>> TAX RETURNS, JOBS AND ELDERLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ARE HOT
TOPICS IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
SOME LAWMAKERS STRONGLY QUESTION
THE COST OF KENTUCKY'S MEDICAID
EXPANSION.
A PANEL IS APPOINTED TO LOOK AT
HOW TO FIX THE STATE TEACHERS
RETIREMENT SYSTEM BEFORE IT RUNS
OUT OF MONEY.
AND KENTUCKY REMEMBERS AN
AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST AND
EDITOR WHO PUSHED FOR PROGRESS.
TROPICAL RAIN ARRIVES JUST AHEAD
OF SUMMER, AND FATHER'S DAY.
AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET
GOOD EVENING.
I'M BILL BRYANT.
WE RECOMMEND TO YOU COMMENT ON
KET.
OUR
RONNIE ELLIS, REPORTER FOR CNHI
NEWS SERVICE, SAM YOUNGMAN,
POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, AND
DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR THE
LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL.
GREAT PANEL TONIGHT.
IT CERTAINLY IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU
BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BACK ON THE BEAT REPORTING ON
SOCIAL SERVICES AFTER A FEW
YEARS OFF WRITING EDITOR
CORRALS.
THIS WEEK THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
BROUGHT SOME NUMBERS IN,
TESTIFIED ABOUT THE MEDICAID
EXPANSION IN KENTUCKY, INDICATED
THAT THINGS ARE GOING OKAY WITH
THAT.
IT PROVIDES COVERAGE TO
THOUSANDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE IT
BEFORE, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE
FIGURES AND THEY ARE QUESTIONING
THE FUTURE COSTS TO THE STATE.
>> I THINK THEY'VE ADDED ABOUT 4
4,400,000 PEOPLE, 500,000 TOTAL
ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE BUT
400,000 THROUGH THE MEDICAID
EXPANSION, AND THE REPUBLICANS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE
WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DUBIOUS
ABOUT WHETHER KENTUCKY CAN
AFFORD ITS SHARE WHEN THE
FEDERAL, BASICALLY THE FEDERAL
COVERAGE RUNS OUT, THE FEDS
FINANCED IT 100% THROUGH --
>> IT BEGINS IN 2017.
>> AND IT WILL START TO PHASE
OUT BUT THE FEDS WILL ALWAYS PAY
10%.
BUT T. SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE LEGISLATURE SAY EVEN THAT
10% WHEN YOU'RE LINGER AT
400,000 PEOPLE COULD BE QUITE A
BIT FOR KENTUCKY, AND THEY'RE
SKEPTICAL OF BESHEAR'S CLAIM AND
AUDREY HAINES, SCATTER OF HEALTH
AND FAMILY SERVICES, THAT THE
BENEFITS AND THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND THE MONEY THIS
PUTS INTO THE SYSTEM WILL MAKE
UP FOR THE -- WHAT THE STATE HAS
TO PAY.
>> AND RONNIE, I UNDERSTAND IT
GOT QUITE ACRIMONIOUS IN THAT
OVERSIGHT MEETING.
>> IT DID.
THERE WERE DEBATES IN THAT
MEETING NOT ONLY ABOUT MEDICAID
EXPANSION BUT ALSO MANAGED CARE,
WHICH THE STATE HAS MOVED TO IN
ORDER TO REDUCE COSTS.
BUT THEY BASICALLY QUESTIONED
THE NUMBERS AND THE DATA
PROVIDED BY SECRETARY HAINES.
FOR INSTANCE, DEBBIE'S NUMBERS
ARE CORRECT.
WE WILL INCREMENTALLY PICK UP A
PIECE OF THAT 10% ON THE
EXPANDED PORTION, NOT ALL
MEDICAID.
THE ONES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY
BEEN THERE WERE ALREADY PAYING
30% ON THOSE.
BUT SOME ESTIMATES ARE AS MUCH
AS $300 MILLION WHEN THAT IS
FULLY PICKED UP.
BUT MS. HAINES' POINT IS THAT
BETWEEN THIS LAST YEAR AND THAT
POINT, WE WILL HAVE SAVED
$919 MILLION, AND THEY JUST --
THEY WON'T BUY THAT NUMBERS.
>> IS THAT THROUGH THE MANAGED
CARE?
>> IT'S THROUGH MANAGED CARE
BUT, NO, THE EXPANSION ITSELF,
IT'S LARGELY BECAUSE PEOPLE
FORGET THAT THE STATE --
>> UNCOMPENSATED CARE.
>> -- HAVE TO PAY FOR CARE FOR
STATE PRISONERS, WARDS OF THE
STATE AND SO FORTH.
NOW THOSE PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR THE
EXPANDED MEDICAID, AND INSTEAD
OF THE STATE PAYING 100% OF THE
COST, IT'S PAYING AT MOST 10% OF
THE COST IN THREE YEARS.
