>> TOUGH NEW ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS LEAD TO UNCERTAINTY
AND CONCERNS IN THE COAL
PRODUCING STATE OF KENTUCKY.
BLUEGRASS STATE DEMOCRATS
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE AND KENTUCKY
REPUBLICANS POUNCE ON THE ISSUE
AS THE CAMPAIGN SEASON ROLLS ON
A CITY SUES OVER INVESTMENTS
MADE BY THE STATE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.
THE NATIONAL V.A. SCANDAL HITS
HOME FOR MANY IN KENTUCKY.
BEFORE WE SEE IF THERE''S A
TRIPLE CROWN WINNER, WE''LL RUN
THROUGH THE ISSUES FACING
KENTUCKY.
"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET GOOD
EVENING.
I'M BILL BRIGHTEN ANCHOR AND
MANAGING EDITOR ON THE KWKWT.
OUR GUESTS ON COMMENT ON
KENTUCKY ARE:
JAMES BRUGGERS, ENVIRONMENTAL
JOURNALIST FOR THE
AND RONNIE ELLIS, CNHI NEWS
SERVICE.
IT'S TIMELY TO HAVE THE STATE'S
ONLY FULL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL A
JOURNALIST WITH US TONIGHT.
JIM, THANKS FOR COMING BACK.
WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
THESE NEW RULERS DESIGNED TO BE
STRINGENT.
WHAT DOES IT APPEARS TO MEAN IN
THIS COAL-PRODUCING STATE OF
KENTUCKY?
WHAT WILL THE REQUIREMENTS BE
FOR THE BLUEGRASS STATESOME.
>> TECHNICALLY WHAT THE
REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE IS
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE
THE RATE OF EMISSIONS, THE
POUNDS PER KILOWATT HOUR BY 18%
BY 2030 I THINK WE MAY BE
HALFWAY THERE.
I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE
CAPITOL THE ENERGY CABINET IS
GOING OVER THE HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF
REGULATIONS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE STATE'S
FLEET OF COAL-FIRED POWER
PLANTS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE
DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THEY
HAVE.
THE RULES ACTUALLY HAVE BUILT I
A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY, IN PART
BECAUSE GOVERN BESHEAR AND
SECRETARY LYNN PETERS ACTUALLY
PRESSED THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATIO
FOR THAT TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY.
SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW YET
EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS.
BUT WE WILL, THERE'S 120-DAY
COMMENT PERIOD THAT'S GOING ON
RIGHT NOW, AND WE'LL GET A
BETTER IDEA AS THE AGENCIES
START COMMENTING.
>> HOW DOES KENTUCKY RANK IN
TERMS OF EMISSIONS?
>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE
EMISSION RATE WE'RE ACTUALLY
EITHER FIRST OR SECOND DEPENDIN
ON WHO ACTUALLY DID -- WHICH
YEAR IT IS.
AND SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT
AT STAKE HERE.
WE'RE 90-SOME PERCENT OF OUR
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IS FROM
COAL.
WE'RE THE THIRD LARGEST COAL
MINING STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT AT
STAKE.
AND THIS IS A HISTORIC
REGULATION.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT REGULATE
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM
COAL FOR COAL FJORD POWER PLANT
BEFORE.
AND SO -- COAL FIRED POWER
PLANTS BEFORE.
AND IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO SAY,
THOUGH, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS
BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SO
COMPLICATED, THE RULES ARE
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED.
>> AND THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE A
NUMBER OF LAWSUITS, ARE THERE
NOT, AS WELL, NOT JUST IN
KENTUCKY BUT NATIONALLY.
THIS IS A LONG WAY FROM
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> EVERY E.P.A. -- BIG E.P.A.
RULE THAT GETS INTRODUCED,
THERE'S LAWSUITS INVOLVED.
THE ONING THAT THAT'S PRETTY
INTERESTING, THOUGH, IS THAT
UNLIKE THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WHICH
PROMULGATED A NUMBER OF RULES
UNDER THE CLEAR AIR ACT AND
ACTUALLY HAD SOME OF THEM
OVERTURNED, SO FAR THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS ACTUALLY A
LITTLE BIT BETTER TRACK RECORD
OF HOW IT'S BEEN ENACTING
DIFFERENT OR PROMULGATING
DIFFERENT RULES.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW KIND
OF -- A NEW POLLUTANT THAT WE'R
REGULATING AND SO WHO KNOWS.
BUT THE ONE THANK THAT IS CLEAR
IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS
RULED THAT THE E.P.A. ACTUALLY
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO REGULATE
CO2 EMISSIONS.
>> RONNIE, AS WE MENTIONED, THE
BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION PUSHED
FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY AND PUSHED
AGAINST SOME OF THE MOST
STRINGENT ELEMENTS OF THIS.
