LAW NOW IN EFFECT PROVIDES SOME

ANSWERS AND RAISES SOME QUESTIO

BEFORE HEADING TO FANCY FARM

NEXT WEEK, BOTH MAJOR CANDIDATE

FOR GOVERNOR SPEND SOME TIME IN

EASTERN KENTUCKY. UNIVERSITY OF

KENTUCKY IS SHORT OF DORM SPACE,

AND SOME DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE E

KENTUCKY'S TWO SENATORS GO

AGAINST EACH OTHER ON A FUND FO

9/11 BUT TEAM UP ON A BOURBON B

SUMMER HEAT RETURNS FOR THIS

LAST WEEKEND OF JULY, AND

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING. I'M BILL BRYANT,

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT

ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE

WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF

WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS

TONIGHT ARE: MATT MARKGRAF, NEWS

DIRECTOR AT WKMS IN MURRAY

COVERING THE JACKSON PURCHASE

AND PENNYROYAL REGIONS.

OF KENTUCKY MORGAN WATKINS,

REPORTER FOR COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICA

WRITER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD

ALSO TONIGHT RUMBLINGS OF A NEW

CANDIDATE IN KENTUCKY'S 6TH

DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE

ABOUT THE LETS GET RIGHT TO THE

PASSAGE OF I NEW LAW THAT GIVES

RELIEF TO REGION UNIVERSITIES

AND QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES

THAT WERE ABOUT TO GET HIT WITH

CRIPPLE PENSION BILLS IT ALSO

GIVES THOSE ENTITIES SOME OPTIO

A FEW REPUBLICANS JOIN DEMOCRAT

IN OPPOSITION, BUT THE GOP

MAJORITY PUSHED IT THROUGH.

DANIEL, LIVELY DEBATE ON THOSE

DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS BUT THE

GOVERNOR'S BILL MADE IT THROUGH

INTACT.

>> BASICALLY EVERYTHING WENT

ACCORDING TO PLAN.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD THE

VOTES TO PASS IT, AND HE HAD THE

VOTES TO PASS IT IS.

A NARROW MARGIN 1 ONLY 42 VOTES

SUPPORTING IT IN THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES BUT IT GOT

THROOP THE GOVERNOR HAD HIS

BILL-SIGNING CEREMONY WHERE HE

SAID IT WAS A REGNASHING MARKCLY

THING RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE

EMPLOYEES OF THESE QUASI-HEFT

GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHO MIGHT

BE LEFT OUT TO DRY BECAUSE

THEY'VE BEEN IN A PENSION SYSTEM

AND IF THEIR EMPLOYER CHOOSES TO

LEAVE THEY MAY NO LONGER GET

THOSE SAME KIND OF BENEFITS.

THE GOVERNOR STRIKE TO INVOKE

THE HUMAN RESPONSE AND HE SAID

THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE HAPPY

BECAUSE THIS MEANS WE'RE SHORING

UP THE PENSION SYSTEM IN THE

LONG-TERM.

>> DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THE

FREEZE IS ILLEGAL WITHOUT THE

PERMISSION OF THE PENSIONERS.

BEVIN SAYS IT'S A STEP TOWARD

FINANCIAL SOLVENCY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Bill: THE DEMOCRATS PUSHED

THE ALTERNATIVES AND THEY WERE

HEARD, BUT ULTIMATELY THEY DON'T

HAVE NUMBERS.

>> Daniel: AND THAT'S KIND OF

HOW THINGS WORK.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POWER

STRUCTURES OF THE LEGISLATURE,

RIGHT?

THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE

MAJORITY AND THEY CONTROL ALL

THREE MOVING PIECES HERE.

AND SO THE DEMOCRATS CAN TALK

ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE PROPOSALS

AND HOW THEY HAVE DIFFERENT

SOLUTIONS, BUT THAT DOESN'T

MRS. LI MEAN THAT THEY'LL BE

ABLE TO GET VOTED THROUGH AND

GET A VOTE.

>> Bill: SO THE BILL IS NOW

LAW.

IT DOES FEATHER IN THOSE COSTS

TO THOSE ENTITIES, THE REGIONAL

UNIVERSITIES AND TO ABOUT 108 I

THINK QUASI-GOVERNMENT

AGENCIES.

THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE HEALTH

DEPARTMENTS.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

HEALTH.

DEPARTMENT, FOCUS DEMENTS THAT

ARE AFFECTED BY THAT, REGIONAL

UNIVERSITIES SO THE STATE

UNIVERSITIES EXCEPT FOR U OF L

AND OF UK ARE AFFECTED, AND SO

THE NEW LAW KIND OF GIVES THEM A

BREAK ON SOME INCREASES PRETTY

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR

COSTS FOR PENSIONS, WHICH HAS

BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE REGIONAL

UNIVERSITIES.

THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING -- ERROR

THEY'RE ALWAYS BUDGET CONSCIOUS,

UNDERSTANDABLY.

KENTUCKY IN PARTICULAR.

