>> Bill: MEDICAL MARIJUANA
GETS CLOSER THAN IT EVER HAS HAD
TO BECOMING LEGAL IN KENTUCKY.
MORE TEACHERS SICK-OUTS AS
PUBLIC EDUCATORS RAIL AGAINST
THE SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT FOR
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND WATCH
FRANKFORT FOR ANY SURPRISES.
A PROPOSAL TO BAN TOBACCO
PRODUCTS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES
STALLS.
AND COULD CANCELLED RACES AT A
CALIFORNIA RACETRACK HAVE AN
IMPACT ON THE KENTUCKY DERBY?
A WARM-UP AND A TIME CHANGE FOR
THE WEEKEND, AND "COMMENT" IS
NEXT ON KET.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME
YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A
LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN
THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE:
LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR
WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.
MORGAN WATKINS, REPORTER FOR THE
COURIER-JOURNAL
AND JACK BRAMMER, FRANKFORT
BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER.
ALSO TONIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT
PENCE COMES TO KENTUCKY TO RAISE
MONEY FOR GOVERNOR BEVIN AHEAD
OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
AND THE LOUISVILLE ZOO CLOSES
AFTER A HUGE SINKHOLE OPENS UP
ON ITS PROPERTY.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE LOUD CLOCK
THAT'S TICKING ON THE 2019
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HOW
CLOSELY TEACHERS ARE WATCHING
FOR ANY SURPRISES.
JACK, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE OF
THESE SICKOUTS.
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE LARGEST IN
THE STATE AND SOME OTHERS
CLOSED, THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION HAS SAID THIS IS NOT
THE APPROACH THEY PREFER, BUT
THERE ARE OTHERS WHO SAY THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY TO GET ATTENTION.
>> Jack: WELL, A LOT OF
TEACHERS FEEL THAT LAST YEAR
THEY WERE REACTING TO WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE DID WHEN THEY TOOK
UP THE CONTROVERSIAL PENSION
BILL, AND THIS YEAR THEY WANT TO
BE PROACTIVE, SO THEY WANTED TO
BE THERE WHEN BILLS WERE BEING
INTRODUCED IN COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS WANTED THEIR VOICES
HEARD.
SO I THINK WE'VE HAD THREE
SICK-OUTS SO FAR, TWO THIS WEEK,
ONE THE PREVIOUS WEEK, NOT AS
BIG IN NUMBERS BUT STILL BEING
VERY VOCAL, AND I THINK THEY'VE
HAD AN IMPACT ON THE FLOW OF THE
LEGISLATION.
WE STILL COMPONENT WHAT'S GOING
TO GET PASSED OR NOT.
, STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO GET PARRED OR NOT BUT IT HAS
STALLED THE ACTION ON SOME BILLS
THAT THEY OPPOSE.
>> Bill: IS IT A MATTER OF
TRUST, LAWRENCE, REALLY AFTER
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?
>> Lawrence: I THINK THAT'S
EXACTLY RIGHT.
MANY TEACHERS HAVE TALKED TO ME
AND SAID, YOU KNOW, AFTER WHAT
HAPPENED LAST YEAR AT THE LAST
MINUTE INSERTION OF THAT PENSION
BILL INTO THE SEWER BILL AND THE
WAY THAT WAS RUSH THROUGH,
ULTIMATELY OVERTURNED BY THE
QUOTE, BUT THE WAY THAT WAS DONE
THEY'RE GUN SHY.
THEY'RE ON HAD A HAIR TRIGGER.
SO I THINK THEY'RE READY TO ACT
WHENEVER -- AND SOMETIMES
THEY'RE HEARING MISINFORMATION.
THAT'S OUT THERE AS WELL TO BE
DEALT WITH.
BUT THEY'REY READY TO ACT
WHENEVER THEY HEAR THAT
SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN.
>> Bill: AND SOMETIMES THESE
ARE COMING LATE, MORGAN, ONE OF
THE FIRST ONES, IT WAS VERY LATE
WHEN IT WAS FOUND OUT, AND IN
FACT EVEN THE LATTER ONES IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PARENTS HAVE
THE HAVE HAVE HAD TO SCRAMBLES
AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLIO
INDICATED THAT HE REALLY DOES
NOT KNOW WHO IS LEADING THE.
>> Morgan: IF SCHICK SIC-OUT
WAS A BIG SURPRISE THE
SUPERINTENDENT SAID SHE WENT TO
BED AND ABSENCES LOOKED NORMAL
AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT WAKES UP AND REALIZES
WE'VE GOT A SICK-OUT ON OUR
HANDS.
WHEN I TALKED TO HIM THAT
AFTERNOON HE SAID, YOU KNOW,
WHEN THESE THINGS START ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND BUILD ON SOCIAL
MEDIA, IT CAN BE AT THE TIME IT
WAS UNCLEAR WHAT WAS REALLY --
WHO REALLY LED THAT CHARGE.
