR NOT
ONLY DO WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES
WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WE
HAVE TWO CANDIDATES WITH
DIFFERENT MESSAGING SO AS
McKENNA POINTED OUT KLOIBER IS
FOCUSING ON THE KITCHEN TABLE
ISSUES.
HE IS TOUTING HIS EXPERIENCE
CALLING HIMSELF A JOB CREATOR
(08:52):
MANAGING HIS FAMILY'S NONPROFIT
FOUNDATION AND STARTING A
SOFTWARE COMPANY TO APPEAL TO
THE VOTERS.
AND WHILE CHERLYNN STEVENSON AT
HER CAMPAIGN SHE TOUTED HER
KENTUCKY ROOTS.
SHE TOUTED THE FACT SHE KNOWS
HOW TO WIN A COMPETITIVE RACE
AND FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL ISSUES
WE SEE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS
FOCUSING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, TARIFFS, SHE SAID
(09:14):
THEY WILL HURT KENTUCKY'S
ECONOMY AND POINTED OUT MEDICAID
CUTS WILL HURT KENTUCKIANS AS
WELL AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHICH
MESSAGING RESONATES WITH THE
VOTERS.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO
THREAD THE NEEDLE AND APPEAL IN
THE SIXTH DISTRICT IT'S BOTH
URBAN AND RURAL.
ABOUT 44% LEXINGTON AND IT ALSO
(09:34):
HAS THE FAST GROWING CITIES OF
RICHMOND AND GEORGETOWN AND
NICHOLASVILLE.
IT HAS FARMLAND AND SMALLER
TOWNS.
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.
HOW DO YOU APPEAL IN A DISTRICT
LIKE THAT?
>> IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR SURE.
BUT OVERALL, FAYETTE COUNTY HAS
ABOUT 40% OF THE VOTE OF THE
ELECTORATE IS IN FAYETTE COUNTY
AND THAT IS A BLUE COUNTY.
(09:56):
THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE
REPUBLICAN VOTER REGISTRATION
IMAGES WHO ARE REPUBLICAN.
AND THEY WILL HAVE TO, I THINK
THE GENERAL ELECTION NOMINEES
WILL HAVE TO APPEAL TO CROSSOVER
VOTERS FRANKLY.
AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, ABOUT
12% OF THE VOTERS ARE REGISTERED
(10:17):
OUTSIDE ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES
NEITHER OF WHICH HAVE 50% OF THE
ELECTORATE.
THERE IS A LOT OF CROSSOVER THAT
IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN
ORDER FOR NOMINEE TO WIN.
YOU COULD SEE THE
INDEPENDENTS BEING THE DECIDER.
>> OWE YEAH.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE ON
THE GROUND THEY ARE GETTING
(10:39):
TIRED OF THE DIVISIVE POLITICS.
I HAD A FRIEND IN NOVEMBER
LIFELONG REPUBLICAN AND AFTER
SHE VOTED SHE TOLD ME THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I
VOTED FOR ALL DEMOCRATS.
SO THAT IS PART OF IT WAS THAT
CULTURAL STUFF THAT SHE DIDN'T
LIKE AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.
THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE
HAD AN ARTICLE AND YOU
(11:00):
EXTRAPOLATED NATIONAL REPORTING.
AND IT SAID THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
IS INTERESTED IN TWO
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ONE BEING
THE SIXTH.
AND THE OTHER BEING THE FOURTH
DISTRICT.
>> YES.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT INFORMATION
CAME FROM AXIOS THEY REPORTED IN
TWO STORIES THAT THE WHITE HOUSE
IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FOURTH
DISTRICT THOMAS MASSIE BECAUSE
(11:21):
MASSIE VOTED AGAINST THE HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1 THE BUDGET BILL NOW
IN THE SENATE.
AND THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THAT HE WANTS A PRIMARY
CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST MASSIE.
AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, AXIOS
REPORTED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS
KEEPING AN EYE ON IT
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE
VOTER REGISTRATION ASPECT.
(11:42):
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND IT IS
ONE OF THE FEW OPEN SEATS AND
ONE OF THE FEW COMPETITIVE RACES
IN THE NATION DURING THE
MIDTERMS.
WE KEEP WAITING TO SEE
HOW THE U.S. SENATE RACE IS
GOING TO BE SETUP FOR NEXT YEAR.
FORM ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL
CAMERON AND CONGRESSMAN ANDY
BARR ARE FIGHTING FOR THE G.O.P.
(12:03):
NOMINATION AND WE KEEP HEARING
NAMES INCLUDING BUSINESSMAN NATE
MORRIS.
HANNAH, IS THAT REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY GOING TO GET MORE
CROWDED?
OR IS IT SET NOW?
>> I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY
BEEN LOTS OF TALK THAT NATE
MORRIS COULD ENTER I'VE HEARD
END OF JUNE EARLY JULY AND WE
WILL HAVE LESS KNOWN
(12:24):
REPUBLICANS.
THE NOVEMBER --
FILING DEADLINE DOES NOT OPEN
UNTIL NOVEMBER AND LIKE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE MORE PEOPLE
THAT ENTER THE PRIMARY THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
DISTINGUISH YOURSELF FROM THE
CANDIDATES.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR HE IS
CAMPAIGNING ON I HAVE EXPERIENCE
IN DC AND I AM ALREADY HELPING
PASS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA.
(12:45):
YOU HAVE DANIEL CAMERON, WHO IS
SAYING I KNOW KENTUCKY BECAUSE I
AM A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
I ALSO AM A C.E.O. OF A 1792
EXCHANGE WHERE I HAVE ADVOCATED
FOR DISMANTLING D.E.I. AGAINST
SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP IS FOCUSING ON.
AND YOU HAVE NATE MORRIS SHOULD
HE ENTER HE SEEMS TO BE
CAMPAIGNING AS THE GRASSROOTS
(13:06):
CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO HELP PASS
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA AND
ALSO BE A SHIFT FROM THE STATUS
QUO.
HE IS PROBABLY BIGGEST
McCONNELL CRITIC.
>> YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP IN
ALL THREE ANSWERS.
>> OH, YEAH.
THEY ARE REALLY GEARING FOR
GAINING TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND
SOME ARE SAYING THAT COULD BE A
(13:27):
DECIDING FACTOR AND IF NOT THE
DECIDING FACTOR A HUGE FACTOR IN
WHO VOTERS WILL VOTE FOR IN THE
PRIMARY.
THE STATE'S OTHER U.S.
SENATOR RAND PAUL WAS CRITICIZED
BY PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS WEEK
OVER PAUL'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE
BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
THAT LAURA REMINDS ME IS HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1 IS THE APPROPRIATE
(13:49):
TITLE.
BUT PAUL SAYS HE IS NOT FOR
RAISING THE NATION'S DEBT
CEILING.
HE SAYS HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT
SPENDING MONEY THE COUNTRY DOES
AHAVE.
