[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

AND WELCOME TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

LIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE BY KET TO A JOINTS SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND YOU ARE SEEING A SHOT A LIVE SHOT OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS FOLKS ARE FILING IN.

WE THINK.

AS THE GOVERNOR PREPARES TO MAKE HIS FIFTH STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING US YOUR CHOICE FOR COVERAGE THIS EXI'M RENEE SHAW ALONG WITH OUR PUNISHED DITS THAT YOU SEE ON KET ELECTION NIGHT AND OTHER TIMES AND PARTICULARLY THIS OCCASION.

WE HAVE AMY WICKLIFFE WITH MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS AND HER PARTNER SHE IS A PARTNER AND ANOTHER PARTNER OF MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS SHERMAN BROWN.

AND WE APPRECIATE THEM ALWAYS BEING WITH US.

AND AT THE END OF THE SPEECH, WE WILL HAVE THAT SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY UNINTERRUPTED AND AFTER WHICH WE WILL HAVE REACTION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THE REPUBLICANS PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNEMENT I WILL SPEAK WITH THEM FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WE'LL GIVE THE DEMOCRATS THE NEW MINORITY LEADER PAMELA STEVENSON IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER GERALD NEAL A CHANCE ALSO TO RESPOND TO THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS.

A LOT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.

AND SHERMAN BROWN I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR TONIGHT?

>> I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND LOOKING AT THIS AND LOOKING BACK AT OTHER SPEECHES, AND THE SPEECHES HE HAS BEEN MAKING OUT ON THE KIND OF WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH RIGHT NOW I WAS GOING TO SAY ON THE TRAIL.

BUT THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

I REALLY THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR THE MOST ABOUT.

OBVIOUSLY HE WILL ADDRESS THE SNOWSTORM.

I THINK WE'RE TALKING MOSTLY THE YEAR.

HE IS LOOKING AT THIS AS A YEAR REFLECTION AND LOOKING AHEAD AND THAT IS THE WAY THE OTHER SPEECHES HAVE BEEN.

THIS IS HIS FIFTH SPEECH FOR THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS HE WILL ADDRESS ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD THAT HAVE BEEN LONGER ISSUES.

OPIOID EPIDEMIC, YOU WILL HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

THOSE NUMBERS DROPPING.

OVERDOSE.

AND THEN ALSO RECORD INVESTMENT BROADBAND LOOKING THE THAT TRYING TO DECREASE THAT DIVIDE THAT WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK IT WILL BE A LOT OF THAT STUFF.

BUT MOSTLY ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THE RECORD INVESTMENT GOING ON.

KENTUCKY IS BOOMING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT KENTUCKY.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S BEEN SAYING.

>> Renee: SO RAISE THOSE WINS AND TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF POLICY AGENDA HE HOPES THE LAWMAKERS WILL ADOPT.

AMY, WE STARTED BEING ON AIR TONIGHT THIS IS NOT JUST A STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS FOR KENTUCKIANS.

THIS HAS FURTHER REACH, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THIS IS A SPEECH BESHEAR THIS IS HIS FIFTH HE IS TERM LIMITED.

AT THIS POINT I EXPECT TO HEAR COMMENTS THAT TALK OUTSIDE OF THE KEN KEB BORDERS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CLEARLY WANTS TO KEEP HIS NAME IN CIRCLES FOR A BIGGER RUN AT SOME POINT WHETHER THAT IS U.S. SENATE OR THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

I THINK HE HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF AUDIENCE HE IS HOPING TO HAVE GOOD SOUNDBYTES TO COME OUT OF.

TO YOUR POINT, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT CONSISTENT ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

I THINK WHAT I WILL BE LISTENING FOR TONIGHT IS DOES HE ALSO TAKE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES WHERE YES, THE ECONOMY MIGHT BE BOOMING BUT SOME KENTUCKIANS AREN'T FEELING THAT.

RIGHT?

WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDCARE AND WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, OUR ENERGY DEMANDS, HIGH ELECTRICITY RATES THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NEED CONTINUED WORK AND WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON.

>> Renee: AND WILL HE MAKE AN OUT RIGHT APPEAL TO THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SAY THERE'S LOW LANGING FRUIT STILL THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE AND PLUCK FROM THE TREE SHERMAN BROWN CONSIDERING HE IS A LAME-DUCK.

WHY GO INTO FURTHER DIVISION WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEND FENCES.

DO YOU THINK HE WILL TRY TO DO THAT?

>> I DON'T SEE FURTHER DIVISION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF KENTUCKY AND EVERYTHING GOING ON HERE.

I DON'T SEE A CALL THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE DIVISIVE.

>> Renee: PERHAPS HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K OR ITEMS HE HAS HIT ON BEFORE.

MAYBE HE RESERVES THAT?

>> WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> Renee: WE DO KNOW BECAUSE HE DID TWEET OR POST AS IT IS NOW, HE SAID THIS IS 10 MINUTES AGO, JOIN ME AS WE HIGHLIGHT THE FOLKS HELPING TO BUILD OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME WHERE OPPORTUNITY AND PROCESS PARITY ARE POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

AND FOLKS HE WILL GIVE SHOUT-OUTS TO.

PERHAPS A POSITIVE TONE.

>> I WOULD EXPECT NOTHING BUT A POSITIVE TONE TONIGHT THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR THRIVES ON.

THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD ECONOMIC WINS, I'M LISTENING TO IS THAT JOINT CREDIT BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT ON MAKING SURE WE MAKE SURE TO TALK ABOUT THE HARD WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE TAX MODERNIZATION AND THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT PUT US IN THIS FISCAL POSITION WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR ECONOMY STRONG RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: AND SPEAKING OF WHICH JUST TODAY HOUSE BILL ONE WHICH LOWERS THAT STATE INCOME ANOTHER HALF PERCENT TO 3.5% PASSED COMMITTEE AND WE EXPECT A HOUSE FLOOR VOTE TOMORROW ON THIS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID 3.5 IS FINE.