THERE HAVE BEEN CUTS IN A LOT OF

STATES TO HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT,

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE

2008 RECESSION, BUT WHILE A

THOUGHT OF LOT OF OTHER STATES

HAVE STARTED FUTURE MORE MONEY

BACK INTO THEIR HIGHER ED

SYSTEM, KENTUCKY HAS CUT FOR THE

LAST DECADE.

THE REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES ARE

ALREADY HAMSTRUNG FROM US JUST

FROM THE CUM LAW TV IMPACT OF

THOSE CUTS.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A PENSION

SYSTEM WITH AS MANY FINANCIAL

DIPLOMAS AS OURS DOES, STUFF

LIKE THIS GETTING A REPRIEVE IS

A BIG DEAL FOR THEM.

>> Bill: IT ALSO GIVES THEM

OPTIONS AND SOME BIG DECISIONS

TO MAKE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

YOU'VE TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT

OF MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY ABOUT

WHERE THEY MAY HEAD.

>> YEAH, I'VE TALKED WITH MURRAY

STATED PRESIDENT BOB JACKSON

MOUNTAINS PAST.

HE ALSO TESTIFIED, HE ALSO IS A

FORMER STATE SENATOR.

SOME VIEWERS MIGHT REMEMBER

SENATOR BOB JACKSON.

BASICALLY TEN YEARS HE SAID THE

KERRYS RATE WAS.

LAST YEAR IT WAS 39%.

WITHOUT THAT RATE FREEZE THAT'S

ONE ASPECT OF THAT, THAT WOULD

GO TO 84 SPERSE.

HE SAID THE STATE BASE

APPROPRIATION HAS REDUCED.

TEN YEARS AGO IT WAS

$56 MILLION.

IT'S GOING CROSSWISE.

I THINK HE ARTICULATED WELL THE

CHALLENGES THAT REGIONAL

UNIVERSITIES ARE FACING.

>> Bill: WHAT DOES HE INTEND

TO DO IN TERMS OF KEEPING MURRAY

STATE IN OR CONTINUING WITH THE

PENSION SYSTEM OR WHAT?

>> Matt: WHAT HE TOLD THE

SENATORS WAS THEY'RE GOING TO

WEIGH ALLOVER THEIR OPTIONS, GET

ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS, BONDING

CAPACITY WITH TALK WITH

FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND MAKE SOME

DETERMINATIONS MOVING FORWARD.

>> TO TAKE THE LUMP-SUM, TO PAY

OFF AN INSTALLMENTS OR HE SAID

POSSIBLY EVEN STAY IN THE

SYSTEM.

>> Bill: SIMILAR RESPONSES

FROM SOME OTHER.

>> Matt: KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT SAID THE PENSION

RELIEF BILL WAS THE BEST OF

CHALLENGING OPTIONS AND THERE'S

DIFFICULT DECISIONS AHEAD.

>> Daniel: THERE ARE ALSO

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE

SAYING WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO

ABSORB THIS HIT AND IS THAT IT

SYSTEM.

MY BEWHO HAVE HAD COLLEAGUE JOHN

CHEVES PROVIDE THE GARRETT

COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND

THE GUY IN CHARGE SAID THEY NEED

TO DO LAYOFFS AND THEY

ELIMINATED A POSITION TO TRY AND

ABSORB THE HIT THAT THEY'RE

GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE FOR PAYING

THE FULL AMOUNT IN TERMS OF

THEIR PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

AND SO THAT MEANS SOME THINGS.

THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO

HAVE A SLOWER RESPONSE TIME,

THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE

ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY USED

TO DO IN THE PAST.

BUT THEY SEE IT EVEN IF THEY

LEAVE THE SYSTEM IT'S GOING TO

BE A MASSIVE COST.

SO THERE'S A NO-WIN SITUATION

AND THEY'D RATHER ENSURE THAT

THEIR OLDER EMPLOYEES CONTINUE

TO GET THEIR PENSIONS AND THEY

CAN CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY'RE

DOING.

>> Bill: CHEVES' REPORTING WAS

THEY ARE GOING TO DO THIS IN

LUMP-SUM.

>> Daniel: NO, THEY'RE GOING

TO TRY TO STAY IN THE SYSTEM AND

PAY THE FULL POS.

>> Bill: IS ANYBODY IN A

POSITION TO DO THIS IN A

LUMP-SUM OR IS IT GOING TO BE

THOSE WHO DO EXIT, WILL THEY TRY

TO PAY OFF THEIR OBLIGATIONS IN

INSTALLMENTS?

MONK WE'LL SEE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THESE

AGENCIES ARE WEIGHING.

I THINK WHAT MAKES IT IS

DIFFICULT IS EITHER WAY YOU'RE

LOOKING AT A REALLY BIG

FINANCIAL HIT.

YOU CAN EITHER DO THE LUMP-SUM,

WHICH OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT TO BE

ABLE HONDA OVER THAT MONEY,

RIGHT?