>> I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT AND I AM
A VOICE SAYING WE SHOULDN'T PILE
ON MORE DEBT PUTS PRESSURE ON
THE TRADITIONAL FEATURES OF
GOVERNMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT FROM
GOVERNMENT.
(14:09):
SO THE PRESIDENT WENT
AFTER PAUL SAYING HE VOTES NO ON
EVERYTHING AND THE PRESIDENT OF
PAUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE PEOPLE
OF KENTUCKY CAN'T STAND HIM.
PAUL HAS NOT BACKED DOWN.
SO SOME TOUGH BACK AND FORTH.
>> RIGHT.
AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING
ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE
COULD EASILY RELATE THIS TO HOW
(14:29):
WE'VE SEEN TRUMP GO AFTER
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE AS WE WERE
SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER.
THREATENING TO PRIMARY HIM IN
HIS OWN ELECTION AND MASSIE
SAYING BRING IT ON.
IT'S BEEN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS
IT.
AND FOR BOTH PAUL AND MASSIE IT
MIGHT GET A NEW ALLY OUT OF THIS
AFTER WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK.
(14:51):
ELON MUSK VERY PUBLICLY HAD A
FEUD BACK AND FORTHWITH TRUMP ON
SOCIAL MEDIA ON X, AMONG HIS
TWEETS, THOUGH HE WAS GIVING A
SHOUT-OUT AND RETWEETING RAND
PAUL.
AND ALSO THIS WEEK, MASSIE WENT
ON "FOX NEWS" AND TOLD THEM HE
WOULD LIKE MUSK TO HELP FUND
PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST
REPUBLICANS WHO DID VOTE FOR THE
(15:12):
BILL.
WITH THEIR OWN ELECTIONS COMING
UP MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET
HELP FROM THE FORMER SPECIAL
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.
SO SOME MOVING PIECES
THERE POTENTIALLY.
WELL, G.O.P. CONGRESSMAN BRETT
GUTHRIE IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS
NICE AND LOW KEY.
BUT HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF A
COMMITTEE PUT HIM IN THE MIDDLE
OF A CONTROVERSY OVER PROPOSED
(15:32):
MEDICAID CUTS.
AND HANNAH, YOU WROTE A STORY
ABOUT THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT
MINE FIELD FOR GUTHRIE THAN WHAT
HE HAS EVER DEALT WITH IN THE
PAST.
>> IT IS AND FROM A LOT OF FOLKS
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HIS NICE
GUY REPUTATION THAT HE IS KNOWN
FOR WAS CHALLENGED IN CONGRESS.
HE HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT
(15:52):
DECISIONS ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS
THAT NOT ONLY WERE NOT POPULAR
WITH DEMOCRATS AND ALSO NOT
ALWAYS POPULAR WITH FELLOW
REPUBLICANS.
NOW THAT THE BILL IS IN THE
SENATE I TALKED TO SOME OF THE
REPUBLICANS BACK IN KENTUCKY,
WHO SAID THAT HE HE WAS THE
PERFECT GUY FOR THE JOB BECAUSE
OF HIS LEGISLATIVE STYLE
APPROACH.
BECOMING AN EXPERT IN THE POLICY
(16:12):
AREA AND RISING UP TO WHAT HE IS
NOW A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND
KNOWN AS A AND SELFISH TEAM
PLAYER.
WE'LL WATCH CLOSELY
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING
FOR A COMEBACK AS THE PARTY
REGISTRATION AND NUMBER OF
OFFICE HOLDERS KEEPS DWINDLING.
LAST WEEK THERE WAS THE PARTY
(16:34):
SWITCH STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB.
THE NEWLY REPUBLICAN SENATOR
TALKED TO KET'S RENEE SHAW.
>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ON SOME
ISSUES FOR ME IN THE
REPRESENTATION OF MY DISTRICT AS
WELL AS MY PERSONAL BELIEFS
TO --
I HAVE A CONSISTENT VOTING
RECORD FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF A
(16:57):
CENTURY PLUS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
I'M STILL THE SAME ISSUES SAME
PRIORITIES.
BUT I'VE BEEN HARD TO
CATEGORIZE, I GUESS, THROUGH THE
YEARS AND I THINK THAT IS OKAY.
LAURA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CHAIRMAN COLMON ELRIDGE TOLD ME
THAT SENATOR WEBB DID NOT
(17:17):
DISCUSS HER PLANS TO SWITCH
PARTIES WITH HIM.
>> THAT IS WHAT I HEARD, TOO.
I TALKED TO DEMOCRATIC FOLKS
AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEY
SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED BY IT
AS WELL.
TO HER POINT SHE HAS BEEN HARD
TO CATEGORIZE AND SHE IS GOOD AT
REPRESENTING HER DISTRICT.
PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH THAT.
SHE IS A GUN OWNER AND SHE USED
TO WORK IN A COAL MINE.
(17:40):
SO SHE GETS THE DISTRICT AND
GETS THOSE ISSUES THAT TO
HANNAH'S POINT, THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATS HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM.
BUT THE PARTY WAS TOTALLY TAKEN
BY SURPRISE WITH HER
ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND SHE HAS SAID THERE
WAS NO ONE MOMENT THAT CAUSED
HER TO SWITCH PARTIES.
>> RIGHT HER HOMETOWN PAPER RAN
(18:01):
THAN ARTICLE WITH AN INTERVIEW
WITH HER AN INDEPTH INTERVIEW
ABOUT HER POSITION AND WHY SHE
DECIDED TO CHANGE.
AND THAT ARTICLE SHE DID SAY
THERE WAS NO ONE POINT.
BUT SHE FELT LIKE THE CHANGING
RURAL VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY INFLUENCED THIS DECISION
AND ALSO IN THAT ARTICLE, THE
VICE-CHAIR OF THE LOCAL
(18:22):
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AGREED WITH
WEBB'S POSITION SAYING THAT IT
SHOULD SEND A LARGE MESSAGE TO
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FORGETTING
ABOUT RURAL VOTERS AND RURAL
ISSUES AND THIS COMES AT A TIME
WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO
REBRAND AND MAKE INROADS INTO
KENTUCKY'S RURAL AREAS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
(18:43):
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN COLMON
ELRIDGE SAYS DESPITE THE TOUGH
TRENDS KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS CAN
REBUILD AND HE TOLD ME IT IS
ABOUT EMPHASIZING THE RIGHT
THINGS AND SHOWING UP.
>> YOU WILL NOT SEE KENTUCKY
DEMOCRATS FOCUSED ON THE WEDGE
ISSUES THE ISSUES THAT FRANKLY
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE FOCUSED
(19:04):
ON.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
THE ECONOMY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
JOBS.
FOCUSED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
MAKING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE COMMONWEALTH BETTER.
WITH WEBB'S PARTY
CHANGE THERE ARE NO SENATE
DEMOCRATS OUTSIDE OF LEXINGTON
AND LOUISVILLE.
HOW DO THEY APPEAL IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE STATE?
