Comment on kentucky | january 31, 2025 | season 51 | episode 14

[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATORS MITCH AND RAND PAUL CHALLENGED SOME OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EARLY MOVES AND NOMINATIONS. AN AUDIT FINDS DOZENS OF KENTUCKY FOFTDER

CHILDREN SPENT NIGHTS SLEEPING IN SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDINGS. KENTUCKY'S 2025 LEGISLATIVE IS ABOUT TO RESUME WITH A TAX CUT AND OTHER KEY ISSUES PENDING. REPORTERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE

CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM. FINALLY WARMER WEATHER AHEAD OF GROUND-HOG DAY AS WE HEAD INTO FEBRUARY AND COMMENTED IS NEXT ON KET. [♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL

BRYANT. AND WE WOMEN YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY

JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER. PHILLIP BAILEY, LOUISVILLE BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA

TODAY". AND RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS. ALSO TONIGHT, SOME SCHOOLS RUN SHORT OF NTI DAYS AND ASK THE LEGISLATURE FOR HELP. LET'S BEGIN WITH SOME

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS WEEK'S DEADLY CRASH INVOLVING AN AMERICAN AIRLINES REGIONAL JET AND A MILITARY HELICOPTER IT LEFT 67 PEOPLE DEAD NEAR WASHINGTON. IT IS A PAPER THAT ALL AMERICANS

FEEL AND IT BROUGHT BACK CHILLING MEMORIES HERE IN KENTUCKY OF THE 2006 CRASH THAT BLUEGRASS AIRPORT. PHILLIP MANY KENTUCKIANS HAVE THE EXPERIENCE FLYING INTO REAGAN NATIONAL AND FROM

KENTUCKY IT IS OFTEN THE REGIONAL JETS USED JUST AS THE CASE IN THIS. SO THERE'S SOME FAMILIARITY AND IT RESONATED HERE. >> MOST KENTUCKIANS VISITING OUR NATION'S CAPITAL YOU

ARE PROBABLY FLYING THROUGH REAGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND MANY OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ALSO FLY THROUGH THERE. TIM CANE MENTIONED THIS IN YEARS PAST THAT IS AN AREA

WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC. 20 MILLION GO THROUGH THAT AIRPORT AND NOT JUST COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS. YOU HAVE MILITARY FLIGHTS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS COLLISION BETWEEN THE

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER AND THE COMMERCIAL FLIGHT, I THINK WAS STARTLING IS INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT AS WELL. YOU HAVE PHILIPPINES COLONEL ON THE FLIGHT. TWO CHINESE CITIZENS WERE ON THE FLIGHT.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. SKATING TEAM. AND TWO SOLDIERS ANNOUNCED THEIR DEATH RYAN O'HARE, 28 OF GEORGIA AND ANDREW EAVES OF MARYLAND. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

CHAIRMAN SAYS THEY WILL LEAVE NO STONE UPTURNED IN THIS INVESTIGATION. >> Bill: AND TESSA WE REMEMBER HERE IN LEXINGTON IT WAS A SIMILAR THOROUGH INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING THE 2006 CRASH

IN THE COMAIR FLIGHT. >> AFTER IT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY DURING TAKE OFF 49 ONBOARD DIED AND A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING AT THAT TIME I EXPECT WE WILL SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH

THIS. >> Bill: MANY IN KENTUCKY EXPRESSING SYMPATHIES AND CONCERNS AND WE WILL AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. >>> KENTUCKY'S NEW HIGHLY VISIBLE U.S. SENATORS

HAVE EACH DELIVERED NO VOTES TO THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SO HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. PHILLIP SENATOR McCONNELL VOTED AGAINST PETE HECK SET'S

CONFIRMATION. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTING TRUMP LARGELY IN HIS AGENDA AND EARLY INITIATIVES. BUT KENTUCKY'S TWO U.S. SENATORS HAVE PROVEN THEY WILL VOTE NO ON SOME OF

WHAT TRUMP WANTS. >> AND THEY WILL NOT BE YEMEN. ON THE NO VOTES PAUL AND McCONNELL SAYING I HAVE A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE MY JOB IS TO ADVISE AND CONSENT AND HERE IS MY ADVICE. SENATOR

McCONNELL MORE OF A HAWK ON FOREIGN POLICY, PETE FAILED DEFENDING TAIWAN AGAINST CHINA WHAT ABOUT RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AND IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT IN MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS. SENATOR PAUL MADE IT