THERE'S BEEN TALK AND
INDICATIONS A NEW KIND OF
GRASSROOTS GROUP JCPS LEADS WAS
KEY TO ARRANGING THE SICK-OUTS
THIS WEEK BUT ULTIMATELY IT
COMES DOWN TO THE TEACHERS.
DO NOT HAVE A SICK-OUT UNLESS
YOU HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS OR
CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN FRANKFORT TO SAY I
CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL TOM.
I'VE TO GET THERE AND ADVOCATE
FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY SCHOOL.
>> Jack: BESIDES THE LACK OF
U.S. TRUST, THOUGH, I THINK A
LOT OF TEACHERS FEARFUL.
THEY FEAR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
T. TO THEIR PENSIONS WITH WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TO PUBLIC
FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.
THEY'VE SEEN BILLS PASS LEIKER
CHARTER SCHOOLS THEY THOUGHT
WOULD ERODE PUBLIC FUNDING.
SO FAR THERE'S NO BEEN ANY POINT
SPENT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THEY FEAR SOME OF THESE BILLS
MIGHT LEAD TO PRIVATE SCHOOL
VOUCHERS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE
GIVEN MONEY TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
THE I THINK THERE'S A REAL FEAR
OF THE IMPACT ON FUNDING.
>> Lawrence: THEY PERCEIVE A
LACK OF RESPECT BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR.
>> Jack: THEY REALLY DON'T
HAVE A CHEERLEADER THEY FEEL
LIKE.
>> Bill: AND YOU ALSO NOTE, AS
YOU MENTIONED, THE TEACHERS ARE
TO YOU SORT OF REFRAMING THEIR
POSITION AS PRO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE PRO-CHILDREN AS OPPOSED TO
PRO-TEACHERS SO MUCH.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT THE MESSAGE
THEY'RE PUTTING OUT THERE.
>> Jack: THERE ARE SOME
LEGISLATORS WHO KIND OF ARE
GETTING FED UP WITH SOME OF THE
TEACHERS ARE SAYING THEY WON'T
CALL THEM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ANYMORE.
THEY CALL THEM GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ALL
ABOUT.
>> Bill: GOVERNOR BEVIN
OBVIOUSLY CRITICIZED TEACHERS
FOR THE ACTIONS THAT THEY CLOSED
THE SCHOOLS AND IN FACT IT WAS
URGING THEM NOT TO HAVE THE
SICK-OUT THIS WEEK.
RIGHT?
>> Morgan: SOME OF THE LEAD
ADVOCACY, THE KENTUCKY 76 WORD
OUT A DEAL AFTER THE TWO
SICK-OUTS THAT WERE KIND OF
UNEXPECTED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
THIS WEEK.
SO THEY BASICALLY KIND OF
ARRANGE SO THAT THIS WILL BE --
THEY SAID, LOOK, WE'VE PUT IT
TEG.
WE WILL HAVE A SANITIZABLE
DELEGATION TEACHERS WITHOUT
NEEDING TO HAVE ANY MORE
SICK-OUT.
I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THOSE
DISRUPTIONS IN SCHOOL ANYMORE
WHILE ALSO HAVING REALLY KIND OF
TAKEN SERIOUSLY THE FACT THAT
TEACHERS ARE UPSET, THEY ARE
WORRIED, AND UNLESS THEY HAVE
ASSURANCES THAT THERE'S GOING TO
BE A BIG SHOWING OF THEIR PEOPLE
IN FRANKFORT, THAT THEY WILL DO
WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO TO KIND
OF STICK UP FOR THEMSELVES.
>> Lawrence: REPUBLICANS ARE
PUSHING BACK AGAINST THIS
PERCEPTION AS WELL THAT THEY'RE
SOMEHOW ANTITEACHER AND
ANTI-EDUCATION.
DEEP POINTING OUT THEY HAVE
FUNDED EDUCATION AT A HIGHER
LEVEL THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
THEY ARE POINTING IT OUT ALL THE
TIME AND SAY WE'RE TRYING TO
SAVE YOUR PENSION, NOT KILL YOUR
PENSION.
BUT THERE'S A BACON LACK OF
MISTRUST IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
BASIC ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING
THE ANGST.
TEACHERS HAVE CRITICIZED THIS
TAX CREDIT THAT WOULD
POTENTIALLY GO TO THOSE WHO GIVE
TO SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR
CHILDREN TO GO TO PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
THIS COULD COST THE STATE ABOUT
$25 MILLION IN REVENUE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WOULD
COME FROM, BUT THEY WILL SAY
THAT IT WOULD COME FROM
EDUCATION, FROM PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
THAT IS THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.