(19:24):
>> WELL, THEY'VE STARTED --
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
STARTED A RURAL LISTENING TOUR
AND GOING TO AREAS IN THE STATE
TRYING TO HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE
ARE SAYING HEARING WHAT THE
FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE
SAYING.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY HAD A
LISTENING TOUR IN JOHNSON COUNTY
AND FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
(19:44):
JANET STADIUM BOAS INVOLVED SHE
WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I DIDN'T ATTEND I HEARD ABOUT
IT.
BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO GATHER
INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN USE TO
HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK ONE THING THE
DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO POINT OUT
WITH THIS IS WITH THESE ISSUES
LIKE MEDICAID, LIKE ECONOMIC
(20:05):
ISSUES, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO SHOW VOTERS HOW REPUBLICAN
POLICIES HURT THEM.
HOW THEY ARE VOTING AGAINST
THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS IN SOME
CASES WHEN THEY SUPPORT CUTS TO
MEDICAID, CUTS TO OTHER SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT BENEFIT RURAL AND
POOR COMMUNITIES.
(20:25):
>> ONE QUESTION THAT WE SAW
AFTER THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE
WAS ARE DEMOCRATS MAKING GAINS
IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?
WE SAW BESHEAR PERFORM BETTER IN
THE EASTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES A
SIGN AT THE TIME THAT DEMOCRATS
WERE BEGINNING MAKING THE
INROADS AND NOW THE QUESTION IS
HAVE THEY HELD ON TO THOSE?
(20:47):
IN 2024 ELECTIONS NEITHER CAUCUS
PARTY CHANGED AT THAT TIME.
THE SAME AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATS
WERE ELECTED AND THE SAME AMOUNT
OF REPUBLICANS WERE ELECTED IN
THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.
NOW A COUPLE YEARS REMOVED THE
QUESTION IS NOW HOW DOES SOMEONE
ELSE BESIDES BESHEAR WHO IS TERM
LIMITED KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING
(21:09):
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
INTEREST WE NEED TO POINT OUT,
TOO, MIDTERMS HAVE LOWER TURNOUT
AS WELL THAN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS THERE'S GOING TO BE
THAT IN PLAY AS WELL.
>> AND I THINK ON THE NATIONAL
LEVEL AS WE WILL WE'VE SEEN
DEMOCRATS STRUGGLE CONNECTING
WITH RURAL VOTERS AND PART FROM
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS IS BECAUSE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SHIFTED
(21:30):
MORE LEFT ON CERTAIN ISSUES
PARTICULARLY CULTURAL ISSUES.
SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE GENDER
IDENTITY, D.E.I. AND THAT DOES
NOT RESONATE WITH REAL DEMOCRATS
AND THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OBVIOUSLY HAS TAKEN SOME
OF THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO THE
NATIONAL LEVEL AND PRIORITIZED
THOSE.
SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
BALANCE THAT AND ALSO CONNECT
(21:51):
WITH RURAL VOTERS AND FOCUS ON
THE COAL INDUSTRY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY THAT THEY
FEEL THE PARTY HAS ABANDONED
THEM ON.
WITH THE LOSS OF
SENATOR WEBB THEY ARE DOWN TO
SIX MEMBERS IN THE 38-MEMBER
SENATE AND NOW WHIP DAVID YATES
OF LOUISVILLE SAYS HE WANTS TO
BE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK?
>> HE TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW HE
(22:12):
STRONGLY BELIEVES IN TERM
LIMITS.
SO THAT'S WHY HE IS STEPPING
DOWN FROM THIS POSITION AND
SEEKING LOCAL OFFICE IN HIS OWN
COUNTY.
HE FEELS LIKE HAVING A LOCAL
OFFICE GIVES HIM A WAY TO GET
MORE MEDIA IMPACT AND HE HAS A
LOT OF IDEAS TO BRING TO THE
OFFICE THAT IS WHY HE IS
CHOOSING IT.
>> Christie (22:32):
GOVERNOR ANDY
BESHEAR IS CONTINUING TO CALL
FOR PRE-K IN KENTUCKY BUT THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAS SHOWN
NO APPETITE PARTICULARLY THE
FUNDING NOW BESHEAR IS
FINE-TUNING HIS MESSAGE TO SAY
THAT PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR KIDS MIGHT HELP ADULTS WE
ENTER THE WORKFORCE.
>> WE CAN MORE THAN AFFORD IT
COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF OUR
(22:52):
OVERALL BUDGET.
IT SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER TO
INVEST IN.
TAKING THIS STEP NOW HELPS US
LIVE OUT OUR FAITH AND VALUES AS
TO SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD, BUT
IT'S ALSO SMART FOR OUR ECONOMY.
>> Bill (23:05):
LAURA, IT IS A BIG
PRICE TAG FOR PRE-K FOR
LAWMAKERS.
BUT REPUBLICANS ALSO POINT OUT
WOULD BE A RECURRING COST THAT
THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO PICK UP
THE CHILDCARE MESSAGE IS A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION TO GO IN IN
WHICH WE HAVE SEEN POLLING
INDICATING BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS SEE THAT AS A BIG
(23:25):
ISSUE.
>> THE PRE-K FOR ALL WOULD
AFFECT 55,000, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN
KENTUCKY AND COULD PUT AS MANY
AS 70,000 CARETAKERS BACK INTO
THE WORKFORCE THAT IS WHERE THE
ECONOMIC BENEFIT COMES INTO
PLAY.
THE GOVERNOR PUT THIS IN PLACE
VIA AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATES
(23:47):
AN ADVISORY PANEL THAT AS YOU
NOTE SECOND BIPARTISAN.
COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS INCLUDE
FORMER LEXINGTON STATE
SENATORIAL LIST KERR WHO IS A
REPUBLICAN AND FORMER REPUBLICAN
STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS
BRENDA ALSO IS ON THAT
COMMITTEE.
AND IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE
COMMISSIONER ROBBY FLETCHER AND
(24:07):
OTHERS AS WELL.
WE'LL SEE WHERE IT
GOES.
SOME KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
FACE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, $16
MILLION IN FAYETTE COUNTY THEY
HAVE COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO
RAISE THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX, THIS
WEEK ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL
COLEMAN'S OFFICE RELEASED AN
OPINION SAID THE BOARD FAILED TO
GIVE PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE
IT ASKED FOR THAT TO BE DONE.
(24:29):
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DISAGREES.
McKENNA, THIS IS IN AN
INTERESTING SPOT?
>> YES, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES
WE'RE SEEING A LOCAL ISSUE GET
THE ATTENTION OF FRANKFORT.
SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
RELEASED THIS OPINION SAYING
THAT THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN IS
OF NO EFFECT BUT THE SCHOOL
(24:49):
DISTRICT HAS COME BACK AND SAID
THEY WILL HAVE A VOTE AND
RECONSIDER IT AT A FUTURE
MEETING AS WELL.
