>> SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL'S
CAMPAIGN MANAGER RESIGNS, WHILE
QUESTIONS LINGER ABOUT
CHALLENGER ALISON LUNDERGAN
GRIMES' CAMPAIGN BUS.
THE COAL ISSUE LOOMS LARGE IN
THE SENATE RACE AND IS ALREADY
AN ISSUE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL
RACE.
BREATHITT COUNTY LEADERS FIGHT
TO REGAIN LOCAL CONTROL OF THEI
SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT LOSE IN
FRANKFORT.
AND SOME IN LOUISVILLE PUSH FOR
A LOCAL HIKE IN THE MINIMUM
WAGE.
IT'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
TAKE A LITTLE BREAK FROM YOUR
HARD WORK.
COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET!
GOOD EVENING.
I'M BILL BRYANT, ANCHOR AND
MANAGING EDITOR AT WKYT-TV IN
LEXINGTON.
OUR GUESTS ON "COMMENT ON
KENTUCKY" ARE JOE GERTH,
POLITICAL WRITER FOR THE
COURIER-JOURNAL, ERICA PETERSON
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER FOR WFPL I
LOUISVILLE, AND JACK BRAMMER,
FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
ALSO TONIGHT, REPUBLICANS
CHALLENGE THE SIGNATURES THAT
GOT A LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE ON
THE BALLOT.
LEA START OUT WITH THIS LATE
BREAKING NEWS TODAY, THE
RESIGNATION OF JESSE BENTON,
SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL'S
CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
IT'S EFFECTIVE TOMORROW.
JOE AND JACK, WHAT LED TO THIS
TWIST SH.
>> WELL, IT STARTED WITH THE
2012 PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN IOWA
WHERE RON PAUL WAS COMPETING IN
THE CAUCUSES THERE.
JESSE BENTON, WHO IS MARRIED TO
RON PAUL'S GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO I
ALSO RAND PAUL, SENATOR RAND
PAUL'S NIECE, WAS INVOLVED IN
THAT CAMPAIGN, AND THERE WAS A
FELLOW WHO WAS A CLOSE ASSOCIAT
OF HIS NAMED DEMETRI KASARI WHO
ALLEGEDLY GAVE $73,000 TO KENTO
SOUTHERNSON WHO IS A STATE
SENATOR TO SWITCH HIS BACKING
FROM MICHELLE BACHMANN TO RON
PAUL IN THE CAUCUSES, WHICH IS
ILLEGAL TO DO IN IOWA.
SORENSON PLED GUILTY THIS WEEK
TO CHARGES INVOLVING THIS.
THE FBI SAID THE INVESTIGATION
IS ONGOING SO THERE MAY BE MORE
SHOES TO DROP HERE.
AND SO AT ONE POINT IN THE
TAPE-RECORDED CONVERSATION
SORENSON SAID THAT HE IS CERTAI
THAT JESSE BENTON KNEW ABOUT TH
PAYMENTS, AND SO THAT'S WHAT LE
TO THIS, THIS DECISION BY BENTO
TO STEP AWAY FROM THE CAMPAIGN.
>> SO BENTON, JACK, BELIEVES
THAT HE WAS BECOMING A
DISTRACTION BASED ON WHAT WAS
COMING UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AFTER THIS STORY BROKE BY
POLITICAL REPORTER SAM YOUNGMAN
BENTON PATE PRESS RELEASE
EXPLAINING HIS POSITION THAT HE
WAS RESIGNING, SAID HE HAD
BECOME A DISTRACK TO THE
McCONNELL CAMPAIGN.
HE SAID HE SPOKE TO SENATOR
McCONNELL FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
HE SAID THE SENATOR RELUCTANTLY
ACCEPTED HIS RESIGNATION THAT.
COMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 30th.
HE'LL BE NO LONGER PART OF THE
TEAM MITCH CAMPAIGN.
BUT HE SAID THE CAMPAIGN HAD
ALREADY PUT TOGETHER A TOP
FLIGHT TEAM OF INCREDIBLE PEOPL
TO KEEP IT ROLLING.
HE SAID THE DECISION BROKE HIS
HEART.
HE EVEN QUOTED SCRIPTURE FROM
JAMES 5:16, "I HAVE TOLD YOU
THESE THINGS SO THAT IN ME YOU
HAVE PEACE.
IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE
TROUBLE.
BUT TAKE PART FOR I HAVE
OVERCOME THE WORLD."
SHE WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
RIGHT BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED
TONIGHT WE HEARD FROM THE
GRIMES' CAMPAIGN.