>> WELL, IS THIS NUMBER A MOVING
TARGET?
AND DO THOSE WHO QUESTION THE
NUMBERS BELIEVE THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE A
VALID ESTIMATE?
>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
IT IS CERTAINLY A MOVING TARGET.
I THINK THE CRITICS DO BELIEVE
THAT.
AND I THINK THE DEFENDERS WILL
TURN AROUND AND TELL YOU IT'S A
MOVING TARGET, TOO.
THAT'S SO MANY YEARS OUT, SO
MANY THINGS CAN CHANGE.
AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SECRETARY HAINES TOLD THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT
MORNING, AND SHE WAS VERY
CAREFUL TO SAY WE DON'T -- WE'RE
NOT CLAIMING THIS TO BE A TREND
BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TIME THING,
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL
CONTINUE, BUT THE NUMBER HAS
ACTUALLY BEGUN TO DROP.
THEY'RE ASSUMING, BECAUSE OF THE
IMPROVING ECONOMY, PEOPLE FORGET
MOST MEDICAID CLIENTS, IT'S NOT
INCOME DETERMINATIVE, IT IS
AGED, POOR AND DISABLE AND
CHILDREN.
BUT THE NEW EXPANDED PIECE IS
INCOME-RELATED, AND AS PEOPLE
GET BACK INTO THE JOB MARKET,
THEY EARN THEIR WAY OUT.
>> THROUGH PRIVATE INSURANCE.
>> THEY WILL PICK UP AN EMPLOYER
PLAN OR THEY WILL MAKE ENOUGH
MONEY THAT THEY DON'T QUALIFY
FOR MEDICAID IN YOUMORE BUT THEY
CAN GET A PRIVATE PLAN THROUGH
KYNECT, THROUGH THE HEALTH
EXCHANGE.
>> SAM, THIS IS ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY
INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE RIGHT
NOW.
YOU WROTE A PIECE EARLIER IN THE
WEEK ABOUT THIS DILEMMA FOR
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE JACK CONWAY
AS TO WHETHER HE EMBRACES THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION AND KYNECT AS
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MATT
BEVIN INDICATES THAT HE WOULD
SHUT DOWN THE STATE EXCHANGE,
MOVE THOSE PEOPLE OVER TO THE
FEDERAL EXCHANGE, AND SCALE BACK
THE MEDICAID EXPANSION IN SOME
WAY.
>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK THERE'S A
POLITICAL RISK FOR BOTH
ARGUMENTS.
THAY THIS MATT BEVIN AND ANY
REPUBLICAN REALLY MAKING THIS
CASE RUNS THE RISK OF SEEMING T.
VERY CALLOUS OR INDIFFERENT TO
THE PLIGHT OF THE POOR.
THE REASON I SORT OF TOOK A
CLOSE LOOK AT WHETHER JACK
CONWAY IS GOING TOME BRACE THIS,
RUN ON IT OR RUN FROM IT, IS
JUST LOOKING FOR BACK AT WHAT WE
SAW LAST YEAR.
WE SAW ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES
TAKE THIS SORT OF LUKEWARM
APPROACH, NOT REALLY EMBRACING
IT, SAYING I LIKE IT BUT WANT IT
TO CHANGE, BUT NOT SAYING WHAT
SHE WOULD CHANGE, AND I THINK
THE QUESTION YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF IS IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT
RUNNING IN KENTUCKY, YOU LOOK AT
THE POLLING AND YOU SEE THAT
PEOPLE LIKE WICKETT THEY DON'T
LIKE OBAMACARE.
DO YOU TAKE THE RISK AND RUN ON
KYNECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
RUNNING TO SEED STEVE BESHEAR?
THIS IS THE CORNER SAN ANTONIO
HIS LEGACY.
I TALKED TO OUR FRIEND STEVEN
VOSS AT THE TIME UNIVERSITY
KENTUCKY IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR
THE GOVERNOR TO GET OUT THERE
AND PUSH FOR JACK IF JACK IS
PUSHING FOR HIS PROGRAM.
>> AND YOU'RE TALKING A MATTER
OF SEMANTICS IN POLLING.
>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
AND REGION MADE THIS POINT
EARLIER, HE AND I WERE ON A
FORUM TOGETHER THAT THE PREFIXED
HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE KY
OR THE OBAMA, THAT CAN GREATLY
INFLUENCE PEOPLE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK LAST YEAR AND
ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES DID NOT
MAKE AN EFFORT TO EMBRACE THE
HEALTH CARE LAW, THE EXCHANGE
HERE IN KENTUCKY ELIZABETH JENN
WHO RAN FOR CONGRESS IN THE
LEXINGTON AREA IN THE 6th
ACCORDING DISTRICT HE EMBRACED
IT, SHE RAN ON IT.