THE MAKE AMERICA
HEALTHY AGAIN TASK FORCE EARLY
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
>> THIS IS A TASK FORCE THAT HAD
(25:09):
A LOST OF ITS ATTENTION DURING
THE SESSION LAST YEAR OR EARLIER
THIS YEAR, AND A WAY TO --
WE'LL SEE IN TERM COMMITTEES
MAKE POLICY AND PROPOSE THOSE
AND REVIEW THOSE AHEAD OF NEXT
SESSION THIS IS A WAY TO BEGIN
THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT WILL
COME NEXT YEAR.
(25:32):
SEVERAL TASK FORCES
GIVES US AN IDEA WHAT THEY WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT IN JANUARY.
>> THERE'S FIVE I BELIEVE ONE
FOCUSES ON A.I. FROM LAST YEAR.
HOUSING TASK FORCE AS WELL AND I
BELIEVE ONE ON AVIATION.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE POLICY
PROPOSALS, WHAT ACTUALLY COMES
TO FRUITION AND WHAT PASSES.
BECAUSE IT IS A BUDGET YEAR NEXT
(25:53):
YEAR WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE
CENTER STAGE AND PRIORITY.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT POLICY
PROPOSALS DO END UP GETTING
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
CLEAN UP CONTINUES IN
TORNADO RAVAGED LAUREL AND
PULASKI COUNTIES AND WORKERS IN
STARBUCKS VOTED TO UNIONIZE AND
KENTUCKY'S GASOLINE TAX WILL BE
GOING DOWN INCOMES MONTH TO JUST
(26:14):
OVER 26 CENTS A GALLON.
THAT IS TOWN 12 PERCENT OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS AFTER A HIGH OF
30 CENTS A GALLON.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT IF YOU INCLUDE ALL
THE GASOLINE TAXES IT'S 46 CENTS
A GALLON IN KENTUCKY BELOW THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THAT IS COMMENT HAVE A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
[♪♪]
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
MORE CANDIDATES FOR
CONGRESS IN A RARE OPEN RACE IN
CENTRAL KENTUCKY.
U.S. SENATOR RAND PAUL FACES
TOUGH CRITICISM FROM PRESIDENT
TRUMP OVER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL
BUDGET BILL.
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS LOOK FOR A
WAY BACK AFTER A HEY PROFILE
PARTY SWITCH AND TOUGH TRENDS.
THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY
(00:28):
KENTUCKY TASK FORCE HOLDS ITS
FIRST MEETING.
JUNE BRINGS HEAT AND MORE STORMS
AND COMMENT IS ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:50):
ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT ON
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE, LAURA CULLEN
GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.
HANNAH PINSKI, POLITICS REPORTER
FOR THE CURE CURE.
AND MCKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LAND
(01:12):
EARN.
LET'S BEGIN WITH POLITICS
TONIGHT WITH ALL THE EXPERTS
HERE AS THE RACE FOR CONGRESS
AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS GETTING
MORE CROWDED.
CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR'S DECISION
TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE IS
OPENING UP THE SIXTH DISTRICT
SEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2012.
THIS WEEK, A REPUBLICAN MADE HIS
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND
ANOTHER DEMOCRAT ENTERED THE
(01:33):
PRIMARY.
REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE
RYAN DOTSON MADE HIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IN WINCHESTER.
>> I AM A SOCIAL ISSUE GUY AND I
DO ATTACK THOSE THINGS BECAUSE
WE ARE IN CULTURE WAR.
BUT I'M ALSO A BUSINESSMAN.
AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO BE
ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF MY
(01:54):
SENATOR AND SECURE THE GREATEST
FUNDING THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS
EVER SEEN.
I WILL BE THE THORN IN THE SIDE
OF EVERYBODY THAT IS GOT A D
BEHIND THEIR NAME.
ESSENCE OF DOTSON WHO
IS CONSERVATIVE ON FISCAL AND
SOCIAL ISSUES.
HE SAYS HE DOES EXPECT TO FACE
(02:14):
OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARY
BUT DOES HE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE
FROM COMING OVERTLY FROM THE
RIGHT SITED OF THE ISSUES IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY?
>> I DEFINITELY THINK HE IS
TRYING TO APPEAL TO A VARIETY OF
REPUBLICANS AND WHAT THEIR
CERTAIN PRIORITIES ARE STEMMING
FROM THE CULTURE WARS AND FISCAL
SPENDING.
(02:34):
WE'VE SEEN HIM IN FRANKFORT AT
THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CULTURE
WAR ISSUES.
WHETHER OR NOT IT GIVES HIM AN
ADVANTAGE WE'LL SEE,
PARTICULARLY IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT YOU HAVE FAYETTE COUNTY
WHICH HAS MORE MODERATE
REPUBLICANS AND WE'LL HAVE TO
SEE IF THAT EMPHASIS ON CULTURE
WARS RESONATES WELCOME PAIRED TO
OTHER COUNTIES.
(02:56):
DOTSON IS A PASTOR AND
A BUSINESSMAN AND HE DOES INTEND
TO RAISE MONEY RATHER THAN SELF
FUND HIS CAMPAIGN.
IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE TO HIM
FOR BY GETTING IN THE RACE
FIRST?
>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY AN
ADVANTAGE FOR ANY POLITICIAN WHO
WANTS TO ENTER A RACE EARLY.
IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME TO BUILD
NAME RECOGNITION WITH VOTERS AND
(03:18):
SHARE MORE OF THE MESSAGE WITH
DONORS HOPING TO GAIN SUPPORT
BEFORE HEADING INTO THAT
ELECTION CYCLE.
AND ALSO, ONE THING THAT DOTSON
AND OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES
OR LEGISLATORS WHO MAY WANT TO
GET INTO THE RACE HAVE AN
ADVANTAGE OF THEY ALREADY HAVE A
RECORD WITH VOTERS A PUBLIC
RECORD SHOWING THEIR VOTES,
SHOWING BILLS THEY'VE FILED.
(03:39):
THEY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON
COMMITTEES IN FRANKFORT AND MAKE
NEWS AND SHARE THEIR OPINIONS
THAT WAY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES
COMING INTO THIS ELECTION.
>> IN A WAY, TOO, THE CONVERSE
CAN BE TRUE.
THAT RECORD CAN BE HELD AGAINST
PEOPLE IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
A DISTRICT LIKE THE SIXTH WHICH
HAS FAYETTE COUNTY YOU HAVE TO
(04:00):
LOOK AT MODERATE REPUBLICAN
VOTERS, I THINK.
DOTSON'S MESSAGE WAS AGGRESSIVE
AND SAYING A THORN IN THE SIDE
OF ALL THE DEMOCRATS, NOT
CONCEDING THAT WHEN HE BECOMES
IF HE WINS, THE HOUSE SEAT HE
HAS TO REPRESENTATIVE THE
DISTRICT NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
THAT VOTED FOR HIM IN A PRIMARY.
(04:21):
WE HEAR OTHER NAMES
MENTIONED.
AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, STATE
REPRESENTATIVE DEANNA FRASER
GORTON AND OTHERS.
HOW DO THE CANDIDATES
DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IF THIS
COMES TO BE A CROWDED G.O.P.