BUT WILL HE SAY BELOW THAT IS NOT SO FINE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE HESITANCY TO GO BELOW THE 3.5%.

INTERESTING TO SEE THE DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND THEIR THOUGHTS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOTE GOES TOMORROW.

>> Renee: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT.

>> I'M FULLY EXPECTING A MAJORITY OF THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS SPEECH TO BE ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ABOUT THE INVESTMENT AND EVERYTHING GOING ON.

I AM INTERESTED TO SEE THE POLICY.

IF THERE IS A CALL TO CERTAIN POLICY AND PLANNING THAT HE'S APPEALING TO IN THE SHORT SESSION.

IT IS NOT A BUDGET SESSION.

IT IS NOT A TIME WHERE WE'RE REALLY DOING THAT.

OR DOES HE ASK FOR SOMETHING.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THE ASK?

>> IS THERE AN ASK FOR SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET.

>> Renee: WE'RE LOOKING AT A WIDE SHOT OF THE CHAMBER AND I SEE LOTS OF EMPTY SEATS.

>> IT IS A SLIM CROWD TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE WEATHER, AND ALSO A LOT OF LEGISLATORS HAVE HEARD THE GOVERNOR'S SPEAK AND SPEAK ABOUT THE ECONOMY BEING ON FIRE AND KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO SAY.

THIS IS TRADITIONAL IN NATURE AT THIS POINT.

IT IS A SLIM CROWD TONIGHT.

>> Renee: JOIN NOW AS THE PRAYER IS BEING DELIVERED.

>> TONIGHT IS THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS OUR CREATOR.

YOU ARE OMNI PRESENT AND ALL I HAVE COMES FROM YOU.

LORD WE GIVE YOU PRAISE AND GLORY.

BRINGING US INTO A BRAND NEW YEAR.

WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING EACH AND EVERYONE OF US TO GATHER HERE TONIGHT TO SEE A DAY WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY.

LORD AS YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY THOSE IN THE ASSEMBLY HERE TONIGHT AND LISTENING AND WATCHING THIS EVENT.

LORD LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ON THIS COMMONWEALTH AND NATION AND BLESS US ALL WITH YOUR GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE.

HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE ENTER INTO 2025 THAT THE GOVERNOR AND YOUR LEGISLATIVE SERVANTS LOOK BEYOND THEIR HUMAN FAULTS AND SEE THE TRUE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH.

HELP THEM REMEMBER YOUR WORDS WHICH INSTRUCT OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IN WHICH YOU SAID I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD AND PRAISE JESUS WITH THIS TEACHING THAT MAYBE SERVANTS TO ALL THE PEOPLE.

MY LORD, RIGHT NOW, I STRETCH MY HAND TO THEE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING OUR GOVERNOR, HOUSE SPEAKER, SENATE PRESIDENT AND ALL LEGISLATORS TO COME TOGETHER TONIGHT AND PUT ASIDE ENVY OR POLITICAL PARTISAN THROUGH YOUR HOLY GOD WHICH THEY TONIGHT EXHIBIT AND SUPPORT YOUR LOVE WHICH YOU HAVE SAID BEFORE US.

WHICH SAYS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE; JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS AND THERE IS NO LAW.

AS WE LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TONIGHT LORD WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO OUR COMMONWEALTH.

LORD WE PRAY THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL AND BRINGING OUR GOVERNOR AND THESE LEGISLATIVE SERVANTS TOGETHER IN UNITY AND PEACE.

NOW, LORD LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FALL FRESH ON GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND DAVID OSBORNE AND SNAP ROBERT STIVERS SENATE PRESIDENT AND EVERYONE HEARING MY VOICE TONIGHT IN GOD WE TRUST.

UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL.

FORGIVE US FOR OUR SINS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST I PRAY, AMEN.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM MCCRACKEN.

>> Renee: WE ARE GETTING THE PRELIMINARY START PROCEEDINGS OUT OF THE WAY AND WE WILL SOON SEE THE GOVERNOR COME DOWN THE AISLE AND THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL ESCORT HIM DOWN THE AISLE AND GREET THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE THERE.

SO WE EXPECT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG HE MAY GO TONIGHT?

CONSIDERING PERHAPS THERE IS ANOTHER IMPERATIVE IN MIND IN WHAT HE MAY SAY?

>> I WAS LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE TIMES BEFORE THAT HE'S DONE THE SHORTEST WAS IN 2021 WHERE THEY RECORDED IT DURING COVID.

SO THAT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT DEAL THAT WAS 25 MINUTES THE LONGEST WAS 43.

I THINK WE WILL BE ON THE HIGHER END.

WE WILL NOT BE AT THE 25 MINUTE MARK.

I THINK WE WILL BE AROUND THE 40-MINUTE MARK.

AND GO FROM THERE.

THAT'S AVERAGE.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT NORMAL.

>> Renee: AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS SESSION THIS IS A 30-DAY SESSION, SO THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT 28 MORE DAYS TO GO AS WE'VE EXPENDED TWO DAYS.

YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY BRITAINY ENTERING THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER AND THEY WILL COME UP TO THE FRONT AND YOU WILL NOT MISS A BEAT WHAT HE SAYS.

WE PROMISE YOU THAT.

AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN BEHIND HIM AND OTHERS.

WE THINK HOW THE SESSION IS STARTING OFF AND WE HAD CONSTERNATION ABOUT PROCEDURAL RULES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WE HAVE HAD ACTION ON THE INCOME TAX MEASURE THAT WE THINK WILL GET A HOUSE VOTE TOMORROW.

DO WE KNOW WHAT ELSE IS BREWING RIGHT NOW?

GOVERNOR AGENDA ASIDE?

>> AS OF TODAY THERE IS 199 BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AS OF DAY 2 TWO.

DIFFERENT IDEAS FLOATING AROUND.