SHE ALSO LOST BALAD.
SO I THINK I CAN UNDERSTAND --
BADLY.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THE RISKS THEY
SEE WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING NOT TO
EMBRACE THIS.
MY PERSONAL OPINION I FEEL
CANDIDATES ARE STRONGER WHEN
THEY RUN ON SOMETHING RATHER
THAN RUN AWAY FROM IT.
BUT AS LONG AS DEMOCRATS RUNNING
AGAINST THESE HEADWINDS CREATED
BY THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL
RATING IN KEV IT'S GOING TO BE A
TOUGH CALL FOR THEM.
>> WHERE IS CON WITE ISSUE?
>> WHAT HE'S TOLD ME ON ELECTION
DAY, AND HE SAID, WE DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW THE FULL COST OF THIS UNTIL
2021 HELP HOW CAN YOU SAY WE
CAN'T AFFORD IT IF YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT IT COSTS?
HE SAID HE'S OPEN TO TINKERING.
IT WAS SIMILAR TO THE E. ANSWER
GRIMES GIVES LAST YEAR, HE'S
OPEN TO TINKERING WITH THIS OR
THAT.
I AMWHAT I'M NOT TWILLING TO DO
IS LOOK HALF HAD A MILLION
KENTUCKIANS AND SAY I'M TAKING
AWAY YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> THE CANDIDATES TOGETHER
APPEARED IN LOUISVILLE TODAY.
YOU WERE BOTH THERE.
HOW DID SOMETHING THAT.
>> IT WAS A BLAST.
>> WAS IT VERY EXCITING?
>> IT WAS NOT A DEBATE.
THAT MUCH IS CERTAIN.
THE CANDIDATES, AND REALLY IT
WAS TOP TO BOTTOM OF THE TICKET
ALL GOT UP AND SPOKE.
FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES
IT WAS AN ALLOTTED 15 MINUTES
FOR EACH OF THEM.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM JACK CONWAY I
THINK WAS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT
TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS
BEEN RUNNING IN CO-FOR SHOT
CLOCK HE HAS.
HE WAS FAMILIAR -- RUNNING IN
KENTUCKY FOR AS LONG HE HAS.
HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE THE
COUNTY JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES.
WHAT YOU HEARD FROM MATT BEVIN
IS MORE OF WHAT YOU HEARD FROM
HIM WAS AN INTRODUCTION, OUGHT
BY GRAPHICAL.
I WAS REMIND OUTSIDE OF A
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AUDIENCE HE'S
NOT THAT WELL-KNOWN WITH THE
GENERAL ELECTORATE AT THAT TIME
SO HE'S GOT TO GO THROUGH THAT
AGAIN INTRODUCING HIMSELF.
I THINK WE DID SEE SOME PREVIEWS
OF WHAT ARE GOING TO BE SOME
FLASHPOINTS MOVING INTO THE
FALL, AMONG THEM BEING EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONTRAST
IN THAT YOU HAD JACK CONWAY
TALKING ABOUT WHAT KENTUCKY
NEEDS, WHAT THE COUNTIES NEED.
AND THEN YOU HAD MATT BEVIN
ESSENTIALLY SAYING, EVERYTHING
THAT GUY JUST SAID, WE CAN'T
AFFORD ANY OF IT.
SO IT SETS UP, I THINK
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS GOING TO
BE A VERY NASTY RACE.
SOMEBODY ASKED ME FOR MY
PREDICTION.
I SAID I'M PREDICTING LOW
TURNOUT.
THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS I'M
WILLING TO GO RIGHT NOW.
BUT AT LEAST WHAT WE'RE SEEING
VERY STARK CONTRASTS IN WHERE
THEY STAND ON THE ISSUE.
>> CONWAY RELEASED THREE YEARS
WORTH OF INCOME TAX RUSHES
EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND
CHALLENGED BEVIN TO DO THE SAME.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM SEEING
CONWAY'S RETURNS?
HE HAD A GOOD YEAR LAST YEAR.
>> HE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR LAST
YEAR.
BOTH CANDIDATES ARE WEALTHY TO
SOME STENT.
THE QUESTION IS HOW HEALTHY
WEALTHY PERHAPS WITH MR. BEVIN.
MR. CONWAY LAST YEAR SOLD A
GREAT DEAL OF STOCK THAT HE HAD
INVESTED IN, ABOUT $5 MILLION
WORTH, WHICH GAVE HIM A TAXABLE
INCOME FOR THE YEAR OF ABOUT
$4.1 MILLION.
NOW, HE REINVESTED ABOUT 90% OF
THAT MONEY, AND IT ENDED UP
PAYING ABOUT A $1.1 MILLION IN
FEDERAL -- COMBINED FEDERAL AND
STATE TAXES.