PRIMARY?
>> BY SPEAKING WITH VOTERS AND
GETTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE.
(04:42):
BY THE RACE THEY HAVE UNTIL NEXT
YEAR AND ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF
GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE
EARLY IS THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR
MESSAGE THROUGH YOUR OWN
CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS EARNED MEDIA
SPEAKING TO REPORTS AND HAVING
PRESS CONFERENCES.
AND IF YOU ARE A STATE LAWMAKER
MAKING NEWS IN FRANKFORT AS
WELL.
>> AND YOU GET TO DEFINE
YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR OPPONENTS
(05:02):
GET TO DEFINE YOU.
YOU GET TO GET YOUR POSITIVE OUT
TO McKENNA'S POINT BEFORE
SOMEONE ELSE CAN START ATTACKING
YOU.
EARLY JANUARY BUT YOU
HAVE TO FILE.
THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE ON
THE DOTTED LINE THEN SO THEY
HAVE TIME.
>> YES, THERE'S CERTAINLY TIME.
I BELIEVE FILING DOES NOT OPEN
(05:23):
UNTIL NOVEMBER.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE
SEEING ALL THE CANDIDATES JUMP
IN THE RACE SO EARLY.
WE'RE I THINK, LESS THAN A YEAR
FROM THE PRIMARY.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHO ELSE WILL JUMP IN AHEAD.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE,
FORMER SA STATE REPRESENTATIVE
CHERLYNN STEVENSON CHERYL GOT IN
THE RACE LAST MONTH AND THIS
(05:44):
WEEK SHE GOT COMPETITION FOR THE
NOMINATION.
FORMER LEXINGTON CITY COUNCILMAN
DAVID KLOIBER JUMPED IN.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE NEVER HAD
BEFORE.
PEOPLE ARE READY TO STOP TALKING
ABOUT THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND
START TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES
THAT REALLY MATTER TO US AND
THAT'S JOBS AND OUR HEALTHCARE,
(06:05):
HOUSING AND EDUCATION.
I THINK BY FOCUSING ON THAT IN A
WAY WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE LAST
DECADE, WE CAN REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND FLIP THE SEAT.
LAURA HERE ARE THINGS
WE KNOW ABOUT KLOIBER.
HE LOST THE RACE FOR LEXINGTON
MAYOR TO THE POPULAR INCUMBENT
LINDA GORTON IN 2022 AND
(06:25):
DEMONSTRATED IN THAT RACE A
WILLINGNESS TO SPEND PERSONAL
MONEY TO SHORE-UP HIS CAMPAIGN
AND HE GOT ON TELEVISION IN THAT
RACE.
>> HE DID.
HE SPENT ABOUT HE RAISED ABOUT
ALMOST $700,000 IN HALF A
MILLION OF THAT WAS HIS OWN
MONEY HE LOANED TO THE CAMPAIGN.
AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT SPENDING
THAT TELEVISION HE STILL TOOK
(06:46):
LESS THAN 30% OF THE VOTE
AGAINST MAYOR GORTON AND SHE IS
VERY POPULAR.
AND I DON'T REALLY THINK PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO REMEMBER HIS NAME.
FOLKS LIKE US WOULD.
BUT I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE
JOE IS GOING TO REMEMBER A
FORMING LEXINGTON COUNCILMAN
RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
THAT BEING SAID, HE DOES HAVE
THE MONEY TO START GETTING OUT
(07:07):
NOW.
DEFINING HIMSELF.
SETTING UP THE CAMPAIGN AND
GETTING GRASSROOTS FOLKS
ORGANIZED AND WORKING FOR HIM.
DID IT McKENNA DID IT
STRIKE YOU THAT HE REELED OFF
HEALTHCARE, JOBS, THE ECONOMY
AND HOUSING SOME MAJOR ISSUES
THAT HE SEES BEING THE
(07:29):
DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR.
>> DEFINITELY.
AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING
ABOUT THAT LINE IS THAT IT'S
KIND OF A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE IF
YOU WILL IT'S PERSONAL TO PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN THAT
DISTRICT.
IT WILL PLAY WELL AT A LOCAL
LEVEL BUT IT SPEAKS TO WHAT THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS
DOING AS WELL PARTICULARLY AS
WE'RE SEEING IN CONGRESS AS
(07:50):
DEBATES GO ON ABOUT FUNDING OR
CUTTING MEDICAID CHANGES,
HEALTHCARE IS AT THE FOREFRONT
OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS NOT
ONLY HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT
NATIONALLY AS WELL.
>> CAN I INTERJECT.
IT'S ALSO THE OPPOSITE IN A WAY
OF WHAT DOTSON WAS SAYING DOTSON
WANTS THE PARTISAN POLITICS,
LIKE I SAID HE CAME ACROSS
(08:12):
AGGRESSIVE THORN IN THE SIDE
WHERE KLOIBER SAYS WE NEED TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
INTERESTING APPROACH.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW CROWDED THAT
RACE WILL GET BUT KLOIBER IS
HOPING TO LEVERAGE COMMON SENSE
AND HIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
HE IS FACING FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN
STEVENSON THAT COULD BE AN
(08:32):
INTERESTING RACE?
>> I THINK WHAT WILL BE
INTERESTING TO SEE IS SO FAR NOT
ONLY DO WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES
WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WE
HAVE TWO CANDIDATES WITH
DIFFERENT MESSAGING SO AS
McKENNA POINTED OUT KLOIBER IS
FOCUSING ON THE KITCHEN TABLE
ISSUES.
HE IS TOUTING HIS EXPERIENCE
CALLING HIMSELF A JOB CREATOR
(08:52):
MANAGING HIS FAMILY'S NONPROFIT
FOUNDATION AND STARTING A
SOFTWARE COMPANY TO APPEAL TO
THE VOTERS.
AND WHILE CHERLYNN STEVENSON AT
HER CAMPAIGN SHE TOUTED HER
KENTUCKY ROOTS.
SHE TOUTED THE FACT SHE KNOWS
HOW TO WIN A COMPETITIVE RACE
AND FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL ISSUES
WE SEE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS
FOCUSING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, TARIFFS, SHE SAID
(09:14):
THEY WILL HURT KENTUCKY'S
ECONOMY AND POINTED OUT MEDICAID
CUTS WILL HURT KENTUCKIANS AS
WELL AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHICH
MESSAGING RESONATES WITH THE
VOTERS.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO
THREAD THE NEEDLE AND APPEAL IN
THE SIXTH DISTRICT IT'S BOTH
URBAN AND RURAL.
ABOUT 44% LEXINGTON AND IT ALSO
(09:34):
HAS THE FAST GROWING CITIES OF
RICHMOND AND GEORGETOWN AND
NICHOLASVILLE.
IT HAS FARMLAND AND SMALLER
TOWNS.
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.
HOW DO YOU APPEAL IN A DISTRICT
LIKE THAT?
>> IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR SURE.
