>> Bill: GOVERNOR BEVIN VETOES A

PENSION RELIEF BILL AND PROMISES

A SPECIAL SESSION, A MOVE THE

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CALLS A

BIG MISTAKE.

THE STATE LABOR CABINET ISSUES

SUBPOENAS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

WHERE THERE WERE TEACHER SICK ON

ITS.

A COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS MAJOR

CUTS AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

UNIVERSITY AS ENROLLMENT STALLS

AND STATE SUPPORT SLIDES.

AN ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY LOOKS AT

KENTUCKY AS GM REDESIGNS THE

BOWLING GREEN-MADE CORVETTES.

WE'RE IN THE FAST LANE, AND

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

ARE

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:

DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICAL

WRITER FOR THE LEXINGTON

HERD LEADER.

LISA BENSON, EDITOR FOR

LOUISVILLE BUSINESS FIRST.

AND WES SWIETEK, NEWS DIRECTOR

OF BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, DEMOCRATIC

CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR ADAM

EDELEN FAVORS DECRIMINALIZING

POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF

MARIJUANA, AND MORE CITIES TRY

TO DEAL WITH PANHANDLERS.

BUT FIRST, GOVERNOR BEVIN VETOES

THE PENSION BILL THAT WAS PASSED

ON THE VERY LAST DAY OF THE 2019

SESSION, AND HE SAYS HE'LL BE

CALLING LAWMAKERS BACK TO

FRANKFORT.

DAN, MANY HAD CALLED THIS THE

BEST OF BAD OPTIONS, BUT HERE WE

ARE.

>> Daniel: YEAH, HERE WE ARE

AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING IS KIND

OF THROWN INTO CHAOS.

IT WAS KIND OF EXPECTED THAT HE

WOULD SIGN THIS BILL BECAUSE

THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY

BEHIND IT.

BASICALLY, THE MENTAL HEALTH

DEPARTMENT, THE

QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES THAT

ARE HELPED BY THIS BILL, HAS

SAID THAT THEY COULD GO BANKRUPT

IF THEY DON'T GET THE KIND OF

PENSION RELIEF THAT WAS

CONTAINED IN IT.

SO NOW THERE IS THIS TIME

CRUNCH.

THEY HAVE UNTIL JULY 1st FOR

THEM TO KIND OF PASS SOMETHING

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE PENSION

LEIF THAT'S CURRENTLY HAVE

EXPIRES.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO

BRING ALL THE PARTIES TO THE

TABLE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING

TO SEE IF THE SOLUTION SASS EASY

AS GOVERNOR BEVIN AS SUGGESTED

THAT IT MIGHT BE.

>> Bill: WHICH HE SAYS CAN BE

PASSED IN ONE DAY.

>> Daniel: HE HAS.

IF YOU GO BACK IN LEGISLATIVE

RECORD, 1900, THAT HAS NEVER

HAPPENED.

IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT FIVE DAYS

TO PASS A BILL.

I THINK THAT'S HYPERBOLE FOR HOW

HE THINKS IT COULD BE EASY TO

FIND A CONSENSUS OR A SOLUTION.

HIS SOLUTION IS TAKE OUT TO

PARTS THAT I THINK ARE ILLEGAL

AND PASS IT.

AS WHEN YOU'RE WORKING LAWMAKERS

WITH SO MANY MOVING PIECES IT'S

REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET THAT

KIND OF CONSENSUS ON BOARD.

>> Bill: IN FACT, HISTORY

TEACHES US IN 2007 IN THE

GUBERNATORIAL L. GUBERNATORIAL

YEAR THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION

CALLED THAT BASICALLY THEY AND I

AM WENT HOME, IMMEDIATELY

ADJOURNING, AND THEN LAST

DECEMBER A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND

NOTHING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

>> Daniel: EVEN MORE RECENTLY

IN 2018.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF

SHOWS THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO

MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN

PRIOR TO THIS SPECIAL SESSION

BEING CALLED BECAUSE WHEN DON'T

HAVE A PLAN PRIOR TO IT BEING

CALLED, IT CAN ALL GO INTO CHAOS

AND THEY ARE SENT HOME.

>> Wes: THEY TOOK THEIR

CHANCES THEY CALLED THIS LAST

YEAR WHEN THEY HAD GIVEN UP

THEIR RIGHT TO OVERRIDE A VETO

AND SENATOR STIVERS CALLED HIM

PERPLEXED BY THIS.

THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO THAT.

THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DAMON

THAY ARE HAS CALL THE VETO A

MISTAKE AND BASICALLY PUT ON IT

GOVERNOR WRITE A NEW BILL, GET

SUPPORT AND SIGNALED HE WILL

SIGN IT.

>> Daniel: IT WOULD THE SHADE

NECESSITY FRANKFORT THIS WEEK AS

WE WERE KIND OF GOING BACK AND

FORTH.