YOU WILL SEE MORE CONVERSATION AROUNDDAY.

, I THINK YOU WILL SEE A TELL THINK CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR MEDICAID BUDGET THAT CONTINUES TO GROW WHILE NOT SEEING IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES.

I THINK EDUCATION IS STILL IT WILL BE TOP OF THE TICKET OF WHAT THEY LOOK AT AFTER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 WAS DEFEATED IN NOVEMBER, I THINK LEGISLATORS WILL BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT NEED HELP AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING THOSE.

>> Renee: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR ADDRESSES D.E.I.

OR MEDICAID EXPANSION ET CETERA.

>> I'M INTERESTED IN THAT AS WELL.

AND INTERESTED IN WATCHING AS HE MET WITH THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS SHAKING HANDS AND EVERYTHING.

>> Renee: AND WE'LL GO RIGHT TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR.

>> PRESIDENT STIF HE WAS, SPEAKER OSBORNE, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN, MY 23E8 LOW CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, JUSTICES OF THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT INCLUDING OUR NEW CHIEF JUSTICE LAMBERT.

[APPLAUSE] FORMER GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY STEVE AND JANE BESHEAR.

[APPLAUSE] KENTUCKY'S INCREDIBLE FIRST LADY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, BRITAINY BESHEAR.

[APPLAUSE] AND TO ALL OF OUR KENTUCKY AND AMERICAN FAMILIES WATCHING FROM HOME, GOOD EVENING.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

TONIGHT, I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

AND IT'S GROWING STRONGER.

EVERYDAY WE'RE WELCOMING MORE BUSINESSES, MORE FAMILIES, AND MORE VISITORS TO OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS NOTICING.

RIGHT NOW, ALL EYES ARE ON KENTUCKY.

WE'VE EARNED THAT ATTENTION THROUGH ACHIEVEMENT, BY GETTING THINGS DONE AND BY BREAKING RECORD AFTER RECORD AFTER RECORD.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE NOW ANNOUNCED OVER $35 BILLION IN PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN US, IN KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT BY FAR UNDER ANY KENTUCKY GOVERNOR.

[APPLAUSE] OVER THE SAME PERIOD WE HAVE BROKEN OUR JOB CREATION RECORDS ANNOUNCING 59,800 NEW, GOOD, FULL-TIME JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE.

WE'VE BROKEN OUR ALL TIME EXPORTS RECORD MEANING BUSINESS IN KENTUCKY IS NOW GLOBAL.

WE'VE BROKEN OUR TOURISM RECORDS CELEBRATING THE TWO BEST YEARS FOR THIS INDUSTRY BACK-TO-BACK AND WE FULLY EXPECT 2024 TO BE THE BEST YEAR EVER FOR TOURISM IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND INVESTED IN CLEAN WATER.

WE'RE BUILDING AND REPAIRING OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

AND WE ARE INSTALLING HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACROSS KENTUCKY.

PUT SIMPLY: WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE SAME KENTUCKY ANYMORE.

THAT'S WHY NOW IS THE TIME.

THE TIME TO REINTRODUCE OURSELVES TO THE WORLD.

TO LEAVE THE STEREOTYPES OF THE PAST BEHIND US AND TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME.

OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME IS A PLACE WHERE THE PACE OF BUSINESS IS FAST BUT THE PACE OF LIFE IS JUST RIGHT.

IT IS A STATE THAT IS RANKED NUMBER TWO AND THREE IN THE COUNTRY IN PER CAPITA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN BACK-TO-BACK YEARS.

IT IS A STATE WHERE WE'VE SECURED UPGRADES FROM ALL THREE BOND RATING AGENCIES.

A PLACE THAT IS BUILDING THREE OF THE LARGEST BATTERY PLANTS ON PLANET EARTH AND WE JUST ANNOUNCED A FOURTH.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE THE COST OF LIVING IS 11.1% BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

A PLACE THAT RANKS THIRD FOR UTILITY AFFORDABILITY AND THE TOP 10 FOR AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME IS A PLACE WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON OUR PEOPLE.

AT A TIME WHEN THINGS COST TOO MUCH.

WE'VE LOWERED THE INCOME TAX.

AND WE'VE LOWERED PROPERTY TAXES FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

WE FROZE THE GAS TAX WHEN TIMES WERE TOUGH AND WE CAPPED THE PRICE OF INSULIN.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME IS A PLACE WHERE OUR ECONOMY IS BOOMING AND OUR PEOPLE LIVE GOOD LIVES.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, KENTUCKY.

AND THE GREAT PART IS HOW WE'VE GOTTEN HERE.

BY FINDING COMMON GROUND.

BY APPLYING COMMON SENSE.

AND THEN MAKING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT STARTS WITH RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN MOST KENTUCKIANS AND WHEN MOST AMERICANS WAKE UP IN THE MORNING THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT POLITICS.

WE WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT OUR JOBS AND WHETHER WE CAN MAKE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES.

WE WAKE UP THINK BEING THE NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINT MANY FOR OURSELVES OR PARENTS OR OUR KIDS.

WE WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT THE ROADS AND THE BRIDGES WE'LL DRIVE THAT DAY.

WE WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUR KIDS ATTEND.

AND WE WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE CALL HOME.

YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG, IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY.

BUT IF YOU ARE STARING AT THE COST OF OUR CHILD'S PRESCRIPTION AND WONDERING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND YOUR FAMILY'S DINNER, THE OFFENSE OF THE DAY IN WASHINGTON DOESN'T SEEM THAT IMPORTANT.

WHY IN KENTUCKY, WE MADE PROGRESS BY PUSHING OUT THAT NATIONAL NOISE.

BY WORKING TOGETHER.

BY SETTING POLITICS ASIDE AND BY FOCUSING ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILIES.

SO OVER THESE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE MUST STAY LASER FOCUSED ON CREATING BETTER JOBS.

MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE, SAFER ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THE VERY BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

[APPLAUSE] LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PLACES WHERE OUR PEOPLE AREN'T JUST SAFER BUT ALSO FEEL SAFER.

LET'S LET OUR POSITIVE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN THE NASTY WORDS WE HEAR ON TV OR READ ON-LINE.

AND WE CAN DO THIS.

SIMPLY BY FOCUSING ON THE CORE AREAS WHERE WE CAN AND WE SHOULD FIND COMMON GROUND.

LET'S START BY TALKING ABOUT A FAMILY'S MOST CRITICAL WORRY AND A FAMILY'S MOST CRITICAL NEED.

THE NEED FOR A GOOD JOB.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT STAGGERING STATISTIC THAT TOGETHER WE NOW ANNOUNCED MORE THAN 59,800 NEW GOOD JOBS FOR KENTUCKIANS THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN YOU ADD IN THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT NUMBER GROWS TO 64,000.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS 64,000 IT ISN'T JUST A NUMBER.

THAT'S 64,000 KENTUCKIANS.

64,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LESS STRESSED ABOUT PAYING THEIR BILLS.

WHO CAN PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLES AND THEY JUST MADE SURE THEIR KIDS HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS.

WE KNOW THAT.

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE BEST THREE-YEAR AVERAGE FOR NEW WAGES WITH THE AVERAGE INCENTIVIZED WAGE TOPPING $26 PER HOUR FOR THREE STRAIGHT YEARS THAT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] AND, FOLKS, WE AIN'T SLOWING DOWN.

THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BEST.

2024 WAS THE FOURTH BEST YEAR FOR PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S HISTORY.

IN TOTAL, WE ANNOUNCED $6.9 BILLION IN INVESTMENT AND OVER 9400 NEW JOBS JUST THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ADD IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE TOURISM PROJECTS IN 2024 SAW 7.25 BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT.

AND OVER 11,100 NEW JOBS.

JOINING US WE HAVE JEFF NOEL SECRETARY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CABINET AND ABBEY DIXON OF THE HENDERSON TOURIST COMMISSION LET'S THANK THEM AND EVERYONE WORKING IN THEIR INDUSTRIES FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

[APPLAUSE] THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD SOME GAME CHANGING WINS.

THEY INCLUDED THE THIRD LARGEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY ADMINISTRATION SHELBYVILLE BATTERY MANUFACTURING.

THIS COMPANY IS MOVING INTO A ONE MILLION SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING WHERE KENTUCKIANS WILL MAKE THE LARGE-SCALE STORAGE BATTERIES THAT WILL BRING RELIABILITY TO OUR POWER YID AND POWERED LAST YEAR'S SUPER BOWL.

THIS PROJECT IS CREATING 1572 SKILLED HIGH TECH JOBS.

WELCOME SHELBYVILLE BATTERY TO THEIR NEW KENTUCKY HOME.

[APPLAUSE] THE EXECUTIVES WANTED TO BE WITH US TONIGHT BUT WE'VE HAD A LITTLE SNOW AND SO HAVE THEY I KNOW THEY ARE WATCHING AT HOME.

AND THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT IS GOING TO DRAW EVEN MORE SUPPLIERS AND EVEN MORE JOBS TO OUR COMMONWEALTH.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING AND THANKFULLY WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT TO TRULY ADDRESS THIS CORE CONCERN ABOUT HAVING A GOOD JOB, MEANS WE HAVE TO CREATE THE JOBS WHERE OUR PEOPLE LIVE.

ENSURING OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY REACH EVERY CORNER OF OUR GREAT STATE.

IN 2024, WE DID JUST THAT.

IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WE CELEBRATED THE LARGEST JOBS ANNOUNCEMENT IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES FOR CHRISTIAN COUNTY WITH KITCHEN FOOD COMPANY.

THEY ARE CREATING 925 FULL-TIME JOBS.

[APPLAUSE] IN DAVIS COUNTY, SWEDISH MATCH IS CREATING 450 JOBS.

GREENVILLE MANUFACTURING IS ADDING 250 NEW JOBS.

IN ALLEN COUNTY, WE ANNOUNCED BELL MARK IS CREATING 159 JOBS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN A DECADE FOR THAT COUNTY.

WE BROKE GROUND WITH LOGAN ALUMINUM FOR THE KENTUCKY ALUMINUM PROCESSORS BUILDING A NEW FACILITY CREATING 75 JOBS IN LOGAN COUNTY.

IN BOWLING GREEN ALONE VISTA METALS IS CREATING 52 JOBS.

SHIN SUNG IS BRINGING 80 JOBS AND WE OPENED TYSON FOODS WELCOMING 450 NEW JOBS.

[APPLAUSE] IN ELIZABETHTOWN WE CUT THE RIBBON ON WHISKEY HOUSE OF KENTUCKY CREATING 100 JOBS AND WE OPENED THE CENTER THAT WILL TRAIN KENTUCKIANS FOR THE NEW JOBS AT SK BATTERY PARK THAT ALREADY HIRED 750 KENTUCKIANS.

IN LOUISVILLE WE ANNOUNCED HEALTH TRACK RX IS CREATING 230 JOBS.

METHOD VAN PARTICULARS 122 JOBS AND HOMEGROWN DAN NOSE WAS SPREADING KENTUCKY MADE SPICES TO THE WORLD CREATING 30 NEW JOBS.

AND JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE CUT THE RIBBON ON THE LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN WEST LOUISVILLE IN DECADES.

THAT'S THE -- [APPLAUSE] THAT'S THE 137 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT BY PRETZEL MANUFACTURER.

THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IS GENERATING 350 FULL-TIME JOBS IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

[APPLAUSE] AT THAT SITE, KENTUCKIANS ARE MAKING PRETZELS THAT ARE SOLD AROUND THE WORLD AND ARE NOW BEING PROVIDED ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINE FLIGHTS.