DID THEY WIN SOME OF THOSE
BATTLES?
>> WELL, IT APPEARS, LOOKING AT
IT AT FIRST GLANCE, THAT THEY
DID.
LAST YEAR WE HEARD SECRETARY
PETERS ON A NUMBER OVERCROWDING
CASES TESTIFYING BEFORE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES THAT HE
WAS LOOKING FOR I GUESS WHAT
THEY CALL IT IN THE BUSINESS AS
OUTSIDE THE FENCE TYPE, MEANING
NOT JUST THE POWER PLANT BUT
WHEREVER YOU CAN FIND REDUCTION
MEETING AN OVERALL STATEWIDE NE
REDUCTION TARGET.
AND THIS ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT
BUT WHEN THE RULE -- WHEN THE
RULE CAME OUT MONDAY, I SAW
COMMENT BOTH FROM HIM AND THE
CABINET AND FROM THE GOVERNOR,
AND I ONLY GOT IT FROM THE
GOVERNOR, THE CABINET SAID THAT
WOULD BE THEIR STATEMENT THAT
DAY, AND HE WAS, GOVERNOR
BESHEAR SEEMED LESS THAN HAPPY.
>> IS THE COAL INDUSTRY RIGHT T
BE HORRIFIED BY THIS?
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?
IN TERMS OF THE LOSS OF THE COA
JOBS IN KENTUCKY.
>> THE COAL INDUSTRY HAS HAD A
LOT OF, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
JOB LOSS AND THEY'RE SEEING
POWER PLANTS MOVE FROM COAL TO
NATURAL GAS FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, BUT ONE OF THE BIG ONE
IS THAT NATURAL GAS IS REALLY
PRETTY CHEAP RIGHT NOW, AND SO,
YEAH, I GETS GUESS, I THINK THA
THEY PROBABLY HAVE A RIGHT TO B
OR REASON TO BE CONCERNED, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, FROM WHAT I
CAN TELL, I DON'T THINK THAT --
I MEAN THEY'RE STILL
ANTICIPATING THAT WE'RE GOING T
HAVE SOME 30% OF OUR ELECTRICIT
IN THIS COUNTRY GENERATED BY
COAL IN THE FUTURE.
>> EVEN BEYOND 2030?
>> BY 2030 I THINK IS WHAT WE'R
TALKING.
>> I HEARD JOHN PODESTA AN
ADVISER TO OBAMA WHO IS INVOLVE
IN THERE THE HACKERS SAYING BY
2030 THEY THOUGHT WE WOULD STIL
BE GENERATING 30% OF OUR
ELECTRICITY NATIONALLY THROUGH
COAL, AND IT'S GOWN DOWN TO 38
NOW AND THAT INCLUDES SEDATES
LIKE KENTUCKY THAT ARE 92 AND
WEST VIRGINIA I THINK IS 96.
SO THESE ARE NOT -- THEY BASE -
THEY'RE SO-CALLED BASELINE ON
2005 RATHER THAN 2008, WHICH
MEANS NEARLY ALL OF THESE WE'VE
ALREADY HAD 10% REDUCTIONS IN A
LOT OF THESE THINGS SIMPLY
THROUGH THE USE OF NATURAL GAS.
SO WE'RE PART OF THE WAY THERE
ALREADY.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A VER
LARGE POWER PLANT IN LOUISVILLE
CALLED DID K1 POWER PLANT.
LG&E PLANS TO CONVERT THAT TO
NATURAL GAS, AND AS A MATTER OF
FACT THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS.
I WAS TOLDED TO THAT THE STATE
WILL GET CREDIT FOR THE
CONVERSION.
THAT PLANT WILL PROBABLY PRODUC
ABOUT HALF THE GREENHOUSE GASSE
THAT A COAL PLANT WOULD AND SKO
WE'LL GET CREDIT FOR THAT.
LG&E AND K.U. AND GOING FROM 90
DEPENDENT ON COAL TO 80% IN TWO
YEARS.
>> SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT
OPTIONS FOR STATE.
>> THERE ARE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE
MIGHT BE SEEING IS SEE MORE
PROGRAMS, AND, OF COURSE, THE
STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME
UP WITH A PLAN, AND HOW THAT
PLAN IS SHAPED WILL BE IMPORTAN
IN DETERMINING EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST BOUGHT A
NEW REFRIGERATOR, AND WE'RE
GOING TO GET A $100 DEBATE FROM
LG&E THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED
DEMAND SIDE CONSERVATION, AND S
WREAK SEE MERE OF THAT KIND OF
PROGRAM WHERE OUR -- WHERE
YOU'RE ABLE TO GET IF SAVINGS,
THE CO TWO SAVINGS BY GETTING
EFFICIENCY IN PEOPLE'S HOMES AN
BUSINESSES.