CLEAR THE REASON VOTING AGAINST THE FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN OUT OF OREGON LOOK, I SUPPORT RIGHT TO WORK POLICIES AND LEGISLATION SHE SUPPORTED THE PRO ACT AND THAT IS TOO FAR FOR ME. I'M

INTERESTED TO SEE HOW SENATOR McCONNELL IS GOING TO RESPOND TO R.F.K. JUNIOR'S HE IS A SURVIVOR OF POLIO. R.F.K. JUNIOR MADE CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ABOUT VACCINES IT'S EXPECTED

THAT McCONNELL MAYBE A NO VOTE AS WELL. >> Bill: MANY ASSUME THAT McCONNELL, WON'T SEEK REELECTION IN 2026. HE HAS NOT REVEALED HIS PLANS YET AND HE COULD STILL RUN. CAN WE GLEAN

ANYTHING BY WATCHING HIS VOTES AT THIS POINT? >> I DON'T KNOW IF THE VOTING ARE GOING TO TELL US. I THINK SOURCES CLOSE TO McCONNELL TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT SHARING WHAT HIS

INTENTIONS ARE. THEY DON'T FEEL THEY ARE IN THE CYCLE. McCONNELL FEELS LIBERATED HE IS NOT IN LEADERSHIP AND WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT THESE THINGS PERSONALLY. YOU WILL SEE HIM ADVOCATE FOR

KENTUCKY KNOWN TO BRING RESOURCES INTO. HE IS ALSO GIVING SOME OF HIS FELLOW SENATORS WITH THE NO VOTES AN INDICATION IF YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO COW TOW IT TO THE PRESIDENT. WHEN YOU

LOOK AT THE FUNDRAISE THAT IS MORE INKAY ACTIVE HE HAS $8 MILLION IN THE BANK MUCH MORE THAN HE HAD AT THIS TIME BEFORE HIS PREVIOUS ELECTION I THINK IT WAS $3.4 MILLION. BUT HE IS NOT

RAISING MONEY AT THE SAME CLIP. IF THERE'S LEGACY AND KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS IT'S MITCH McCONNELL. WE WILL WAIT-AND-SEE BUT HE WILL RUN THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.

>> Bill: $8 MILLION GIVES HIM OPTION. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> Bill: THE 2026 FILING DEADLINE IS 11 MONTHS AWAY IT'S EARLY JANUARY NOW. IS THERE LIKELY ANY SENSE OF A

TIME-FRAME ON WHEN WE MIGHT HEAR McCONNELL'S DECISION? >> WELL, IF HE DECIDES NOT TO RUN AGAIN, WHICH YOU KNOW IS A POSSIBILITY. HE IS ABOUT TO TURN 83. HE WOULD BE 84 IN THE NEXT

ELECTION. HE'S GOING TO GIVE THE REPUBLICANS WHO SEEK TO COME AFTER HIM ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY BUILD THEIR NAME RECOGNITION AND START TO CAMPAIGN IN EARNEST. I THINK IT'S ALSO

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH RESPECT FOR SENATOR McCONNELL WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT, AND KENTUCKY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT

SEAT BUT WILL NOT JUMP THE LINE AND ANNOUNCE BEFORE HE MAKES ANY SORT OF DECISION. THAT WOULD KEEP SOMEONE LIKE ANDY BAR OR DANIEL CAMERON WAITING FOR SENATOR McCONNELL TO MAKE THE

ANNOUNCEMENT. >> THE BILL HAS MUCH AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THERE IS A GROWING MAGA ELEMENT THAT IS NOT. IT'S THE OPPOSITE I POINT TO NATE MORRIS WHO TOOK TO

SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER McCONNELL VOTED AGAINST PETE HEGSETH FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. HE SAID IT WAS A DISGRACE BASED ON HIS PETTY HATRED OF TRUMP. McCONNELL NEEDS TO SAME UP AND STEP ASIDE. THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT MITCH McCONNELL BUILT, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RIGHT RING MAGA ORIENTED POPULOUS FUELED ELEMENT THAT HE IS NOT USED TO STRONGER THAN WHEN HE TOOK ON MATT BEVIN

IN IF THE PAST. >> Bill: ANY PERSPECTIVE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT McCONNELL AND LIKELY CONTINUING OR POTENTIALLY BEING A BIG SENATE RACE IN 2026? >> WELL,