ELIZABETH GALVINE PART OF THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO WHO OWN THIS BUSINESS IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

LET'S GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

[APPLAUSE] IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY WE ANNOUNCED THE LARGEST DOLLAR INVESTMENT OF THE YEAR WITH TOYOTA INVESTING 922 MILLION DOLLARS AT ITS PLANT IN GEORGETOWN.

PEER MONT PHARMA SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCED CREATING 45 NEW JOBS IN LEXINGTON.

GRIST ON ANNOUNCED 20 JOBS ARE COMING TO MARIAN COUNTY.

AND CREATING 160 JOBS.

IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, DHL BROKE GROUND ON AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE FACILITY CREATING 300 JOBS.

CHICK-FIL-A ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND L2 AVIATION ANNOUNCED 250 NEW JOBS.

IN THE EAST, AND THE SOUTHEAST, AVA REDUNDANT WEB SERVICES IS CREATING 50 JOBS IN CLAY COUNTY.

EASTERN LIGHT DISTILL SOMETHING CREATING 50 MORE IN ROWAND COUNTY.

PROGRESS REAL SERVICES ANNOUNCED 30 JOBS IN KNOCKS COUNTY AND LAST MONTH AT&T CELEBRATING 115 NEW JOBS AND AT THAT EVENT THEY PLEDGED TO DOUBLE THAT WORKFORCE.

[APPLAUSE] FOLKS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A TEAM SPORT.

LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYONE ON THE STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL LEVEL THAT MADE THIS INCREDIBLE YEAR A REALITY.

[APPLAUSE] WHILE WE'RE CREATING THESE JOBS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS STRONG AND IS READY FOR THE FUTURE.

AND WE'RE BREAKING RECORDS THERE, TOO.

IN JANUARY OF 2023 WE RECORDED OVER TWO MILLION JOBS FILLED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND WE'VE STAYED ABOVE THAT NUMBER EVER SINCE.

BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK WITH URGENCY TO MAKE IT EASIER AND FASTER FOR COMPANIES TO FIND AND DEVELOP THEIR WORKFORCE THROUGH OUR STATE-WIDE WORKFORCE AND TALENT TEAM.

IT STARTS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WHERE THE LARGEST PROJECTS WILL NOW RECEIVE A TRAINED WORKFORCE COORDINATOR.

THIS COORDINATOR WILL CONNECT COMPANIES TO OUR AMAZING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY INVESTED OVER $250 MILLION.

[APPLAUSE] THEY WILL WORK WITH OUR GREAT KCTCS CAMPUSES THAT OPENED THEIR DOORS FOR PLOYERS AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND WORK WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES EXPANDING THEIR ENGINEERING PROGRAMS AND LAUNCHING TAILORED ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS PROGRAM.

WE'RE JOINED BY LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE HAVE KIM, THE PRESIDENT OF U OF L AND RYAN QUARELS WITH US.

LET'S THANK THEM FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.

[APPLAUSE] Dr. CAP LAWSUIT TOW IS TRAVELING ALSO SNOWED IN BUT MORE ON SOME OF U.K.'S INVESTMENTS IN A MINUTE.

WE MUST ALSO CONTINUE THE CRITICAL WORK OF SITE DEVELOPMENT ENSURING WE HAVE AAN IDEAL LOCATION FOR NOT THE CURRENT PROJECT BUT THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE AND THE ONE AFTER THAT.

FINALLY WE MUST INVEST IN A TALENT ATTRACTION PROGRAM.

AND IT MUST BE RUN BY THE STATE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES THAT DO THIS WORK EVERYDAY.

SEE, OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME OFFERS SO MUCH AND A TALENT ATTRACTION PROGRAM WILL SHOW THAT NEXT FAMILY JUST WHY WE'RE SO SPECIAL.

A STRONG WORKFORCE IS A HEALTHY WORKFORCE.

AND FOR MOST KENTUCKIANS THEIR HEALTH BEGINS WITH THEIR NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

IN 2024 WE MADE GETTING TO THAT APPOINTMENT A LOT EASIER WITH MASSIVE EXPANSIONS OF HEALTHCARE ACROSS OUR STATE.

IN NOVEMBER, WE OPENED THE DOORS TO THE NEW NORTHINGTON WEST LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL THAT IS THE FIRST NEW HOSPITAL BUILT IN WEST LOUISVILLE IN 150 YEARS.

[APPLAUSE] IN MARCH, WE OPENED U OF L HEALTH'S SOUTH HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BROKE GROUND ON A NEW CANCER CENTER.

IN AUGUST, WE WENT TO OWENSBORO AND OPENED THE BIRCH A PLACE THAT PROVIDES SPECIALIZED CARE FOR YOUTH.

IN OCTOBER WE TRAVELED AND OPENED THE PRIMARY PLUS MEDICAL CENTER.

IN ADDITION, BAPTIST HEALTH HAS A NEW HOSPITAL IN LEXINGTON WHICH IS CREATING 700 NEW JOBS.

BAPTIST HEALTH CORBIN IS DOING THE SITE WORK, UTILITIES ANDS KA VACCINATION FOR A NEW MEDICAL TOWER.

LIVINGSTON HOSPITAL IS PLANNING A $60 MILLION EXPANSION.

ST. ELIZABETH EXPANDED THE FLORENCE CAMPUS AND SOUTH KENTUCKY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN BOWLING GREEN IS CARING FOR BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS.

IN ADDITION TO ACCESS, WE BOOSTED RESEARCH.

THANKS TO THE THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAST YEAR'S STATE BUDGET PROVIDED RECORD FUNDING FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH.

WE DID THIS BY WORKING TOGETHER.

BECAUSE ENDING CHILDHOOD CANCER IS NOT AND CANNOT BE PARTISAN.

NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE NO MORE TREATMENT OPTIONS.

NO PARENT SHOULD EVER LOSE HOPE.

WITH US TONIGHT IS ELIZABETH TURNER, PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH TRUST FUND.