OR IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A WE'RE

GOING TO STAY IN AND WE JUST

HAVE TO PREPARE FOR COST

INCREASES, YOU HAVE TO FIND A

WAY TO PAY FOR THAT.

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO

THE UNIVERSITIES, YOU THINK

ABOUT DEFINITELY IN TERMS OF THE

THE EMPLOYEES AND THERE HAVE

BEEN -- THIS HAS BEEN TALK OF IF

YOU GET INTO A FINANCIAL BIND,

YOU MAY HAVE PLAYOFFS, BUT I

THINK WITH UNIVERSITIES IN

PARTICULAR, FOR THEM WHEREVER

THEY GET INTO A FINANCIAL BIND,

UNFORTUNATELY THERE COULD BE

IMPACTS ON THE STUDENTS WHEN IT

COMES TO TRYING TO FIND MONEY IF

YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT FROM THE

STATE OR IF YOU'RE EXPENSES TO

THE STATE PENSION SYSTEM IS

GOING UP.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, THEN WE

HAVE TO RAISE, MAYBE RAISE

TUITION WHICH IS ALREADY

SOMETHING STUDENTS HAVE DEALT

WITH YEAR AFTER YEAR, SO I THINK

STUDENTS HAVE SOME SKIN IN THIS

TOO.

>> Daniel: AND THE THING TO

KEEP IN MIND IS THEY HAVE UNTIL

APRIL TO DECIDE.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THESE

CHIPS FALL FOR A LITTLE BIT.

WITH THAT THERE WAS TALK OF

LITIGATION ON THAT BILL BUT IT

APPEARS THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL

ANDY BESHEAR IF HE WERE TO SUE

ABOUT THIS, HE'S GOING TO WAIT

UNTIL LATER.

>> Bill: THERE WAS SOME

LANGUAGE INSERTED BY THE

GOVERNOR'S TEAM IN THAT BILL

THAT WOULD SEEM TO MAKE

LITIGATION SOMEWHAT LESS

LIKELY.

>> Daniel: BASICALLY IF IT

GETS STRUCK DOWN T. BY THE

COURTS, THE WHOLE BILL FALLS

APART AND THE REALLY COMPONENT

PART TO THE WILL IS IT CONTAINED

A FREEZE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAD TOW PAY

ERR TOWARD THEIR PENSION

OBLIGATION AND THAT FREEZE IS

IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING THEIR

BUDGETS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

IF IT WERE TO BE CHALLENGED IN

COURT AND STRUCK DOWN, THAT

FREEZE WOULD COME DOWN TOO.

>> Matt: CAN I POINT OUT

THERE'S 118 STATE QUASI-ANSWERS,

130 REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IS A

THEY HAVE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO

MAKE AHEAD.

THAT'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION

AROUND THE STATE, AND THIS ISN'T

EVEN THE PENSION REFORM, THAT

COMPREHENSIVE PENSION REFORM

THAT WE'LL HAVE BEEN WAITING

FOR.

>> Bill: YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

NOW SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS WILL

COME DOWN TO THE MORE LOCAL

LEVEL AS TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO

PROCEED, AND THERE WILL BE SOME

PRESSURES THERE LOCALLY AS

WELL.

SO TO MATT'S POINT, MORGAN, IS

PENSION REFORM STILL A MOVING

TARGET?

IS IT STILL UP IN THE AIR ABOUT

A LOT OF THINGS BEING DISCUSSED

WHEN THE REGULAR SESSION BEGINS

IN JANUARY?

>> Morgan: WITHOUT A DOUBT,

THE PENSION SYSTEM AND PENSION

REFORM, THAT'S GOING TO BE A

TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN

FRANKFORT WHEN THE LEGISLATORS

COME BACK FOR THEIR FULL SESSION

IF ONLY JUST FROM A BUDGETARY

STANDPOINT, REGARDLESS OF HUGE

PENSION REFORM BILL LIKE THEY'VE

PASSED IN THE PAST IS GOING TO

BE UP FOR DEBATE, THEY'RE GOING

TO BE TALKING ABOUT WE STILL

HAVE THESE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

AND HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT WITH

THE NEED TO FUND K-12 EDUCATION

AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND HEALTH

DEPARTMENT, ALL THESE DIFFERENT

THINGS THAT THE STATE'S

RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO I THINK JUST FROM A BUDGET

STANDPOINT WITH PENSIONS ARE

GOING TO BE IN DISCUSS, AND I

THINK GIVEN JUST THE SIZE OF THE

HOME, OF THE CHALLENGES, IF

YOU'RE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN

KENTUCKY, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU

HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT AND

LOOKING AT POTENTIAL

LEGISLATION.

