THE COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT. EVEN
BEFORE REDISTRICTING, A PRIMARY
IS TAKING SHAPE FOR THE THE ONLY
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN KENTUCKY
HELD BY A DEMOCRAT. CRITICAL
RACE THEORY IS DISCUSSED IN A S
HEARING AS LAWMAKERS PREPARE FO
THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE NUMBERS ARE IN. KENTUCKY HAS
A RECORD SURPLUS OF OVER $1 BIL
HEADING INTO A STEAMY, MAYBE
STORMY JULY WEEKEND, "COMMENT"
IS NEXT ON KET. GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING. I'M BILL BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT TH
AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S
NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. AND
THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE: JESS CLARK,
EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN
DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICAL
REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA
AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FO
WDRB IN LOUISVILLE. ALSO
TONIGHT, KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
IS CREATING A TEAM TO
INVESTIGATE SEX CRIMES, AND
REMEMBERING STATE SENATOR TOM
BUFORD WHO DIED THIS WEEK AFTER
MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE I
BUT FIRST SOME RENEWED CONCERN
PRESIDENT ABOUT THE COVID-19 AND
THE DELTA VARIANT.
DAN, WOODFORD COUNTY HAS THE
HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH BUT YET THEY'RE
DEALING WITH AN OUTBREAK
ASSOCIATED WITH A CHURCH
GATHERING.
STILL, MOST OF THOSE WHO HAD
COVID HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.
>> Daniel: THIS IS STILL
LARGELY AN UNVACCINATED PERSON'S
PROBLEM.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO PROTECT
OURSELVES.
IF YOU FETE THE VACCINE YOU'RE
LARGELY PROTECTED.
BUT WE ARE SEEING CASES RISE,
AND SO FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS
THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TIGHT
AGAIN, CASES ARE GOING BACK UP,
AND THAT'S A CONCERNING THING
BRAS THERE ARE STILL LIGHT OF
PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO ARE NOT
VACCINATED.
WE ARE HOVERING JUST A LITTLE
UNDER 50%.
IT'S 49.8 PERS OF KENTUCKIANS
WHO ARE UNVACCINATED EXPO
THERE'S STILL A PUSH TO GET
PEOPLE IS TO JUST GO IN THERE
AND GET THE VACCINE BUT THAT'S
PROVING HARDER THAN EVER.
MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN
SAYING IT FOR MONTHS.
ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TELLING PEOPLE TO GET THE
VACCINE FOR MONTHS AND IT HASN'T
SEEMED TO MOVE THE NEEDLE THAT
MUCH.
>> Bill: SOME HEALTH OFFICIALS
IN LOUISVILLE ARE CONCERNED TO
THE POINT THERE ARE SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS MASK CAN AGAIN.
>> Lawrence: THERE HAVE BEEN
AT LEAST FIVE CASES OF THE DELTA
VARIANT FOUND IN LOUISVILLE.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SUSPECT
THERE ARE MORE.
AND THEY'RE CONCERNED.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL IS GOING
UP.
BUT THE CURRENT CONCERN IS NOT
URGENT YET FOR ONE REASON,
ROUGHLY HALF OF THE METRO
LOUISVILLE POPULATION HAS GOTTEN
THE VACCINE, FULLY VACCINATED.
70% OR SO HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE
SHOT.
BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT
THERE ARE POCKETS OF THE COUNTY
WHERE THE VACCINATION RATE IS
LOWER, AND THEY'RE SAYING PEOPLE
SHOULD MATTER MASKS IF YOU DON'T
HAVE THE VACCINE AND PRACTICE
SOME OF THE SAME RULES THEY HAD
IN PLACE BEFORE WITH SOCIAL
DISTANCING, AVOIDING LARGE
GATHERINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> Daniel: AND IT'S KIND OF AN
INTERESTING MOMENT BECAUSE, YES,
THE CASES ARE GOING UP BUT WE'RE
STILL AROUND MAY OR JUNE LEVELS
2020, SO IT'S STILL NOT QUITE
THE SAME RISK THAT IT WAS, SAY,
LAST FALL, AND THEN YOU ALSO
HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE WHEN
THINGS CLOSE DOWN IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, A LOT
OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS
THAT HOSPITALS WOULD BE OVERRUN,
AND SO NOW THE QUESTION WEEKS,
BEL IF IT'S AN AREA WHERE A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, ARE
YOU ABLE TO SHIFT HOSPITAL
RESOURCES IN A WAY WHERE WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO AVOID THAT?
AND SO I EPP I THINK THE PUBLIC
HEALTH DECISIONS START TO CHANGE
WITH THIS NEW TINE MIX, AND
THERE IS STILL THE KAREN VARIANT
THAT THE VACCINE MIGHT NOT BE
EFFECTIVE.