>> Jack: IT WOULD BE FEWER
DOLLARS GOING INTO THE STATE
TREASURY AND PEOPLE ARE STAYING
FEWER DOLLARS IN THE TREASURY,
WE WILL GET HURT IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION BECAUSE THERE WILL BE
FEWER DOLLARS TO SPEND ON PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
SO THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THIS
BILL, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IF
THAT BILL, PARTICULAR BILL IS IN
TROUBLE NOW, EVEN THE SPONSOR OF
IT SAID THIS WEEK IT DOESN'T
HAVE THE 60 VOTES THAT'S NEEDED
IN THE HOUSE TO PASS, BUT
TEACHERS ARE FEARFUL THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED I
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON A TAX
BILL AND THAT BILL, THE
SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT MAY BE
ATTACHED TO A TAX -- ANOTHER TAX
BILL.
>> Morgan: THIS ISN'T
HAPPENING IN A VACUUM PS LAST
YEAR THE STATE PASSED NEW TAX
REFORMS AND THAT HAS SPARKED A
DISCUSSION THAT HAS CONTINUED TO
GO ABOUT IS THE STATE GIVING UP
TOO MANY IMPORTANT REVENUE
STREAMS AT A TIME NOT JUST
PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT PRETTY MUCH
ACROSS THE BOARD, YOU NAME A
GOVERNMENT AGENCY ARE ON
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, THEY'VE BEEN
CUT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS,
VEIEL I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT
COMES FROM, IS JUST TO FEAR OF
IF WE GIVE IT MORE TAX BREAKS, I
THINK IS ON TOM EXTENT
REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS OOH FOR
ALTHOUGH THIS CASE WHAT IT'S FOR
IS THE PART OF THE DISCUSSION,
THERE'S A FEAR THAT'S MORE MONEY
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET.
>> Bill: LAWRENCE, GOVERNOR
BEVIN AND MANY LAWMAKERS WHO
SUPPORT THE TAX CREDIT RAISED
THE QUESTION WHAT'S WRONG WITH
COMPETITION AND MAKING SURE THAT
STUDENTS FROM LOWER-INCOME
FAMILIES HAVE SCHOOL OPTIONS?
>> Lawrence: THAT'S THEIR
ARGUMENT, THAT COMPETITION IS A
GOOD THING.
THEY HAVE OFTEN SAID AND SAID SO
DURING THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON
THIS, THAT WHEREVER THIS IS
DONE, BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL
STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS
IMPROVE.
I'VE NOT SEEN DATA ON THAT BUT
THAT'S THE CLAIM THAT THEY MAKE.
AND THEY SAY THIS IS AIMED
PARTICULARLY AT LOW-INCOME
STUDENTS AND DISABLED STUDENTS
WHO SOMETIMES, THEY SAY, ARE NOT
BEST SERVED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SETTING AND CAN GET A BETTER
PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION, BUT
AGAIN THERE'S THE ISSUE OF
FUNDING, THE CONCERN THAT DRAINS
FUNDS FROM GENERAL FUND AND
ULTIMATELY THE EDUCATION, PUBLIC
SCHOOL EDUCATION.
>> Morgan: AND ANOTHER FLIP
SIDE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TEACHERS
AND PUBLIC STOOL ADMINISTRATORS
SAYING, YEAH, THERE ARE
PROBLEMS, THERE ARE TROUBLES IN
OUR SCHOOL, WE DO NOT WA MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS BUT WE CAN'T DO
THAT WITHOUT FUNDING AND I THINK
THAT'S WHERE IT COMES.
YES, WE WANT TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS.
WE WANT OUR SCHOOL TO BE AS BEST
AS THEY CAN BE, BUT IF YOU KEEP
SHRINK OUR FUNDING WITH GIVING
TAX BREAKS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT AS' LORI
COMPETENT.
>> Bill: JACK, WHERE DOES
HOUSE BILL 525 STAND THAT COULD
CHANGE THE MAKE-UP OF THE
TEACHERS PENSION RIGHT UP BOARD
AND ULTIMATELY DILUTE THE
INFLUENCE OF THEKA ON THAT
BOARD?
>> Jack: THAT BILL IS
SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE
McKENNA OF MONTICELLO HAS
PASSED A COMMITTEE.
IT HAS STALLED IN THE HOUSE.
AND I THINK THE REASON IT HAS
STALLED IN THE HOUSE IS BECAUSE
TEACHER SICK-OUTS THIS WEEK.
>> Bill: AND SO THAT IS ONE OF
THE OTHER ISSUES BEING CLOSELY
WATCHED.
NOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
WATCHING FOR ANY SURPRISES.
IS THERE THE POTENTIAL OF A
PENSION BILL SLIPPING OUT AGAIN?