THAT WAS AN UNUSUAL YEAR.
THE YEAR BEFORE I THINK HE MADE
$233,000 AND THE YEAR BEFORE
THAT SOMETHING JUST UNDER
$220,000.
EACH YEAR HE PAID ABOUT 19 OR
20 PERCENT RATE ON.
>> SO IT WAS A LOT OF STOCK
EXCHANGES LAST YEAR?
>> YES.
HE SOLD -- 57,000 UNITS I
BELIEVE.
I'M NOT SURE OF THAT NUMBER BUT
IT WAS $5.1 MILLION IN WORTH.
HE, OF COURSE, IS CHALLENGING
BEVIN TO RELEASE HIS TAX
RETURNS.
BEVIN, WHO TOUTS THE COMPANIES
THAT HE'S BEGUN AND HE RUNS AN
INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAID TODAY
HE MANAGES -- '05 FORGOTTEN HOW
MANY BILLION BE -- 5 BILLION OF
PENSION BENEFITS BUT SHE HAD
HEIST IT'S A DISTRACTION IN
NONSENSE TO RELEASE HIS TAX
RETURNS BOOF OF ABOUT BEING
ELECTED GOVERNOR BUT WE WOULD DO
SO AFTER HE IS ELECTED IF HE IS
ELECTED.
>> I THINK THIS IS HAD A SMART
POLITICAL GAM BIT FOR THE CONWAY
CAMPAIGN RIGHT OUT OF THE GAME
AT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS USING
THIS ISSUE TO CONTINUE THE
NARRATIVE THAT THE McCONNELL
CAMPAIGN BUILT AS PAINTING MATT
BEVIN AS DISHONEST OR UNTRUST
WORTHY.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THEY PUT
UP THE TAX RETURNS AND THEN
IMMEDIATELY ASKED, MATT, WHY
WON'T YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU
HIDEING?
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, MATT
INTENSIVE STILL LARGELY UNKNOWN
AUTONOMY TO ALIENLY GENERAL
ELECTORATE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU'RE ROOTING FOR JACK CON
QUAYE YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH
THIS OPENING SALVO OR ATTACK
LINE.
>> WILL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE
CAMPAIGN AND COULD BEVIN REVERSE
COURSE AS WAS POINTED OUT ON THE
PROGRAM LAST WEEK, STEVE BESHEAR
DID THIS 2007 WHEN INITIALLY HOO
HE WAS RELUCTANT TO RELEASE HIS
RETURNS?
>> TITUS A GOOD WAY TO MAKING IT
GO AWAY.
WAS WE'RE GETTING IS IT'S BEEN
NINE DAYS SINCE MATT BEVIN
REFUSED TO RELEASE HIS TAX
RETURNS.
ANY EFFORT TO PAINT SOMEBODY WHO
IS NOT FROM HERE, HAS A RECORDED
OFFER OF SAYING THINGS THAT
AREN'T NECESSARILY TRUE, I THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM AS A
WAY TO HAMMER THIS ISSUE.
>> AND BEVIN IS PUSHING CONWAY
TO RELEASE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE
JOB PLANS, AND APPARENTLY CONWAY
IS EXPECTING TO DO SOMETHING
NEXT WEEK.
>> HE IS GOING TO'S LEASE A JOBS
PROGRAM NEXT WEEK, AND MATT
BEVIN SAID THAT IS, QUOTE,
AWESOME.
AFTER BEING IN THE RACE FOR A
YEAR IT'S ABOUT TIME.
>> AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
DREW KIRTZ HAS THIS OFF-BEAT
WEBSITE CALLED F.A.R.C..COM THAT
COLLECTS FIN STORIES FROM AROUND
THE WORLD, AND FROM RIGHT HERE
IN KENTUCKY IS WHERE HE
OPERATES.
HE LEARNED HE CANNOT USE
ELECTRICALLIC SIGNATURES TO
REACH THE 5,000 QUALIFIEDICS
SIGNATURES THAT HE WHOSE TO HAVE
TO GET ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IN
KENTUCKY.
DOES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR
HIM TO REACH THAT BAR?
>> I THINK SO.
>> YEAH, I THINK SO, TOO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EASY THING
TO DO TO GET 5,000 VALID
SIGNATURES.
AND IN FACT IF THE THRESHOLD OR
THE MARK IS 5,000, MOST
CANDIDATES WILL TRY TO GET 7,000
JUST ANTICIPATING THE NUMBERS
THAT COULD BE DISQUALIFIED AS
NOT VALID.
SO NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT
AVENUE JUST MAKE IT THAT MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT.
>> AS OF LAST WEEK THEY WERE
THERE HALFWAY THERE.