>> Bill: AND GENERALLY SO FAR
WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN
BREAKTHROUGH CASES, PEOPLE HAVE
GENERALLY STAYED OUT OF THE
HOSPITAL.
>> Daniel: YEAH, IT'S BEEN
MORE LIKE KIND OF WHAT PEOPLE
WERE SAYING ABOUT COVID IN
BEGINNING, RIGHT?
A COLD OR A FLU.
IT'S NOT SEVERE ILLNESS THAT
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.
>> Bill: SO, JESS, AS SCHOOLS
PREPARE FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD
AND THERE'S NEW GUIDANCE OUT
FROM THE CDC -- IN FACT THAT
CAME DOWN ON FRIDAY ABOUT MASKS
IN SCHOOLS -- WHAT ARE THEY
PLANNING TO DO?
>> Jess: SO IN THE FALL THE
CDC IS NOW RECOMMENDING THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED WILL
NOT HAVE TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL
BUILDINGS, SO IF YOU HAVE THE
VACCINE AND YOU WANT TO GO BACK
TO SCHOOL, YOU LIKELY WILL NOT
HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK.
IF YOU'RE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS
FOLLOWING CDC RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF STUDENTS OR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT
VACCINATED, THE CDC IS STILL
RECOMMENDING THAT YOU WEAR A
MASK.
>> Bill: SO YOUNGER CHILDREN
WOULD STILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS,
PRESUMABLY.
>> Jess: YES, BECAUSE CHILDREN
UNDER THE AGE OF 12 CAN'T GET
THE VACCINE, SO THEY'D HAVE TO
WEAR THE MASK.
>> Bill: BUT THAT WILL STABLE
DERRIK-BY-DISTRICT DECISIONS?
>> Jess: ICE
DISTRICT-BY-DISTRICT DECISIONS.
YEAH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY UP TO
INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.
SO DISTRICTS COULD FOLLOW THAT
GUIDANCE.
THEY COULD DECIDE TO SAY
EVERYONE WEAR HAD A MASK
ANYWAY.
IT'S REALLY UP TO EACH
INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.
>> Bill: SO IT IS AN INCENTIVE
FOR KIDS TO GET VACCINATED,
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS BEING
APPROVED AT THE AGE 12, SOME,
FOR INSTANCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,
SOME WOULD BE ELIGIBLE MAYBE AND
SOME WOULDN'T FOR THE -- TO GET
THE VACCINE.
>> Jess: YEAH,.
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGES --
WHAT? -- 11 THROUGH 13, SO SOME
OF THEM WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, SOME
OF THEM NOT.
>> Governor HOGAN:
>> Bill: STATE HEALTH
COMMISSIONER STEVEN STACK TRYING
TO ZERO IN ON GETTING ELIGIBLE
STUDENTS VACCINATED RIGHT NOW
AND MAKING THE POINT THAT IF
THEY MOVE NOW, TIME IS TICKING,
THEY CAN BE FULLY VACCINATED BY
ARE ALLOWED TO BEGIN TOMORROW SO
YOU ALSO HAVE SUMMER SPORTS YOU
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
KIDS ARE IS THAT RIGHTING TO
CONGREGATE, AND SO STACK SAYS
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS
TO START GETTING VACCINATED NOW
SO THAT BY THE TIME SCHOOL ROLLS
AROUND AND KIDS ARE REALLY IN
THOSE CONGREGATE INVESTIGATES
THEY'RE VACCINATED, AND HEY, IF
YOU'RE VACCINATED AND YOU'RE
BACK IN SCHOOL AND YOU MIGHT NOT
HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IF YOUR
DISTRICT IS FOLLOWING THAT NEW
RECOMMENDATION.
>> Bill: WE HOPE THAT WE DON'T
HAVE TO START ANOTHER PROGRAM
DISCUSSING THAT BUT NOW THE
DELTA VARIANT FORCE THAT HAD.
E. NOW, WE GOT WORD THIS
AFTERNOON THAT KENTUCKY'S
GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS JUMPED
ALMOST 11% IN THE FISCAL YEAR
THAT JUST ENDED.
THERE IS A RECORD $1.1 BILLION
SURPLUS.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD THIS TO SAY
THIS AFTERNOON.
>> THE LARGEST GROWTH IN OUR
GENERAL FUND IN 26 YEARS, HUGE
GROWTH IN WHAT'S COMING IN FROM
BUSINESSES, MEANING THEY ARE OUT
THERE AND REVENUE IS COMING IN
TO THEM.
FOLKS, IN ECONOMY THIS ECONOMY
IS ON FIRE.
>> Bill: ON FIRE, THAT'S A
STRONG TERM, LAWRENCE.
>> Lawrence: WELL, THAT'S A
GOOD SIGN FOR HIM, BUT AS FAR AS
WHAT TO DO WITH THIS MONEY, IT
GOES INTO THE BUDGET RESERVE
TRUST FUND.
