Well as a statewide audience watched the candidates for governor squared off for the fourth time last night right here on Katie, my colleague Renee Shaw moderated that conversation, which included heated exchanges on several topics, including school vouchers.
Our June Lefler has more in this election.
23 Update.
Supporters for both candidates crowded Katie's studios last night.
Democratic candidate Andy Beshear tried to quell any nerves that he couldn't work with a Republican legislature.
I got sports betting and medical marijuana past things that took Democratic and Republican votes that they said they would never pass.
We set the lowest annual unemployment rate ever, the lowest monthly unemployment rate ever, the longest period of low unemployment that we've ever seen.
We work well behind the scenes.
It's just in politics.
What happens out front is often not what you see behind closed doors.
Cameron came after Bashir's handling of COVID 19 and the economy.
But at the end of the day, he has no relationship with the legislature, and Andy Beshear can say all he wants tonight that the economy is on fire.
Look, the Eagles had a song that said something to the extent of your lying eyes.
You can't hide your lying eyes.
Andy Beshear is lying to you nightly on the television in these debates.
And the fact of the matter is, the economy is not doing well.
You know it at home because you're having to work two or three jobs.
You know it at home because when you go to the grocery store, your bill is more.
Let's have a governor that will say to you tonight that if I am the next governor here in this commonwealth, we will eliminate Kentucky's income tax because I want to give you more of your hard earned money.
Tensions rose from there when Beshear pressed Cameron on his stance on school vouchers.
They steal money from our public schools and send them to our private schools.
The reason he won't answer is he supports vouchers.
He has time and time again.
But what's concerning is he won't be honest with you and answer a direct question and look in the camera.
You deserve a governor that will do that.
Whether the answer is.
Why were you not answer the question?
Look, I mean, I agree that we need to expand opportunity and choice.
But this program and policy that I've put forth is about our public school system for vouchers.
Wait a minute.
You were for shutting our schools down for two years.
Did you shut our schools down for two years?
Do we have learning loss because of those shutdowns?
So, General Cameron, if you're sent a bill, if you are elected governor that has scholarship tax credits or school vouchers, would you sign that measure?
Until I would sign that.
But I want to make sure that people know that my plan, the Cameron catch up plan, is about our public schools.
Moving from kids in schools to kids in state detention facilities.
Shah brought up recent allegations against Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice.
Officials with the Department of Public Advocacy said some juvenile offenders are being kept in isolation for up to 21 days at a time.
Governor Bashir, does this concern you that practices like these are happening to youth offenders?
And is that the right approach?
I don't like isolation as a tool, but if you have someone that has attacked repeatedly, a number of officers, put them at risk.
I mean, I know of officers that have been in the hospital with injuries so seriously they can't even come back.
We've got to make sure we have a safe environment first and then we need to provide all the services that we can.
What the governor didn't say to you is that he's held anybody accountable.
The folks that have been in those offices, DOJ are still in those offices.
He hasn't fired a person.
For all their differences.
Both candidates said kinship care, where individuals are raising a family member's child, deserves more financial support.
We know that our children are best when they have someone that truly loves them and supports them.
And that means especially when those are older Kentuckians.
We need to do everything we can to make sure their needs are met.
You know, one of the challenges that we've seen with the foster care system here as of late under this governor is that too many kids are sleeping on floors in dilapidated buildings.
That has to end.
And part of the solution to that is expanding kinship care.
I want to work with our legislature to make sure that we find those additional resources in dollars.
The candidates have already debated at venues in Louisville, Paducah and northern Kentucky.
They'll face off again tonight in Lexington on Channel W City.
For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.
Watch the full hour long debate yourself online on demand.
Katie Dorgan and Tucky tonight.