ONE THING IS FOR SURE WITH A GROWING REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE HERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND A LOT OF THEM WITH THE TRUMP SIDE OF THE PARTY, EASTERN KENTUCKY COULD BE A STRONGER VOICE THAN IT HAS

BEEN IN PAST REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES IN THAT POSITION FOR SURE. >> Bill: THE 2024 BID BY Dr. MON JAR ROW WAS PROBABLY THE LAST MAJOR EASTERN KENTUCKY CANDIDACY IN A SENATE RACE? >>

YES, WE DON'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE STEP UP. AGAIN AS EVERYBODY'S SAYING RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY'S WATCHING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A NAME OR A GROUP OF NAMES THAT IS LOCKED

IN YET. SO MAYBE THE NEXT SENATOR DOES COME FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY WHO KNOWS. >> Bill: WE'LL WATCH. TESSA, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING BUYOUTS TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T

WANT TO COME BACK TO THE OFFICE FOR THEIR FEDERAL JOBS AND THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO THE POLICY. THE COURIER JOURNAL REPORTED IT COULD MEAN 13,000 KENTUCKY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COULD BE ELIGIBLE

SOME WORK IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOME IN COURTHOUSES. THIS COULD BE A BIG CHANGE. >> IT COULD BE. AND PEOPLE ARE SEEING ELON MUSK'S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THIS. THERE'S

REPORTING THAT MENTIONED THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HE DID WHEN HE BOUGHT TWITTER WAS YOU CAN STAY OR GO BUT THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT A LOT OF LAWYERS AND UNIONS FOR

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE TELLING THEM HOLD-UP. THERE IS A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE OFFER THE LEGALITY OF IT. YOU ARE SEEING THE GROUPS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SORT

OF HANG ON A MINUTE AND LET'S SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT. >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH THE BLITZ IS TESTING THE LIMITS OF THE POWER THAT HE HAS AS

PRESIDENT. HE IS COMING IN WITH A MUCH MORE DIVISIVE VICTORY THAN HE HAD IN 2016. HE IS TESTING THE LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER. HE IS PARDONING JANUARY 6TH RIOTERS HE IS FIRING INSPECTORS

GENERAL. HE IS HAVING THE F.C.C. INVESTIGATE NPR AND HAVING Dr. PHIL ON I.C.E. RAIDS. THE QUESTION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE YOU GOING TO STICK AROUND ARE YOU TOLD TO BE STICK AROUND TO BE

THE WATCHDOG AS TRUMP TRIES TO ELIMINATE THE FOLKS AND GET LOYALISTS IN THE POSITIONS. >> Bill: THE FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE WAS WALKED BACK THIS WEEK LEFT SOME CONFUSION ACROSS THE

COUNTRY. IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON RURAL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING HERE IN KENTUCKY, RIGHT? >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. PLACES LIKE EASTERN KENTUCKY, WE RELY A LOT ON THAT FEDERAL FUNDING,

ESPECIALLY WITH THE GRANTS AND SUCH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THIS WHEN YOU MENTIONED THIS BLITZ ABOUT ACTIONS TAKING PLACE, OUR JOB AS LOCAL JOURNALISTS IS TO BREAKDOWN

FOR OUR READERS WHAT DOES THE BIG PICTURE MEAN WHAT DOES THIS BIG ACTION MEAN. AND, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED TO TAKE A LOOK AND THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF CLEARANCES WOULD SCHOOL LUNCH BE

AFFECTED AND FAFSA. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND 24 HOURS LATER IT'S OVER. IT WAS A GOOD LESSON FOR US IN WATCHING WHAT IS GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF

WASHINGTON AND BEING MORE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE REPORT THAT. AND IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET IT OUT BUT WE WILL BE MUCH MORE CONCENTRATED ON GET TO GO RIGHT. >> Bill: HARD TO

BE DEFINITIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT FLAW WIDTH. TESSA THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ACTION THAT COULD ALLOW FEDERAL EDUCATION MONEY TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND KENTUCKY VOTERS

OVERWHELMINGLY SAID NO TO A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT COULD HAVE DIRECTED OR ALLOWED THE LEGISLATURE TO DIRECT PUBLIC MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. SO THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH

IN KENTUCKY. >> IT WILL BE. AS YOU NOTED AMENDMENT 2 IN NOVEMBER LOST IN ALL OF KENTUCKY'S COUNTIES. IT WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES. SO AS WE'VE

TALKED ABOUT WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THINGS COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, RIGHT NOW IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY WHAT EXACTLY THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT IN

A LOT OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES THERE SIMPLY ARE NOT PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT STUDENTS COULD ATTEND IF THEY DO HAVE VOUCHERS OR OTHER FEDERAL SUPPORT TO HELP PAY FOR THAT. SO YOU KNOW IT JUST REMAINS

TO BE SEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND ALSO HOW IT WOULD PLAY OUT IN KENTUCKY IF THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. >> AND YOU HAVE LOOK, SENATOR TIM SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA ALREADY SAID THAT

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST SCHOOL CHOICE PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME. AND I THINK AS RUSS MENTIONED WITH THE MORE CHAOTIC UNKNOWN QUESTIONS WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAKES AN

ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAKES A DECISION THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS AS WELL. IF ANYONE IS NOT TO BE TRIFLED IN THE STATE IT'S KENTUCKY TEACHERS. ASK BEVIN AND THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE AS

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION 2.0 BEGINS TO PUSH ITS OWN ALLIES EVEN TO GET HIS AGENDA ACROSS, I THINK HE IS GOING TO LEARN, THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO LEARN THAT BACK HOME SOME

OF THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS MIGHT BE SQUEAMISH ABOUT THINGS HE IS TRYING TO DO. >> Bill: THERE'S BEEN A SUGGESTION THAT FEMA COULD BE ELIMINATED AND THE DUTIES TURNED OVER TO THE

STATES. THERE ARE A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS WITH FEMA IN EASTERN KENNEBUNKPORT DURING THE FLOODING AND WESTERN KENTUCKY DURING THE TORNADOES LOTS OF DELAYS AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. IS

YOU'RE DEALING WITH DISASTER COULD THE STATE GOVERNMENT DO IT? IS THIS ELIMINATION OF FEMA LIKELY SCENARIO? >> I MEAN, IT COULD BE. CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. ANYBODY WHO HAS DEALT

WITH FEMA CAN TELL YOU THAT. HERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WE DEALT WITH THEM NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE DECADES. AND YOU SEE A LOCAL RESPONSE FROM LIKE, FIRST-RESPONDERS, AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

THAT TENDS TO BE VERY QUICK. TENDS TO BE FAIRLY EFFECTIVE IN MOST CASES AS WELL. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT COME IN AND TENDS TO REALLY SHORE UP WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN YOU

HAVE FEMA COME IN AND YOU KNOW, THIS BUREAUCRATIC IN AND EVERYTHING BEGINS MOVING AS SLOW AS MOLASSES. SO YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU FIND PEOPLE AROUND HERE SAYING THAT FEMA NEEDS TO BE DONE AWAY

WITH? I DON'T KNOW BUT YOU WOULD FIND A GOOD CONSENSUS THAT SOMETHING DOES NEED TO CHANGE. IT CANNOT BE AS SLOW IN REACTION AS IT IS ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN THE

BALANCE AND UPENDED IN THE WAY THEY ARE IN A DISASTER. >> Bill: ALL KINDS OF POLITICS TIED UP. IT'S INTERESTING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN PUSHING BACK AGAINST PROPOSALS FROM

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. SUGGESTING DEVOLVING FEMA OR LEAVING THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OR NOT GOOD IDEAS. HERE IS A CLIP FROM SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE AS HE WALKED FROM THE

MANSION TO THE CAPITOL TO WORK. >> YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE DAYS CERTAINLY IN MY TERM IN STATE GOVERNMENT. AS A MEMO FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OMB OFFICE SAID THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO PAUSE VIRTUALLY ALL LOANS AND GRANTS TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES IN SO MANY WAYS. >> Bill: TESSA, ARE CLIPS LIKE THAT DUAL PURPOSE FOR

BESHEAR AS HE COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSALS THAT HE OPPOSES FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? DOES IT COME WITH ONE EYE ON 2028 FOR BESHEAR? >> OF COURSE IT DOES. OF COURSE IT DOES. WHEN I

SEE THE VIDEOS POP-UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA I SEE PEOPLE DESCRIBE THEM AS FACE TIMING WITH ANDY THAT DIRECT TO VOTER SORT OF APPROACH THAT WE SAW IN 2020 WHEN THE AFTERNOON BEERS WITH BESHEAR WHEN