THESE ARE ALL THE KIND OF SUBTLE

MESSAGES, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THEY HAD KIND OF PUT

THIS OFF UNTIL THE LAST DAY

BECAUSE THEY INDIANA UNDER THE

ASSUMPTION HE'LL SIGN IT, AND

GOVERNOR BEVIN HAD ACTUALLY SENT

A LETTER OF SUPPORT DURING THAT

VETO PERIOD SAYING, I'LL SIGN

THE SENATE VERSIONS OF THIS

BILL.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HOUSE

WASN'T EXACTLY ONBOARD WITH THE

SENATE VERSION, AND SO THEY MADE

SOME CHANGES, AND THOSE CHANGES

ARE WHAT GOVERNOR BEVIN SAID HE

DIDN'T SUPPORT.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE HOUSE

WHO CAN'T GO ALONG WITH THE

SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL.

GOVERNOR BEVIN WON'T GO ALONG

WITH THE COMPROMISE VERSION OF

THE BILL.

AND NOW YOU'VE GOT THIS WAR OF

WORDS GOING ON WHERE HE

DEFINITELY ANGERED SENATE

PRESIDENT ROBBER STIVERS BY

BASICALLY -- ROBERT STIVERS BY

BASICALLY NOT SO SUBTLELY

CALLING HIM OUT.

HE SENT A LETTER TO THE SENATE

PRESIDENT SAYING, HERE ARE SOME

ATTACHED DOCUMENTS.

THOSE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS WERE

THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL,

THE FINAL VERSION BULL IN HIS

VETO MESSAGE.

HE SAID IF YOU READ THESE THINGS

YOU'LL BE LESS PERPLEXED.

THAT'S A BOLD MOVE.

THEY'RE BOTH REPUBLICANS.

THEY GET ALONG WELL.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE

POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF NOTHING

HAPPENING.

THESE QUASI-S INDICATE, WES,

THAT THEY, AND SOME SAY THEY'RE

ON THE BUBBLE.

IF THEY'RE HIT WITH THESE HIRE

PENSION COSTS, THEORY DONE AND

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY --

POSSIBLY HALF THE STATE'S HEALTH

DEPARTMENTS.

>> Wes: A LOT OF THESE

AGENCIES, THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT

OF RELIEF IN THE LAST

INVESTIGATORS A LOT OF THESE

PENSION COSTS WERE PHASED IN,

WHICH WAS A BIG RELIEF TO THEM,

BUT THEY WERE LOOKING AT HOUSE

BILL 358 WHICH YOU WERE TALKING

ABOUT THE GOVERNOR VETOING AS

SOMETHING HA WOULD GIVE THEM

RELIEF, ESPECIALLY TAVARES COULD

THEN OPT OUT OF THE RETIREMENT

SYSTEM AND DO A BUY-OUT.

THEY WERE LOOKING TO THAT AS

SOMETHING THAT COULD HOPEFULLY

EASE THE BURDEN A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW WESTERN KENTUCKY

UNIVERSITY SUPPORTED THE BILL.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THAT HAS

SOME RELIEF.

SO NOW WITH THAT, EVERYTHING IS

UP IN THE AIR, I THINK THERE'S A

LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AMONG A LOT

OF AGENCIES, A LOT OF

GOVERNMENTS, AND A LOT OF

UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: THESE PENSION ISSUES

JUST KEEP BUBBLING, AND, OF

COURSE, MANY GIVE THE GOVERNOR

CREDIT FOR FRYING TO ADDRESS

THIS VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE AND

TAKING ON THIS HUGE UNFUND

LIABILITY.

BUT AGAIN, THE FALLOUT HAS

CONTINUED TO BE THAT MANY OF

THESE SOCIAL SERVICES ESPECIALLY

SEEM TO REALLY BE ON EDGE ABOUT

WHERE WE ARE.

>> HEATER THAT'S RIGHT.

CITY OF LOUISVILLE IS FACING A

$35 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL SO

THE MAYOR HAS ROLLED OUT A

SERIES OF IDEAS OF HOW TO

ADDRESS THIS.

WE'RE MAKING SOME REALLY TOUGH

DECISIONS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING CITY

POOLS.

THERE'S A POLICE RECRUIT CLASS

THAT IS BEEN CANCELLED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT COST OF LIVING

INCREASES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NOT

BEING GRANTED THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S A LOT OF TOUGH

DECISIONS, A LOT OF SOCIAL

SERVICES THAT ARE ON THE BUBBLE.

>> Bill: THIS BILL WOULD NOT

HAVE ADDRESSED THE CITY ISSUES,

AND CITY AND COUNTIES ARE GOING

TO GET HIT WITH THESE HIGHER

BILLS.

IT'S A PHASED IN.

>> AND THEY DID GET SOME RELIEF

LAST YEAR.

NO, THIS IS DEALING WITH PRETTY

MUCH A GROUP OF SEVEN OR EIGHT

UNIVERSITIES AND THE QUEUES A

GOVERNMENTALLAL AGENCIES.

>> Bill: HOW HIGH ARE THE

STAKES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO BE

DOING IN THE MIDST OF AN

ELECTION YEAR?

>> Daniel: I THINK THEY ARE

VERY HIGH STAKES JUST BECAUSE OF

A TIME CRUNCH HERE.

DO TO ME THE BIGGER THING THAT

COULD KIND OF THOUGH THROW

THINGS UP IN THE AIR IS THIS

INTRA-PARTY SACAJAWEA BETWEEN

HIM AND THE LEGISLATURE, RIGHT?