>> Matt: IF I CAN JUST MENTION

REALLY BRIEFLY, THAT PENSION

CONVERSATION IS HAVING RIPPLE

EFFECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

COVERING SOME BOYLAN MEETINGS IN

WEST KENTUCKY, IN MARSHALL

COUNTY WITH KENTUCKY, PENSIONS

AND THE RISING PENSION COST WAS

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE

BUDGET, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE

BUDGET GOING INTO THIS YEAR HAS

FEWER DOLLARS FOR LOCAL

NON-PROFITS THAT RELY ON COUNTY

GOVERNMENT FUNDS WHO SAY WE

CAN'T GIVE YOU AS MUCH BECAUSE

OF THE PENSION COSTS THAT WE'RE

HAVING TO DEAL WITH, AND SO THAT

LEFT A LOCAL FOOD PANTRY CHARGED

WITH DOING MORE FUNDRAISING ON

THEIR OWN, A SENIOR CITIZEN

CENTER WEEKS IT PROMPTED THEIR

CLOSURE IN BENTON.

MCCRAKEN COUNTY SIMILAR STORY.

YOU HAVE SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR

LOBBYING TO NOT HAVE THEIR

FUNDING REDUCED AND IF COUNTY

GOVERNMENT SAID OUR HANDS ARE

TIED BECAUSE THE PENSIONS ARE

SLIM AND THE BUDGETS ARE HIGH.

>> Bill: WE KNOW MANY OF THE

PUBLIC POOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED

FOR THE SUMMER.

ON AND ON.

RIPPLE EFFECTS GO.

LET'S SEE WHERE THIS ALL GOES

WITH THE PENSIONS AS WE MOVE

INTO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND

LET'S TALK ABOUT CAMPAIGN 2019.

ANDY BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN

ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT IT

IS AGREEING TO FIVE TELEVISED

DEBATES.

THOSE TO BE HELD IN THE PADUCAH,

LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON AND

NORTHERN KENTUCKY, SO THAT'LL BE

INTERESTING.

YOU'LL BE ON THE PANEL.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE INVITED TO

THE IF IT IS ONE IN PADUCAH.

>> Matt: THAT'S WHAT I'M

FOAMED I'M LOOKING FORWARD IT.

>> Bill: THAT SHOULD BE

INTERESTING.

SO AS WE START TO LOOK AT --

FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

THOSE DEBATES.

HOW WILL THAT GO?

WHAT DO YOU LOOK TO SEE, DANIEL,

IN THOSE?

>> Daniel: I MEAN, SO THE REAL

THING HERE IS WE KIND OF KNOW

WHERE EACH ONE STANDS, WHERE

THEY STAND ON POLICIES AND THAT

SORT OF THING.

BUT THEY'LL BE ON A STAGE

TOGETHER IN FRONT OF AN

AUDIENCE, AND IT WILL BE

INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY GO

AFTER EACH OTHER AND WHAT THEY

TRY TO DO.

SO MATT BEVIN HAS DEFINITELY

TRIED TO GO AFTER THE

ADMINISTRATION, THE STEVE

BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IN PART

TO UNDERCUT THE POPULARITY OF

FORMER GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR

WHO LEFT OFFICE PRETTY POPULAR.

AND HE HAS HAD THIS MESSAGE OF

HE'SENING CONTRACT UP FRANKFORT,

MUNG OUT THE STALLS.

ANDY BESHEAR, MATT BEVIN IS AN

UNPOPULAR GUY.

HE'S GOING TO GO AFTER MATT

BEVIN AND SAY THIS IS YOUR DON'T

LIKE HIM.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE

THE CONTRASTING VIEWS FROM THE

STATE.

WE'LL BE SEEING IT FIVE TIMES IN

A ROW.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO

SEE IF THERE ARE LOCAL ISSUES

THAT GET BROUGHT UP AT THE

DIFFERENT DEBATES IN DIFFERENT

AREAS TO GET THEM TO TRY AND

TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE FOR A

LITTLE BIT.

>> Bill: AND THE CHALLENGE TO

JOURNALSISTS WILL BE TO HAVE AN

INTERESTING SET OF ISSUES TO

DISCUSS, AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED

AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR THE

SHOW SO THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL THE

SAME.

SOME OF THE ISSUES DO GET

DISCUSSED THAT IS PERTINENT TO

DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

WE KNOW A BIG EVENT IS COMING UP

NEXT WEEK AND WE'RE LOOKING

FORWARD TO TO BEING OUT THERE.

FANCY FARM TO PROVIDE COVERAGE

ON KET.

WE'LL HAVE "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY"

OUT THIS NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AND

COVERAGE ON THE SATURDAY

AFFERENT SPEECHES AND SO FORTH.

SO, MATT, WE KNOW THAT FANCY

FARM REALLY IS A FUNDRAISER FOR

A SMALL CHURCH OUT THERE.

IT'S BECOME A POLITICAL

DESTINATION OVER THE DECADES.

THEY USED TO GET SPEECHES UNDER

WHAT WAS CALLED THE LIAR'S TREE

UNTIL IT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

AND THEN MOVED TO NOW A COVERED

PAVILION.

IT'S A PRETTY NICE LOCATION OUT

THERE.

CERTAINLY A LOT OF HTTP:

>> Matt: IT'S A FUNDRAISER FOR

ST. JEROME'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IT'S A STORIED TRADITION.

THE PAVILION DOES LOOK NICE BUT

DON'T LET THAT FOOL YOU BECAUSE

IT IS HOT.