HE HAD THE COVID PRESS CONFERENCES. IT'S DIRECT TO PEOPLE TYPE OF APPROACH AND GETTING THIS MESSAGE OUT. HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR THROUGH "CNN"

TO MAKE HIS POINT. HE CAN TALK TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY VIA INSTAGRAM. ONE OF HIS MORE RECENT SELFIE VIDEOS WAS ON THE ROWING MACHINE. YEAH, I EXPECT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE MORE OF THESE. BUT,

YES, I MEAN IT'S PUTTING HIM IN THE POSITION OF OPPOSITION TO WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING. AND THIS IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN DEMOCRATS REALLY DON'T HAVE A CLEAR LEADER.

AND 2028 IS SEEN AS WIDE OPEN AND HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A CONTENDER. I THINK THE VEEP STAKES OF LAST SUMMER SORT OF ELEVATED HIS NATIONAL PROFILE. AND I THINK HE IS DOING

EVERYTHING HE CAN TO BUILD ON THAT ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT HE IS FREED FROM HAVING TO SEEK REELECTION AS GOVERNOR. >> Bill: PHILLIP ARE WE SEEING IN REALTIME, BESHEAR TRY TO PIVOT INTO

A NATIONAL FIGURE? >> I THINK HE'S ALREADY A NATIONAL FIGURE, BILL. AS THE DEMOCRATS TRY TO FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF THE WILDERNESS THEY POLL WAS RELEASED THE PARTY BRAND IS THE

WORST IT'S EVER BEEN SINCE THEY ASKED THAT QUESTION. ANDY BESHEAR WILL BE ON THE LIST OF DEMOCRATS WHO CAN BE CARRYING THAT MAN TELL. HE WILL BE VICE-CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC

GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION NOW HE WILL BE THE CHAIR IN AN IMPORTANT YEAR IN 2026 IN THOSE MIDTERMS. HE IS CERTAINLY SOMEONE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE ATTENTION TO AS THE PARTY STRUGGLES IS IT

GOING TO GO MODERATE OR FURTHER TO THE LEFT. I DO THINK THAT ONE THING YOU WILL SEE ANDY BESHEAR BE ASKED ABOUT IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCLES WHAT WILL THE HEALTH OF YOUR PARTY IN YOUR STATE? HOW

CAN YOU MAKE THE ARGUMENT YOU CAN EXPAND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GOVERNOR WE HAVE A PHONE BOOT OF DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE WE HAVE NOT SEEN PROGRESS IN THE STATE OF

KENTUCKY IT'S YOU WHO IS POPULAR AND NO OTHER DEMOCRAT. THESE ARE THE SOCIAL QUESTIONS I'M HEARING FROM NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ABOUT BESHEAR BUT NO DOUBT ABOUT IT HE IS ON THE LIST OF

DEMOCRATS TAKING THIS PARTY INTO THE FUTURE. >> Bill: AND WE KNOW BESHEAR WAS AMONG SOME GOVERNORS THAT AADVISED THE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER WAYS TO COUNTER SOME OF PRESIDENT

TRUMP'S ACTIONS AND DIRECTIVES. AND WE ALSO KNOW AT THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS QUICK TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR THAT. >> IT IS A DAY THAT ENDS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY

IS CRITICIZING THE GOVERNOR THAT'S ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO. AND SO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAD THIS STORY THAT SAID THAT ABOUT HALF A DOZEN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS WERE

PUSHING SENATOR SCHUMER FOR SORT OF WAYS TO PUSHBACK ON THE TRUMP AGENDA AND TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE TIMES REPORTED THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID, IS THAT

THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITIGATION AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR STATES THAT HAD REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL LIKE KENTUCKY. AND SO THIS IS WHAT REALLY UPSET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IS THEY SAID

YOU KNOW, BESHEAR IS A HYPOCRITE HE TALKS ABOUT THE GOLDEN RULE AND HOW WE SHOULD TREAT OTHER PEOPLE AND HE TURNS AROUND AND HE SAYS THIS ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO PUNISH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T

VOTE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS LAST YEAR. SO THAT IS WHAT REALLY GOT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WORKED UP IS FEELING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WANTED TO INFLICT SOME SORT OF PUNISHMENT ON A LOT OF