I GOT TO KNOW HER AND HER SON DAVID TURNER, JR. AS HE FOUGHT A BRAIN TUMOR.

NOW, IN DAVID'S MEMORY, SHE ADVOCATES FOR ALL FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CANCER.

LET'S THANK HER FOR HER COURAGE.

[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION.

TEARING DOWN THE STIGMA OF ASKING FOR HELP AND ENSURING THERE ARE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND RECOVERY HELP IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE CERTIFIED MORE THAN 14 RECOVERY READY COMMUNITIES.

THIS BRINGS OUR TOTAL TO 21 KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES.

STANDING UP TO BRING CHANGE AND TO BRING HOPE.

BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK, AND THE WORK OF SO MANY, KENTUCKY HAS SEEN DECREASES IN OUR OVERDOSE DEATHS FOR TWO STRAIGHT YEARS, THANK GOD!

[APPLAUSE] IN OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME, WE RECOGNIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH.

WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE 9-8-8 MENTAL HEALTH LIFELINE AND WE'RE EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS.

SO, REMEMBER, IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

YOU CAN GET HELP WITH JUST ONE PHONE CALL.

AND IN 2024 WE ALSO WORKED TO PREPARE OUR COMMONWEALTH FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS.

KENTUCKIANS THAT LIVE EVERYDAY IN PAIN OR MISERY, THEY DESERVE THIS MEDICATION.

VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD THEY DESERVE RELIEF.

AND BECAUSE WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER OUR PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SECURE SAFE, REGULATED MEDICAL CANNABIS RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY THIS YEAR.

[APPLAUSE] OUR KENTUCKY JOBS AND OUR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ARE CRITICAL, SO IS HOW WE GET TO THEM.

KENTUCKIANS THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES EVERYDAY.

AND THE RELIABILITY OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS AND THE SPEED OF OUR INTERNET THOSE ARE VITAL TO OUR FAMILIES.

AT THE BEGINNING OF MY ADMINISTRATION, I MADE IT A PRIORITY TO COMPLETE THE FOUR LANING OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY EXPANSION.

[APPLAUSE] IN 1963, GOVERNOR HOLMES CALLED THIS PARKWAY AN AGE-OLD DREAM OF KENTUCKY'S MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.

NOW, IN 1963, I WAS MINUS 14.

SO THIS EXPANSION HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONGTIME.

MY FATHER'S ADMINISTRATION BEGAN THE WORK TO FOUR-LANE THE PARKWAY FROM CAMP TON.

THE WORK CONTINUED UNDER GOVERNOR BEVIN SO I'M NOT THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO WORK ON THE FOUR LANING AND EXPANDING OF THIS VITAL HIGHWAY BUT I'M DETERMINED TO BE THE LAST.

[APPLAUSE] AND JUST OVER TWO MONTHS AGO, WE SECURED THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

A 116 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO COMPLETE THE LAST PORTION OF THE PARKWAY AND THE FORESIGHT OF THIS ASSEMBLY THAT WILL PAIR WITH THE GRANT MEANS THAT TOGETHER WE'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE.

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF OUR LEGISLATORS HERE FOR HELPING MAKE GOOD ON THIS DECADES' OLD PROMISE.

[APPLAUSE] LAST MONTH, WE ALSO ANNOUNCED A MILESTONE FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THAT MOVES US EVER CLOSER TO COMPLETING THE I-69 PROJECT.

WE ANNOUNCED 55 MILES OF NEW INTERSTATE TO PROVIDE BETTER, SAFER COMMUTES FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WE'VE WORKED HARD TO UPGRADE 34 MILES OF THE EDWARD T PARKWAY AND 21 MILES OF THE JULIAN CARROLL PURCHASE PARKWAY TO INTERSTATE STANDARDS THOSE SECTIONS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED INTO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM AS I169 AND THE NEWEST SECTION OF I-69.

[APPLAUSE] AND IN ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY, IN 2024 WE SECURED A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BRENT SPENCE COMPANION BRIDGE.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO CONTINUE TO BRING CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO EVERY KENTUCKIAN.

WE ESTABLISHED THE CLEANER WATER PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE INVESTING $500 MILLION TO BRING CLEANER WATER TO OUR PEOPLE.

IN 2024, 158 PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

KENTUCKIANS ALSO DESERVE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

WE KNOW THE INTERNET IS NO LONGER A LUXURY.

IT IS A NECESSITY FOR EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND FOR OUR ECONOMY.

AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT WE'VE NOW APPROVED PROJECTS THAT WILL CONNECT 80,229 ADDITIONAL HOMES TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] LAST MAY, I TRAVELED THE BERRY KENTUCKY A SMALL COMMUNITY IN HARRISON COUNTY ABOUT 350 KENTUCKIANS LIVE THERE.

AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

WE'RE CHANGING THAT.

TEAM KENTUCKY ORDERED $22 MILLION TO HELP CONNECT HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY.

SOON AFTER, SPECTRUM ANNOUNCED THE TOWN WOULD BE THEIR 10,000TH COMMUNITY SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES.

ULTIMATELY, THIS PROJECT WILL CONNECT MORE THAN 3700 HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN HARRISON COUNTY INCLUDING EVERY HOME IN BERRY.

SO TONIGHT, WE HAVE BERRY MAYOR KEITH ICE WITH US YOUR HOMETOWN IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] LAST MONTH, WE ALSO MARKED THE THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE TORNADOES OF 2021.

ON THAT ANNIVERSARY, WE REMEMBERED THE 81 LIVES LOST.

WE MADE A PROMISE, A PROMISE TO BUILD BACK AND A PROMISE TO BUILD TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY I VISITED MARSHALL COUNTY.

FOLLOWING THE TORNADOES, AT&T REPLACED DAMAGE AND DESTROYED LINES LINES WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET LINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR 1100 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN GILBERTSVILLE.

ON THAT SAME DAY WE WERE HANDLING OVER KEYS.