IT SHOWS CLEARLY THAT THEY ARE

NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, AND

THEY'RE DOING IT IN A VERY

PUBLIC WAY.

THESE AREN'T CONVERSATIONS THAT

ARE HAPPENING BEHINDS CLOSED

TORRES DOORS.

THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT THAT LETTER

WHEN I WOULD IS THAT IT

LEGISLATURE IN SOME WAYS HAS

GONE EASY ON HIM IN DIFFERENT

PERIODS.

DURING THAT SPECIAL SESSION IN

2018, BOTH HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID

OSBORNE AND SENATE PRESIDENT

ROBERT STIVERS KIND OF DEFEND

THE GOVERNOR IN THAT SITUATION,

AND THEY COULD HAVE GONE A LOT

HARD ORE HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T

BUILD CONSENSUS BEFORE HE CALLED

THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Bill: THIS ALL COMES AS THE

STATE LABOR CABINET HAS ISSUED

SUBPOENAS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

WHERE TEACHERS HELD SICK-OUTS TO

COME TO FRANKFORT TO EITHER

PROTEST OR LOOK AT LEGISLATION

THAT THEY THOUGHT MIGHT IMPACT

PENSIONS OR OTHER BILLS

INVOLVING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THAT ALSO HAD QUITE A REACTION

THIS WEEK WHEN THAT CAME OUT.

>> Daniel: YEAH, IT DID.

AND THAT GOT REACTION A LOT FROM

TEACHERS, RIGHT?

SO THE LABOR CABINET HAS THE

ABILITY TO ISSUE CITATIONS

BASICALLY IF THEY FIND THAT I

TEACHER DID WRONG AND IN CALLING

OUT SICK WHEN THEY WEREN'T

ACTUALLY SICK, AND SO THEY

SUBPOENAED THE LIST OF NAMES,

AND BASICALLY THE DEMOCRATS AND

TEACHERS, THEY CALLED THIS AN

ATTEMPT TO HARASSES OR

INTIMIDATE THE TEACHERS OUT OF

EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT

RIGHTS.

THE REPUBLICAN LINE ON THIS IS

PRETTY MUCH LIKE, LOOK IF YOU

TAKE A PERSONAL DAY TO GO TO

FRANKFORT, THERE'S NO ISSUE

THERE.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE

PRETENDING TO BE SICK AND TANK

SICK DAY TO GO THERE, AND THAT'S

NOT OKAY.

YOU'RE ABUSING THE SYSTEM.

SO THERE'S KIND OF THIS DEBATE

BECAUSE TEACHERS DON'T HAVE THE

ABILITY TO STRIKE, AND SO THEY

ARE SENDING A MESSAGE BY USING

THEIR SICK DAYS TO DO THIS.

AND THAT -- IT'S A POLITICAL

MOVE.

IT'S A POLITICAL GAME MANSHIP.

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO

SEE HOW IT ALL PLAYS OUT.

>> Bill: DO YOU GET ANY SENSE

IF THEY HAD THE SPECIAL SESSION

AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR, IF IT IS

IN JUNE AND IT IS VACATION TIME

FOR TEACHERS, WILL THEY SHOW UP?

IN FRANKFORT?

>> Daniel: IT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, YOU NEVER

KNOW WHAT WOULD BE TAKEN UP IN A

SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THIS

SPECIAL SESSION IS SUPPOSED TO

BE LIMITED TO JUST THE PENSION

RELIEF ISSUE, AND SO THAT IN

THEORY NOT REALLY EFFECT THE

TEACHERS.

THAT BEING SAID WE SAW

THROUGHOUT THIS SESSION HOW

TEACHERS WERE VERY ON ALERT, SO

IT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISING IF

THERE WERE AT LEAST SOME OF THEM

THERE TRYING TO MONITOR TO MAKE

SURE THEY DIDN'T TAKE UP

ANYTHING THAT WOULD AFFECT THEM.

>> Bill: ATE LEAST A WATCHDOG

GROUP.

WES, THE REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES

AS MEANINGSED, THEY SAY THEY'RE

AS WELL CRIPPLED BY THE

SKYROCKETING PENSION COSTS AND

THAT'S THE REASON THEY HAD HOPED

TO EXIT THE SYSTEM IS TO MOVE TO

OTHER RETIREMENT FORMS.

THEY WERE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT

UNDER THAT BILL THAT WAS PASSED

AND THEN VETOED.

HOW CAREFULLY IS THIS ALL BEING

WATCHED, DO YOU THINK, FOR

INSTANCE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

UNIVERSITY IN YOUR AREA?

>> Wes: VERY CAREFULLY.

THEY WERE SUPPORT, THEY CAME OUT

IN SUPPORT OF THE RELIEF BILL

THEY SAY THEY NEED IT.

IT'S A TRIPLE WHAMMY REALLY FOR

THE REASONABLE UNIVERSITIES IN

THE STATE IN TERMS OF ENROLLMENT

IS STAGNANT OR FALLING, THE

PENSION LIABILITY KEEPS

INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER

YEAR, THEY MAXED OUT THEIR

TUITION INCREASES WHICH ARE SET

BY THE STATE BASICALLY HOW MUCH

THEY CAN INCREASE TUITION EVERY

YEAR, AND THEY'VE MAX THOSE OUT.