THEY JUST PUT OUT A SENTENCE
SAYING THAT SENATOR McCONNELL
OWES THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY A
FULL ACCOUNT OF WHAT HE KNEW AN
WHEN HE KNEW IT.
>> WELL, DOES THIS BLOW BACK NO
ON McCONNELL IN ANY WAY OR
DOES IT IMPEDE HIS STRATEGY FOR
WINNING THE ELECTION, GIVEN THA
BENTON WAS HIS CHIEF STRATEGIST
>> MOST PEOPLE EXPECT JOSH
HOLMES, McCONNELL'S FORMER
CHIEF OF STAFF WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH THE CAMPAIGN FOR
SOME TIME NOW, TO TAKE OVER, AN
I DON'T EXPECT HIM TO MISS A
BEAT BECAUSE OF IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE GRIMES
PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS SOME.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO
HAVE LEGS.
I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN
ANYBODY'S GOT TO HAVE HAS GOT T
BE RAND PAUL WHO IS NOW SEEING
THE PERSON OR SOME OF THE PEOPL
THAT HE WAS GOING TO BUILD HIS
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AROUND,
SUDDENLY HAVING THESE TROUBLES
THAT MAYBE HE DOESN'T WANT TO
BRING ONBOARD WHEN HE GOES --
>> I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO ANY
SPECULATION BUT I THINK IT
RAPIST TO BE SEEN WHAT EFFECT
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE
CAMPAIGN AND WHETHER IT HAS ANY
EFFECT AT ALL, AND RIGHT NOW WE
DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEV
SO ON SENATOR McCONNELL.
>> AND WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT
WE CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH, THAT
BENTON DENIES THAT HE HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> JUST MEDIA SPECULATION AND
RUMOR AND INNUENDO AND THAT HE
DID NOTHING WRONG.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE REACTED TO THIS
NEWS LATE THIS AFTERNOON, HAD
THE HEADLINES BEEN TWO HOURS AG
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING MORE
ABOUT THIS AUDIO TAPE THAT
CONTINUED TO BE IN THE NEWS
AFTER IT SURFACED.
>> RIGHT.
THE NATION, A KIND OF A LIBERAL
LEANING MAGAZINE, POSTED ON ITS
WEBSITE THE OTHER DAY AN AUDIO
TAPE OF MITCH McCONNELL
SPEAKING TO A SUMMIT HELD BY TH
KOCH BROTHERS IN CALIFORNIA IN
WHICH HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT
ALLOW DEBATE ON ISSUES LIKE
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE,
LIKE --
>> UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
>> -- UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE,
AND ALSO SAID THAT THE WORST DA
OF HIS CAREER WAS THE DAY THAT
PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED THE
MCCAIN-FEINGOLD CAMPAIGN FINANC
REFORM ACT INTO LAW, AND A LOT
OF FOLKS ON THE LEFT ARE HAVING
SOME FUN WITH THIS, AND THEY
THINK --
>> THAT LIMITED POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> RIGHT.
AND PEOPLE ON THE LEFT THINK
THAT THIS COULD BE THE 47%
COMMENT, LIKE MITT ROMNEY MADE
TO A GROUP OF WEALTHY DONORS
BACK IN 2012.
>> SPEAKING OF MITT ROMNEY, HE
WILL BE COMING TO ELECTRICS IN
SUPPORT OF McCONNELL TO --
LEXINGTON IN SUPPORT OF
McCONNELL TO RAISE MONEY FOR
HIM IN OCTOBER AND ALSO SAM
YOUNGMAN REPORTING IN THE HELLE
LEADER THIS MONTH DOING A
COMPARISON TO ROMNEY'S STRATEGY
IN 2012 TO WIN KENTUCKY WHEN HE
GOT 60% OF THE VOTE TO
McCONNELL'S CAMPAIGN THIS
YEAR.
>> YEAH, INTERESTING QUESTION O
THAT, TOO, IS ROMNEY, WHAT'S IN
IT FOR HIM?
AND MIGHT HE BE A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE AGAIN IN 2016.
>> I THINK HE SWITCHED NOW TO
CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.
>> YES.
>> THAT'S KIND OF WHERE HE IS A
THIS POINT.
McCONNELL WENT ON WHILE THIS
WAS A RECORDING THAT WAS NOT TO
HIS KNOWLEDGE, HE WENT ON RADIO
AND DANVILLE THIS WEEK AND SAID
THAT THE RACE IS SO CLOSE
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OUTSID
MONEY BEING SPENT AGAINST HIM,
WHICH HE SAID HE SUPPORTS
LETTING PEOPLE DO.