THE RAINY DAY FUND AND AM, AND
THEN NEXT YEAR LAWMAKERS WILL
DECIDE WHAT IF ANYTHING TO DO
WITH IT.
IT'S UNUSUAL THAT THEY HAVE SO
MUCH MONEY TO WORK WITH.
USUALLY THEY'RE HAVING TO CUT
THE BUDGET BUT NEXT YEAR THEY'LL
HAVE A SURPLUS OF MONEY TO
DECIDE IF AND HOW TO USE IT.
>> Bill: THERE'S A RUSH TO
TAKE CREDIT FOR GOOD NEWS,
RIGHT?
"A.
>> Daniel: EVERYBODY WANTS TO
TAKE CREDIT.
>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE AS
WELL, THEY'RE MANAGING THINGS
WELL.
>> Daniel: THEIR POLICIES ARE
THE REASON.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE,
RIGHT?
BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS NARRATIVE A
FEW WEEKS AGO OF, OH, MY GOSH,
THE ECONOMY, IT'S OVERINFLATED,
YADA, YADA, YADA, AND NOW LOOK
IT'S ROARING, IT'S ON FIRE.
THING THAT I THINK IS
INTERESTING ABOUT THIS AS
LAWRENCE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS
HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATING THE
MONEY, AND THAT EVERY BEEN DOING
VERY CAUTIOUS BUDGETS FOR THE
PAST TO II YEARS BECAUSE THERE'S
SO MUCH UNPREDICTABILITY BECAUSE
OF COVID IT.
WILL BE INTERESTING WHEN THE
FEDERAL MONEY WAS INJECTED
TOWARD THE END OF THE LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE WERE
THESE GRAND SPEECHES ABOUT A
SPRIGGS FOR KENTUCKY AND HOW WE
MOVE KENTUCKY FORWARD AND HOW TO
INVEST THAT MONEY SO THAT
KENTUCKY CAN REALLY CAPITALIZE
ON IT FROM PRESIDENT -- THE
SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS
AND FROM MORGAN McGARVEY, FROM
DAVID OSBORNE PALM THESE PEOPLE
HAVE THESE GRAND IDEAS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING NOW,
THEY'VE GOT TO MONEY, HOW TO HOW
THEY ARE GOING TO TURN THAT INTO
A REALITY AND TURN IT INTO THESE
LOVE IT PROMISES.
>> Bill: THE BUDGET WAS CUT
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
>> Daniel: LEXINGTON
SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS LOVES TO
TALK ABOUT THAT, AND THAT WAS A
BIG, AND YOU I THINK PEOPLE SEE
NORTH CAROLINA, THEY SEE WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE KIND OF TRIANGLE
RESEARCH REGION AND THEY LOOK IT
AWAY LITTLE BIT OF GREEDY EYES.
THEY SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT
MAY BE POSSIBLE HERE.
>> Bill: HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN
THAT FEDERAL MONEY IS PROPPING
THINGS UP, LAWRENCE?
THAT IT'S ARTIFICIAL.
>> Lawrence: AS DANIEL SAID,
THEY'RE BEING VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN
THEY PASSED THESE BUDGETS IN THE
LAST, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY
SAID IS THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY DON'T USE FEDERAL
MONEY FOR CONTINUING EXPENSES,
SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.
THEY HAD THIS MONEY FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO ALWAYS HAVE THAT,
SO HOW BEST TO USE THAT SO IT
DOESN'T BECOME A PERMANENT DRAIN
ON STATE FUNDS.
>> Daniel: AND THE AREA WHERE
THEY AGREED WITH A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF THAT, RIGHT?
SO THEY PUT THE MONEY INTO
BROADBAND STRUCTURE AND FIXING
OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
STATE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT ALSO FREES UP MONEY
FROM THE BUDGET THAT THEY MIGHT
NEED FOR OTHER THINGS.
YOU HAD ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY,
YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND
THAT FREES UP A POT OF GOLD THEY
CAN USE FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT USING IT
FOR EXPENSES IT'S HAVE IT HELPS
THEM IN -- THE OLD POLITICAL
ARGUMENT WAS, HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO GET MORE MONEY?
ARE YOU RAISE MORE TAXES OR ARE
YOU GOING TO CUT THINGS?
HERE'S THIS MONEY FLOATING
AROUND.
YOU CAN USE THAT.
>> Bill: IT WAS PUT AWAY, AS
YOU SAID, IN THIS TRUST OR --
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RETURN IT.
IT'S THE TAXPAYERS.
>> Lawrence: I HAVE NOT HEARD
THAT AT ALL.
>> Bill: THAT HAS NOT COME UP
YET.
SHOCKING.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL
MONEY AND SENATOR McCONNELL
HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE
LATELY TALKING ABOUT THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT THIS HE
VOTED AGAINST.
McCONNELL SAID IT WAS TOO
BROAD AND TOO EXPENSIVE.
