>> 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