THERE IS THE ONE THAT WOULD ONLY
EFFECT NEW-HIRES, THE NEW BILL
THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
BUT IT'S BEEN VERY QUIET A
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
>> Jack: MY PREDECKS, AND I
MAY BE YOU CAN WRONG WITH I'VE
BEEN WRONG MANY TIMES, THERE
WON'T BE A PENSION REFORM BILL
THIS SESSION.
AND ON MARCH 28th WE REPORTERS
WILL GO AND UP ASK THE
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHY WASN'T
THERE A PENSION BILL?
ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE
GOVERNOR WILL CALL A SPECIAL
SESSION LATER ON TO HAVE A
PENSION BILL?
AND THEY WILL SAY, WE HAVE A
WORKING GROUP WHO IS TRYING THE
WORK ON A SOLUTION AND WE HAVE
GIVEN THEM UNTIL DECEMBER AND
LET THEM WORK ON THAT AND THEN
COME BACK NEXT SESSION IN
JANUARY AND ADDRESS PENSION
REFORM, AND THEN WE'LL RUSH TO
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SAY,
ARE YOU GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL
SESSION?
>> Bill: OKAY.
WE'LL SEE.
RIGHT?
HOW THAT ALL GOES, AND WE'LL BE
WATCHING CERTAINLY THESE
EDUCATION ISSUES IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
NOW THE HIGH WATER MARK FOR
MEDICAL MARIJUANA SO FAR IN THE
STATE HAS BEEN HIT APPARENTLY
BECAUSE THIS HAS MADE ITS WAY TO
THE HOUSE FLOOR.
DOES IT APPEAR THAT MEDICAL
MARIJUANA COULD, AFTER ALL OF
THE DEBATE AND ALL OF THE TALK
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON, PASS IN
THIS SESSION?
>> Lawrence: I THINK IT'S
STILL PROBABLY A LONG SHOT.
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S GOTTEN PAST
COMMITTEE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN
HISTORY.
A MARIJUANA BILL HAS GOTTEN PAST
COMMITTEE.
IT'S ELIGIBLE FOR A VOTE IN THE
HOUSE FLOOR BUT SO FAR HAS NOT
COME UP IN AND TIME IS RUNNING
OUT.
SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT GET A VOTE
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
IN THE SENATE THERE DIDN'T
APPEAR TO TO BE ENOUGH TIME TO
GET ANYTHING DONE ON THIS.
>> Morgan: THERE WAS A MEDICAL
MARIJUANA BILL LAST YEAR THAT
THE HOUSE WAS CONSIDERING.
IT ULTIMATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT.
BUT REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES,
A LOUISVILLE REPUBLICAN, IN
PARTICULAR PROMISED LAST YEAR
AND HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT
PATROLS TO REY KIND OF BE A
STANDARD BEARER FOR THAT.
HE'S REALLY PUSHING FOR IT.
THERE'S A LOT -- I'VE SEEN
SUPPORT GROWING FOR IT, ALTHOUGH
THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF
CONCERNS IF WE'RE GOING TO DO
THIS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO
THIS, WE NEED TO HAVE STRICT
LIMITS.
IF IT COULD GET A VOTE, IF IT
COULD EVAN OBJECT BROUGHT TO THE
HOUSE AND GET A VOTE I THINK
CLEARING, YOU CHAMBER WOULD BE A
HUGE SUCCESS AND REALLY IS IT P
FOR SUCCESS.
>> Lawrence: COMMITTEE WAS
ALMOST UNANIMOUS.
THERE WAS ONE NO VOTE AND IT
PASSED AND NEMES HAS BEEN SAYING
FOR A LONG TIME NOW IF IT GOT TO
THE FLOOR, IT WOULD PASS.
>> Jack: IT MAY CLEAR THE
HOUSE THIS WEEK, BUT SENATE
PRESIDENT STIVERS STILL HAS
CONCERNS THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH
MEDICAL STUDIES ABOUT THIS, AND
YOU WONDER IF THE SENATE SEEMS
SO AGAINST IT, WHY WOULD THE
HOUSE SPEAKER PUT HIS MEMBERS TO
A VOTE ON THIS IF IT'S NOT GOING
TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE.
>> Bill: AND THERE WAS THAT
RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT
WASHINGTON SPEED UP THE
RESEARCH.
I THINK THAT DID PASS, RIGHT?
>> Jack: YES.
>> Bill: MORGAN, A BILL THAT
WOULD BAN FOLK PRODUCTS FROM
SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
12th GRADE ON THOSE CAMPUSES
HAS STALLED.
ABOUT 30% OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NO
BAN, NO LOCAL BAN.
BUT YOU SAY THERE POTENTIALLY
COULD BE SOME ACTION THERE.
>> Morgan: ONE OF THE LEAD
SPONSORS REPRESENTATIVE KIM
MOSER HAS INTRODUCED SOME NEW
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE KIND OF
CIRCULATING.