IT'S AS HOOT FANCY FARM.

THERE'S BARBECUE.

THERE'S A SPIRITED ATMOSPHERE,

THRONGS OF PEOPLE AND

POLITICIANS STRIKE TO BARB EACH

OTHER.

SO, YEAH, IT'S A KENTUCKY

TRADITION.

I THINK CONGRESSMAN COMER WAS IN

PADUCAH RECENTLY.

HE SAID EVERY KENTUCKIAN NEEDS

TO COME OUT TO FANCY FARM AND

EXPERIENCE IN IT PERSON AT LEAST

ONCE.

HE OAKLAND JO, YOU MIGHT NOT

EVER TO GO BACK AFTER YOU'VE

GONE ONCE.

I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE IT IS

WORTH SEEING IN PERSON AND I

THINK THIS IS THE YEAR YOU'RE

GOING TO WANT TO GO OUT AND DO

IT.

>> Bill: YOUR COLLEAGUE AND

MENTOR JACK BRAMMER SAID THIS IS

THE YEAR TO GO IF YOU HAVE I DO

NOT NEVER BEEN TO FANCY FARM.

>> Daniel: I THINK JACK SAYS

THAT EVERY YEAR.

[LAUGHTER]

YEAH, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GOING

TO BE A BIG YEAR, RIGHT?

THIS IS A BIG ELECTION YEAR AND

YOU'VE GOT TWO GUBERNATORIAL

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN AT EACH

OTHER'S THROATS SINCE I GUESS

2015 BASICALLY.

AND SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THEM

ON A STAGE IN AN ENVIRONMENT

WHERE IT'S ENCOURAGED FOR THEM

TO REALLY GO AFTER EACH OTHER.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT

GOVERNOR BEVIN HAS BEEN IN A

COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND HE'S KIND OF DONE MIXED

THINGS AT FANCY FARM.

ONE YEAR HE REALLY WENT AFTER

HIS I DON'T KNOW THE AND HE

TRIED TO DO THE TRADITIONAL

ATTACK LINE.

ANOTHER YEAR HE JUST KIND OF

SAID THIS IS THE WORST FORM OF

POLITICAL SPEECH IN KENTUCKY AND

WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE INSTEAD.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE

WHAT MATT BEVIN WE SEE, AND I

HAVE A FEELING IT WILL BE THE

ONE THAT REALLY GOES AFTER ANDY

BESHEAR.

>> Bill: IN A SITUATION LIKE

THAT, IT'S TOUGH, RIGHT?

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE YELLING AT

EACH OTHER.

IT REALLY IS A CRUCIBLE OF

PRESSURE SITUATION LIKE THAT.

>> Morgan: I WENT MY FIRST

FANCY FARM WAS IN 2016 SO IT WAS

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SO I

REMEMBER THAT ONE BEING REALLY

ELECTRIC.

PEOPLE TOLD ME STORIES, I WONDER

WHITES REALLY GOING TO BE LIKE,

AND THEY WEREN'T EXAGGERATING.

PEOPLE WERE REALLY INTO IT ON

BOTH SIDES.

SO I DO, I THINK -- AND THEN THE

INTERVENING YEARS HAVE BEEN A

LITTLE CHILLER.

BUT I THINK, YEAH, THIS YEAR

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT

WITH SERIOUS STUFF ON THE LINE,

AND NOT US J FROM THE GOVERNOR'S

LEVEL BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S

RACE IS REALLY TENSE, SO I THINK

THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE

INTERESTING.

IT'S KIND OF A WHO'S WHO OFTE

POLITICS WHICH IS KIND OF FUN TO

SEE.

>> Matt: THE ENTIRE BALLOT IS

GOING TO BE THERE.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF VIEWERS OF

FANCY FARM YOU MIGHT SEE THEMES

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE DOWN

TICKET BALLOTS IN ALL THESE

RACES.

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS THE

FUTURE OF KENTUCKY FOR THE NEXT

COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHICH WAY

YOU WANT IT TO GO.

>> Bill: YOU TALKED ON A A

WILL I BE TAIRIAN CANDIDATE WHO

SAID HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK

AND DOESN'T KNOW IF HE'S BEEN

INVITED.

>> Matt: THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY

IS ON THE BALLOT, TOO, AND I

SPOKE TO THEIR DEFINED GOVERNOR

JOHN HICKS AND HE SAID THEY'RE

STILL WAITING FOR THEIR

INVITATION TO BE ON THE STAGE

BUT HE PROMISE HE WILL BE AT

FANCY FARM, SO I THINK YOU WILL

SEE THE LIBERTARIANS AT LEAST IN

SOME CAPACITY.

>> Bill: BEFORE THEY HEAD

WEST, AND IT WILL BE AN EXCITING

WEEKEND IN GRAVES COUNTY, BEVIN

AND BESHEAR WERE BOTH IN EASTERN

KENTUCKY THIS WEEK WHERE THEY

BOTH TRAILED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE

PRIMARIES.