>> SAM, THE POLITICAL FALLOUT
FROM THIS WAS INSTANT.
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER GREG
STUMBO USED COLORFUL LANGUAGE T
TRY TO PUT DISTANCE BETWEEN
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS AND THE OBAM
ADMINISTRATION.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE SENATOR
MITCH McCONNELL CAME FORTH
WITH A PROPOSED COAL COUNTRY
PROTECTION ACT THAT WOULD FORCE
THE GOVERNMENT TO CERTIFICATE
FOY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO
DAMAGE DONE TO JOBS AND THAT NO
UTILITIES RATES WOULD BE HIGHER
THAT WAS DEFEATED.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY
ACTIVITY POLITICAL ISSUE, ISN'T
IT?
>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.
I WAS ACTUALLY JUST THINKING
THAT THIS IS THE MOST THOUGHTFU
NUANCED DISCUSSION OF COAL
REGULARS I'VE HEARD ALL WITH --
REG GOES ALL WEEK.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT FROM
THE SENATE CANDIDATES.
THIS IS THE FIRST BIG SKIRMISH
CONFIDENT ELECTION.
KNIGHT WAS COMING.
BOATS CAMPAIGNS PREPARED
ACCORDINGLY.
McCONNELL DID WHAT WE EXPECTED
HIM TO DO, HE HAMMERED GRIMES O
THIS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
NOW, I LOOK AT THE GRIMES
CAMPAIGN.
I THINK THEIR INSTINCT WERE
RIGHT ON.
THEIR EXECUTION WAS A BIT OF A
STRUGGLE THIS WEEK.
I THINK IT WAS THE DEPARTMENT O
BAD TIMING THAT SHE WOULD BE
DOING A FUNDRAISER WITH SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID THIS
WEEK.
THE GRIMES CAMPAIGN IS RIGHT TO
BE CONCERNED.
THEY'RE RIGHT TO BE PUSHING BAC
AS HARD AS THEY ARE.
IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM
PRIMARY NIGHT, AND WE HAVE ALL
TALKED ABOUT ABOUT THIS BEFORE
WHERE DID SHE UNDERPERFORM?
COAL COUNTRY EAST AND WEST.
SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES WHERE SH
DID RUN 65%, THESE ARE PLACES
WHERE THE BIG PROTEST VOTE
AGAINST BARACK OBAMA IN 2012,
THAT'S WHERE THAT ORIGINAL NATE
AND IT'S HURTING HER, TOO.
THEY'RE RIGHT TO SORT TRIAGE
THAT AREA.
>> MITT ROMNEY WON ALL BUT ONE
OF THE 30 COUNTIES THAT PRODUCE
COAL.
SHE HAS TO IMPROVE THERE.
RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO -- I
DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO WIN
COAL COUNTRY, BUT SHE CAN
MITIGATE LOSSES AND STILL TRY T
OVERPERFORM IN OTHER STARTS
PARTS OF THE STATE BUT RIGHT NO
WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THEM IS
IS IT COAL OR IS OBAMA THE
ISSUE?
AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS
AGAIN TISSUE JUST LIKE WITH
HEALTHCARE, IT'S ALL SORT OF
PART AND PARCEL OF THE SAME
DISCUSSION.
IT'S NOT ARE YOU FOR COAL.
IT'S ARE YOU FOR HARRY REID AS
MAJORITY LEADER.
>> WHEN McCONNELL INTRODUCED
THE BILL AND MADE A SPEECH ON
THE SENATE FLOOR, HE CALLED IT
OBAMACARE 2.0, SO OBVIOUSLY THE
OBAMA FACTOR IS STILL HUGE AS
WELL AS COAL.
>> DID GRIMES EFFECTIVELY PLACE
DISTANCE BETWEEN HERSELF AND TH
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND, IN
PARTICULAR, THIS SET OF
REGULATIONS?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING
BATTLE FOR HER, AND WHEN IT
COMES TO COAL, I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FO
HER JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS
PERCEIVED AS DOING, THIS WAR ON
COAL THAT SENATOR McCONNELL
HAS CONTINUED TO PUSH.
I THINK THERE WAS AN INCIDENT
TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK
YESTERDAY WHERE IT WAS REVEALED
THAT AS PART OF THEY ARE
PUSHBACK ON COAL, THEY HAD USED
A OR ALMOST USED A UKRAINIAN
MODEL AS A COAL MINOR.
A COAL MINOR, THIS MODEL WAS
DRESSED UP AS A COAL MINOR, TAG
WAS AVERTED THIS.