HE ACKNOWLEDGES, THOUGH, THE
MONEY IS ROLLING IN AND ADVISES
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
EXTEND THEIR MONEY WISELY, AND
THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN MOCKED
McCONNELL FOR TALKING ABOUT
THE MONEY FROM THE BILL THAT
McCONNELL OPPOSED.
>> LOOK IT P, MAN.
HE'S BRAGGING ABOUT IT IN
KENTUCKY.
IT'S A GREAT THING FOR
IT'S GETTING $4 BILLION TO HELP
THE POOR.
THAT'S AMAZING.
CHECK OUT MITCH McCONNELL.
YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT ON TV.
>> Bill: IT'S NOT OFTEN
KENTUCKY GETS MENTIONED THREE OR
FOUR TIMES BY ANY PRESIDENT.
>> Lawrence: THAT WAS AIN'TING
SOUNDBITE BUT I HAVE TO SAY
McCONNELL WAS NOT BRAGGING ON
ALL THIS MONEY.
HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING I THINK THE
MONEY IS THERE.
KENTUCKY WILL GET A LOT OF --
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THIS
BUT OVERALL HE STILL DOESN'T
LIKE THIS EXPENDITURE BECAUSE
HE'S AFRAID OF THE IMPACT IT
WILL HAVE DOWN THE ROAD ON THE
DEBT AND ON INFLATION AND THING
LIKE THAT.
SO TO SAY THAT HE IS BRAGGING ON
IT IS A BIT OF AN
OVERSTATEMENT.
>> Bill: AND IT WAS PROBABLY
FOR SOME ADDITIONAL RELIEF.
HE JUST THOUGHT THIS WENT TOO
FAR, AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT MONEY COMING TO
KENTUCKY.
>> Lawrence: AT THE TIME IT
WAS PASSED.
>> Bill: I ASKED
SENATOR McCONNELL A FEW WEEKS
AGO WAS IT AWKWARD TO TRAVEL THE
STATE AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT HE HAD VOTED AGAINST, AND
HE SAID, NO, HE'S EDUCATING
PEOPLE ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S
OUT THERE AND THAT HE DID THINK
THE BILL WAS, AS WRITTEN, TOO
BROAD AND TOO MUCH, AND TOO MUCH
DEBT.
>> Daniel: HE'S TALKING ABOUT
THE MONEY, BUT ALSO HE HAS HAS A
WAY OF SPEAKING ABOUT THE MONEY
ON THE CAMPAIGN -- I'LL CALL AT
THIS TIME CAMPAIGN TRAIL EVEN
THOUGH HE'S NOT CAMPAIGNING AS
HE TOURS THE STATE.
WHEN HE DRAWS A REALLY CLEAR
LINE THAT CAME INTO THE STATE
BETWEEN 2 TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND HE DOESN'T MENTION THE MONEY
THAT CAME IN FROM THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN.
HE DOES FOCUS A LOT ON THOSE
EARLIER PACKAGES THAT WERE
PASSED WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS
STILL IN OFFICE.
>> Bill: IN THE HEAT OF
SUMMER, A DEMOCRAT PRIMARY IS
FORMING IN KENTUCKY'S
LOUISVILLE.
ATTICA SCOTT ENTERING THE RACE
FOR THE SEAT HELD BY LONGTIME
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS 9 JOHN YAR
MONTH LAWRENCE, HOW DOES THAT
STACK UP?
>> Lawrence: THE BIG QUESTION
IS WHY.
ATTICA SCOTT IS IN A SAFE SEAT
IN THE LEGISLATURE, ALTHOUGH SHE
HAS OFTEN EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION
AT WORKING WITH THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY, BUT SHE CAN HAVE THAT
SEAT FOR AS LONG AS SHE WANTS IT
AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH LONGER
JOHN YARMOUTH WILL BE IN
CONGRESS.
SHE RESPONDS BY SAYING IT'S NOT
ALL ABOUT JOHN YARMOUTH.
IT'S ABOUT SCRANSING HER AGENDA,
WHICH IS TO THE LEFT EVEN OF --
ADVANCING HER AGENDA, WHICH IS
TO THE LEFT EVEN OF YARMOUTH'S
AND HAVING SOMEBODY THAT THAT
SEAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HER
CONSTITUENTS, AN AFRICAN
AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN.
SHE SAYS SHE'S HAD LOTS OF BLACK
WOMEN URGE HER TO RUN.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON SHE
SAYS SHE'S RUNNING.
>> Daniel: AND I MEAN, I THINK
IT TESTS THE METTLEFUL
PROGRESSIVE COALITION OF
LOUISVILLE, RIGHT?