FROM TALKING TO ADVOCATES THIS
WEEK, THEY SEEM HOPEFUL THAT
WITH THESE NEW AMENDMENTS THAT
IT'S POSSIBLE IT COULD GET A
VOTE, THAT THERE COULD BE MUFF
SUPPORT.
IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT
THE VOGTS ARE REALLY PUSHING,
ESPECIALLY'S E ECIGARETTES
BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR
AMONG TEENS.
I'D SAY ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S
DEFINITELY A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND
OF THINNED SCENES SAYING LET'S
GET A VOTE ON THIS.
>> Bill: CERTAINLY A RELATED
ISSUES I TALKED TO THE HEALTH
COMMISSIONER V. DR. JEFFREY
HOWARD THIS WEEK WHO IS REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PREVALENCE
OF VAPING GOING ON IN SCHOOLS.
HE DOESN'T THINK STUDENTS AND
THEIR PARENTS REALIZE THE RISKS,
THE HEALTH RISKS INVOLVED
THERE'S SOME BELIEF THAT VAPING
PRODUCTS COULD SPREAD THE FLU IN
A DISTRICT IN SOUTHEASTERN
KENTUCKY.
HE SAYS THAT'S NOT
SCIENTIFICALLY VERIFIED, BUT
THERE ARE ISSUES.
>> Morgan: THAT'S A HUGE
CONCERN.
THERE'S A LOT OF POLLS AND
STUDIES STARTING TO COME OUT,
DATA COMING OUT SHOWS ROBINSON
USAGE AND THERE IS A CONCERN.
I SPOKE WITH ONE ADVOCATE THIS
WEEK WHO SAID, LOOK, AT THE END
OF THE DAY THERE'S NICOTINE IN
THERE AND WE'RE ADDICTING A NEW
GENERATION OF, AND I I THINK
THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT OF
MOVEMENT, BUT ULTIMATELY,
THERE'S A DEEP TOBACCO CULTURE
IN IS THAT IT AND THAT MAY PROVE
TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME.
>> Jack: THERE ARE TWO STRONG
ANTI-SMOKING FORCES IN THE
SENATE.
YOU'VE GOT SENATOR JULIE RAQUE
ADAMS WHO IS IN LEADERSHIP AND
YOU'VE GOT SENATOR RALPH
ALVARADO, A DOCTOR, AND I
BELIEVE HE'S A RUNNING MAT FOR
SOMEBODY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR,
GIVEN.
>> Bill: WHICH IS INTERESTING.
SENATE REJECTED THE GOVERNOR'S
REQUEST TO BORROW MONEY FOR
STATE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, RIGHT?
>> Jack: THE STATUS OF THAT,
THE HOUSE HAD PASSED THAT, THE
SENATE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IN
THEIR BUDGET BILL.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SO-CALLED
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEET NEXT
WEEK, TRY TO IRON OUT
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO
CHAMBERS ON WHAT THE BUDGET BILL
SHOULD SAY AND WHAT A TAX BILL
SHOULD SAY.
>> Bill: SOME OTHER ISSUES.
MORGAN,.
>> YOU'VE U. YOU'VE GOT REACTION
TO SOME LEGS THAT WOULD PUT MEW
NEW RESTRICTIONS TO THE STATE
OPEN MEETING LAWS.
>> Morgan: HW 387, IT STARTED
OUT AS A BILL ABOUT SHIELDING
CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
COMPANIES SEEKING THOSE FROM
PUBLIC RECORD RELEASES.
IT'S SIN GROWN, THOUGH, WITH
NEWMENT THAT WERE ADDED IN
COMMITTEE WHERE IT WOULD
ACTUALLY LIMIT THE ABILITY TO
REQUEST GOVERNMENT RECORDS IN
KENTUCKY TO KENTUCKY RESIDENTS,
WHICH I WAS SPEAKING WITH SOME
EXPERTS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS
AND BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE
ISSUES NATIONALLY FOR A LONG
TIME AND THEY SAID THAT WOULD
PUT KENTUCKY IN A MINORITY OF
STATES, FEWER THAN TEN, I
BELIEVE, THAT DO THAT, THAT
LIMIT THAT TO PEOPLE WHO
ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE STATE.
ANOTHER BIG CONCERN THAT EXPERTS
HAVE RAISED IS THE IDEA OF
PUTTING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
COMMISSION, WHICH IS LED BY THE
LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IN.
>> Lawrence: DECIDING APPEALS
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATIVE
RECORDS SHOULD BE RELEASED TO
THE PUBLIC AND KIND OF LIMITING
PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GO TO THE
COURTS IF THEY DISAGREE,
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THERE
HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY
OVER THE RELEASE OF RECORDS
ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY
LEGISLATORS.