THEY USED AN AMERICAN MODEL TO
DO IT INSTEPPED AND AGAIN I GO
BACK TO THEIR INSTINCTS ON THE
PUSHBACK AGAINST THIS.
THE EXECUTION IS NOT GREAT.
>> I WONDER WHETHER GRIMES
RISKED LOSING ANY OF THEY ARE
BASE IN MAYBE LEXINGTON OR
LOUISVILLE, SOME OF THE
DEMOCRATIC BASE THAT MIGHT
ACTUALLY WELCOME THE REGULATION
THAT THEY PASSED.
>> IF SHE PIVOTS TO THE RIGHT
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES YOU'RE
SAYING DOES SHE RISK --
>> I THINK THAT'S HEY PROBLEM
FOR HER IF IT'S A PROBLEM AT AL
ONLY ON THE FUNDRAISING SIDE
BECAUSE AT LEAST AMONG THE
ELECTORATE IN KENTUCKY, THOSE
FOLKS ARE GOING TO VIEW HER AS
PERFECTLY TO McCONNELL, AND
THEY PROBABLY -- PREFERABLE TO
McCONNELL, AND THEY PROBABLY
ARE DOING THE REVERSE OF WHAT
McCONNELL IS TRYING TO CON
SINCE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS TO
THINK ABOUT.
SHE WILL HELP TOW MAINTAIN THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE.
SO, YOU KNOW, LESS ENTHUSIASM,
YES, BUT I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF
THOSE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE GOING
TO RELUCTANTLY IN SOME CASES,
BUT I THINK THEY'LL STILL VOTE
FOR HER.
>> I'VE WONDERED ABOUT THIS,
TOO, ON ISSUES LIKE GUNS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
COAL, ON HEALTHCARE YOU'VE GOT
OTHER DEMOCRATS REAL BEING VOCA
ON HOW THEY EMBRACE THE MEASURE
BUT HERE'S THE THING.
THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING SHE CAN
DO OR SAY THAT'S GOING TO MAKE
HER BASE THINK THAT SHE'S LESS
APPEALING THAN MITCH
McCONNELL.
HE IS A BOOGEYMAN NOT JUST TO
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS OR LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS BUT ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
SO I MEAN SHE'S GOT A WHOLE LOT
OF ROOM HERE TO WORK.
>> I THINK PART OF HER PROBLEM
THE ON COAL THING IS SHE MAY BE
ABLE DO CONVINCE SOME VOTERS WH
IN THE PAST VOTED AGAINST
DEMOCRATS THAT SHE GENUINELY IS
AN ALLY OF COAL, BUT THEY'RE
GOING TO FACE THAT REVERSE LOGI
THAT HER ENVIRONMENT FRIENDS AR
THINKING, THEY MIGHT THINK,
OKAY, SHE IS AN ALLY BUT I'M
VOTING TO KEEP THE DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND THEY
ARE NOT AN ALLY.
SO IT'S A TOUGH BATTLE FOR THEM
>> THE OTHER THING I'D SAY ABOU
THIS IS WEAR NOW THEE WEEKS FRO
THE PRIMARY, AND FOR THE WHOLE
THREE WEEKS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
THE ISSUES THAT MITCH
McCONNELL EITHER BY DESIGN,
COINCIDENCE OR ACCIDENT, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES EACH O
THESE THREE WEEKS THAT HE WANTS
TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
FIRST IT WAS DEBATES AND
HEALTHCARE AND NOW GOAL.
I THINK SHE'S GOT TO FIND A WAY
TO SET THE TEMPO WHERE SHE'S NO
ALWAYS ON DEFENSE, AND UNLESS
THEY CAN FIND WAY TO DO THAT.
MINIMUM WAGE IS A GOOD ISSUE FO
THEY ARE.
I THINK THEY'VE GOT TO FIND MOR
ISSUES LIKE THAT.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED WITH ISSUE
IS UKRAINIAN COAL MINOR BALM A
24-HOUR ISSUE TO THAT WAS IN TH
NEWS CYCLE FOR THAT PERIOD OF
TIME.
WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT HOW
COMMERCIALS ARE MADE AND DONE
AND, RONNIE, ARE WE PAST THE
TIME WHEN YOU CAN GO INTO A TV
STUDIO AND LOOK INTO A CAMERA
AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT BUREAU
GOING TO DO IF YOU'RE ELECTED?
>> WE ARE.
WHEN THIS THING CAME OUT
YESTERDAY, THE GRIMES CAMPAIGN
WAS ALL OF 30 MINUTES IN COMING
BACK WITH EXAMPLES THAT
McCONNELL CAMPAIGN HAD DONE A
SIMILAR THING WITH SPOTS UP ON
FACEBOOK AND SO FORTH.