YOU CAN POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT LOUISVILLE'S MAYORS,
THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN
PROGRESSIVES IN THE PAST.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2020
ELECTION, IT WASN'T -- THOSE
ELECTIONS WEREN'T AS SUCCESSFUL
FOR THE DALLES THEY WERE HOPING
WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO
FLIP IT'S SOME HOUSE AND SENATE
SEATS, AND SO THIS WILL BE A
TEST.
I THINK SHE'S ALSO -- YOU KNOW,
JOHN YARMOUTH IS IN HIS 70s.
SHE'S HE'S GOING TO RETIRE
EVENTUALLY, AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF DEMOCRATS IN LOUISVILLE WHO
SEE THAT AS THE NEXT STEP UP, SO
SHE WOULD BE GETTING HER NAME
OUT THERE BUT THERE'S ALWAYS I
RISK WITH THAT.
WHEN YOU GET INTO A RACE WITH
SOMEBODY LIKE REPRESENTATIVE
YARMOUTH, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A
STRONG SHOWING, THAT COULD MAKE
PEOPLE FEEL YOU'RE WEAKER RATHER
THAN STRONGER, AND SO THERE'S
GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE
EVEN IF SHE DOESN'T 2007 A
STRONG SHOWING AT THE SAME
TIME.
>> Lawrence: AND SHE'S
STRIKING NOW WHILE THE IRON IS
HOT.
SHE GOT A LOT OF NAME
RECOGNITION FROM HER
PARTICIPATION IN LAST SUMMER'S
RACIAL PROTESTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE
PROTESTS, SO MAYBE SHE FEELS
THAT THIS IS NOW THE TIME FOR
HER TO DO THIS.
>> Dave: MEAN 23 END OF THE
DAY I THINK FOR LOUISVILLE
VOTERS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO
POWER.
THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE WHO
HAS A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, AND THEN DO THEY
WANT -- ARE THEY LOOKING TO GIVE
POWER THE KIND OF THE NEXT
GENERATION, THIS NEW MOVEMENT OF
MORE PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS
THAT, THE DEFINED SQUAD TYPES
THAT ARE IN WASHINGTON, DC,.
>> Bill: AS THIS COMES,
REDISTRICTING IS YET TO COME.
THERE ARE INDICATIONS THE
REPUBLICANS MAY BE INCLINED TO
LEAVE THE LOUISVILLE DISTRICT
INTACT.
THERE'S A FEAR THAT A LAWSUIT
COULD BE FILED AND WON.
CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER TOLD
APPLICANTO, WHEN YOU GET REAL
CUTE WITH YOU YOU END UP IN A
LAWSUIT AND YOU LOSE IT.
>> Lawrence: THAT'S A GOOD
QUOTE BY COMB PER WHAT HE'S
SAYING IS YOU COULD GERRYMANDER
TOO MUCH AND END UP BACKFIRING
AGAINST AND YOU YOU COULD END
UP, INSTEAD OF GAINING POWER
ACTUALLY OVER TIME LOSING POWER
IS WHAT HE'S SAYING.
>> Daniel: YEAH, AND YOU'VE
GOT TO LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHIC
CHANGES, TOO, RIGHT?
IF THINGS GO WHERE THEY ARE
WHERE SOME OF THE SUBURBS ARE
TURNING MORE AND MORE
DEMOCRATIC, I THINK IT GETS A A
LITTLE DANGEROUS TRYING TO CUT
UP DISTRICTS, AND DISTRICTS THAT
WERE ONCE SAFELY RED COULD TURN
UP PURPLISH.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, OF COURSE,
REPRESENT I THINK BEN CHANDLER.
THEY CARDIOUP THAT DISTRICT FOR
HIM AND TWO YEARS LATER HE WAS
OUT.
>> Lawrence: AND FACE IT,
YARMOUTH IS RIGHT HOME IN THAT
DISTRICT.
IT IS A MORE DISH DISTRICT THAN
THE REST OF THE STATE -- A ERR
MORE LIBERAL DISTRICT AND HE
REFLECTS THEM WELL THAT THAT
DISTRICT.
>> Bill: DAN, YOU LOOKED AT
HOW OTHER STATES DO
REDISTRICTING IN A MAYBE MORE
TRANSPARENT WAY THAN WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY IN
KENTUCKY.
KANSAS APPARENTLY, THEY'RE GOING
TO GO ACROSS THE STATES HAVE 14
TOWN HALL MEETINGS, RIGHT?
>> Daniel: YEAH, AND I DON'T
KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LEARN FROM
TOWN HALLNESS THIS TYPE OF
SETTING.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALSO JUST
THIS -- I MEAN, I THINK WHEN
PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT
GERRYMANDERING AND THE FACT THAT
IT'S LEGAL AND LOUDLY, THEY GET
A LITTLE KIND OF -- ALLOWED,
THEY GET DISCOURAGED WITH
POLITICS, AND SO THERE ARE SOME
STATES THAT HAVE TRIED TO DO
NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING OR
INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONERS
APPOINT A SET GROUP OF LAWMAKERS
TO STUDY IT TO TRY TO MAKE IT'S
A FAIR AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY IT
WORKS IN KENTUCKY.