KENTUCKIANS WHO DID VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP. >> Bill: THIS WEEK ALLISON BALL ISSUED A FINDING THAT DOZENS OF KENTUCKY FOSTER CHILDREN HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE IN STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS

WHILE AWAITING PLACEMENT. THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SAYS THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT CHILDREN TO PLACE BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY COME FROM. THE AUDITOR SAYS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND

SHE WANTS MORE ANSWERS? >> RIGHT. WHAT THIS WAS, WAS A SMALL STUDY LOOKING AT A FOUR-MONTH WINDOW OF HOW MANY KIDS IN STATE FOSTER CARE SLEPT IN OFFICE BUILDINGS. AND WHAT THE

AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOUND IS THAT THAT WAS 49 CHILDREN WITH AN AVERAGE STAY OF FOUR DAYS AND AVERAGE AGE OF 13. AND SO THE GFER'S OFFICE SAYS YES, THESE ARE DIFFICULT CHILDREN TO

PLACE WHETHER THEY HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS OR MENTAL, PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS IT MAKES THEM MORE DIFFICULT TO PLACE. AND THAT IS NOT A UNIQUELY KENTUCKY PROBLEM. THAT IS A STRUGGLE WITH FOSTER

CARE IN MOST IF NOT EVERY STATE. IT ALSO SHOWS THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF FOSTER CARE FAMILIES THAT THESE KIDS ARE HAVING TO SLEEP IN OFFICE BUILDINGS. BUT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE HAS SAID

THIS WARRANTS DEEPER INVESTIGATION. SO THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST WE'VE HEARD OF THIS ISSUE. >> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK TO TOWN ON TUESDAY. A PROPOSED TAX CUT IS

PENDING IN THE STATE SENATE. IT PASSED THE HOUSE. IT'S PASSED THE SENATE COMMITTEE DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT'S AUTOMATIC IT'S GOING THROUGH THE SENATE? >> I WOULD SAY SO,

YES. THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF THE SHORT SESSION ONLY MET FOUR DAYS THAT FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. AND THEY GOT TO QUICK WORK PASSING THIS BILL OUT OF THE HOUSE. AND THROUGH THE SENATE

APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE. IT'S GOTTEN TWO OUT OF THE THREE REQUIRED READS. SO THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY DO WHEN THEY COME BACK ON TUESDAY. >> Bill:

AND OTHER ITEMS YOU ARE WATCHING IN THE SESSION? >> YEAH. SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE'RE WAITING TO SEE MORE ABOUT IS WHAT WILL BE THE ANTI-DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

BILL THAT COMES OUT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OF COURSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MUCH DISCUSSED LAST YEAR. BUT DIDN'T ULTIMATELY MAKE IT OVER THE FINISH LINE. WE KNOW IT REMAINS A

TOP PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICANS. AND I'M INTERESTED TO SEE ARE THERE LAWMAKERS WHO FILE BILLS OR RESOLUTIONS TRYING TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR BOLSTER ANY

INITIATIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL. >> Bill: RUSS, I KNOW ONE BILL YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON REGARDING OUTDOOR RECREATION? >> ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF OUR ROOKIE REPRESENTATIVES OUT OF OUR

COVERAGE AREA MITCH WHITAKER HAD LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH AN OUTDOOR RECREATION OFFICE IN STATE GOVERNMENT. IT'S NO SECRET THAT HERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WE'RE TRYING TO

MAKE TOURISM PART OF OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC OFFERINGS. AND YOU KNOW, OUTDOOR RECREATION SOMETIMES GETS LOST IN THE SHUFFLE COMPARED TO OTHER TOURISM. TO HAVE A STATE AGENCY THAT IS

COORDINATING AND IS ALSO PROMOTING HIKING, BIKING, A.T.V. 'S, HUNTING, FISHING THINGS LIKE THAT ARE ABUNDDANTLY AVAILABLE IN OUR REGION, BE REALLY GOOD TO HAVE THAT EXTRA VOICE AND THAT

EXTRA PUSH IN FRANKFORT, NO DOUBT. >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER FLETCHER HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATE. HE ISSUED CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE SHORTFALL IN SEEK FUNDS AND THE

RECENT WINTER STORMS CAUSED LATE STARTS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. FLETCHER EXPLAINED TO ME TODAY HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE OUT OF NTI DAYS. >> I DO HAVE NUMBERS. WE HAVE 140

DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN NTI. SO FAR, UNTIL TODAY, THIS WAS YESTERDAY'S NUMBERS, 762 DAYS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED. WITH 21 DISTRICTS USED ALL NTI DAYS. THEN WE HAVE 10

DISTRICTS THAT USED 19 AND 14 USED 8 IN NTI DAYS. >> Bill: IT IS AN ISSUE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING TO THE LAWMAKERS. >> 21 DISTRICTS OUT OF 140 THAT IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE MIND OF A LOT OF PARENTS AS WELL. >> Bill: RUSS, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT THE WINTER WEATHER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THE COLD SPELL HAD AN IMPACT ON SOME

OF THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. SOME OF THE WATER DISTRICTS, WHO HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEMS. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW FREEZING, WATER PIPES DO NOT

HANDLE THAT WELL. AND YOU ADD AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND A BAND OF HOUSES THAT YOU KNOW, WATERLINES BREAK AND NOBODY IDENTIFY IT IS FOR DAYS AND IT TAXES THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS

GOING ON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS ON. BUT THEN IT GOES BACK TO TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING IT WILL TAKE MONEY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND

THESE THINGS. BUT WE'VE GOT TO STAY FOCUSED ON GETTING IT DONE. >> Bill: YOU'VE LEARNED THE EASTERN KENTUCKY PRIDE PROGRAM NO LONGER BEING FUNDED IT CLEANED UP ILLEGAL DUMPS

AND PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS SOME OF THE COUNTIES ARE TRYING TO FILL IN THE GAP NOW? >> PIKE COUNTY OUR JUDGE EXECUTIVE TOLD US THAT PIKE AND A COUPLE OTHER COUNTIES ARE TRYING TO

GET TOGETHER TO KEEP THE EDUCATION COMPONENT OF THIS GOING. THIS PROGRAM WAS ONE OF THE MORE QUIETLY EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN OUR REGION. I MEAN, YOU STILL SEE LITTER

HERE. BUT IT'S NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD IT WAS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. IT'S LIKE WITH SEATBELTS THEY GOT IT TO US YOUNG AND HAMMER TO DO INTO OUR HEADS THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE MISSED IN THAT RESPECT AND THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WILL BE LOST IS ANOTHER DEFINITE LOSS. >> Bill: CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER'S BOOK NUMBER SIX ON "THE NEW

YORK TIMES" NONFICTION BEST-SELLERS HE IS OUT TOURING AND SELLING THE BOOK? >> RIGHT AND YOU EXPECT HIM TO GO AFTER THE BIDEN FAMILY IT'S NAMED ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MONEY

COMER TALKS ABOUT BEING THE FACE OF AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. BUT IT DOES FIND IT INTERESTING POINT THE FINGER A A LOT OF REPUBLICANS TELLING THE STORY TALKING TO A REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT

WHERE HE TELLS HIM TO TELL JARED CRUSHER IN, THE SON-IN-LAW OF PRESIDENT TRUMP TO F OFF. HE TALKS ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI BLAMING HIM AND TAKING SHOTS AT FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY

SAYING HE DID NOT HANDLE THE INVESTIGATION. A LOT OF FINGER POINTING FROM CONGRESSMAN COMER. >> Bill: RUSS, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR PAPERS FOR WINNING NUMEROUS AWARDS RECENTLY FROM THE

KENTUCKY PRESS ASSOCIATION. AND I KNOW THAT ORGANIZATION GATHERED FOR ITS WINTER CONFERENCE. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND IMPORTANCE TO LOCAL JOURNALISM? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU

KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF US HERE THAT REMAIN CONFIDENT IN THE FUTURE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM BECAUSE IT'S TOO IMPORTANT TO NOT HAVE. WHO ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT BUT US? >> Bill: STAY

AFTER IT AND WE WISH EVEN THE SMALL PAPERS GOOD LUCK THERE IN KEEPING AT IT. WE ALSO WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO CASEY PARKER BELL COPRODUCED THIS PROGRAM FOR ME FOR MOST OF THE LAST DECADE HE

IS LEAVING KET TO FOCUS ON LAW SCHOOL AND BEING THE EDITOR OF THE KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL. CONGRATULATIONS ON HIM ACHIEVING THAT. WE KNOW HE WILL BE A FANTASTIC LAWYER AND WE'LL SEE HIM

ALONG THE WAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD. [♪♪]