A FAMILY THAT SUFFERED THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY LOSING THEIR FIVE-MONTH-OLD SON CHASE TO THE TORNADOES.

THEY ARE A FAMILY OF STRONG FAITH.

THEY SAID GOD CHOSE TO MAKE A TOUGH DAY JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER BY RECEIVING THE KEYS ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR LOSS.

THE NEW HOME WAS BUILT WITH HELP FROM THE TEAM WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADO RELIEF FUND THAT FUND PAID FOR EVERY FUNERAL, HELPED LOCAL FARMERS AND WE HAVE BUILT OR REPAIRED OVER 220 NEW HOMES FROM THE FUND.

AND IN JUNE, WE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD 953 NEW RENTAL UNITS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE LARGEST SINGLE HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT IN OUR COMMONWEALTH'S HISTORY.

[APPLAUSE] SO MUCH OF THIS PROGRESS IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION AND TIRELESS WORK OF NONPROFIT BUILDING PARTNERS AND SO MANY VOLUNTEERS.

BUT WE ALSO WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE AMAZING SUPPORT OF LOCAL LEADERS LIKE MAYFIELD MAYOR KATHY OWE NAN WHO IS WITH US TONIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] MAYOR, I WAS PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU THIS YEAR TO HELP BREAK GROUND ON THE NEW CITY HALL AND THE POLICE STATION YOU HAVE EDONE A REMARKABLE JOB.

YOU DESERVE TWO ROUNDS OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE SEEN THIS SAME TEAMWORK IN THE EAST.

FOLLOWING THE HISTORIC FLOODING IN 2022 THAT TRAGICALLY TOOK THE LIVES OF 45 KENTUCKIANS.

WHILE WE CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THE WHY IN THESE MOMENTS, WE ALWAYS SEE GOD IN THE RESPONSE.

WE SEE GOD IN THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND COMPASSION OF OUR PEOPLE.

AND THAT COMPASSION IS STILL ON DISPLAY TODAY AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON SEVEN HIGH GROUND COMMUNITIES.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADWORK WITH CONTINUING AT THE SITES AND NEW HOMEOWNERS ARE ALREADY MOVING IN TO THEIR NEW HOMES.

LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN PERRY COUNTY AT THE SKY VIEW SITE.

WE PLAN TO BUILD 100 HOMES THERE.

THE ACCESS ROAD IS COMPLETE.

AND THE SUBDIVISION ROADS ARE UNDERWAY.

UTILITIES ARE BEING INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE SITE.

TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY PERRY COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE SCOTT ALEXANDER.

WE'RE KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO YOU AND OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY FAMILIES AND WE'RE BOTH MOVING FORWARD LIKE WE PROMISED.

[APPLAUSE] IN FLOYD COUNTY, 11 FAMILIES MOVED INTO NEW HOMES AND WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD 33 ADDITIONAL HOMES.

WE PLAN TO BUILD 20 HOMES ON HIGHWAY 30 RIGHT OUTSIDE OF JACKSON.

AND LET ME TELL YOU OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS HAVE GOTTEN AFTER IT.

THE HOUSING CAN'T WAIT COALITION HAS COMPLETED 393 HOMES IN THE REGION.

WITH US TONIGHT, IS JIM KING, THE C.E.O.

OF FAHY LET'S THANK JIM AND HIS PARTNERS FOR ALL THEIR GREAT WORK.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE PROVE EASTBOUND TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT KENTUCKIANS DON'T BREAK.

WE LEAN ON EACH OTHER AND WE GET THROUGH WHATEVER THE WORLD THROWS AT US AND WE GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER.

SADLY, RECOVERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT.

SO WHEN HURRICANE HELENE CAUSED MASSIVE FLOODING AND DAMAGE IN NORTH CAROLINA, OVER 330KYTC EMPLOYEES ANSWERED THE CALL FOR HELP.

ONE CREW WORKED IN BOON, NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY FIXED ROADS THAT HAD BEEN WASHED OUT BY THE FLOODS.

ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS IS DEREK DARNELL HE WORKS FOR DISTRICT 7.

TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY DEREK.

HE IS REPRESENTING ALL OF TEAM KENTUCKY FROM KYTC TO EVERYONE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL.

LET'S THANK HIM AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HELPED OUT.

[APPLAUSE] PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE TO OUR FAMILIES ARE THE ROADS THAT CONNECT THEIR HOMES TO THEIR SCHOOLS.

WITH SO MANY NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES WE MUST MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE VERY BEST EDUCATION.

WE ALL WANT A NEW KENTUCKY HOME WHERE OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS NEVER FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS RIGHT HERE.

WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.

IN 2024 WE WELCOMED NEW KENTUCKY COLONEL DOLLY PARTON TO CELEBRATE THE EXPANSION OF THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY IT PROVIDES ALL KENTUCKY CHILDREN ACCESS TO ONE FREE BOOK PER MONTH FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE.

48% OF ELIGIBLE KENTUCKY CHILDREN ARE SIGNED UP.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

GETTING EVERY CHILD SIGNED UP WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

AND FOLKS WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS EXPANSION WITHOUT THE WORK OF SOMEBODY I LOVE VERY MUCH, BRITAINY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK FOR KENTUCKY'S CHILDREN.

I LOVE YOU.

[APPLAUSE] BUT FOR KENTUCKY TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL, WE MUST STOP THE ATTACKS ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

[APPLAUSE] IN NOVEMBER, KENTUCKIANS SOUNDLY REJECTED AMENDMENT 2.

THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR: THAT PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND, LOOK, IT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE.

AMENDMENT 2 WAS REJECTED IN EVERY COUNTY AND BY OVER 30 POINTS STATE-WIDE.

[APPLAUSE] THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL A MANDATE.

A MANDATE TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO LET'S STOP WITH THE ATTEMPTS TO DEFUND.

LET'S STOP THE VOUCHER NONSENSE.

LET'S STOP THE END RUN THROUGH TAX SHELTERS.