I ACTUALLY WROTE IN MY COLUMN
THIS WEEK, WEEKEND I EXCERPTED
VERY DIRECT EXPLANATION OF HIS
POSITION ON SLAVERY THAT LINCOL
USED IN 1858 IN ONE OF THE
LINCOLN-DO YOU GO DEBATES AND
ASKED MY READERS CAN YOU IMAGIN
EITHER McCONNELL OR GRIMES
TALKING LIKE THAT TO VOTERS?
NO, WE'RE LONG PAST THOSE DAYS.
UNFORTUNATELY AND SADLY.
>> THERE'S A STATEWIDE
LINCOLN-REAGAN DINNER THAT WILL
BE TOMORROW FIGHT.
THE REPUBLICANS WILL GATHER IN
LOUISVILLE.
AND WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO BE
DISCUSSED THERE?
IS THAT THE CLOSEST THING TO A
UNITY DINNER THAT REPUBLICANS
WILL BE HOLDING THIS SUMMER?
>> IT IS.
IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE AT THI
POINT.
LOOK, THIS IS THEIR QUICK-OFF
RALLY, THE PEP RALLY TO GET
THINGS GOING.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY
UNDER ONE ROOF.
IT'S NOS. AS MESSY AS A UNITY
EVENT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF
THE GUY WHO BEAT YOU IS GOING
TONE DOORS YOU OR NOT.
TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE A BIG
DAY FOR REPUBLICANS JUST AS THE
WINDOW 4 DINNER WILL BE FOR
DEMOCRATS IF THAT THEY NEED TO
AT LEAST PRESENT A UNIFIED
FRONT, THEY NEED TO MAKE OTHER
REPUBLICANS AROUND THE STATE
BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE ALL ON THE
SAME PAGE, THE SAME WAY
DEMOCRATS HAVE REALLY BEEN
EFFECTIVE IN PUSHING THE IDEA
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS
MORE UNIFIED THAN IT HAS BEEN
SINCE JOEY CARROLL AS SPEAKER
STUMBO WOULD SAY.
>> AND SOME GUBERNATORIAL
CANDIDATES OR LIKELY CANDIDATES
ARE LIKELY TO BE IN THE ROOM AS
WELL, HAL HIGHER THAN AND JAMES
COMER FOR TWO.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SEATED
TOGETHER BUT THAT WOULD BE FUN.
YEAH,, YOU KNOW, LOOK THAT'S TH
THING.
WE GET POCKED COMMUNITY SENATE
RACE AND WE FORGET FOR AT LEAST
A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE IS WELL
UNDERWAY.
HAL HIGHER THAN HAS BEEN THE IN
RIS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
HE CAME OUT WITH HIS FIRST
TELEVISION AD GOING TO WIN
TOMORROW WHEN RIDE ON CURLIN IS
BEATING CALIFORNIA CHROME.
BUT YEAH, HIS FIRST SPOT IS OUT
>> WHAT HAD THAT TELL YOU IF
HE'S RUNNING SOME ADDS TOMORROW
IN JUNE BEFORE THE PRIMARY OF
NEXT YEAR.
>>
>> IT TELLS ME WHAT WE ALREADY
KNEW.
HE GOT IN THIS RACE VERY EARLY
FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON.
Y NOBODY KNOWS WHO HE IS AND
HE'S GOT TO CORRECT THAT.
THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GET ON
TV ON AND GOT IT BEFORE ANYBODY
ELSE IS.
RIGHT NOW HE IS SETTING TOW TON
FOR THE MESSAGE HE WANTS TO
SEND.
ALL ABOUT NO MORE FRANKFORT
POLITICIANS.
HE WANTS TO POSITION HIMSELF
ANSWER OUTSTANDING OUTSIDER
AGAINST PRESUMABLY JAMES COMB
PER I THINK THAT THIS FIRST AD,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE
FOR HIM TO CATCH UP TO WHERE
COMER IS IN TERMS OF NAME I.D.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK THERE'S ONE QUICK
IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE GOT
ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE
CIRCLING BACK TO THE E.P.A.
RULE.
IT'S THE NEXT GOVERNOR THAT IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PREPARING
THE PLAN WITH SENDING THE PLAN
TO E.P.A. ON HOW KENTUCKY PLANS
TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE.
SO THERE WILL BE A LOT AT TALK.
THAT ACTUALLY WILL BE A BIG
ISSUE.
>> AND IT MAYBE THE GOVERNOR
AFTER NEXT THAT HAS TO IMPLEMEN
IT.
>> THAT COULD BE.
>> WHAT ARE WE HEARING QUICKLY
ABOUT ADAM EDELEN'S TIME FRAME
FOR SOME KIND OF DECISION?
HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION
TO STATE AUDITOR BUT HE'S MADE
IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE'S
EXPLORING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE
VERY CAREFULLY.
>> I'M MORE UNSURE NOW WHAT ADA
IS THINKING THAN I HAVE BEEN AT
ANY POINT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SORT OF A
CAN BE HE WANTS TO GET IN, NOT
SURE IF HE SHOULD GET IN, AND
IT'S REACHING A BOILING POINT
WHERE HE KNOWS A DECISION NEED
TO BE MADE AND HE'S NOT SURE
WHAT THE DECISION IS.
>> NOTHING CONCRETE BUT WE WE
TALKED WITH THIS WHEN SAM AND I
ROW A PANEL, IT JUST GOT THE
FEEL THAT HE'S PERHAPS
REEVALUATING.
>> IS JACK CONWAY OFF TO ANY
FAST START IN HIS RACE?
>> HE IS OUT THERE.
HE'S GOT A TICKET PUT TOGETHER.
HE CAN START RAISING MONEY,
WHICH HE HAS SOME PREVIOUS
SUCCESS AT, AND ALL THE POLLS
THAT WE'VE SEEN OR BEEN TOLD
ABOUT, HE'S ALREADY GOT THE NAM
RECOGNITION.
>> HE'S BEEN PRETTY QUIET AND H
SAID HE WOULD BE.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO
DISTRACT FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATIC
EFFORTS AND DIDN'T WANT TO
DISTRACT FROM THE GRIMES
CAMPAIGN.
HE SAID AT THE OUTSET IT WOULD
BE A QUIET BEGINNING.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A LOT OF
ON JUNE FUNDRAISING NUMBERS.
IT'S THAT ABSENCE OF A MECHANIS
FOR ANY KIND OF EXPLORE TORRIE
COMMITTEE THAT IF YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT IT YOU MIGHT AS
WELL GET IN.
>> RONNIE, A NORTHERN CITY,
INDEPENDENCE IS SUING THE STATE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM ALLEGING
IMPRUDENT CAN INVESTING OF
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR
MEANT FOR PENSIONS AND THAT
COMES AS TALK OF SEVEN COUNTIES
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE OVER IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY IN THAT AREA
MAY BE PULLING OUT OF OF THE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR HAS THE
OPTION TO DO THAT NOW.
>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN I
THIS BUSINESS AS LONG AS I HAVE
I THINK SOMETIMES THAT THERE AR
GOING TO BE PEOPLE IN 40 YEARS
AS OLD AS I AM WHO HAVE WRITTEN
ABOUT THIS SAME STORY OVER AND
OVER.
WE SUPPOSEDLY HAD WORKED ON THE
PENSION SYSTEM.
YEAH, THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CIT
IS ASKING FOR A COURT ORDER SO
THAT IT'S CONTRIBUTIONS INTO TH
K.R.S. SYSTEM WILL NOT BE PLACE
IN HEDGE FUNDS AND SOME OF THES
OTHER SITUATIONS.
THEY ARE ALSO ASKING FOR CLASS
STATUS, CLASS ACTION STATUS, CH
MEANS OTHER CITIES MIGHT JOIN
THEM AND PROBABLY ARE THINKING
ABOUT IT.
MEANWHILE, LAST FRIDAY WHAT IS
POTENTIALLY A BIGGER MEDIA BLOW
TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, SEVEN
COUNTIES, WHICH IS A MENTAL
HEALTH CENTER SERVING THE REGIO
INCLUDING LOUISVILLE AND AROUND
LOUISVILLE, HAS FILED FOR
BANKRUPTCY AND HAS SOUGHT THE
ABILITY TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM.
THEY'RE FACING I THINK THEY SAY
A $2 MILLION OPERATING LOSS.
AND THE CONTRIBUTION IS GOING T
GO WAY UP UNDER THE REFORM
PACKAGE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
AND A JUDGE GRANTED THEM THAT.
THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM CITIES
ZEST THAT THIS COULD RESULT IF
THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
JOIN IN, WITH AS MUCH AS
$12.4 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 20
YEARS, AND THEY'RE ALREADY
FACING AN $18 BILLION UNFUNDED
LIABILITY.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE STATE I
GOING TO APPEAL.
>> WELL, THESE CITIES, I KNOW
THAT WHEN I WAS SUNS THIS A
LITTLE BIT THIS WEEK SOME PEOPL
WERE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT A
LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES ARE
COVERED UNDER THE STATE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
>> AND THAT'S A SORE POINT
BECAUSE IT'S CALLED THE COUNTY
EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
EVERYBODY CALLS IT S HAVE CERS.