BUT OVERALL, FAYETTE COUNTY HAS
ABOUT 40% OF THE VOTE OF THE
ELECTORATE IS IN FAYETTE COUNTY
AND THAT IS A BLUE COUNTY.
(09:56):
THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE
REPUBLICAN VOTER REGISTRATION
IMAGES WHO ARE REPUBLICAN.
AND THEY WILL HAVE TO, I THINK
THE GENERAL ELECTION NOMINEES
WILL HAVE TO APPEAL TO CROSSOVER
VOTERS FRANKLY.
AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, ABOUT
12% OF THE VOTERS ARE REGISTERED
(10:17):
OUTSIDE ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES
NEITHER OF WHICH HAVE 50% OF THE
ELECTORATE.
THERE IS A LOT OF CROSSOVER THAT
IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN
ORDER FOR NOMINEE TO WIN.
YOU COULD SEE THE
INDEPENDENTS BEING THE DECIDER.
>> OWE YEAH.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE ON
THE GROUND THEY ARE GETTING
(10:39):
TIRED OF THE DIVISIVE POLITICS.
I HAD A FRIEND IN NOVEMBER
LIFELONG REPUBLICAN AND AFTER
SHE VOTED SHE TOLD ME THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I
VOTED FOR ALL DEMOCRATS.
SO THAT IS PART OF IT WAS THAT
CULTURAL STUFF THAT SHE DIDN'T
LIKE AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.
THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE
HAD AN ARTICLE AND YOU
(11:00):
EXTRAPOLATED NATIONAL REPORTING.
AND IT SAID THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
IS INTERESTED IN TWO
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ONE BEING
THE SIXTH.
AND THE OTHER BEING THE FOURTH
DISTRICT.
>> YES.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT INFORMATION
CAME FROM AXIOS THEY REPORTED IN
TWO STORIES THAT THE WHITE HOUSE
IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FOURTH
DISTRICT THOMAS MASSIE BECAUSE
(11:21):
MASSIE VOTED AGAINST THE HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1 THE BUDGET BILL NOW
IN THE SENATE.
AND THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THAT HE WANTS A PRIMARY
CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST MASSIE.
AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, AXIOS
REPORTED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS
KEEPING AN EYE ON IT
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE
VOTER REGISTRATION ASPECT.
(11:42):
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND IT IS
ONE OF THE FEW OPEN SEATS AND
ONE OF THE FEW COMPETITIVE RACES
IN THE NATION DURING THE
MIDTERMS.
WE KEEP WAITING TO SEE
HOW THE U.S. SENATE RACE IS
GOING TO BE SETUP FOR NEXT YEAR.
FORM ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL
CAMERON AND CONGRESSMAN ANDY
BARR ARE FIGHTING FOR THE G.O.P.
(12:03):
NOMINATION AND WE KEEP HEARING
NAMES INCLUDING BUSINESSMAN NATE
MORRIS.
HANNAH, IS THAT REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY GOING TO GET MORE
CROWDED?
OR IS IT SET NOW?
>> I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY
BEEN LOTS OF TALK THAT NATE
MORRIS COULD ENTER I'VE HEARD
END OF JUNE EARLY JULY AND WE
WILL HAVE LESS KNOWN
(12:24):
REPUBLICANS.
THE NOVEMBER --
FILING DEADLINE DOES NOT OPEN
UNTIL NOVEMBER AND LIKE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE MORE PEOPLE
THAT ENTER THE PRIMARY THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
DISTINGUISH YOURSELF FROM THE
CANDIDATES.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR HE IS
CAMPAIGNING ON I HAVE EXPERIENCE
IN DC AND I AM ALREADY HELPING
PASS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA.
(12:45):
YOU HAVE DANIEL CAMERON, WHO IS
SAYING I KNOW KENTUCKY BECAUSE I
AM A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
I ALSO AM A C.E.O. OF A 1792
EXCHANGE WHERE I HAVE ADVOCATED
FOR DISMANTLING D.E.I. AGAINST
SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP IS FOCUSING ON.
AND YOU HAVE NATE MORRIS SHOULD
HE ENTER HE SEEMS TO BE
CAMPAIGNING AS THE GRASSROOTS
(13:06):
CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO HELP PASS
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA AND
ALSO BE A SHIFT FROM THE STATUS
QUO.
HE IS PROBABLY BIGGEST
McCONNELL CRITIC.
>> YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP IN
ALL THREE ANSWERS.
>> OH, YEAH.
THEY ARE REALLY GEARING FOR
GAINING TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND
SOME ARE SAYING THAT COULD BE A
(13:27):
DECIDING FACTOR AND IF NOT THE
DECIDING FACTOR A HUGE FACTOR IN
WHO VOTERS WILL VOTE FOR IN THE
PRIMARY.
THE STATE'S OTHER U.S.
SENATOR RAND PAUL WAS CRITICIZED
BY PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS WEEK
OVER PAUL'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE
BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
THAT LAURA REMINDS ME IS HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1 IS THE APPROPRIATE
(13:49):
TITLE.
BUT PAUL SAYS HE IS NOT FOR
RAISING THE NATION'S DEBT
CEILING.
HE SAYS HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT
SPENDING MONEY THE COUNTRY DOES
AHAVE.
>> I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT AND I AM
A VOICE SAYING WE SHOULDN'T PILE
ON MORE DEBT PUTS PRESSURE ON
THE TRADITIONAL FEATURES OF
GOVERNMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT FROM
GOVERNMENT.
(14:09):
SO THE PRESIDENT WENT
AFTER PAUL SAYING HE VOTES NO ON
EVERYTHING AND THE PRESIDENT OF
PAUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE PEOPLE
OF KENTUCKY CAN'T STAND HIM.
PAUL HAS NOT BACKED DOWN.
SO SOME TOUGH BACK AND FORTH.
>> RIGHT.
AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING
ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE
COULD EASILY RELATE THIS TO HOW
(14:29):
WE'VE SEEN TRUMP GO AFTER
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE AS WE WERE
SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER.
THREATENING TO PRIMARY HIM IN
HIS OWN ELECTION AND MASSIE
SAYING BRING IT ON.
IT'S BEEN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS
IT.
AND FOR BOTH PAUL AND MASSIE IT
MIGHT GET A NEW ALLY OUT OF THIS
AFTER WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK.
(14:51):
ELON MUSK VERY PUBLICLY HAD A
FEUD BACK AND FORTHWITH TRUMP ON
SOCIAL MEDIA ON X, AMONG HIS
TWEETS, THOUGH HE WAS GIVING A
SHOUT-OUT AND RETWEETING RAND
PAUL.
AND ALSO THIS WEEK, MASSIE WENT
ON "FOX NEWS" AND TOLD THEM HE
WOULD LIKE MUSK TO HELP FUND
PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST
REPUBLICANS WHO DID VOTE FOR THE
(15:12):
BILL.
WITH THEIR OWN ELECTIONS COMING
UP MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET
HELP FROM THE FORMER SPECIAL
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.
SO SOME MOVING PIECES
THERE POTENTIALLY.