LET'S LOOK AT THE GEOGRAPHY OF

THIS RACE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS THERE FOR SOME

ROAD ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND BESHEAR

MADE SOME STOPS IN COAL MINING

COUNTRY YESTERDAY.

CAN EASTERN E. CAN BE A KEY TO

THIS RACE?

>> Daniel: EASTERN KENTUCKY IS

REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS

STATE.

THE WEST HAS BEEN DEEP RED.

EASTERN USED TO BE DEMOCRATIC

BUT THEY LOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP

BUT THEY'RE ALSO MAD AT MEN OF

SO YOU'VE GOT THIS PERFECT STORM

OF BOTH ANDY BESHEAR AND MATT

BEVIN ARE HAVING TO GO THERE,

GIVE FACE TIME TO REALLY TRY AND

EARN THE VOTES THERE BECAUSE

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRIMARY

ROCKY ADKINS WON MOST OF THAT

TERRITORY IN THE PRIMARY AND GO

FORTH WON IT IN THE --

>> Bill: THE ADS ARE OUT THERE

THERE.

PRO-BESHEAR HAVE HIS -- WHILE

PRO-BEVIN USE FOOTAGE OF

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TRY TOW TIE

BESHEAR TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

FIGURES.

>> Daniel: PARTS OF WHAT WE'RE

SEEING FROM THE RGA IS THEY'RE

EGG REAL GOING AFTER BESHEAR,

IT'S McCONNELL 101 WHERE YOU

DEFINE YOUR I DON'T KNOW THE

EARLY AND DRAG THEM DOWN.

EINSTEINING THE DL.BGA INSTEAD

OF GOING AFTER THE GOVERNOR,

THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUMP ANDY

BESHEAR UP AND TALK ABOUT THE

THINGS THAT HE'S DOING IN THE

TWO 15-SECOND SPOTS THAT THEY

RELEASED TODAY.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT TWO OF

HIS PLATFORMS OF ATTORNEY

GENERAL WITH THE RAPE KIT

BACKLOG AND WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING

TO GO AFTER CHILD SEX PRET

TORS.

>> Bill: U.S. SENATE UPDATE.

COLIN WILL SPEAK ON STAGE, AND

WE EXPECT OTHERS WILL BE'S FANCY

FARM.

AMY -INCOME GRATH.

>> APPLE MCFADDEN GRAPH IS NOT

GOING TO FANCY FARM.

HER DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT IS

GOING.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT McCONNELL,

ONE OF HIS FORM AIDES IS RUNNING

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THAT'S

AN INTERESTING RACE WHERE THE

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S

ASSOCIATION IS USING THE MITCH

McCONNELL TACTIC.

DANIEL CAMERON IS.

HE'S REALLY GONE AFTER GREG

STUMBO.

>> HE CALLED STUMBO A DEADBEAT

DAD AND HE CALLED CAMERON A

LIAR.

>> Daniel: I DON'T EXPECT THAT

TO STOP UNTIL AFTER THE

ELECTION.

>> Bill: WE'RE ALSO HEARING IT

COULD GET INTERESTING IN THE

60s DISTRICT WHERE ANDY HELD

OFF AMY McGRATH.

NOW AWAY HERE FROM JOSH HICKS, A

VERNAL FORMER POLICE OFFICER

GETTING IN NEXT WEEK.

>> Daniel: HE LOST TO

REPRESENTATIVE STAN LEE IN A

STATE HOUSE RACE IN 2018.

IT SEEMS IT'S GOING TO BE ALL

BUT INEVITABLE THAT HE JUMPS

INTO THIS RACE, AND HE'S SAYING

THAT I'M A RURAL GUY WHO CAN

KIND OF TALK TO RURAL

KENTUCKIANS AND SHOW THEM THAT

DEMOCRATS AREN'T NECESSARILY

WHAT YOU SEE ON FOX NEWS.

BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING

TO BE PAY CAKEWALK FOR HIM.

THERE ARE OTHER NAMES THAT ARE

BEING MENTIONED IN THE PRIMARY.

ONE OF THIS IS EYE STEVE BESHEAR

AIDE.

HE'S BEING BEING COURTED BY

FOLKS.

AND THE OTHER IS THAT CONS THAT

THE APPLICABLE NAME ALISON

LUNDERGAN GRIMES.

GRAND SHE HAD HER STRUGGLES OF

LATE BOTH IN THE SECRETARY OF

STATE'S OFFICE AND HER DAD IS

UNDERGOING A TRIAL STARTING NEXT

WEEK AND SO ON ITS GOING TO

BE -- I THINK THAT SHE HAS TO

KIND OF WAIT AND SEE HOW THE

TRIAL WAS HER FATHER BEFORE SHE

CAN KIND OF THINK ABOUT ANY KIND

OF POLITICAL OFFICE THAT WE

WOULD RUN FOR.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A BILL

PROPOSE BY REPRESENTATIVE JERRY

MILLER FOR 27.5 EXAMINERS EXCISE

TAX ON e-GRETS, VIDEOTAPING BY

TEENAGERS.

