>> 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