THE COASTLINE COUNTY, CITIES,
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AND SOME
PERSONNEL, NON-TEACHING SCHOOL
PERSONNEL.
THEY ARE IN BETTER SHAPE FOR
THEIR SIDE OF IT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE THE FULL
CONTRIBUTIONS EACH YEAR, AND SO
THEY CHASTE HAVING TO BE BOGGED
DOWN BY THE LIABILITIES OF THE
WHOLE SYSTEM.
SO THE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN ASKIN
TO BE ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF IT
FOR YEARS.
THEY HAVEN'T SUED.
THEY JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT.
AND, OF COURSE, PART OF THE
PROBLEM IS IF YOU LEAVE, DO YOU
TAKE YOUR LIABILITY WITH YOU?
AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE,
INCLUDING SPEAKER STUMBO, WHO
TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK THAT
IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE THEI
LIABILITIES WITH THEM, THEN HE'
BE FINE WITH THEIR LEAVING.
>> IT'S NOT AS DESTABILIZING TO
THE OVERALL SYSTEM.
>> RIGHT.
>> JIM, ON THE WEND OF
LOUISVILLE THERE IS THIS LEE'S
LANDFILL, THE E.P.A. DID SOMMY
CLEANUP BUT NOT A COMPLETE
CLEANUP SOME YEARS AGO.
WHERE IS IT?
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE NOW?
>> FOR DECADE STARTING IN THE
MID-40s AND ENDING IN 1975 ALL
KINDS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE,
MUNICIPAL WASTE WAS DUMPED IN
THIS LANDFILL RIGHT NEAR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF RIVERSIDE
GARDENS, AND RIVERSIDE GARDENS,
THERE'S A CHEMICAL PLANT NEXT
DOOR, THERE'S THE SUPER FUND
SITE, THERE'S A COAL FIRED POWE
PLANT RIGHT NEARBY.
I'VE SAID I COULD HAVE AN ENTIR
BUREAU SET UP THERE.
THERE ARE STORIES I COULD COVER
ANYWAY IN 1975 THERE WERE THESE
METHANE GAS LEAKED THROUGH THE
SOIL AND STARTED COMING UP IN
PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THERE WERE
FLASH FIRES.
THEY HAD TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT.
TO FAST FORWARD TO WHERE WE ARE
TODAY, IT HAS BEEN 15 YEARS OF
METHANE GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM
THAT HASN'T WORKED WELL, IT'S
SUPPOSED TO COLLECT A BUNCH OF
CHEMICALS AS WELL BUT NOW THEY
FOUND ELEVATED LEVELS
CARCINOGENIC CONNECTION, AND NO
THE E.P.A. IS GOING TO BE
TESTING 50 HOMES, SO THERE ARE
50 FAMILIES THAT HAVE THE
SPECTER OF THE E.P.A. COMING IN
AND TRYING TO SEE WHETHER OR NO
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN BREATHING
CARBON TETRA CHLORIDE AND OTHER
KINDS OF CHEMICALS.
>> HOW INVASIVE IS THAT TESTING
DO YOU KNOW?
>> THEY PUT A CANISTER IN THE
BASEMENT OR IN THE CRAWL SPACE.
IT'S NOT VERY INVASIVE.
>> SO THAT'S TO BE DONE SOON?
>> THIS MONTH.
>> SAM, CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR
SAYS HE'S GETTING A LOT OF CALL
NOW FROM VETERANS IN THIS
NATIONAL SCANDAL THAT WE HAVE
GOING ON WHO SAY THEY ARE NOT
GETTING APPROPRIATE MEDICAL
CARE, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET
APPOINTMENTS WITH SPECIALISTS
AND THIS SORT OF THING.
HE'S EVEN OPENED SEVERAL CASES
AND SAYS THAT SHE WANTS TO HAVE
REPORTS BACK ON HOW THOSE ARE
HANDLED BY THE V.A.
HE ALSO GOES ON TO SAY THERE AR
A LOT OF HARD-WORKING V.A.
EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE OF
KENTUCKY.
BUT THIS BUREAUCRAT MESS IS
OBVIOUSLY HITTING EVERYWHERE,
INCLUDING HERE.
>> THAT'S SORT OF ROUTINE.
THIS IS THE TRAGIC OTHER SHOE
THAT INVARIABLY PRO-DROPS AFTER
A NATIONAL STORY BECAUSE WHAT
STARTS IN ARIZONA START TAKING
ON IMPORTANCE, SOMEBODY STARTS
WORRYING ABOUT A PARENT OR
GRANDPARENT THAT'S BEING TAKEN
CARE OF BY THE V.A., THEY START
MAKING CALLS AND LOOKING A
LITTLE CLOSER.