DREW IS VERY CONFIDENT HE'S
GOING TO GET THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, DREW
IS A VERY CAST GUY.
>> HE'S WORKINGY FESTIVALS AND
PARADES?
>> I WENT IN THE -- IN THE
SPRING I WENT WITH HIM TO A
COMIC BOOK CONVENTION KNOWN AS
COMIC CON IN LICENSES WHERE HE
WAS TRYING TO GET SIGNATURE FROM
THE CHEWBACCA AND IS THE
STORMTROOPERS THAT WERE WALK CAN
BY.
HE FEELS VERY CONFIDENT.
THE FIRST TIME I SAT DOWN WITH
HIM HE SAID I CAN GET THE VOTES
I NEED, I JUST HAVE TO GET THE
SIGNATURES FIRST.
BUT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING FOOD
HALFWAY THERE WE'VE GOT A LITTLE
OVER -- OR JUST LESS THAN TWO
MONTHS TO GET THEM.
IT'S GOING TO I THINK GO DOWN TO
THE WIRE.
>> THE KENTUCKY CORPORATION THAT
BANS FROM MAKING POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARTIES IS
UNDER LEGAL CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.
>> IT'S BEEN CHALLENGED IN
FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT BY THE
PROTECT MY CHECK GROUP OUT OF
FLORIDA, WHICH IS SPONSORING ALL
THE LOCAL RIGHT TO WORK
ORDINANCES.
THEY HAVE SECURED LEGAL HELP
FROM AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE
GOLDWATER INSTITUTE OUT OF
ARIZONA, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT OR
MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR.
THEIR CASE BASICALLY IS UNIONS
MAY MAKE DONATIONS BUT ARE
CORPORATIONS CANNOT, AND IT'S
DISCRIMINATORY.
WE'LL SEE.
I THINKY THEIR LARGER GOAL IS
RETREATED RIGHT TO WORK
LEGISLATION.
>> DEBORAH, AS WE MENTIONED
YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR BEAT
COVERING SOCIAL SERVICES AFTER A
FEW YEARS AWAY WRITING EDITOR
ALWAYS OODLES.
YOU HAD YOUR OWN OFFICE THERE IN
LOUISVILLE FOR A WHILE.
>> I DID.
IT WAS KIND OF LONELY.
>> SO ARE THE ISSUES THE SAME?
ARE THE STORIES PLENTIFUL NOW
THAT YOU'RE BACK ON THIS BEAT?
>> THEY ARE, AND SADLY I DON'T
SEE A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE HELP
IN FACT, THE DEMAND FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES HAS EVEN INCREASED.
I REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK
THAT APPARENTLY A RECORD NUMBER
OF KIDS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN OUT
OF HOMES BECAUSE OF ABUSE,
SUSPECTED ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
THAT'S UP OVER 8,000, AND NO ONE
CAN REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS HIGHER.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT THEORIES
ABOUT THAT.
SOME SAY THAT THE RECOVERY
HASN'T QUITE BIT EVERYBODY IN
KENTUCKY, AND POVERTY AND JUST
HOMELESSNESS AND A LOT OF THOSE
ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSERS A
PROBLEM.
HEROIN IS CONTINUING TO
INFILTRATE THE FAMILY SPORTS,
THAT'S APPARENTLY A VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT POPULATION TO WORK
WITH.
SO THE STATE IS DEALING WITH
THAT ISSUE AND, OF COURSE, THAT
ADDS TO DISPLACEMENT FOR KIDS,
INCREASED COSTS, A LOT OF
DISRUPTION.
>> THE NEEDLE EXCHANGES ARE
STARTING IN THE STATE.
THERE'S ONE IN LOUISVILLE AND
SOME OTHERS ARE SOMEWHERE THE IN
PROFESSES GETTING GOING.
THIS IS PART OF THE EFFORT TO
TRY TO DEAL WITH HEROIN.
IT'S VERY EARLY IN LOUISVILLE'S
EXPERIMENT, RIGHT?
>> I THINK IT JUST STARTED THIS
WEEK OR LAST.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE BOARD OF
HEALTH IS OUT 2 THAT PROGRAM.
BUT I THINK THE WITH THAT
PROGRAM.
BUT I THINK THE EXPERIENCE IN
INDIANA ACROSS THE RIVER FROM US
WHERE THEY HAD THAT SOARING RATE
OF HIV INFECTION REALLY GOT THE
ATTENTION OF PEOPLE IN
LOUISVILLE AND AROUND THE STATE
AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW LAW THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED JUST THIS
YEAR, THE HEROIN BILL, WHICH
DOES PERMIT NEEDLE EXCHANGES
WITH THE APPROVAL OF LOCAL
AUTHORITIES THEREON THE HEALTH
DEBT, AND THE BIG SELLING POINT
ON THAT CONTINUES TO BE THAT THE
STATISTICS AND DATA SHOW THAT
THEY'RE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AT
GETTING ADDICTS INTO THE SYSTEM
AND INTO TREATMENT, SORT OF
BRING THEM OUT FROM THE DARK END
OF THE INTO THE LIGHT AND AT
LEAST THEY CAN BEGIN TO WORK
WITH THEM AND HOPE TO CHANGE
THEIR BEHAVIOR.