>>Y THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF MONEY
FOR EXAMPLE -- OUTSIDE MONEY
BEING SPENT FOR HIM.
>> ALISON GRIMES CONTINUES TO
TRY TO COURT FEMALE VOTERS.
AT THIS POINT IT IS IT HAS NOT
EMERGED THAT SHE HAS AN
ADVANTAGE WITH THE FEMALE VOTER
THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
SHE ALSO THIS WEEK, THOUGH, HAD
SOME MORE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
ABOUT THE BUS, THE MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION IN THE CAMPAIGN,
AND YOU WROTE THIS MORNING, JOE
THAT THAT BUS IS NOT LICENSED T
CARRY PEOPLE.
>> WE CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE WHERE
IT'S BEEN LICENSED WITH THE
STATE OR WITH THE FEDS TO
ACTUALLY HAUL PEOPLE AROUND.
YOU NEED A SPECIAL PERMIT TO DO
THAT, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK
FROM JERRY LUNDERGAN'S BUSINESS
THE LUNDERGAN GROUP, WHICH ONE
OF ITS SUBSIDY YEARS PURCHASED
THE BUS AND IS PROVIDING IT TO
THE CAMPAIGN FOR WHAT THE
McCONNELL FOLKS SAY IS A
REDUCED RATE.
>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
GRIMES CAMPAIGN ON FRIDAY DID
ASK THE STATE FOR A PERMIT TO
HAVE CHARTER RIGHTS TO CARRY
PASSENGERS.
THEY -- THEIR UNDERSTANDING WAS
THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO DO
THAT, BUT TO BE SURE THEY'LL GO
AHEAD AND TRY TO GET THAT PERMI
IN GRIMES ENDORSED BY FORMERY
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE
ALBRIGHT AND MARTHA LANE COLLIN
IS ON IT DOING A LOT OF SPEAKIN
FOR HER.
IS SHE HAVING DIFFICULTY
CONNECTING FEMALE VOTERS, JOE?
>> YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN, WE HAVEN'T -- I MEAN,
POLLING GOING BACK TO THE
ORIGINAL BLUEGRASS POLL THAT
YOUR TELEVISION STATION, MY
NEWSPAPER, JACK'S NEWSPAPER AND
W HAAS DID HAS SHOWN SHE DID NO
HAVE THE ADVANTAGE THAT I LOT O
PEOPLE EXPECTED THAT SHE WOULD.
IT'S HARD TO TELL WHY.
>> WHICH, BY THE WAY, TRILLION
THERE BE A NEW POLL OUT TOMORRO
EVENING.
>> IT'S TOMORROW EVENING AT
8:00.
THAT'S SATURDAY EVENING AT 8:00
THEY WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AT
ALL OF THE PARTNERS WEBSITES,
AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE WHO IS
LEADING IN THE SENATE RACE.
>> WE'VE STILL GOT NINE MORE
WEEKS TO GO BEFORE THE
NOVEMBER 4th ELECTION.
ALL THESE STORIES ARE BREAKING.
I TALKED TO HOUSE SPEAKER GREG
STUMBO, HIS TAKE ON THIS, AND I
SEEM TO SIDE WITH HIM THAT THIS
IS GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
AND USED A SPORTS ANALOGY,
WHOEVER HAS THE BALL THAT IS
WEEK OR SO IS GOING TO WIN THIS
RACE.
>> WELL, WOULDN'T YOU THINK THA
A POSSIBLE GAME-CHANGER FOR
EITHER SIDE MIGHT BE A DEBATE?
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THE
FORUM AT KET THAT WE'LL BE
BROADCASTING, TELECAST, BUT NOW
CENTRE COLLEGE HAS CANCELLED IT
PLAN FOR DEBATE, WHAS SAYS THAT
THEIR EVENT IS OFF.
THERE IS STILL I THINK THE
INVITATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF KENTUCKY AND THE LEAGUE WOME
VOTERS AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER
WHO SAY THEY WOULD SCRAMBLE AND
PUT ONE TOGETHER.
BUT AT THIS POINT DATES PIERCE
THIS WILL BE OTHER DEBATES?
>> ERICA, WE KNOW REPORTERS
HAVEN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE
OPINIONS BUT I THINK ALL THE
REPORTERS ARE UPSET THAT THERE
HAVEN'T BEEN DEBATES ON MAJOR
ISSUES.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN
HARD THE REPORT ON WHEN YOU'RE
JUST GETTING STATEMENTS FROM
CAMPAIGNS AND SPAIN CAMPAIGN
SPEECHES.
>> WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW
WHETHER THEY FEEL WE SHOULD PUT
TROOPS IN IRAQ OR AMNESTY FOR
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?
>> IF YOU HAD THE BEAT FOR U.S.
SENATE CANDIDATES THIS YEAR,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THIS
I KNOW IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT
WOULD BE I GUESS WHAT IS THE
FUTURE OF KENTUCKY COAL?
SO FAR WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF
TALKING POINTS ABOUT COAL.
WE'VE HEARD I'M PRO-COAL, COAL
IS THE FUTURE.
WHEN THE STATISTICS AND THE
FACTS DON'T REALLY SUGGEST THAT
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOU
THAT.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE OVERRIDING
ISSUE.
SOME OF THE EARLY POLLING HAS
INDICATED THAT IT IS A MAJOR
CONCERN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN AND
WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND TO THE JO
THE JOBS THAT DEPEND ON COAL BU
YOU'RE SAYING YOUR REPORTING AN
YOUR FINDINGS INDICATE WHAT?
>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS OF PRODUCTION, OF
EMPLOYMENT, PRETTY MUCH
NICOLE-RELATED NUMBERS IN --
ANY COAL-RERATED NUMBERS IN
KENTUCKY YOU SEE A COUPLE OF
THINGS, YOU SEE JOBS AND
PRODUCTION DROPPING STATEWIDE
PRETTY MUCH OVER THE PAST 30
YEARS, AND THIS IS A TREND
THAT'S BEEN GOING DOWNHILL FOR
WHILE.
IT'S NOT THE PAST SIX YEARS.
IT'S NOT THE PAST DECADE.
WE'RE TALKING AT LEAST SINCE
1980.
BUT YOU ALSO SEE IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY IT'S DROPPING A LOT
FASTER THAN IT IS IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY.
WESTERN KENTUCKY, IT'S NEVER
HAD -- IT'S PRETTY MUCH STAYED
STEADY.
IT'S NEVER HAD THE HIGHS THAT
EASTERN KENTUCKY HAD, BUT IT'S
ALSO NOT HAVING THE LOWS RIGHT
NOW.
I GUESS EASTERN KENTUCKY AND
WESTERN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW ARE
ABOUT ON THE SAME LEVEL
PRODUCTION-WISE WILL BE WHICH
EASTERN KENTUCKY USED TO PRODUC
A LOT MORE COAL THAN WESTERN
KENTUCKY.
>> AND THAT'S FOR, WHAT, A
COUPLE OF REASONS.
MARKET FORCES AS WELL AS THESE
MUCH MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS
ON EMISSIONS.
>> YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF
REASONS.
EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN DOWN PARTLY
BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY WHEN YOU
HAVE CONTINUOUS MINERS AND DRAG
LINES, YOU DON'T NEED AS AM
PEOPLE, BUT RECENTLY IT'S BEEN
MARKET FORCES, IT'S BEEN CHEAP
NATURAL GAS, IT'S BEEN RECLININ
RESERVES.
IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IT'S A LOT
HARDER.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE HUGE THICK
COAL SEAMS YOU USED TO HAVE SO
IT'S LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO MINE
COAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATIONS ON MINING AND
BURNING COAL HAVE D CONTRIBUTED
TOO.
>> YOU HAVE RECENTLY REPORTED
THAT IT TAKES LONGER TO MINE
COAL.
>> IT DOES.
>> NOW.
WHY?
>> WELL --
>> BUS OF THE REGULATION?
>> NO, THE RESOLUTIONS REALLY
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
PRODUCTIVE NUMBERS, AND ACTUALL
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I LOOK
AT AT THESE NUMBERS, THE STATE
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET
HAS JUST THIS TREASURE TROVE OF
DATA YOU CAN LOOK UP PRETTY MUC
ANY ENERGY-RELATED STATISTICS
YOU CARE ABOUT.
AND I CALLED THE ENERGY
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, THE
FEDERAL AGENCY THAT LOOKS AT A
LOT OF THIS, AND I SAID WHY IS
PRODUCT OF DOWN SO MUCH IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY?
THEY SAID THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION.
WE'VE BEEN MEANING TO LOOK AT
THAT BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY YET.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF IDEAS.
ONE IS TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW,
INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY
SOMETIMES, AND IT DID YEARS AND
YEARS AGO.
IT'S REALLY THE DECLINING
RESERVES AND THE FACT THAT YOU
JUST DON'T HAVE THE THICK COAL
SEAMS YOU USED TO.