IF POLITICAL PARTY THAT IS IN
CHARGE IS GOING TO HAVE ALL THE
POWER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT A
TOWN HALL IS GOING TO TELL YOU
BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED
ABOUT TOURING THE STATE.
>> Bill: WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES
AND PEOPLE ARE WATCHING FOR HOW
TRANSPARENT IT IS.
JESS, REDISTRICTING IS JUST ONE
OF THE ISSUES COMING UP IN THE
SESSION IN 2022.
HOUSE SENATE JOINT COMMITTEE
HELD HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK IN
WHICH A POSSIBLE BAN ON TEACHING
CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS THE
MAIN DISCUSSION.
>> Jess: YES.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO BILLS THAT
HAVE -- THAT ARE FILED, BOTH BY
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS THAT
WOULD, THEY SAY WOULD BAN
CREDIBLY RACE THEORY FROM PUBLIC
K-12 SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.
THEY NEVER -- THEY DON'T
ACTUALLY EXPLICITLY MENTION
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S ALL BEEN KIND OF LIKE
WHAT THEY'VE PUT OUT IN PRESS
RELEASES.
BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THESE BILLS
WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD MAKE IT
DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO TALK
ABOUT RACISM, SEXISM, ESPECIALLY
SYSTEMIC RACISM, WHICH IS THE
IDEA THAT RACISM ISN'T JUST A
PERSONAL PREJUDICE HELD BY
SOMEONE BUT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY
BAKED INTO STRUCTURES AND
INSTITUTIONS.
SO THEY HAD A DISCUSSION.
THEY HAD A -- A LOT OF THE
DISCUSSION -- A LOT OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WHY ANTI-CRITICAL
RACE THEORY ADMIT THAT THEY'RE
NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY
SPECIFIC BODY OF LEGAL
SCHOLARSHIP THAT'S CALLED
CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
THEY'RE REALLY USING IT AS AN
UMBRELLA TERM TO LUMP TOGETHER
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE SEEN
TAKE OFF ESPECIALLY SINCE LAST
SUMMER.
AND SO WHAT YOU SAW AT THAT
HEARING WAS THE PRESENTERS OF
THE BILL TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO
OUTLAW CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BUT
THEN YOU ALSO HAD -- YOU HAD TO
THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
JASON GLASS AND JCPS
SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLLIO SAID
THEY WERE STANDING BY EQUITY,
DIVERSION AND INCLUSION AND
TRYING DEFINED REALLY DRIVE THE
PASSAGE MOMENT THAT CRITICAL
RACE THEORY AND DIVERSITY AND
EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE TWO
VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> Bill: AND BOTH SIDES PLACED
THE CHAIRY REGINA HUFF FOR
HOLDINGS THE HEARING AND HAVE
THE HAVE HAVING THE DISCUSSION.
>> Lawrence: REALLY IT COMES
DOWN TO HOW ONE DEFINES CRITICAL
RACE THEORY.
I HAVE TALKED ON SOME SUPPORTERS
OF THE BAN WHO SAY, I DON'T HAVE
ME NO PROBLEM TEACHING MORE
BLACK HISTORY, FILLING IN SOME
OF THOSE GAPS IN HISTORY, BUT
THEY BELIEVE CRT IS SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, THAT IT ACTUALLY
FOMENTS DIVISION AND IT IS IN
EFFECT RACIST AGAINST WHITE
PEOPLE.
SO THERE IS SOME OF THAT GOING
ON AS WELL.
>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH
ESSENTIALS THE SESSION
APPROACHES.
THE STATE CAPITOL WAS SHAKEN
THIS WEEK BY THE NEWS THAT
LONGTIME STATE SENATOR TOM
BUFORD HAD DIED.
HE WAS 72 YEARS OLD.
U.S. SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL
SAID OF SENATOR BUFORD, "THE
IMPACTS OF HIS WORK COULD BE
FELT FAR BEYOND THE BORDERS
HERSELF SENATE DISTRICT,
IMPROVING THE LIVES HAVE
KENTUCKIANS THROUGHOUT THE
COMMONWEALTH."
AND IN A STATEMENT IS IF
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MADE NOTE
CALLING HELP A TRUE PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO WAS FULL OF LIFE,
LAUGHTER AND HAD A CONTAGIOUS
LAUGHTER THAT COULD LIGHT UP ANY
ROOM.
LAWRENCE, A REPORTERS WE KNEW
SENATOR BUFORD OVER THE YEARS.
WE EXPERIENCED THAT WARMTH AND
WIT, AND HE COULD SEEM TO EMBODY
THAT ABILITY TO DISAGREE WITHOUT
BEING DISAGREEABLE, WHICH IS
RARE THESE DAYS.