THEN YOU ADD THE PENSION AND THE

BUDGET, LESS MONEY FROM THE

STATE, IT'S MAKING A HUGE IMPACT

ON THE UNIVERSITIES.

AGAIN, I KNOW WESTERN WAS IN

SUPPORT OF THE BILL, AND I'M

SURE THEY HAD SOME SORT OF

COMPROMISE COMES OUT.

THEY HOPE.

>> Bill: IT WAS VERY ATTENTION

GETTING THIS WEEK WHEN THERE WAS

A PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE 101

PROGRAMS AT WESTERN.

THAT WOULD BE DONE RATHER

QUICKLY, AND THAT IS COST

SAVINGS, RIGHT?

>> Wes: IT'S THE -- THE

IMPETUS IS IS NOT COST SAVINGS.

THEY'RE SAYING BASE COLITIS WAY

TO STREAMLINE.

THEY GOT RID OF ALMOST THIRD OF

THE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY, WHICH

SOUNDS PRETTY DRASTIC, BUT A LOT

OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, THEY'RE

NOT NECESSARILY DEGREE PROGRAMS,

SO THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF

STUDENTS IN THERE.

CERTAINLY, THE CONVERSATION IS

CONTINUING AT THE UNIVERSITY

WHICH HAS SEEN QUITE DRASTIC

CUTS IN RECENT YEARS TO DEAL

WITH THE BUDGET ISSUE BUT THIS

IS MORE ABOUT STREAMLINING

ALTHOUGH DEDB PLAN GET RID OF

POPULAR CULTURE AND FRENCH AND

ART EDUCATION, SOME MAJORS.

THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE SOME

POSITIONS LOST THAT MIGHT BE

MORE LIKE PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST SORT OF THIS

NEVER-ENDING CASCADE OF BUDGET

ISSUES AT UNIVERSITIES LATELY.

>> Bill: WAS IT GENERALLY LOW

ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS?

>>

>> Wes: LOW ENROLLMENT P SOME

OF THE PROGRAMS HAD ZERO

STUDENTS, SOME FOUR OR FIVE.

>> Bill: WHEN DO WE KNOW WHEN

THE UNIVERSITY WILL PASS THOSE

CUTS?

>> Wes: BOASTERS OF GENTS MET

TODAY, LITERALLY A FEW HOURS AGO

AND APPROVED THOSE.

THE FULL BOARD OF REGIONS MEETS

MAY 10th.

>> Bill: THERE'S BEEN DRAMA ON

CAMPUS.

IT'S BEEN BUSY THERE FOR YOU

BECAUSE A POPULAR DEAN THAT

WAS LET GO, RIGHT?

>> Wes: BASICALLY WE WHAT IS

ASKED TO RESIGN.

THEY CALL THAT A MUTUAL DECISION

BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE A LOT OF

DETAILS ON WHAT HAPPENED.

AND IT IS RARE WHEN YOU SEE

SOMEBODY IN ACADEMIA LET GO THAT

STUDENTS WENT OUT AND PROTESTED

PRETTY MUCH THEIR LAST DAY,

EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS

OVER HIS SORT OF FORCED

RESIGNATION, AS IT WAS DEEMED,

AND SO THEN YOU HAD ANOTHER RARE

THING WHERE THE BOARD OF -- THE

ACTUALLY THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

MET AND THEY PASSED A NO

CONFIDENCE VOTE AGAINST THE

MOVIES 50-10 AND, OF COURSE,

THAT'S PRETTY WARE RARE AND THE

PROVOST HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB

FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND ON THE

HEELS THAT OF NO CONFIDENCE VOTE

SHE RESIGNED, AND THE DEEN WAS

REINSTATED SO A LOT OF DRAMATIC

WESTERN THIS WEEK.

>> Bill: LISA, BEFORE WE CUT

LOOSE WHO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE

FOR A MINUTE, WE'LL DO THAT IN

JUST A SECOND, BUT HOW MUCH

CONCERN OF IS WITH THE CUTS YOU

MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY CLOSING

DOWN POOLS FOR THE SUMMER IN

LOUISVILLE, NOT HIRING THE

POLICE OFFICERS THAT NORMALLY

WOULD BE HIRED, THOSE KINDS OF

THINGS, HOW MUCH IS THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY WATCHING THAT FROM AN

IMAGE STANDPOINT FOR THE CITY?

>>>

>> Lisa: THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY IS WATCHING PRETTY

CLOSELY.

THE MAYOR HAD PROPOSED CITY

INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX INCREASE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS NOT

IN FAVOR OF THAT, SO THAT TAX

DID NOT PASS.

SO AS A RESULT WE'RE SEEING SOME

SHAKE-OUT AND CUTS IN SOCIAL

SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT IS SOMETHING I THINK THE

COMMUNITY IS WATCHING FROM AN

IMAGE STAND APPOINT, TALENT

ATTRACTION AND RETENTION

STANDPOINT.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE

IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY,

POOLS, AND POLICE VEHICLE HAVING

APPROPRIATE NUMBERS OF POLICE ON

THE STREETS, SO IT IS DEFINITELY

SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY IS

KEEPING AN EYE ON.