>> YOU ROTE RECENTLY KENTUCKY IS
ACCUSED OF BEING NOT AGGRESSIVE
ENOUGH IN GOING AFTER SOME
WELFARE FRAUD, AND THAT HAS TO
DO WITH THE SNAP PROGRAM.
>> MEANS FOOD STAMPS,
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THE USDA
IS VERY PROUD OF THE SNAP
PROGRAM.
THEY FEEL HIKE IT DOES A LOT OF
GOOD IN KENTUCKY.
IT PUTS MORE THAN $1 BILLION A
YEAR INTO THE ECONOMY.
AND ELLEN EVER MORE THAN 800,000
PEOPLE GET FOOD STAMPS IN
KENTUCKY FROM THE SNAP PROGRAM.
AND SO THEY CONCERNED BECAUSE
THEY FEEL LIKE KENTUCKY HAS NOT
BEEN ADDRESSING QUICKLY ENOUGH
THE BACKLOG OF COMPLAINTS OF
FRAUD.
SOMEONE MISUSING THE SYSTEM,
PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, NOT SELLING
THEIR BENEFITS, LYING ABOUT
INCOME.
ANY WAY, THERE ARE ABOUT 2,000
OF THOSE CASES BACK UP AND THE
USDA WANTS THEM PROCESSED MORE
QUICKLY, AND AFTER SEVERAL YEARS
OF NEGOTIATION AND DISCUSSION
THEY BE FINALLY SAINT WARNING
LETTER TO KENTUCKY SAYING THEY
COULD CUT OFF THE MONEY THEY GET
TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM WHICH
IS ABOUT $40 MILLION IN KENTUCKY
DOESN'T ADDRESS THOSE PROGRAMS.
PROGRAMS,
ADDRESS THOSE BACKLOG OF CASES.
SO I RAISED THAT ISSUE WITH AUDI
REHAINES, THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, AND
SHE SAID WE'RE AWARE THAT OF,
DEALING WITH IT, AND WE'RE GOING
TO FIX IT.
>> WELL, BEGINNING NEXT WEEK
THERE WILL BE NEW REQUIREMENT
FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BY COUGH
MEDICINES THAT CONTAIN AN
INGREDIENT THAT HAD BEEN USED TO
MAKE ILLICIT DRUGS.
I'LL SAY IT COUSIN.
DEXTROMETHORPHANY OR AND WE'VE N
SOME POLLING WHERE PEOPLE
VOLUNTARILY STEP IN.
31st LOT OF ANGST ABOUT THAT
NEW LAW COMING IN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THAT
WILL BE QUITE AN INCONVENIENCE.
BUT THE PURPOSE AGAIN IS TO
KEEP IT AWAY FROM BEING USED
INCORRECTLY.
>> I THINK BASICALLY YOU TWO
HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF
PRESCRIPTION IF YOU ARE A MINOR.
I THINK THE LAW IS DIRECTED
MINORS.
AND I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE PROCESS
THAT THEY USED TO TAKE THEM, THE
SUBSTANCE THAT YOU CAN
PRONOUNCE, AND I CAN'T, AND WORK
IT INTO A HIGH WHICH THEY CALL
ROBO TRIPPING.
AND BECAUSE OF ROBE US THEIN
BEING A PRODUCT THAT CON -- ROBE
TUESDAY INBEING A PRODUCT THAT
CONTAINS THIS.
BUT I DON'T THIS THAT I IT'S
GOING TO HAVE A LARGE EFFECT ON
ADULT USERS.
AND YOU WILL REMEMBER WHEN THEY
WERE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE
METHAMPHETAMINE EPIDEMIC AND
THEY TRIED TO ADDRESS SUED
PSEUDOEPHEDRINE THAT THEY HAD IS
AIM COMPLAINT SEVERAL LAWS GO
INTO EFFECT THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW WILL
BE GOING INTO EFFECT, AND THAT'S
A HOT POTATO IN TERMS OF WHAT
COURT SYSTEM IS GOING TO HANDLE
THAT.
>> THAT'S THE DATING VIOLENCE
BILL.
>> AND BY THE WAY, THAT ONE, AND
I MADE THE MISTAKE ON THAT AS
WELL, THAT ACTUALLY DOES NOT GO
INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1.