WELL, G.O.P. CONGRESSMAN BRETT
GUTHRIE IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS
NICE AND LOW KEY.
BUT HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF A
COMMITTEE PUT HIM IN THE MIDDLE
OF A CONTROVERSY OVER PROPOSED
(15:32):
MEDICAID CUTS.
AND HANNAH, YOU WROTE A STORY
ABOUT THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT
MINE FIELD FOR GUTHRIE THAN WHAT
HE HAS EVER DEALT WITH IN THE
PAST.
>> IT IS AND FROM A LOT OF FOLKS
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HIS NICE
GUY REPUTATION THAT HE IS KNOWN
FOR WAS CHALLENGED IN CONGRESS.
HE HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT
(15:52):
DECISIONS ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS
THAT NOT ONLY WERE NOT POPULAR
WITH DEMOCRATS AND ALSO NOT
ALWAYS POPULAR WITH FELLOW
REPUBLICANS.
NOW THAT THE BILL IS IN THE
SENATE I TALKED TO SOME OF THE
REPUBLICANS BACK IN KENTUCKY,
WHO SAID THAT HE HE WAS THE
PERFECT GUY FOR THE JOB BECAUSE
OF HIS LEGISLATIVE STYLE
APPROACH.
BECOMING AN EXPERT IN THE POLICY
(16:12):
AREA AND RISING UP TO WHAT HE IS
NOW A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND
KNOWN AS A AND SELFISH TEAM
PLAYER.
WE'LL WATCH CLOSELY
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING
FOR A COMEBACK AS THE PARTY
REGISTRATION AND NUMBER OF
OFFICE HOLDERS KEEPS DWINDLING.
LAST WEEK THERE WAS THE PARTY
(16:34):
SWITCH STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB.
THE NEWLY REPUBLICAN SENATOR
TALKED TO KET'S RENEE SHAW.
>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ON SOME
ISSUES FOR ME IN THE
REPRESENTATION OF MY DISTRICT AS
WELL AS MY PERSONAL BELIEFS
TO --
I HAVE A CONSISTENT VOTING
RECORD FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF A
(16:57):
CENTURY PLUS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
I'M STILL THE SAME ISSUES SAME
PRIORITIES.
BUT I'VE BEEN HARD TO
CATEGORIZE, I GUESS, THROUGH THE
YEARS AND I THINK THAT IS OKAY.
LAURA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CHAIRMAN COLMON ELRIDGE TOLD ME
THAT SENATOR WEBB DID NOT
(17:17):
DISCUSS HER PLANS TO SWITCH
PARTIES WITH HIM.
>> THAT IS WHAT I HEARD, TOO.
I TALKED TO DEMOCRATIC FOLKS
AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEY
SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED BY IT
AS WELL.
TO HER POINT SHE HAS BEEN HARD
TO CATEGORIZE AND SHE IS GOOD AT
REPRESENTING HER DISTRICT.
PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH THAT.
SHE IS A GUN OWNER AND SHE USED
TO WORK IN A COAL MINE.
(17:40):
SO SHE GETS THE DISTRICT AND
GETS THOSE ISSUES THAT TO
HANNAH'S POINT, THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATS HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM.
BUT THE PARTY WAS TOTALLY TAKEN
BY SURPRISE WITH HER
ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND SHE HAS SAID THERE
WAS NO ONE MOMENT THAT CAUSED
HER TO SWITCH PARTIES.
>> RIGHT HER HOMETOWN PAPER RAN
(18:01):
THAN ARTICLE WITH AN INTERVIEW
WITH HER AN INDEPTH INTERVIEW
ABOUT HER POSITION AND WHY SHE
DECIDED TO CHANGE.
AND THAT ARTICLE SHE DID SAY
THERE WAS NO ONE POINT.
BUT SHE FELT LIKE THE CHANGING
RURAL VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY INFLUENCED THIS DECISION
AND ALSO IN THAT ARTICLE, THE
VICE-CHAIR OF THE LOCAL
(18:22):
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AGREED WITH
WEBB'S POSITION SAYING THAT IT
SHOULD SEND A LARGE MESSAGE TO
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FORGETTING
ABOUT RURAL VOTERS AND RURAL
ISSUES AND THIS COMES AT A TIME
WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO
REBRAND AND MAKE INROADS INTO
KENTUCKY'S RURAL AREAS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
(18:43):
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN COLMON
ELRIDGE SAYS DESPITE THE TOUGH
TRENDS KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS CAN
REBUILD AND HE TOLD ME IT IS
ABOUT EMPHASIZING THE RIGHT
THINGS AND SHOWING UP.
>> YOU WILL NOT SEE KENTUCKY
DEMOCRATS FOCUSED ON THE WEDGE
ISSUES THE ISSUES THAT FRANKLY
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE FOCUSED
(19:04):
ON.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
THE ECONOMY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
JOBS.
FOCUSED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
MAKING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE COMMONWEALTH BETTER.
WITH WEBB'S PARTY
CHANGE THERE ARE NO SENATE
DEMOCRATS OUTSIDE OF LEXINGTON
AND LOUISVILLE.
HOW DO THEY APPEAL IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE STATE?
(19:24):
>> WELL, THEY'VE STARTED --
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
STARTED A RURAL LISTENING TOUR
AND GOING TO AREAS IN THE STATE
TRYING TO HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE
ARE SAYING HEARING WHAT THE
FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE
SAYING.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY HAD A
LISTENING TOUR IN JOHNSON COUNTY
AND FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
(19:44):
JANET STADIUM BOAS INVOLVED SHE
WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I DIDN'T ATTEND I HEARD ABOUT
IT.
BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO GATHER
INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN USE TO
HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK ONE THING THE
DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO POINT OUT
WITH THIS IS WITH THESE ISSUES
LIKE MEDICAID, LIKE ECONOMIC
(20:05):
ISSUES, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO SHOW VOTERS HOW REPUBLICAN
POLICIES HURT THEM.
HOW THEY ARE VOTING AGAINST
THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS IN SOME
CASES WHEN THEY SUPPORT CUTS TO
MEDICAID, CUTS TO OTHER SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT BENEFIT RURAL AND
POOR COMMUNITIES.
(20:25):
>> ONE QUESTION THAT WE SAW
AFTER THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE
WAS ARE DEMOCRATS MAKING GAINS
IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?
WE SAW BESHEAR PERFORM BETTER IN
THE EASTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES A
SIGN AT THE TIME THAT DEMOCRATS
WERE BEGINNING MAKING THE
INROADS AND NOW THE QUESTION IS
HAVE THEY HELD ON TO THOSE?
(20:47):
IN 2024 ELECTIONS NEITHER CAUCUS
PARTY CHANGED AT THAT TIME.
THE SAME AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATS
WERE ELECTED AND THE SAME AMOUNT
OF REPUBLICANS WERE ELECTED IN
THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.