>> Bill: I WITH AN TO GET BACK

WITH YOU ON THINGS GOING ON IN

LOUISVILLE AND THERE IS ACTION

ON SEVERAL FRONTS BUT THE

GOVERNOR'S RACE, WE'RE GETTING

CLOSER AND CLOSER AND WE'RE

HEARING MORE AND MORE ABOUT IT,

DAN.

THERE ARE FOUR DEMOCRATIC

CANDIDATES, THREE OF THEM

CAMPAIGNING HARD.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ADAM

EDELEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK

THAT HE SUPPORTS DECRIMINALIZING

POSSESSION OF SMALL As

MARIJUANA?

>> Daniel: SO IN THE PRIMARY

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO DO THINGS

THAT SEPARATE YOU FROM YOUR

OPPONENTS, AND ALL THREE

CANDIDATES SUPPORT THE

LEGALIZATION OF MEDICINAL

MARIJUANA BUT NONE OF THE THREE

ARE QUITE WILLING TO SAY THAT

THEY SUPPORT LEGALIZING

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, AND SO

THE STEP IN BETWEEN IS

DECRIMINALIZING SMALL AMOUNTS OF

MARIJUANA.

SO ADAM EDELEN SAID THIS IS

COSTING THE STATE TOO MUCH MONEY

BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING THESE

PEOPLE IN JAIL AND PEOPLE SHOULD

NOT GO TO JAIL BECAUSE THEY

HAVUM SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA

ON THEM.

SO HE IS KIND OF TRYING STAKE

OUT SOME TURF IN BETWEEN ROCKY

ADKINS AND ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: WES, HE SAID HE'S THE

BEST CANDIDATE TO BEAT BEVIN IN

THE FALL.

YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT HIM TO SAY

OTHERWISE.

>> Wes: NOT UNEXPECTED FOR HIM

TO SAY.

HE DID ALSO SAY WHOEVER THE

NOMINEE WOULD BE, HE WOULD

SUPPORT THEM, ALSO NOT TOO

SURPRISING.

HE DID.

OBVIOUSLY AGAIN IN THE

PRIMARIES, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU

HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF,

YOU HAVE TO RUN TOWARDS YOUR

BASE, AND HE SAID SOMETHING I

THOUGHT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING,

THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR WHERE

THERE WAS A LOT OF ANIMOSITY

AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND YOU HAD

A LOT OF TEACHERS RUNNING AND

YOU HAD A LOT OF ENERGY BEHIND

THE SORT OF ANTI-BEVIN TICKETS,

BUT THE DEMOCRATS MADE VERY

MINIMAL GAINS, OBVIOUSLY, AND HE

MADE THE POINT THAT IT'S VERY

HARD TO WIN ELECTIONS WHEN

YOU'RE JUST RUNNING AGAINST

SOMETHING WITHOUT SAYING WHAT

YOU'RE FOR.

SEE HE SAYS THAT'S WHY HE'S

FOCUSING VERY MUCH ON INSTEAD OF

JUST BASHING BEVIN, HE'S TALKING

ABOUT WHAT THINGS HE WANTS TO DO

AGAIN LIKE DECRIMINALIZING

MARIJUANA, SMALL AMOUNTS OF

MARIJUANA AND SO FORTH.

SO HE'S TRYING TO OBVIOUSLY

POSITION HIMSELF AS THE

CANDIDATE WHO IS NOT RUNNING

SIMPLY AGAINST BEVIN'S SOMEBODY

WHO HAS IDEAS OF HIS OWN.

>> Bill: YOU'RE SEEING A LOT

OF THE CANDIDATES IN BOWLING

GREEN.

>> Wes: THE DEMOCRATIC

CANDIDATES BASICALLY HAVE BEEN

THERE, I THINK EACH HAS BEEN

THERE AT LEAST TWO FOR THREE

TIMES.

>> Becca: LISA, GILL HOLLAND,

PROMINENT LOUISVILLE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY MEMBER.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HIM?

>> Lisa: HE'S REALLY

WELL-KNOWN IN THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY.

HE CAME ON THE SCENE A FEW YEARS

AGO WORKING ON REDEVELOPMENT IN

A TOWN CALLED NEW NEW.

IT WAS AN AREA THAT HAD SUFFERED

FROM A LOT OF BLIGHT, A LOT OF

DISINVESTMENT, AND HE WORKED

DILIGENTLY TO REHAB HUGE SWATH

OF WEST MARKET STREET AND IT'S

NOW BECOME A REALLY VIBRANT PART

OF TOWN, LOTS OF RETAIL, LOTS OF

RESTAURANTS, AND RESIDENTIAL

DEVELOPMENT.

SO HE WAS REALLY WELL-KNOWN FOR

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THANK NEW.