>> HARDER TO REACH?
>> YEAH, HARDER TO REACH, YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH MORE YORE
BURDEN TO GET TO THE COAL.
BUT IN 1997 IT HIT ITS PEAK IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY AND A MINER
COULD MINE 3.8 TONS OF COAL PER
HOUR, AND NOW THAT'S DOWN TO
2.1 TONS OF COAL.
>> COAL HAS BEEN SUCH A VISIBLE
ISSUE AS WE ALL KNOW IN THE
SENATE RACE, YET THERE COULD BE
A LEAST A BIT OF A DEPARTMENT O
NARRATIVE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RAC
NEXT YEAR BASED ON SOME COMMENT
OF SOON-TO-BE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE ARE TO GOVERNOR JAMES
COMER WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS NOW
BACKED OFF OF THOSE COMMENTS TO
SOME EXTENT, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
JAIME COMER MADE COMMENTS LAST
FALL TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
OUTLETS.
HE TOLD MY COLLEAGUE AT WFPL
THAT HE MADE COMMENTS TO CN2.
I BELIEVE THE COURIER-JOURNAL
REPORTED ON IT AS WELL.
WHAT HE TOLD WFPL, I'M A FRIEND
OF COAL.
I SUPPORT THE COAL INDUSTRY.
BUT THE COAL INDUSTRY'S FUTURE
DOESN'T LOOK BRIGHT AND WE HAVE
TO LOOK BEYOND THAT AND LEARN T
DEVELOP A NEW ECONOMY IN EASTER
KENTUCKY.
NOW, THIS IS FAR FROM WHAT I
WOULD CALL AN ANTI-COAL
STATEMENT.
IN FACT, AT THE TIME IT WAS KIN
OF I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
THE MEDIA SAID, AH, YOU KNOW,
HE'S ACTUALLY -- THIS IS A
FACT-BASED STATEMENT.
BUT NOW THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, HE'S BEIN
ATTACKED BY HIS REPUBLICAN
OPPONENT HAL HEINER FOR THE
STATEMENT, SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW
HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE FUTUR
OF COAL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY,
HE'S AGAINST COAL.
>> AND THIS WHOLE THING CAME
ABOUT BECAUSE OF AN EVENT IN
LOUISVILLE WHERE STATE
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BURCH SAID
SOME THINGS ABOUT COAL AND NEED
TOPPING LOOK BEYOND COAL IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY.
REPUBLICANS STARTED TO ATTACK
HIM ON IT.
AND THEN YOUR COLLEAGUE, PHIL
BALE WELL POINTED OUT THAT, HEY
COMER SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR TO
THIS A YEAR AGO.
>> YEAH, AND I THINK CALLING IT
SIMILAR.
IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT -- I
MEAN, BURCH'S COMMENTS WERE A
LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW -- I
THINK HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE --
>> COAL IS DIRTY.
>> AND COMER DOES BEGIN HIS
STATEMENT WITH "I AM A FRIEND O
COAL."
>> WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN DEEP
NIGHT THEY'RE SAYING THE COAL
INDUSTRY IS GOING AWAY AND WE
NEED TO START LOOKING.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHERE COMER
OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES I BELIEVE
IN SEPTEMBER 9TH IN HIS HOME
DOWN OF TOMPKINSVILLE, HE'S
GOING TO HAVE HIGH-POWERED COAL
OFFICIALS WITH HIM, COAL OWNERS
AND OPERATORS AND ADDRESS THIS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT
WAS SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
WAS IT'S -- I MEAN, FROM MY
READING, IT'S A FACTUAL
STATEMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS,
EXPERTS SAY COAL IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY ESPECIALLY IS NOT --
THERE WILL BE COAL MINING THERE
FOR A WHILE BUT IT'S JUST NOT
GOING REACH THE NUMBERS AND
EMPLOY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THA
IT USED TO, BUT I ASKED SEVERAL
PEOPLE FOR THIS STORY IS THIS
WHAT -- WHAT WILL VOTERS IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY SAY?
IS THIS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR?
IS THIS, THANK YOU, SOMEBODY IS
BEING REALISTIC?
AND EVERYONE I TALKED TO SAID,
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
ARE READY FOR THIS YET.
>> WELL, BACK JUST FOR A SECOND
TO THE SENATE RACE, LET'S TALK
JUST FORA MOMENT ABOUT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY
CHALLENGING THE SIGNATURES ARE
OF THE LIBERTARIAN SENATE
CANDIDATE DAVID PATTERSON WHO
HAD TO HAVE 5,000 SIGNATURES TO
GET ON THE BALLOT, PLENTY MORE
THAN 9,000.