IT'S A GROWING CONCERN THAT WAS

SUPPOSEDLY TO RAISE $35 MILLION

TO THE STATE FOR PENSIONS.

>> Morgan: PER YEAR.

DEFINITELY A BIG REVENUE BOOST

IF THEY DECIDE TO KNOCK THE

TAX.

THE BIG DRIVER BEHIND THIS IS A

RISING CONCERN ABOUT TEENAGE USE

OF E-CIGARETTES.

THE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF

IT'S NOT CAMPAIGNS FOR YOUTHS

THAT HAVE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL

TURNED TEENS AWAY FROM YOUR

TRADITIONAL CIGARETTES, BUT

E-CIGS HAVE BECOME VERY

POPULAR.

I A RECENT REPORT SAID USE AMONG

HIGH SCHOOLERS IN KENTUCKY HAS

NEARLY DOUBLED.

SO THE THOUGHT IS THAT YOU MAKE

THEM MORE EXPENSIVE AND MAYBE

THAT KIND OF CUTS DOWN ON THE

INTEREST OR THE ABILITY OF TEENS

TO AFFORD THAT.

BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO

SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH THIS.

THE IDEA IS TO TAX THEM JUST AS

THOUGH THEY WERE REGULAR

CIGARETTES ALTHOUGH SOME FOLKS

SAY THIS IS BETTER THAN STING TO

MARL BROTHERS.

ABOUT IT WILL BE INTEREST T.

MARL BROTHERS ONE OF THE

LOBBYISTS, THAT SPENT THE MOST

OVER THE LAST PERIOD WAS A

TOBACCO GIANT ALTRIA THAT HAS A

STAKE IN ONE OF THE BIG eCIG

COMPANIES SO IT WILL BE

INTERESTING TO SEE JUST HOW ALL

THOSE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS

PLAY INTO IT.

ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ON

RECORD SAYING WE ENT DON'T

SUPPORT YOUTH USE OF

E-CIGARETTES BUT YOUNG PEOPLE

ARE USING THEM.

>> Daniel: BUT THEY SELL

FLAVORED --

>> Morgan: IT SEEMS

REPUBLICANS ARE BEHIND THIS AND

YOU WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE PRO

TAX BUT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS

BEHIND THIS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S TWO

VISIBLE SENATORS WENT AGAINST

EACH OTHER ON THE COMPENSATION

FUND.

McCONNELL PUSHED IT AFTER

THERE WAS PRESSURE.

PAUL VOTED AGAINST IT SAYING THE

COUNTRY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY.

>> Daniel: HE WAS ONE OF ONLY

TWO VOTES HA WERE VOTING AGAINST

IT, AND THAT BILL GOT A LOT OF

ATTENTION AS WELL BECAUSE YOU

HAD JON STEWART FROM THE DAILY

SHOW TRYING TO PUSH THAT THING

IN WASH TO MAKE SURE IT GOT TO

HELP THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK CARE

OF US.

>> Matt: IT'S PERMANENT

FUNDING.

RAND PAUL SAID HE SUPPORTS THE

FIRST RESPONDERS BUT HE WAS

DISMAYED THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE

FUNDING.

THE OTHER SENATOR WA UTAH

SENATOR MIKE LEE.

>> Bill: ON THAT SAME DAY PAUL

ANNOUNCED SUPPORT FOR BOURBON

MAKERS AND McCONNELL ALSO

SUPPORTS THAT MEASURE.

IT WOULD EXTEND A PROVISION IN

THE TAX CODE.

>> Daniel: AND SENATOR PAUL

GOT CRITICISM FOR THIS.

THE DAY AFTER HE TRIES TO BLOCK

THIS THING BECAUSE OF THE 9/11

RESPONDER BILL BECAUSE OF

FUNDING HE'S ON THE RECORD

SUPPORTING A TAX CUT FOR

BOURBON.

AND HIS OFFICE SAID THEY WOULD

FIND MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS TAX

CUT.

BUT THE OPTICS OF IT WASN'T

NECESSARILY THE BEST THING FOR

SENATOR PAUL THERE.

>> Bill: MINERS WENT TO

WASHINGTON, DC, FOR A MEETING

WITH SENATOR McCONNELL THIS

WEEK.

>> Matt: YES, SOME MINERS FROM

APPALACHIA WENT UP AND WERE SORT

OF LOBBYING FOR MORE FUNDING FOR

BLACK LUNG, TO DEAL WITH THE

BLACK LUNG, AND SOME DEMOCRATS

IN CONGRESS INTRODUCED

LEGISLATION FOR THAT ADDITIONAL

FUNDING ON TUESDAY.

>> Bill: MORGAN, IT'S ALMOST

BACK TO SCHOOL UNIVERSITY AND OF

KENTUCKY IS EXPECTING RECORD

ENROLLMENT, SO MUCH SO THEY'RE

HAVING TROUBLE FINDING HOUSING

SPACE FOR STUDENTS.

>> Morgan: YEAH.