HOW HE IS SNEAK TACKING THAT

TACTIC TO THE WEST IT SUED

PORTLAND ALSO FACING SIMILAR

PROBLEMS WITH BLIGHT, ABANDON

HOMES, CRIME, AND HE HAS A

TACTIC HE CALLS URBAN

ACUPUNCTURE WHERE HE'LL FIND BIG

BANG FOR THE BUCKS WHERE HE CAN

BUY UP PROPERTIES AND DO

DEVELOPMENT REHABILITATION.

HE'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESSRE.

10 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

MOVED THEIR ART INSTITUTE AND

ANTHROPOLOGY INSTITUTE TO A

LARGE WAREHOUSE FACILITY IN THE

PORTLAND NOW BE.

HINEY BROTHERS COFFEE HAS WORKED

THERE.

HE'S KNOWN FOR BEING A DOOR AND

GETTING SOME THINGS DONE.

>> Bill: DOES HE BELIEVE THAT

THESE THINGS ARE TRANSFERABLE TO

KENTUCKY SMALLER CITIES?

>> Lisa: I THINK SO, YEAH.

HE TALKS ABOUT SUCCESSES HE HAS

HAD.

LIKE I SAID, HE IS A CONNECTOR.

HE IS WELL-CONNECTED WITH LOTS

OF FOLKS IN THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY.

SO HE DOES TALK ABOUT THESE

THINGS BEING TRANSFERABLE.

>> Daniel: AND EDELEN'S

MESSAGE IN HIS CAMPAIGN AS A

WHOLE, HE PARTICIPATED IN A

COMMUNITY FORUM HERE JERKED

TOUCHDOWNS MESSAGES WAS HE FEELS

LIKE MAIN STREETS, DOWNTOWN

CENTERS IN A LOT OF THESE RURAL

COUNTIES ARE IMPORTANT FOR

ATTRACTING YOUNG FOLKS SO THAT

THEY COME IN THERE, AND SO IT

CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT THESE

TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT

EXPERIENCE OF BILL HOLLAND.

>> Bill: HE'S ON THE AIR A LOT

RIGHT NOW.

IS HOLLAND PART OF THE FINANCIAL

UNDERPINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN?

HE WE HAVEN'T REASON SEEN

REPORTS TO TELL US FOR SURE.

>>>

>> Daniel: THE REPORTS AREN'T

GOING TO COME OUT UNTIL LATER.

BILL HOLLAND IS MARRIED TO

AUGUSTA BROWN.

THE FAMILY HAS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'LL SEE WHEN IT COMES OUT.

EDELEN HAS HAD THE ABILITY TO

GET UP ON TELEVISION WHICH WAS A

REALLY NECESSARY THING FOR EVER

FOR HIM TO DO EARLY.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THE NAME

RECOGNITION OF SOMEBODY LIKE

ANDY BESHEAR EVEN THOUGH HE WAS

STATE AUDITOR SO HE HAS TO GET

ON TV EARLY TO SAY, LOOK, I'M

HERE, I EXIST, JUST TO HAVE A

CHANCE TO GET INTO THE RACE.

>> Bill: WHO IS APPEARING AT

THOSE FORUMS AND WHO IS

SKIPPING?

>> Daniel: THE TWO ONES THAT

WERE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK,

THEY WERE BOTH IN LOUISVILLE,

AND OR RECENTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF

THEY WERE BOTH THIS WEEK, BUT

THERE WAS ONE THAT IS A BLACK

LIVES MATTER DEBATE AND ADAM

EDELEN WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE OF

THE THREE MAJOR CANDIDATES THAT

SHOWED UP TO THAT DEBATE.

THERE WAS ONE CAN THREE-QUARTERS

WEEK THAT WHAT IS A LABOR DEBATE

AND ROCKY ADKINS AND ADAM EDELEN

SHOWED UP BUT BESHEAR DID NOT

SHOW.

IT'S STILL EARLY.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO SEE ALL

THREE OF THEM ON THE STAGE

TOGETHER.

IT IS HARD TO MANAGE WHERE

YOU'RE GOING AND AT WHAT TIMES

WITH YOUR SCHEDULES.

THAT BEING SAID, THOSE TYPES OF

END EVENTS REALLY IMPORTANT WITH

CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES.

LOUISVILLE IS OBVIOUSLY AN

IMPORTANT CITY IN A DEMOCRATIC

PRIMARY, AND SHOWING UP IS A

REALLY BIG THING THAT MATTERS.

AND SO THE OTHER CANDIDATES,

ROCKY ADKINS, ADAM EDELEN FOR --

ANDY BESHEAR IS THE FRONTRUNNER,

THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THAT TO BE

WHERE IS THIS GUY?

I'M HERE.

I'M THERE.

IT COULD HELP THEM BUILD SUPPORT

IN THAT CITY.

>> Bill: LISA, AN ELECTRIC CAR

COMPANY IS LOOKING AT KENTUCKY

AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION.

>> Lisa: THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS A LOS ANGELES-BASED CAR

COMPANY CALLED FIS CAR.

THEY ARE PLANNING TO BUILD A

MANUFACTURING PLANT TO BUILD ALL

LUXURY ELECTRIC SUVs.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT TEN STATES,

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THEM.

ALSO LOOKING AT PLACES LIKE

GEORGIA, TENNESSEE, INDIANA.