THEY'RE ASKING COUNTY CLERKS TO
GO IN AND VERIFY THOSE
SIGNATURES.
DO THEY WANT PATERSON OFF THE
BALLOT?
>> I THINK THEY JUST SAY THEY
WANT TO BE SURE THAT HE IS A
LEGAL CANDIDATE.
WHEN THEY WERE REVIEWING THE
SIGNATURES, THEY POINT OUT ONE
EXAMPLE THEY FOUND THE NAME OF
FELLOW NAMED BEN DOVER, AND
AFTER HIS ADDRESS, IT WAS AN
OBSCENE PHRASE, AND SO THEY
SAID, HEY, THIS LOOKS
SUSPICIOUS.
LET'S GO BE SURE HE'S LEGAL.
>> NOW, PATTERSON CLAIMS THAT
HE'S GOT -- THAT THEY VERIFIED
5700 SIGNATURE AND THEY NEED
5,000.
AND THAT'S OUT OF 9,000
SIGNATURES THEY'VE GOT, SO THEY
SAY THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH.
REPUBLICANS MAY NOT WANT HIM ON
THERE.
YOU EXPECT THAT THE LIBERTARIAN
CANDIDATE IS GOING TO DRAW
CONSERVATIVE VOTERS AND THAT
COULD HURT McCONNELL.
THIS IS A CLOSE RACE.
>> AND HE HAS ABOUT 7% OF THE
VOTE IN POLLING.
>> WE'RE HEARING FROM OTHER
CANDIDATES IN NEXT YEAR'S
ELECTIONS, AT LEAST RUMBLINGS.
JACK, A SAY THE SENATOR
CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR.
>> STATE SENATOR DENNIS PARE
OVER THE ELIZABETHTOWN, SAID
THIS WEEK HE'S SERIOUSLY LOOKIN
AT AND IT I NOTICE HE EVEN
CALLED HIS HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
ELIZABETHTOWN AND LET THEM KNOW
SO HE REALLY IS LOOKING AT IT.
WE ALREADY HAVE ONE CANDIDATE I
THERE THAT'S A BROADCASTER,
JEAN-MARIE LAWSON.
>> AND SHE IS ACTIVELY
CAMPAIGNING.
>> YES.
>> A CHANCE FOR DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS GOT TOGETHER THIS
WEEK.
ERICA, THEY GATHERS WEDNESDAY
AND CELEBRATED A $20 MILLION
FEDERAL GRANT WHICH IS DESIGNED
TO HAVE KENTUCKY LOOK AT OTHER
FORMS OF ENERGY.
>> YEAH, IT'S $20 MILLION FROM
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
PLUS $4 MILLION IN MATCHING
FUNDS FROM EPSCORE HERE IN
KENTUCKY, AND IT'S BAISLEY AN
R&D GRANT.
IT'S MONEY TO DEVELOP NEW
TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENERGY
GENERATION AND STORAGE.
SO WE'RE TALKING BAT
PARTNERSHIPS WE'RE TALKING NEW
MEMBRANES FOR REMEDIATION,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE SAYING THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE 150 JOBS OVER
FIVE YEARS, SOME OF THOSE ARE
NEW POSITIONS, SOME ARE TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY FACULTY
AT UNIVERSITIES WORK ON THIS.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE
HEADQUARTERED AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF KENTUCKY AT THE CENTER FOR
APPLIED RESEARCH, BUT
UNIVERSITIES OVER THE STATE ARE
INVOLVED IN IT AS WELL.
>> WITH LABOR DAY APPROACHING
THERE'S A PUSH IN LOUISVILLE TO
RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE WINDS TH
CITY TO $10.10 AN HOUR, A LOCAL
MINIMUM WAGE HIKE.
IN JEFFERS COUNTY ATTORNEY SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE LEGAL TO HAVE
LOCAL MINIMUM WAGE.
LOCAL METRO COUNSEL APPEARS TO
HAVE SOMETHING READY TO SPRING
NEXT WEEK?
>> THAT'S THE WORD.
THEY SAY THAT BY RAISING THE
MINIMUM WAGE GRADUALLY OVER
SEVERAL YEARS FROM $7.25 TO
$10.10 WILL HELP 61,000 WORKERS
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND THEY
THINK THAT THEY -- IF THE
STATE'S NOT GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD ON IT, IF CONGRESS ISN'
GOING MOVE FORWARD ON IT, THEY
THINK THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
ON IT AND HELP OUT WORKERS.
>> DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT HAS A
CHANCE OF PASSAGE?
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THE DEMOCRATI
MAJORITY IN THE LOUISVILLE METR
COUNCIL GETS BEHIND SOMETHING,
THEY'VE GOT TO I A CLEAR
MAJORITY THERE, SO IT'S GOT A
PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING.
>> THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BASICALL
SAYING HE WOULD DEFEND IT IF IT
WERE CHALLENGED.
>> YES.
HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE'S
NOTHING IN THE LAW, THAT CITIES
HAVE PRETTY MUCH BROAD -- BROAD
ABILITY TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS
IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
>> JACK, IF FRANKFORT STATE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL BE
KEEPING CONTROL OF THE BREATHIT
COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THERE WERE HOURS OF TESTIMONY,
LOCALS FROM BREATHITT COUNTY
SHOWED UP BASICALLY BEGGING TO
HAVE LOCAL CONTROL RETURNED
THERE, THAT KDE, THE KENTUCKY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID,
NO, NOT YET.
>> IN DECEMBER OF 2012 THE STAT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TOOK
OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THERE
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 15
YEARS.
THE STATE HAS TAKEN OVER A
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER THE
THEN SUPERINTENDENT ARCH TURNER
WENT TO PRISON, INVOLVEMENT IN
VOTE BUYING SCANDAL, ALSO
SHOWING ECONOMIC DEFICIENCY IN
THE STATE.
THEY PLEADED IN A NINE-HOUR
MEETING.
THERE WERE THREE NEW MEMBERS OF
THE BREATHITT COUNTY SCHOOL
BOARD THAT SAID, LOOK, WE CAME
ON AFTER TURNER.
WE REALLY WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB
WE THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CONTROL THE STATE COMMISSIONER,
KERRY HOLLADAY SAID, NO, LET'S
KNIGHT STATE'S HANDS AND THE
STATE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY T
DO THAT FOR AT LEAST UP TO THRE
MORE YEARS.
>> WHAT DOES IT ESSENTIALLY MEA
WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIO
CONTROLS THE LOCAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM?
I MEAN, ARE THE LOCALS, IS THE
LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD POWERLESS AT
THAT POINT?
>> NO, THEY STILL STAY, QUOTE,
IN OPERATION, BUT THE STATE
WANTS TO BE SURE THE PRINCIPLES
WITH ESPECIALLY THE KEY LEADERS
IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHO
THEY ARE, ARE THEY CONCENTRATIN
HARD ENOUGH ON THE CLASSES AND
THE ACADEMIC WORK.
THE STATE HAS A LOT OF POWER.
>> ERICA, THERE'S AN APPEAL IN
THE BLUEGRASS PIPELINE CASE
WHICH WAS SO CONTROVERSIAL AND
EVEN MADE ITS WAY INTO THE
LEGISLATURE AND THEN EVENTUALLY
THE COURTS, AND WHERE IS THAT
HEADED?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW THE BLUEGRAS
PIPELINE IS, OF COURSE, A
NATURAL GAS PIPELINE THAT WAS
GOING TO GO ALL THE THE WAY
ACROSS KENTUCKY, AND THEY
SPENDED IT FOR MARKET REASONS.
BUT A JUDGE HERE IN FRANKLIN
COUNTY RULED THAT THEY DID NOT
HAVE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAI
FOR THE PIPELINE.
KEV'S EMINENT DOMAIN LAW IS A
LITTLE BIT MURKY.
AND IF BLUEGRASS PIPELINE
COMPANY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
OSTENSIBLY NOT MOVING FORWARD A
THIS TIME, ARE APPEALING THAT T
TRY TO GET THE POWER OF EMINENT
DOMAIN FOR THE PIPELINE.
>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN HOT OWE IN
LOUISVILLE, WE KNOW THAT, AND
THAT IS PARTIALLY BEING BLAMED
FOR THE TOWN ATTENDANCE AT THE
KENTUCKY STATE FAIR THIS YEAR.
>> THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR HAD
ITS 11-DAY RUN AND THEY REPORTE
LATE FRIDAY THAT THEY HAD ABOUT
516,000 VISITORS, THE LAST TWO
YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HAVING MORE
THAN 600,000.
THEY BLAME THE HOT WEATHER.
THE RAINSTORMS.
THEY DIDN'T BLAME BUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE CITE THE PURGE.
>> THE LOUISVILLE PURGE.
IT WAS A RUMORED CRIME SPREE
THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE ON THE
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT OF THE FAIR.