>>Y OH, REALLY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> BUT BECAUSE -- BUT THEY'RE
NEEDING TIME DO,-TO-WORK OUT
WHETHER THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM
FOR DISTRICT COURTS WILLING
HANDLE THAT, RIGHT?
>> YES.
IT'S UNDER A DIFFERENT CODE OR
OF A DIFFERENT CHAPTER OF CODE.
IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THING
BECAUSE CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T
WANT TO EQUATE IT WITH MARRIAGE
BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES
CONCERNS.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE DETERMINED
ABOUT HOW TO PROCESS IT.
>> MANY KENTUCKIANS TOOK SOME
TIME OUT TO ATTEND A MEMORIAL
SERVICE OR HAVE A DISCUSSION TO
REMEMBER THOSE WHO WERE KILLED
IN THIS ATTACK AT A HISTORIC
BLACK CHURCH IN CHARLESTON,
SOUTH CAROLINA, DURING THIS
WEEK, RONNIE.
CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
GOT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
>> WITHOUT QUESTION.
THAT WAS SO HORRIFIC, THAT IS
A -- I THINK THE OLDEST BLACK
CHURCH.
>> AME CHURCH IN THE UNITED
STATES.
>> IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY DRAWN
NATIONAL ATTENTION, AND IT
FOLLOWS A LONG STRING OF OTHER
CONTROVERSIAL KILLINGS, AND THE
YOUNG MAN THAT THEY HAVE
ARRESTED APPARENTLY WAS
INDICATING THAT HE WISHED TO
BEGIN A RACE WAR OR A CIVIL WAR.
>> AND, SAM, THE PRESIDENT USED
THAT AGAIN TO BRING UP THE ISSUE
OF EASY ACCESS TO GUNS.
DOES THAT ONCE AGAIN BECOME A
POLITICAL ISSUE GOING INTO THIS
ELECTION CYCLE THIS YEAR AND
NEXT?
>> I DON'T THINK IT EVER STOPS
BEING A POLITICAL ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER STARTED
BEING A REAL DEBATE.
THIS WAS THE 14TH TIME THIS
PRESIDENT HAS GONE TO THE WHITE
HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM OR THE
EASTERN WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND HAD TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON A
SHOOTING LIKE THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOTTEN TO THE
POINT WHERE I FEEL LIKE THESE
SORTS OF TRAGEDIES HAVE AN
IMMEDIATE ECHO, AND THAT IT'S
COMPOUND BY THE TRAGEDY OF US
TEARING EACH OTHER APART OVER
THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OF ALL OF
THIS.
I THINK FOR REPUBLICANS THE
2nd APPENDMENT ISSUES ARE
ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO
TALK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN A
STATE OF KENTUCKY IT'S DIFFICULT
FOR DEMOCRATS TO TALK ABOUT.
YES, IT CONTINUES TO BE A WEDGE
ISSUE.
DOES IT EVER START BEING AN
ACTUAL DEBATE?
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY.
>> DEBORAH BE, THE USE OF DEADLY
FORCE AGAINST THE POLICE
REMEMBER RECIPRO CATED BY
POLICE.
DAVE WELCHLER SAID WE ARE NOT
YOUR PUNCHING BAG AND THIS CAME
AFTER AN INCIDENT LATE LAST WEEK
GOING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT WAS
SEEN ON VIDEO THAT GOT A LOT OF
ATTENTION.
>> THAT WAS A CASE WHERE A
SUDANESE MAN WHO HAD COME HERE
AS A REFUGEE WAS APPARENTLY
IMPAIRED THEY THINK BY ALCOHOL
AND PROBABLY SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS AND WAS ACCOSTING PEOPLE
ON THE STREET, AND ACCORDING TO
VIDEO AND WITNESS ACCOUNTS, WENT
AFTER THE OFFICER WITH A METAL
POLE AND HE TRIED TO INTERIOR
VEEN, AND THE OFFICER SHOT AND
KILLED HIM.
IT CAUSED A LOT OF DEBATE AND
DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK PEOPLE
AWARE THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE
SOME SELF-DEFENSE ISSUES THERE
FOR THE OFFICER, ALTHOUGH
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION
BACK AND FORTH IN SOME OF THE
NATIONAL EVENTS ABOUT
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN BEING
KILLED BY PLACE ARE BLACK MALES.
SO OFFICER MUCHLER I BELIEVE
HE'S A SERGEANT WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, HEAD OF THE FOP CAME
OUT WITH AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
PUBLIC BASICALLY SAYING POLICE
WERE TIRED OF ILL-INFORMED
OPINIONS AND BEING CRITICIZED
FOR TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AND
MADE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT
YOU MENTIONED.