SO KENTUCKY IS IN THE MIX AND IN

THE COMPETITION WITH A LOT OF

OTHER STATES.

THEY JUST HIRED A MAN NAMED DON

JACKSON THIS WEEK TO HANDLE SITE

SELECTION FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING HE WAS

FORMERLY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF

MANUFACTURING AT TOYOTA IN

GEORGETOWN.

FISCAR SAYS THIS CAR IS GOING TO

BE A $40,000 VEHICLE THAT'S

GOING TO COMPETE WITH THE TEST .

>> WE'LL SEE IF THAT GIVES

KENTUCKY AN EDGE.

WES, GENERAL MOTORS IS GIVING

THE CORVETTE A MAKEOVER.

FOR ONE THING THEY'RE MOVING THE

ENGINE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR.

>> Wes: THAT'S THE MAIN THING

APPARENTLY.

THE CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS HAVE

BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR MANY

YEARS, AND WE HEAR STORIES THAT

APPARENTLY SOME OF THE EARLY

ENGINEERS OF CORVETTES HAVE

TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR DECADES,

THAT THEY WOULD LIKE PAY

MID-ENGINE CAR WHEN APPARENTLY

ADDS A LITTLE MORE STABILITY,

AND SO IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST

ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THEY

CONFIRMED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO

HAVE A -- THEIR 2020 MODELS WILL

HAVE THE MID-ENGINE, BASICALLY

IT'S GOING TO BE AGAIN A LITTLE

BIT OF A BIGGER ENGINE THAT'S

GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE

STABLE.

I GUESS IT'S GOING TO GIVE A

LITTLE BIT MORE TRACTION.

AND THE PRICE IS GOING TO GO UP

ABOUT $5,000.

THE BASE MODEL WILL BE ABOUT

$62,000.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS.

IT'S STILL A LITTLE EARLY.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET MORE

DETAILS IN JULY.

>> Bill: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ONE

YET.

>> Wes: I'VE SEEN PICTURES.

THAT'S IT IS BIRGE SUMMER IS

APPROACHING.

CITIES ARE TRYING TO GET A

HANDLE ON PANHANDLING.

BOWLING GREEN NOW CONSIDERING AN

EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED,

AND ELIZABETHTOWN AND OWENSBORO.

>> Wes: THEY HAVE STARTED, THE

ISSUE IS BOTH THE STATE AND U.S.

SUPREME COURT HAVE RULED

BASICALLY PANHANDLING IS A

PROTECTED FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT

SO WHENEVER YOU DO A LAW THAT

RESTRICTS IT, IT SEEMS TO BE

STRUCK DOWN BY COURTS.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

THE ISSUE, OF COURSE, FOR CITIES

IS THEY FEEL THAT PANHANDLERS

VERY OFTEN ARE DOING THIS AS A

BUSINESS.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY THE HOMELESS

OR THE NEEDY AND THEY ENCOURAGE

FOLKS TO GIVE THE MONEY INSTEAD

TO AGENCIES LIKE SALVATION

ARMIES OR HOMELESS COALITIONS IN

THESE CITIES THAT WORK THE WITH

THE HOMELESS DIRECTLY AND HELP

NEM MOVED FORWARD.

THEY'RE PUTTING UP SIGNS AROUND

THE CITY THAT SAY BASICALLY

PANHANDLING IS NOT SAFE AND

FINDS OTHER WAYS TO GIVE, DOING

A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO GO

WITH IT.

THEY'RE TRYING SEE.

THAT HELPS.

>> Bill: BOWLING GREEN IS THE

LARGEST CITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH

WITHOUT A LOCAL FAIRNESS OLDER

THAN.

IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL THERE.

IT'S BEEN VOTED ON A FEW TIMES

BEFORE.

IT COMES UP FOR A VOTE TUESDAY.

>> Wes: IT'S ACTUALLY

SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DEBATED

BASICALLY AT EVERY CITY

COMMISSION MEETING, IT SEEMS

LIKE, FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS

WHERE PEOPLE, IF NOT DEBATED,

IT'S AT LEAST BROUGHT UP.

OOH THE LARGEST CITY IN THE

STATE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A

FAIRNESS AGENDAS.

IT'S NEVER GONE UP FOR A VOTE

BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS DIED FOR

LACKAFF SECOND.

THIS LAST SESSION WE HAD A NEW

CITY COMMISSIONER AND SO THAT

MAKES THE BREAKDOWN A LITTLE BIT

MORE CLOSE.

THERE'S BASICALLY TWO-FOUR-THREE

THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY

AGAINST.

IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THEY

COULD SWING ONE, SO IT WILL

FAST.

>> Bill: IN LOUISVILLE YOU CAN

DRY FLEXIBLE TO L.A. FROM

LOUISVILLE NOW, AND THAT IS SEEN

AS AN IMPORTANT FLIGHT FOR

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

>> Lisa: THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE

BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN

DURING FOR A LONG TIME, A DIRECT

FLIGHT TO L.A.

RECENTLY RENAMED LOUISVILLE

MUHAMMAD ALI INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT LAUNCHED A DIRECT FLIGHT

TO L.A. ON APRIL 4th.