>>
>> Bill: WHAT ELSE ARE WE
WATCHING?
THREE DAYS LEFT NEXT WEEK IN THE
SESSION.
THEN A VETO DAY REALLY THAT
OTHER THINGS COULD BE DISCUSSED
ON LATE IN MARCH.
BUT REALLY TIME IS TICKING ON
THE END OF THIS SESSION.
>> Lawrence: ONE BILL I'M
WATCHING IS THE SPORTS BETTING
BILL, ADAM KOENIG'S BILL.
IT HAS BEEN PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE AND IS READY FOR A
FLOOR VOTE.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT WILL
BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR A VOTE IN
THE WANING DAYS.
>> Jack: THERE ARE PLENTY OF
ABORTION BILLS STILL AROUND AND
ONE THAT GOT ALL THE ATTENTION
THIS WEEK IS CALLED ANTI-DOING
THAT STEMMED FROM THE SOCIAL
MEDIA UPROAR WHEN COVENANT
CATHOLIC STUDENTS WERE THEY
LINCOLN MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON
AND IN THE PRESENCE OF SOME
NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS AND
CREATED QUITE A CONTROVERSY, AND
THERE'S A BILL NOW THAT IF YOU
USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU
IDENTIFY A MINOR, SOMEONE 18 AND
YOUNGER, AND IF THAT'S HARMFUL
TO THAT PERSON, YOU COULD BE
CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
>> Bill: A LOT OF THINGS WE
WILL WATCH IN THOSE LAST DAYS.
LET'S DO SOME POLITICS NOW, AS
IF NONE OF THE PREVIOUS
DISCUSSION WAS.
THINGS HAPPENING IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
THE BEVIN-BESHEAR FEUD HAS COME
TO IMPACT WHO CONTROLS
KENTUCKY'S LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST
MAKERS OF POWERFUL OPIOID
PAINKILLERS.
>> Jack: THE KENTUCKY SUPREME
COURT HAD A HEARING ON THIS
WEEK, AND BASICALLY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL ANDY BESHEAR, WHO IS
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, DEMOCRATIC
TICKET, HAS SUED NINE
MANUFACTURERS OF OPIOIDS, AND
THE BEVIN ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT
DOESN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SUING THEM
BUT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL HIRING OUTSIDE
ATTORNEYS, AND SO THEY WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE A SAY OVER THAT AND
KIND OF CONTROL THE LAWSUIT
PROCESS, AND BESHEAR SAYS, NO,
I'M CONTROLLING IT.
SO AS ONE JUSTICE SAYS, IT'S A
TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN THOSE TWO
MEN.
>> Bill: ONE OF THE JUSTICES
POINTED OUT THIS IS THE TENSION
BETWEEN THOSE TWO THAT HAS LED
TO THIS.
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE,
PHILLIP WHEELER, WON A SPECIAL
ELECTION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN
AN AREA LONG CONSIDERED TO BE
YELLOW DOG DEMOCRATS, IN AN AREA
THERE THAT HAS NOT BEEN
REPRESENTED BY A REPUBLICAN
SINCE THE 1960s.
DOES THAT HAVE POTENTIAL
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REST OF
2019 POLITICALLY ATLANTIC IT IT
WAS A BIG PICKUP.
IT'S HARD TO PROJECT WHAT
HAPPENS IN A SINGLE DISTRICT
UNDER THE ENTIRE STATE, BUT
POTENTIALLY, YES, IT SHOWS THAT
YOU REPUBLICANS HAVE STRENGTH
THROUGHOUT THE STATE DESPITE ALL
THE CONTROVERSIES OVER
EDUCATION, TEACHERS, ALL THAT
STUFF, THEY'RE STILL WINNING
ELECTIONS OUT IN THE STATE.
SO THAT'S GOT TO BE ENCOURAGING
TO THEM.
>> Jack: I AGREE.
THAT WAS A PUNCH IN THE GUT TO
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
YOU HAVE A DISTRICT THAT'S 60%
DEMOCRAT AND THE REPUBLICAN WINS
BY 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
THAT ONE WAS A TOUGH ONE FOR
DEMOCRATS.
EVEN THOUGH POLLS SHOW THAT
REPUBLICANS MAY NOT BE FARING
WELL, IE, THE GOVERNOR, SOMEHOW
THEY SEEM TO WIN.
>> Bill: YOU BROUGHT UP THE
GOVERNOR.
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE WAS IN
KENTUCKY AND LEXINGTON
SPECIFICALLY FRIDAY AFTER TO
RAISE MONEY FOR GOVERNOR MATT
BEVIN WHO HAS BEEN VERY CLOSE TO
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THIS
COMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A
FOUR-WAY CAMPAIGN FOR THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN MAY.
IS THIS EARLY FOR A VISIT LIKE
THIS?