NOW A COUPLE YEARS REMOVED THE
QUESTION IS NOW HOW DOES SOMEONE
ELSE BESIDES BESHEAR WHO IS TERM
LIMITED KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING
(21:09):
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
INTEREST WE NEED TO POINT OUT,
TOO, MIDTERMS HAVE LOWER TURNOUT
AS WELL THAN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS THERE'S GOING TO BE
THAT IN PLAY AS WELL.
>> AND I THINK ON THE NATIONAL
LEVEL AS WE WILL WE'VE SEEN
DEMOCRATS STRUGGLE CONNECTING
WITH RURAL VOTERS AND PART FROM
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS IS BECAUSE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SHIFTED
(21:30):
MORE LEFT ON CERTAIN ISSUES
PARTICULARLY CULTURAL ISSUES.
SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE GENDER
IDENTITY, D.E.I. AND THAT DOES
NOT RESONATE WITH REAL DEMOCRATS
AND THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OBVIOUSLY HAS TAKEN SOME
OF THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO THE
NATIONAL LEVEL AND PRIORITIZED
THOSE.
SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
BALANCE THAT AND ALSO CONNECT
(21:51):
WITH RURAL VOTERS AND FOCUS ON
THE COAL INDUSTRY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY THAT THEY
FEEL THE PARTY HAS ABANDONED
THEM ON.
WITH THE LOSS OF
SENATOR WEBB THEY ARE DOWN TO
SIX MEMBERS IN THE 38-MEMBER
SENATE AND NOW WHIP DAVID YATES
OF LOUISVILLE SAYS HE WANTS TO
BE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK?
>> HE TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW HE
(22:12):
STRONGLY BELIEVES IN TERM
LIMITS.
SO THAT'S WHY HE IS STEPPING
DOWN FROM THIS POSITION AND
SEEKING LOCAL OFFICE IN HIS OWN
COUNTY.
HE FEELS LIKE HAVING A LOCAL
OFFICE GIVES HIM A WAY TO GET
MORE MEDIA IMPACT AND HE HAS A
LOT OF IDEAS TO BRING TO THE
OFFICE THAT IS WHY HE IS
CHOOSING IT.
>> Christie (22:32):
GOVERNOR ANDY
BESHEAR IS CONTINUING TO CALL
FOR PRE-K IN KENTUCKY BUT THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAS SHOWN
NO APPETITE PARTICULARLY THE
FUNDING NOW BESHEAR IS
FINE-TUNING HIS MESSAGE TO SAY
THAT PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR KIDS MIGHT HELP ADULTS WE
ENTER THE WORKFORCE.
>> WE CAN MORE THAN AFFORD IT
COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF OUR
(22:52):
OVERALL BUDGET.
IT SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER TO
INVEST IN.
TAKING THIS STEP NOW HELPS US
LIVE OUT OUR FAITH AND VALUES AS
TO SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD, BUT
IT'S ALSO SMART FOR OUR ECONOMY.
>> Bill (23:05):
LAURA, IT IS A BIG
PRICE TAG FOR PRE-K FOR
LAWMAKERS.
BUT REPUBLICANS ALSO POINT OUT
WOULD BE A RECURRING COST THAT
THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO PICK UP
THE CHILDCARE MESSAGE IS A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION TO GO IN IN
WHICH WE HAVE SEEN POLLING
INDICATING BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS SEE THAT AS A BIG
(23:25):
ISSUE.
>> THE PRE-K FOR ALL WOULD
AFFECT 55,000, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN
KENTUCKY AND COULD PUT AS MANY
AS 70,000 CARETAKERS BACK INTO
THE WORKFORCE THAT IS WHERE THE
ECONOMIC BENEFIT COMES INTO
PLAY.
THE GOVERNOR PUT THIS IN PLACE
VIA AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATES
(23:47):
AN ADVISORY PANEL THAT AS YOU
NOTE SECOND BIPARTISAN.
COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS INCLUDE
FORMER LEXINGTON STATE
SENATORIAL LIST KERR WHO IS A
REPUBLICAN AND FORMER REPUBLICAN
STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS
BRENDA ALSO IS ON THAT
COMMITTEE.
AND IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE
COMMISSIONER ROBBY FLETCHER AND
(24:07):
OTHERS AS WELL.
WE'LL SEE WHERE IT
GOES.
SOME KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
FACE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, $16
MILLION IN FAYETTE COUNTY THEY
HAVE COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO
RAISE THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX, THIS
WEEK ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL
COLEMAN'S OFFICE RELEASED AN
OPINION SAID THE BOARD FAILED TO
GIVE PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE
IT ASKED FOR THAT TO BE DONE.
(24:29):
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DISAGREES.
McKENNA, THIS IS IN AN
INTERESTING SPOT?
>> YES, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES
WE'RE SEEING A LOCAL ISSUE GET
THE ATTENTION OF FRANKFORT.
SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
RELEASED THIS OPINION SAYING
THAT THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN IS
OF NO EFFECT BUT THE SCHOOL
(24:49):
DISTRICT HAS COME BACK AND SAID
THEY WILL HAVE A VOTE AND
RECONSIDER IT AT A FUTURE
MEETING AS WELL.
THE MAKE AMERICA
HEALTHY AGAIN TASK FORCE EARLY
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
>> THIS IS A TASK FORCE THAT HAD
(25:09):
A LOST OF ITS ATTENTION DURING
THE SESSION LAST YEAR OR EARLIER
THIS YEAR, AND A WAY TO --
WE'LL SEE IN TERM COMMITTEES
MAKE POLICY AND PROPOSE THOSE
AND REVIEW THOSE AHEAD OF NEXT
SESSION THIS IS A WAY TO BEGIN
THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT WILL
COME NEXT YEAR.
(25:32):
SEVERAL TASK FORCES
GIVES US AN IDEA WHAT THEY WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT IN JANUARY.
>> THERE'S FIVE I BELIEVE ONE
FOCUSES ON A.I. FROM LAST YEAR.
HOUSING TASK FORCE AS WELL AND I
BELIEVE ONE ON AVIATION.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE POLICY
PROPOSALS, WHAT ACTUALLY COMES
TO FRUITION AND WHAT PASSES.
BECAUSE IT IS A BUDGET YEAR NEXT
(25:53):
YEAR WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE
CENTER STAGE AND PRIORITY.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT POLICY
PROPOSALS DO END UP GETTING
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
CLEAN UP CONTINUES IN
TORNADO RAVAGED LAUREL AND
PULASKI COUNTIES AND WORKERS IN
STARBUCKS VOTED TO UNIONIZE AND
KENTUCKY'S GASOLINE TAX WILL BE
GOING DOWN INCOMES MONTH TO JUST
(26:14):
OVER 26 CENTS A GALLON.
THAT IS TOWN 12 PERCENT OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS AFTER A HIGH OF
30 CENTS A GALLON.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT IF YOU INCLUDE ALL
THE GASOLINE TAXES IT'S 46 CENTS
A GALLON IN KENTUCKY BELOW THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THAT IS COMMENT HAVE A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
[♪♪]
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