IT'S AN AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT

FLIGHT.

IT'S NON-STOP STALEY SERVICE.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE

LOUISVILLE REGION AIRLIFT

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS

DEDICATED A $3 MILLION POOL TO

BACKSTOP ANY LOSSES.

SO FOR TWO YEARS THEY'LL BE

PROPPING THE FLIGHT UP TO MAKE

SURE THAT IT'S VIABLE, AND THEN

HOPEFULLY IT WILL SERVE OIS AT A

CAUGHT LIST THAT THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY IS VERY INTERESTED IN

LIKE BOSTON.

>> Bill: THE LOUISVILLE

REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY IS

GETTING A VISION FOR WHAT IT

WANTS TO DO WITH A MAJOR

MAKEOVER OF THE AIRPORT.

>> Lisa: THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY'VE GOT ABOUT $100 MILLION

IN IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY WANT

TO MAKE AND JUST UNVEILED NEW

RENDERING THIS WEEK.

THIEVE AN DIRECTOR FIRM OUT OF

MINNEAPOLIS THAT IS CREATING

A -- ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OUT OF

MINNEAPOLIS IS CREATING AN

LIGHTER MORE NATURAL WORK.

IT'S GOING TO BE RECLAD 10

EXTERIOR, DOING LIGHTING

UPGRADES AND LANDS SCRAPING

WORK.

THE ARCHITECT DESCRIBES THE

AIRPORT AS HARSH AND BRUTAL SO

THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON

SOFTENING UP AND CREATING A

BETTER APPROACH.

>> Bill: A $150 MILLION TRACK

IN FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY AN OAK

GROVE STILL PLAN TO RACE IN FALL

BUT THERE'S A LAWSUIT.

>> Lisa: THERE IS.

THIS IS A $150 MILLION IN OAK

GROVE, A STANDARD BRED RACING

STIMULATE AND IT'S A PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN KEENELAND AND CHURCHILL

DOWNS.

KENTUCKY DOWNS HAS FILED A

LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS PROJECT

CALLING THE LICENSURE PROCESS

THAT THE KENTUCKY RACING

COMMISSION USED WAS UNCLEAR,

THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE

PROCEDURES WELL.

THE KENTUCKY DOWNS ASKED FOR AN

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING ON THE

LICENSE AND THEY WERE NOT

GRANTED, SO THEY'RE CLAIMING

THEY DID NOT GET DUE PROCESS.

BUT CHURCHILL DOWNS IS MOVING

AHEAD AND THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT

WORRIED ABOUT IT AND PLAN TO

RACE IN FALL.

>> Bill: THUNDER OVER

LOUISVILLE THIS WEEKENDS,

FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE DERBY

FESTIVAL IS I MEN'S.

>> Lisa: IT'S HUGE, YES.

HUGE TIME OF YEAR FOR

LOUISVILLE.

KENTUCKY TOURISM ESTIMATES THAT

270,000 FOLKS WILL COME FOR

KENTUCKY OAKS AND KENTUCKY DERBY

RACES.

THAT'S ABOUT A $356 MILLION

ANNUAL IMPACT FROM THE KENTUCKY

DERBY, SO WE'RE GEARING UP FOR A

BIG MONTH.

>> Bill: RENOVATIONS THERE AT

CHURCHILL DOWNS ALLERGIES THAT'S

RIGHT THEY'RE PLANNING A NEW

INFIELD DATE AND A NEW ROOFTOP

PARK OR ROOFTOP LOUNGE ON TOP OF

THE STARTING GATE SUITES.

>> Bill: I KNOW THEY'VE DONE

WORK AS WELL AT THE GAULT HOUSE,

SOME OTHER PLACES.

WHAT DOES A ROOM COST OVER

THERE?

FOR KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND.

>> Lisa: IT'S ABOUT $2,000 IF

YOU WANT TO STAY AT THE GAULT

HOUSE AND SOME SUITES GO FOR

$10,000.

>> Bill: THERE'S BEEN A

HAND-DELIVERED LETTER FROM

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR TO

REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRE

OCASIO-CORTEZ HAS BEEN PROVIDED

THE SURVIVED WITH I BARR TO A

COAL MINE.

>> OMAR MADE A SPEECH.

REPRESENTATIVE CRENSHAW DIDN'T

LIKE IT.

SHE DIDN'T LIKE HIS TWEET SO SHE

EDIT TWO ABOUT IT.

THEN REPRESENTATIVE BARR SENT A

LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVE OH CASH

I DON'T CORTEZ SAYING IF YOU

DON'T APOLOGIZE TO

REPRESENTATIVE CRENSHAW CAN'T

YOU COME HERE.

>> Bill: AND BARR IS RAISING

MONEY FOR A CLOSE RACE.

>> Daniel: HE'S A TARGET FOR

THE DEMOCRATS SO HE NEEDS THAT

MONEY TO GET IT ON HAND SO HE

CAN BEAT OUT ANYBODY AGAINST

HIM.

>> Bill: $600,000.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WE

CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR

JOINING US DON'T FORGET THAT

COMING UP MONDAY THERE WILL BE

"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

RENEE SHAW WILL BE HERE WITH