>> Lawrence: CAN I NOT KNOW
HIM WELL.
-- I DID NOT KNOW HIM WELL,
INTERVIEWED HIM BUT I DID KNOW
THIS.
HE WAS NOT A FLAMETHROWER.
HE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE ONES WHO
WOULD TRY TO CUT DOWN THE
OPPOSITION.
HE WAS A BUILDER OF CONSENSUS.
AND HE WAS VERY FUNNY, VERY
WITTY, BUT HE HAD NO INTEREST IN
SEPARATING SEPARATING PEOPLE BY
POLITICAL LINES IF WE COULD
AVOID IT.
>> Bill: DAN, HE SAW CHANGES.
HE WAS ELECTED IN 1990.
TOOK OFFICE IN 1991 WHEN THE
REPUBLICANS WERE IN A MINORITY
BY FAR IN FRANKFORT.
>> Daniel: AND HE WAS ELECTED
TO LEADERSHIP THAT FIRST SESSION
WHICH IS PRETTY RARE.
SHE SAW THE SENATE WITCH FROM
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATED AND CAN BE
DOMINATED TO REPUBLICAN
DOMINATED, AND HE GETS CREATED.
LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE
HAD, DOING WILLS TO HELP PEOPLE
WHO ARE DISABLED OR HELP PEOPLE
IN HOSPITALS.
STATE SENATOR DAMON THAYER WAS
SAYING HE LOVED EXPENSIVE BURR
BOHN.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TAKEN
ABACK BY THE DEATH.
THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE IT
COMING AND I THINK THEY ARE
STILL PROCESSING IT.
>> Lawrence: IT SHOCKED A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
NOT MANY PEOPLE, IF ANY, KNEW
THAT HE WAS ILL BUT HE DIED DOWN
IN FLORIDA WHERE HE WAS AT THE
TIME.
>> Bill: HE'LL BE MISSED.
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION
TO DECIDE WHO SERVES THE
REMAINDER OF BUFORD'S TERM.
THE GOVERNOR WILL SET THAT IN
THE WEEKS AHEAD.
EDUCATION.
JESS, SUMMER SCHOOL HAS SEEN AN
INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT
SUBSTANTIALLY.
I KNOW IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
IS THAT CATCHING UP FROM THE
DIFFICULTIES OF COVID?
>> Jess: YEAH, THEY'VE BEEN
INCREASED ENROLLMENT.
BEFORE THEY PANDEMICS THEY HAD
100,000 SIDS KIDS IN SUMMER
LEARNING IN PERSON.
THIS YEAR THEY HAVE 6500.
THEY WERE PLANNING TO INCREASE
SUMMER ENROLLMENT AS PART OF THE
CONTRADICTS STRATEGY BUT THEY
SEE IT AS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
NOW BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTIONAL
SOME TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT
KIDS, A LOT KIDS MISSED OUT ON
REMOTE LEARNING.
>> Bill: WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY AN
UNSETTLED JOB MARKET OUT THERE
THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME
BUT IN CONTRAST TO THAT, YOU'RE
LOOKING INTO THE FACT THAT THE
JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
ESTABLISHMENT LEAST IS DOING A
TREMENDOUS JOB WITH TEACHER
RETENTION.
PEOPLE ARE STAYING.
>> Jess: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF
WILD.
THE LAST TWO YEARS THE PANDEMIC
YEARS, TEACHER RETENTION HAS
BEEN LIKE 94% AND 96%, WHICH IS
JUST UNFATHOMABLE, CONSIDERING
USUALLY IT'S IN THE 80s, AND
SO THE QUESTION IS WHY.
IT COULD BE THAT TEACHER
RETENTION DOES GENERALLY GO UP
DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC
TURMOIL.
THERE'S FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HIRE PAYING JOBS, TEACHING JOBS
ARE PRETTY SECURE SO PEOPLE
STAY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S A
LOT OF POLLING GOING ON THAT
TEACHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
LEAVE THEIR JOBS THAN EVER
BEFORE.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT'S
GOING ON IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
THEY'VE ALSO CAN BE THE DISTRICT
STAFF SAY THEY HAVE DONE A LOT
OF INITIATIVES AROUND RETENTION
SO THEY'RE TAKING CREDIT FOR
THAT AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT CLEAR YET BUT I'M
TRYING TO FIND OUT.
>> Bill: YOU'RE FRYING TO LOOK
INTO IT.
>> Lawrence: ALSO, POLLIO IS
GIVING THEM A STIPEND.
THERE'S A AWARD ARE FOR
STAYING.
>> Bill: AND THAT'S COMING OUT
OF COVID MONEY.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
>> Lawrence: $5 MILLION?
IS THAT HOW MUCH IT IS?
>> Jess: THE STIPEND IS $5,000
PER EMPLOYEE, AND IT'S PAID OUT
OVER THREE INSTALLMENTS OVER THE
NEXT YEAR.