>> BUT THE FAIR WAS STILL ABLE
TO SELL MORE THAN 100,000 POUND
OF PORK, AND I CONTRIBUTED TO
THAT.
>> AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
POLITICAL HAPPENINGS OVER THERE
A LOT OF STORIES THAT CAME OUT
OF THERE.
THE LOW FARE CARRIER FRONTIER
AIRLINES IS GOING TO DOUBLE ITS
SERVICE OUT OF SENATE, NORTHERN
KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
GOING TO NOW OFFER SERVICE TO
VEGAS, TO ORLANDO, FORT
LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, PHOENIX.
IT'S NOT THE RETURN OF THE DELT
FLIGHTS CERTAINLY, BUT
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMEN
THERE.
WOULD YOU SAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND -- A BIG ONE RIGHT THERE
SHARON THOMPSON, A LONGTIME
WRITER NOR THE LEXINGTON HERD
LEADER WHO HAS DONE CLOSE TO --
HERALD-LEADER CLOSE TO 50 YEARS
IN THE JOURNALISM BUSINESS.
>> I WON'T SAY HOW OLD SHE IS,
BUT IT'S BEEN, SAY, MORE THAN
40, AND SHE'S JUST BEEN A
PHENOMENAL ASSET TO THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
YOULY, RECIPES, NEW RESTAURANTS
I ESPECIALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
WHERE I SHOULD EAT NOW IN
LEXINGTON.
AND SHE'S GOING TO BE SOARLY
MISSED, A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR THE
HERALD-LEADER.
>> ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND TH
STATE LABOR CABINET SAYS THAT I
RECOUPS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
WAGES TO WORKERS WHO FOR SOME
REASON ARE NOT GETTING PAID BY
THEIR EMPLOYERS.
THEY DON'T GET MAYBE -- MAYBE
IT'S THEIR FINAL CHECK OR
SOMETHING IS AMISS WITHHELD OR
WHATEVER.
THEY SAY THAT IT IS TWICE AS
MUCH AS IS TAKEN FROM PEOPLE IN
ROBBERIES IN THE STATE.
AND THAT RELEASE CAME OUT TODAY
>> YEAH, THAT WAS A STRONG
COMPARISON.
THAT'S WHAT GOT MY ATTENTION.
YOU LOSE MORE FROM THAT THAN YO
DO IN ROBBERIES IN THE STATE,
AND SO IT'S A CONCERN, WHETHER
THE LEGISLATURE SOMEHOW WILL BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT I DON'T
KNOW WHEN THEY MEET BACK IN
JANUARY.
THEY HAVE SOME WORK ISSUES TO
LOOK AT.
>> ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IS
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAPPY THIS
HAVE A JOB AND THEY'RE NOT GOIN
TO REPORT THE PERSON WHO IS
PAYING THE BILLS OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
>> 1.9 MILLION KENTUCKIANS
EARNING A PAYCHECK RIGHT NOW IN
THE STATE WAS THE THING.
I INTERVIEWED THE STATE LABOR
CABINET SECRETARY FOR LARRY
ROBERTS FOR THE KENTUCKY
NEWSMAKERS PROGRAM THIS WEEK,
AND HE SAID ONE OF THE CONFUSIN
AREAS IS THE AREA WHERE PEOPLE
EARN THEIR LIVING IN PART BY
TIPS AND IN PART BY WAGE, AND
THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
>> THE JOB MARKET DOES SEEM TO
BE IMPROVING OVERALL IN THE
STATE BUT THE WAGES AREN'T
CLIMBING AND THAT POLICE BRINGS
US BACK TO THAT ISSUE ONE AND
ONLY.
>> THEY SAY THE CAMPAIGN REALLY
STARTS AFTER LABOR DAY.
>> IT'S ALREADY STARTED.
>> WE KNOW THAT.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT NEXT WEEK?
AND RIGHT AFTER THAT WE EXPECT
THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JAMES
COMER ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
>> THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE
SENATE RACE IS ONE THING AFTER
ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
I DON'T EXPECT THIS RACE TO SLO
DOWN AT ALL BETWEEN NOW AND
INNOVATOR.
THE COMER ENTRY INTO THE RACE I
GOING TO BE A QUICK PLASH FLASH
BUT NOBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION
TO THE OTHER RACES.
>> AND MANY TV ADS FOR WKYD AND
OTHER TELEVISION STATIONS.
>> ALL THE OTHERS, THAT'S RIGHT
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOININ
US FOR THIS EDITION OF "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY."
AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE YOU HAVE
HAPPY LABOR DAY AND A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.