ON THE ONE HAND THIS GOES A

SYMPTOM OF SUCCESS FOR UK.

I WAS TALKING WITH OTHER FOLKS

EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND THEY SAID

WE WANT MORE STUDENTS TO BE

STAYING ON CAMPUS US THAT BASS

ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER LEVELS

SUCCESS, BETTER GRADES, MORE

INVOLVED WITHS CAMPUS LIFE, BUT

THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

YOU HAVE THE MAJORITY OF

FRESHMEN, WHICH IS A RECORD

NUMBER OF FRESHMEN COMING IN

THIS YEAR WANT TO STAY ON CAMPUS

AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF

SOPHOMORES WHO SAY I LOVE

STAYING IN THE DORM SO MUCH I

WANT TO STAY AGAIN.

SO THEY'VE BEEN CONVERTING STUDY

ROOMS IN THE DORMS WHICH WERE

DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT

THEM.

THEY'RE ALSO CONVERTING SOME RA

ROOMS WHICH IS MORE

CONTROVERSIAL.

THERE'S AN ONLINE PETITION GOING

ON.

>> Bill: LED TO A LOT OF COAST

OF CONTROVERSY.

>> Morgan: RAS ARE NOT HAPPY.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS GOING

TO START RECRUITING TEACHERS,

SAYING THERE'S A 5,000 JOB

VACANCY SITUATION IN THE STATE.

>> Morgan: THEY'VE HAD AROUND

5,000 JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED

UP DURING THIS YEAR, AROUND AN

THOUSAND OR MORE OFES HAVE BEEN

JUST IN THE LAST MONTH.

BASICALLY THEY HAVE MORE

OPENINGS THAN THEY CAN FILL.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVING A HARD

TIME GETTING GOOD CANDIDATES,

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, AND THEY

HIGHER ED LEVEL STATEWIDE

THERE'S BEEN A DOCUMENTED

DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF

STUDENTS WHO ARE EARNING

EDUCATION DEGREES IN THE FIRST

PLACE.

I THINK PARTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE

HEAR THE STUFF ABOUT LOW PAY AND

FOCUS ON TEST SCORES.

THEY'LL BE TRYING TO DRUM UP

INTEREST.

>> Bill: DR. AARON THOMAS

HEADS UP THE COUNCIL ON

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SAID

THEY NEED TO GO AT THAT IMAGE

AND MAKE STUDENTS AWARE OF

BENEFITS AND REWARDS AND THE

PROFESSIONAL JOB THAT TEACHERS

HAVE.

SO THAT IS GOING TO BE

INTERESTING AS WELL.

MATT, THE UPDATE FOR SOME ASIAN

CARP OUT AT KENTUCKY LAKE.

>> Matt: YEAH, WELL,

SENATOR McCONNELL HAS SAID

THAT ASIAN CARP IS HIS NUMBER

ONE ISSUE IN WEST KENTUCKY.

AN BIOACOUSTIC FISH FENCE IS

BEING TESTED NEXT WEEK.

INDUSTRIAL PARK IN BALLARD

COUNTY IS EXPANDING

SIGNIFICANTLY THE PRESIDENT OF

TWO RIVERS FISHERIES SAYS THAT

THEY PLAN ON PROCESSING

78 MILLION POUNDS OF ASIAN CARP

IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.

AND THERE'S AN ASIAN CARP

FISHING TOURNAMENT IN OCTOBER.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT ASIAN CARP

IS PRETTY TASTY.

>> Bill: YOU'VE SAID THAT

BEFORE.

MARSHALL COUNTY, THE SCHOOL

SHOOTING TRIAL.

UPDATE US ON THAT QUICKLY.

>> THERE'S A QUICK UPDATE ON

THAT.

THERE'S A SUPPRESSION HEARING

NEXT MONTH TO STRESS SOME

EVIDENCE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE DEFENSE IS

TRYING TO DO.

ARE SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOOTING

THERE WAS HAD AN INTERVIEW THAT

THE SUSPECT DID WITH SOME

POLICE.

THE DEFENSE SAYS THAT PROCESS

WASN'T HANDLED PROPERLY.

THE PROSECUTION SAYS OTHERWISE

AND SAYS THE YOUNG WILL

DETERMINE THE FACTS THE O.

THAT.

I'MERED TODDLE IT'S GOING TO BE

LENGTHY.

>> Bill: ATRIAL TRUDGE DISMISS

A LAWSUIT AGAINST NICK SANDING

AGAINST THE POST.

>> Daniel: GOOD NEWS FOR THE

1st AMENDMENT.

>>>

>> THAT'S THE COVINGTON CATHOLIC

STUDENT WHO STOOD FACE TO FACE

WITH A --

>> THE PRESIDENT OF ANTHONY

POWERS WILL BE ON THE FUTURE

LINING THE

AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

BUT THE GROUP OF 28 MEMBERS

TOGETHER TO MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE FROM

KENTUCKY.

MONDAY AT 8 EASTERN/7 CENTRAL

"KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW AND GUESTS WILL