>> Daniel: IF IT WAS
$5 MILLION, I WAS GOING TO
BECOME A TEACHER.
>> YES THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO JSPC
IS $578 MILLION.
IT'S MORE THAN A HALF A BILLION
DOLLARS.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
>> Lawrence: THERE'S A 5 IN
THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.
KENTUCKY STATE POLICE IS
ESTABLISHING A TEAM TO
INVESTIGATE SEX CRIMES.
DOES THIS GO BACK TO THE
DISCOVERY A FEW YEARS AGO THAT
SOME RAPE KITS HAD NEVER BEEN
TESTED?
>> Lawrence: YEAH, IT DOES GO
BACK TO THAT.
THAT WAS A BIG CONTROVERSY
SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THERE
WERE SO MANY UNTESTED RAPE
KITS.
THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT EFFORT TO
GET CAUGHT UP ON THAT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS,
THIS STORY IS IT'S $1.5 MILLION
BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S SHIFTING
SOME INVESTIGATORS FROM IF
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO THE
CONSTITUENT STATE POLICE SO IT'S
A SHIFTING OF RESOURCES, NOT
NECESSARILY NEW RESOURCES.
>> Bill: SO THERE WILL BE THAT
SPECIAL TEAM THAT --
>> Lawrence: THERE WILL BE A
SPECIAL TEAM THAT WILL NOW
INVESTIGATE THESE PAST RAPE
CASES AND RAPE KITS.
>> Bill: LAWRENCE, MORE THAN
22020 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE
BEING DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTHERN
BORDER TO COMPLY.
>> Lawrence: THE GOVERNOR SAID
HE WAS NOT DEPLOYING THEM BUT IT
WAS A REQUEST FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THEY'LL GO GOING
COUN TO THE SOUTHWEST TO HELP
LOGISTICAL AND BACKUP KINDS OF
DUTIES TO HELP WITH THAT CRISIS
DOWN THERE.
>> Bill: WITH THE SPED-UP
TIMETABLE FOR TROOPS BEING
PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, MOVED
TO AUGUST 31st, SENATORS
McCONNELL AND RAND PAUL ARE
SPLIT ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS
INTERESTING.
>> Daniel: WHICH IS NOT
UNUSUAL.
IT'S ABOUT THE WAR.
RAND PAUL HAS ALWAYS SAID, HEY,
LET'S GET THEM OUT OF THERE
WHEREAS SENATOR McCONNELL HAS
BEEN MORE IN SUPPORT OF THE WARS
IN THE AREA.
>> Bill: FANCY FARM NOW LESS
THAN A MONTH AWAY.
WHAT ARE WE HEARING ABOUT THE
SHOW OUT THERE?
>> Lawrence: I THINK IT WILL
BE INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T HAVE ONE LAST YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS, AND
THERE'S NO STATEWIDE ELECTION
THIS YEAR, BUT IT WILL BE A
PREVIEW OF 2023 EVEN WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE AND SOME OTHER
RACES THAT ARE COMING UP OVER
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> Daniel: AND IT'S ONE OF
THOSE SIGN POSTS OF THINGS
RETURNING TO NORMAL, KIND OF
LIKE DERBY.
FANCY FARM IS THE DERBY OF
POLITICS, AND TO HAVE THAT
HAPPEN AGAIN, I WAS ACTUALLY OUT
IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK
AND I WENT TO THE FREIGHT
HOUSE.
I.
IT FELT LIKE I WAS AT FRANCES
FARM.
>> Bill: YOU HAD THE FULL
EXPERIENCE OUT THERE.
THERE'S A MEMORIAL TO COVID-19
VICTIMS AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE
STATE CAPITOL AND THOSE WHO
LOVES LOVED ONES CAN COME PICK
UP A FLAG AS A WAY TO REMEMBER.
>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.
AND IF YOU HAD A LOVED ONE WHO
DIED FROM COVID, YOU CAN CALL
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEY
WILL TRY STONED YOU ONE OF THOSE
FLAGS IF YOU CAN'T GET HERE
YOURSELF.
>> Bill: THERE'S HAD A NEW
BOOK COMING UP AT ABOUT THE LIFE
AND CAREER OF PLANCK ARE SILAS
HOUSE.
A NEWS JOURNAL IN SOUTHERN
KENTUCKY IS REPORTING THAT BOOK
COULD BE CALLED "EXPLORING, AN
PLAY,AN WRITERS' WORK" WILL BE
AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THIS MONTH.
HOUSE, WHO IS A PROLIFIC WRITER
HIMSELF, SAID IT IS HAS BEEN
HUMBLING TO BE THE SAFETY BOOK.
DUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY
TONIGHT" WHEN RENEE SHAW WILL
HOST A DISCUSSION ON THE
URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE IN KENTUCKY