I GUESS IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE
GOOD EMPLOYEES AT V.A. THAT
CONGRESSMAN BARR SPOKE ABOUT
OUTNUMBER THE BAD ONES HERE IN
KENTUCKY AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN
ABLE TO MANAGE ENOUGH CASES THA
WE'RE NOT LOSING TO NEGLECT THE
GREATEST GENERATION AND THOSE
THAT FOLLOWED.
>> THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING
ASPECT OF THIS.
I HAVE ON BOTH SIDES OF MY
FAMILY, SALAD MANY OF THEM ARE
GONE, BUT I HAD A BUNCH OF
UNCLES WHO WERE KOREAN AND WORL
WAR II VETERANS AND I GREW UP
LISTENING TO THEM TALKING ABOUT
GOING TO THE V.A. HOSPITALS.
THEY ALWAYS LIKED THEIR CARE.
THEY NEVER WERE HAPPY ABOUT THE
WAIT TIMES.
BUT THOSE HAVE GOTTEN
EXPONENTIALLY WORSE, AND PART O
THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE COME OUT O
TWO WARS AND THE MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY, PEOPLE THAT USED TO
NOT COME BACK NEEDING MEDICAL
CARE NOW ARE COMING HOME NEEDIN
LOTS AND LOTS OF MEDICAL CARE
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND THE
SYSTEM WAS INADEQUATE TO BEGIN
WITH AND NOW IT'S JUST
ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED.
>> AND ON THIS 70th
ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY WE'RE
MINDFUL OF THAT.
RETIRED CLARK COUNTY PRINCIPAL,
CHARLIE WILSON WAS BACK IN
NORMANDY OVER THERE AND VISITIN
AND THERE WERE SEVERAL STORIES
THAT HE WAS ON THE NETWORK AND
SO FORTH.
18 YEARS OLD WHEN HE STORMED TH
BEACH THERE.
AND HIS TRIP WAS PAID FOR BY TH
FRENCH GOVERNMENT, BY THE WAY
BECAUSE HE WAS BROUGHT OVER
THERE TO TELL HIS STORY ABOUT
LIBERATING THAT NATION.
AND HE SAID, HIS QUOTE THAT WAS
ON TELEVISION HOE COULD STILL
KICK BUTT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.
RONNIE, A PATCHWORK OF PAY FOR
KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS WAS ADDRESSE
SOMEWHAT IN THIS L.R.C. MEETING
THAT WENT THE AT MID-WEEK.
>> WELL, IF YOU WILL REMEMBER
AFTER THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
ALLEGATIONS AND THE RESIGNATION
OF AN L.R.C. DIRECTOR, THE
LEGISLATURE ASKED THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS
TO DO -- IT'S LIKE A TRADE
GROUP -- TO DO AN AUDIT AND A
REVIEW OF ALL OF THE PERSONNEL
POLICIES AND PAY AND SO FORTH.
WE ASKED SPEAKER STUMBO AND
SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS
THEY SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT IT
WAS NEARING COMPLETION.
THEY HAD BEEN IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE NCSL PEOPLE BUT THAT
DON'T HAVE A FINISHED REPORT.
CONSEQUENTLY, THEY ALSO HAVE NO
MADE A MOVE ON HIRING A PERM TH
NENT DIRECTOR.
AT THIS POINT.
>> U.K.'S COACH CAL GETS A
$52 MILLION SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT
EXTENSION.
WAYNE DROWNS ALSO GETS AN
EXTENSION TO MOREHEAD STATE BUT
I DON'T THINK IT'S AS LUCRATIVE
>> PROBABLY NOT.
>> DOES THAT MEAN HE'S GOING TO
GO TO THE PRONESS.
>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.
>> THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO
BELIEVE.
>> I THINK IT'S WHAT'S DESIGNED
IN THAT OFFER, THAT CONTRACT.
TRIPLE CROWN TOMORROW JUST
QUICKLY.
IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
YOU DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN?
>> I DON'T LIKE ROOTING AGAINST
THE HORSE BECAUSE I KNOW THE
HORSE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BUT
WHEN THE OWNER COMES HERE AND
BADMOUTHS CHURCHILL, I THINK MY
KENTUCKY RED FLARES UP A LITTLE
BIT.
>> TRIPLE CROWN WINNER?
I HAVE.
>> NO PREDICTION BUT I HOPE
THERE IS ONE.
IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.
>> I HONESTLY THINK THERE WILL
BE.
>> THERE WE GO.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE OUR PANEL
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE
TUNE IN MONDAY AT 8:00/7:00
CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT"
WHEN BILL GOODMAN AND GUESTS
WILL DISCUSS U.S. FOREIGN POLIC
AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT GOING O
THERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
"COMMENT."
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND AND A
SUPER WEEK AHEAD.