>> Lawrence: YES.
IT IS UNCONVENTIONAL, BUT BEVIN
IS UNCONVENTIONAL.
BUT THIS IS A FUNDRAISING THING,
SO APPARENTLY BEVIN WANTS TO GET
OUT EARLY AND START RAISING
MONEY FOR THE FALL CAMPAIGN.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HE'LL NEED IT
FOR THE PRIMARY, WITH BUT FOR
THE FALL CAMPAIGN HE WANTS TO
SPEND LESS OF HIS OWN MONEY THIS
TIME.
HE SPENT MOSTLY HIS OWN MONEY
LAST TIME.
AND, OF COURSE, THIS SIGNALS
THAT HE HAS THE SUPPORTIVE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, AND WILL HAVE
MORE, I'M SURE THE PRESIDENT
WILL COME ALONG AT SOME POINT.
>> Jack: THE VICE PRESIDENT
AND GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN CLOSE
FRIENDS, HAVE BEEN CLOSE FRIENDS
FOR A LONG TIME, AND BEVIN WAS
ELATED WITH THE GIFT THAT THE
VICE PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS
BRINGING TO HIM, AND THAT WAS
THE ENDORSEMENTS OF THE
PRESIDENT.
SO PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ALREADY
GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS PRIMARY.
>> Morgan: THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF TALK ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR
WHEN YOU HAD THE MENTIONS AND
THEN AGAIN YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE,
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT OF
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER BE,
WHATEVER NOVEMBER YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT, BUT I THINK, YEAH, HAVING
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES COME EARLY IN A RACE I
THINK IS CERTAINLY A SHOW OF
POLITICAL CLOUT AND FOR PEOPLE
WHO DO WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNOR,
THE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE CHANGE, I THINK IT KIND
OF SIGNALS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO PUT THE WORK IN.
>> Jack: WE CAN ADD THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO GO LATER ON FRIDAY
EVENING TO SEASIDE RESORT IN
GEORGIA BUT PUTT ON BY THE
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE,
THE KOCH BROTHERS, AND SO THEY
WERE GOING TO HOBNOB.
>> Lawrence: PROMPTING ALL
KINDS OF DEMOCRATIC eMAILS.
>> Bill: ADAM EDELEN HAS BEEN
BUSY WITH THIS, GETTING THAT OUT
THIS AFTERNOON, AND HE PUT FORTH
A PROPOSE FOR NEW RULES FOR
LOBBYISTS THIS WEEK.
>> Lawrence: THIS COMES AFTER
THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS
COMMISSION REPORT THAT THE FIRST
MONTH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THIS YEAR WAS A RECORD SPENDING
FOR LOBBYISTS, $2.2 MILLION, SO
EDELEN IS JUMPING ON THAT
CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY,
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
LOBBYISTS, AND, OF COURSE, HE'S
STAKED KIND OF AN AREA THERE
HIMSELF BECAUSE HE HAS PLEDGED
NOT TO TAKE PAC MONEY, SO THIS
IS AN AREA WHERE HE IS TRYING TO
MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS WELL
IN THIS AREA OF LEGISLATIVE
ETHICS AND MONEY.
>> Bill: FORMER STATE
DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN BILL GARPER
HOSTING A FINANCED RAISER FOR
ROCKY ADKINS SO THE FUNDRAISING
IS GOING ON.
>> Jack: LESS THAN DAYS UNTIL
THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
>> Bill: HERE WE GO.
LAWRENCE, LOVELY DEALING BIG
BUDGET HOLE FOR THE COMING YEAR.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE TAX
INCREASE AND CUTS?
>> Lawrence: YEAH, THE MAYOR
OF LOUISVILLE HAS BEEN GOING
ACROSS THE CITY FOR A COUPLE OF
WEEKS NOW SAYING IF WE DON'T
RAISE THE INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX,
IT'S GOING TO CAUSE MASSIVE CUTS
TO THE -- TO SERVICES.
HE'S GETTING PUSHBACK FROM BOTH
DEMOCRATS.
AND REPUBLICANS.
DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE SETTLING ON
SOME COMBINATION OF SMALLER TAX
HIKES AND PAC -- AND SERVICE
CUTS.
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, SOME ARE
SAYING THAT WE CAN DO THIS
WITHOUT ANY KIND OF A TAX
INCREASE.
SO THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME
DECISION BY LATE MARCH,
MARCH 21st I BELIEVE IS THE
DATE IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE
SO IT'S A TUG-OF-WAR RIGHT NOW
OVER WHAT TO DO ABOUT PENSION
SPEND MANAGING LOUISVILLE.
>> Jonathan: SENATE MAJORITY
LEAR MITCH McCONNELL SAID
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ASSURED HIM
THERE IS MONEY IN THE BUDGET 4 A
NEW VA HOP IN LOUISVILLE.