AND THEN HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE
IN LOUISVILLE TODAY WHERE HE
TRIED TO FURTHER SORT OF EXPLAIN
SORT OF THE FRUSTRATION THE
OFFICERS FEEL AND DID APPARENTLY
STAY & UNTIL ALL REPORTERS'
QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH HEADWAY HE
MADE IN SORT OF PUTTING THAT
ISSUE TO REST.
>> REGION, GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS
APPOINTED MOST OF A 23-MEMBER
COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE
KENTUCKY TEACHERS RETIREMENT
SYSTEM WHICH EXPERTS SAY COULD
RUN OUT OF MONEY WITHIN ABOUT 20
YEARS OR SO IF THERE'S NOT SOME
MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR FIX.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JEFF
HOOVER IS CRITICAL OF THE
MAKE-UP OF THAT GROUP, RIGHT?
>> YES.
IT WAS ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE
HOOVER WHO INITIALLY CALLED ON
GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO SAME NAME
SUCH AS A TASK FORCE.
THERE HAD BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM
THE GOVERNOR, AND AT THE LAST
MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
RESEARCH COMMITTEE, THE 16
LAWMAKERS THAT RUN THE
LEGISLATURE, THEY TALKED ABOUT
CREATING ONE OF THEIR OWN.
BESHEAR RESPONDS WERE A
23-MEMBER TASK FORCE MADE UP
LARGELY OF EDUCATORS AND
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN
EDUCATION IN AND
EDUCATION ADVOCATES, AND
REPRESENTATIVE HOOVER SAYS
BASICALLY THERE ARE SPECIAL
INTERESTS.
WE NEED AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT
ANALYSIS.
AND HE THINKS THIS IS GOING TO
SIMPLY COME BACK WITH A
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE FAVORED ALL ALONG
OF BONDING.
>> ARE TEACHERS AND RETIRED
TEACHERS A POWERFUL VOTING
BLOCK, SIGNAL.
>> YES, THEY CAN BE.
OF COURSE, I GROUP IN A HOUSE
WITH A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER OF A
MOM SO THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARILY
POWERFUL VOTING BLOCK IN OUR
HOUSE.
>> THAT WAS NOT FAIR.
RAND PAUL STARTED OUT THE WEEK
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, HOME TO
FELLOW SENATOR AND REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER
LINDSEY GRAHAM WHO SAID THAT ANY
REPUBLICAN BUT PAUL WOULD BE
BETTER THAN DEMOCRAT HILLARY
CLINTON AS PRESIDENT.
THEY APPARENTLY DISAGREE ON
MILITARY AND FOREIGN POLICY
ISSUES PRIMARILY, RIGHT?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.
WE HEARD SIMILAR COMMENTS FROM
GOVERNOR CHRISTY,
CHRISTMAHANAKWANZAKAH TY
YESTERDAY.
I THINK THE -- CHRIS CHRISTIE.
LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN A A. AS A
CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD WITH RAND
PAUL IN THE MIL.
THERE'S A CHECKLIST TO GET INTO
THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
YOU VISIT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA
AND BEAT UP RAND PAUL ON FOREIGN
POLICY.
>> KENTUCKY LOST A TRAILBLAZING
JOURNALIST, EDITOR AND A TRUE
GENTLEMAN MERE IN THE BLUEGRASS
WITH THE DEATH OF JOHN CARROLL.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS AT THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER, THE BALTIMORE,
AND YOU THE LOS ANGELES TIME WON
AWARDS INCLUDING A MULTIPLE
PULITZER PRIZES PRIDES PEPS WHAT
IS IT ABOUT A NEWSROOM MANAGER'S
LEADERSHIP THAT MAKES SUCH A
DIFFERENCE IN HOW THINGS GO?
RONNIE?
>> WELL, I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE
AN EDITOR -- I NEVER WORKED FOR
MR. CARROLL BUT HIS REPUTATION
WAS THAT HE HIRED GOOD PEOPLE,
TALENTED PEOPLE, AND HE
ENCOURAGED THEM TO GO DIG FOR
THE STORIES, AND HE GAVE THEM --
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE SOME OF
THOSE STORIES THAT GET THE
MOTION ATTENTION, THAT EXPOSE
SOMETHING, THEY REQUIRE LOTS OF
TIME, LOTS OF FOOTWORK, AND SOME
EDITORS WON'T ALLOW YOU THAT
TIME AND FREEDOM TO DO THAT, AND
HE DID.
>> AND DO YOU -- HIS SHADOW WAS
STILL THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AWARDS ON WALLS, A LEGACY THAT
WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
>> OF COURSE, DEBBIE, YOU KNEW
HIM AS A WORTHY COMPETITOR.
>> WE DID BEFORE WHEATON ON
UPWARD.
>> WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."
ENCOURAGE TO YOU TUNE IN FOR
"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," HOST
RENEE SHAW WILL BE DISCUSSING