>> Lawrence: IT'S BEEN A
DECADE IN THE WORKS.
THE VA HA PURCHASED THE LAND BUT
THERE'S BEEN NO MONEY TO BEGIN
CONSTRUCTION, McCONNELL SAID
IT'S GOING TO BE IN PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S BUDGET.
THE QUESTION IS WILL IT STAY
THERE.
>> Bill: SANTA ANITA RACETRACK
REASONED RACING.
THERE WAS A KENTUCKY DERBY.
MORE THAN 20 HOSTS DIED OUT
THERE.
IS THERE AWNINGS ANGST?
>> Lawrence: THEY'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THOSE
HORSES TO DIE.
IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE
RACETRACK SURFACE BUT THE SAN
FELIPE STAKES WAS SUPPOSED TO
RUN THIS WEEKEND.
IT WAS CANCELLED.
AND DERBY ENTRIES ARE NOW
PRIMARILY DONE BY A POINT
SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU HAVE A RACE CANCELLED,
HOW DOES IT IMPACT THAT POINT
SYSTEM?
IT COULD GET VERY, VERY
COMPLICATED DECIDING WHO RUNS IN
DERBY IN THIS CONTINUES.
>> Bill: AND THERE'S ANOTHER
CONCERN IN LOUISVILLE, A
SINK-HOLE THAT'S OPENED UP THE
SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD AT THE
LOUISVILLE ZOO.
>> Lawrence: IT IS THE
LOUISVILLE ZOO IS CALLING IT THE
MEGA CAVERN.
IT'S A FOOTBALL FIELD LONG AND
WIPED IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY
RAIN.
THEY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET OR
BY EVEN TREMORS FROM THE
EARTHQUAKE IN TENNESSEE.
THE QUESTION IS IS THE AREA
AROUND THE SINKHOLE SAFE FOR
NOW, BOTH THE ZOO AND THE MEGA
CAVERN ARE CLOSED FOR VISITORS.
>> Bill: AND AN EX-DENTIST IS
FILING A LAWSUIT SAYING HE WAS
RESOLVE PROBLEMS LAL AT A TIME.
>> Morgan: THE FORMER
PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF DINS
ENTRY, THIS IS A EVER AFTER
PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL SAYING
HE WAS FIRED BY THIS DEAN FOR
CRITICIZING GOVERNOR BEVIN'S
MEDICAID POLICIES, BUT THE
EX-DEAN'S LAWSUIT DUNGS MENTION
THAT AT ALL.
IT APPEARS TOTALLY UNRELATED.
HE SAID HE WAS RETALIATED
AGAINST FOR BLOWING THE WITH HIS
OLD PROBLEMS WITHIN THE COLLEGE
OF DENTISTRY INCLUDING EMPLOYEES
FEELING STEALING GOLD CROWNS.
FOR THE RECORD UK SAID HIS
ALLEGATION ARE INACCURATE.
>> Bill: YOU HAVE COVERED
U OF L.
A LOT OF CHANGES.
DOES IT SEEM TO BE HAD A NEW DAY
ON CAMPUS YET?
>> Morgan: THAT'S CERTAINLY
THE MESSAGE U OF L IS PROMOTING
AND IT SEEMS TO BE RESONATING
WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY I'VE UTICA
TO UNIVERSALLY LIKE THE NEW
PRESIDENT.
SHE FEELS SHE REALLY HAS A PANEL
ON WHAT'S GOING ON, HAS TAKEN
THE TIME TO GETTIS THAT
HAPPENING AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND
I THINK THIS YEAR WILL BE THE
YEAR WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE
WATCHING TO SEE WHAT KINDS OF
CHANGES SHE MAKES.
>> Bill: A MOUNTAIN JOURNALIST
WHO TACKLED TOUGH ISSUES LIKE
POVERTY AND COAL AND THE
ENVIRONMENT HAS DIED.
YUL BALTRIP WAS CANINES
CONSISTENT JOURNALIST WITH HE
RAN THE HARLEM DAILY ENTERPRISE
AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLBURG NEWS.
LATER HE WASN'T ADVOCATE FOR
APPALACHIAN AND HOMETOWN
SECURITY HE WAS SET TO BE
CONDUCTED INTO THE KENTUCKY
JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME NEXT
WITHIN MONTH.
HE WAS 60s.
AND RENOWNED KENTUCKY
PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES ARCHAMBEAU
HAS DIED.
HE PUBLISHED SEVERAL COFFEE
TABLE BOOKS FULL HAVE ESCAPEIC
SHOTS AROUND THE STATE AND HIS
KENTUCKY CALENDAR HAS BEEN A
FAVORITE FOR DECADES.
AND REMEMBER TO SPRING FORWARD
THIS WEEK.