INSTEAD LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND DO THE HARD WORK TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[APPLAUSE] TO DO SO, OUR EDUCATORS NEED BETTER SALARIES.

THEY DESERVE IT.

OUR KIDS DESERVE IT.

WE SHOULD GET IT DONE.

TO DO SO, WE MUST ENACT UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] SEE, PRE-K PROVIDES PROVEN LIFELONG GAINS AND RIGHT NOW FOLKS WE'RE FAILING OUR KIDS.

MORE THAN HALF OF KENTUCKY'S KIDS 54% ARE SHOWING UP FOR KINDERGARTEN UNPREPARED.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE BEHIND BEFORE THEY EVER GOT STARTED.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE BEHIND BEFORE THEY EVER WALKED INTO A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THINK ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF EXTENDING UNIVERSE TALL PRE-K TO 34,000 MORE KENTUCKY CHILDREN.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPACTFUL POLICY THAT CAN BOOST OUR WORKFORCE.

MANY PARENTS THEY ARE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK.

BUT THE HIGH COST AND IN SOME PLACES THE TOTAL ABSENCE OF CHILDCARE MAKES THAT IMPOSSIBLE.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K WILL STRENGTHEN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IT WILL GROW OUR WORKFORCE.

IT WILL BOOST THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT A REALITY FOR OUR KENTUCKY KIDS.

[APPLAUSE] BUILDING A NEW KENTUCKY HOME IS ALSO ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERY CORNER OF OUR COMMONWEALTH IS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, TO WORK AND TO RAISE A FAMILY.

ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES MUST BE SAFE.

AND ALL OF OUR PEOPLE DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE.

WE'RE GETTING THAT DONE BY GETTING DANGEROUS DRUGS OFF OUR STREETS.

LAST YEAR, THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE SEIZED MORE THAN $26 MILLION WORTH OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND MADE 3,000 DRUG-RELATED ARRESTS.

WE'RE JOINED BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT FROM KENTUCKY STATE POLICE.

LET'S THANK HIM AND ALL OF OUR POLICE FORCE FOR KEEPING US SAFE.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE ALSO SEEN INCREDIBLE WORK FROM THE KENTUCKY COUNTER DRUG TASK FORCE, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN KSP, LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE NATIONAL GUARD, THE BEST GUARD IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

[APPLAUSE] IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, THIS TEAM SEIZED ENOUGH FENTANYL, SEIZED ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL 28.9 MILLION PEOPLE.

THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS ALSO BEEN PROTECTING US ABROAD.

LAST YEAR WE WELCOMED 700 OF OUR SOLDIERS HOME FROM OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTS.

EACH ONE OF THESE SOLDIERSES SPENT TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE.

SEVERAL OF THOSE SOLDIERS WERE AT TOWER 22 IN JORDAN.

WHERE A DRONE ATTACK KILLED THREE SOLDIERS FROM GEORGIA.

THE ATTACK ON TOWER 22 SHOULD REMIND US THAT OUR ENEMIES ARE NOT MEMBERS OF OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES.

BUT FOREIGN ADVERSARIES WHO WANT OUR COUNTRY TO FAIL.

IT SHOULD REMIND US WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST AND DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SECOND THIRD OR 10TH.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT SHOULD REMIND US OF THE BRAVERY AND THE SACRIFICE OF OUR GUARD.

TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY SERGEANT GREYSON JOHNSON AND SPECIALIST WILLIAM PRICE OF THE 138TH FIELD BRIGADE BOTH SERVED AT TOWER 22 BOTH RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR SACRIFICE.

[APPLAUSE] WE'RE ALSO MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER BY DECREASING RECIDIVISM.

SADLY, WE CAN'T ALWAYS STOP THE FIRST CRIME THAT SOMEONE COMMITS.

BUT FOR THOSE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THE SKILLS OR TRADES THAT CAN HELP THEM BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

SO THEY DON'T FALL BACK INTO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

SO THEY DON'T COMMIT THAT SECOND OR THIRD CRIME.

THAT'S WHY MY ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL OF HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRADE BEING TAUGHT IN EACH OF OUR PRISONS.

MY FAITH TEACHES ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SECOND CHANCES.

SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER JUST AS GOD FORGAVE US.

AND IN STORY AFTER STORY IN THE BIBLE, GOD REACHES AND GOD TEACHES PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE WRONG TO START DOING RIGHT.

THAT MEANS SECOND CHANCES AREN'T JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THEY ARE WHAT WE'RE CALLED TO DO.

BECAUSE OF OUR WORK, KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY IS SURGING AND WE'RE BECOMING A GLOBAL ECONOMIC LEADER.

KEEPING THIS MOMENTUM GOING IT IS AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE WAY THE KENTUCKIANS ARE LIVING THEIR DAILY LIVES AND WE APPLY IT TO FRANKFORT.

WHEN A NEIGHBOR LOSES A LOVED ONE WE ARE THERE TO LEND A HAND OR HUG WE DON'T ASK WHO THEY VOTED FOR.

WHEN A PERSON IS SICK WE DON'T CHECK THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE OFFERING TO HELP.

WHEN YOUR CHILD'S FRIEND NEEDS A RIDE, WE DON'T ASK TO SEE THEIR PARENTS PHOTO REGISTRATION.

WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT YOU KEEP CHECKING ON THEM WITHOUT ASKING IF THEY WATCH "FOX NEWS" OR MSNBC.

THE SMALL ACTS OF LOVE THEY GROW.

THE KINDNESS WE SHOW OTHERS COMPOUNDS.

SO KENTUCKY, THIS YEAR, LET'S DOUBLE DOWN.

LET'S PUSH OUT ALL THE TOXIC NOISE WE HEAR ON TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND LET'S DO MORE.

LET'S SHOW MORE COMPASSION AND MORE FORGIVENESS TO ONE ANOTHER.

I PROMISE YOU, FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, I'LL REMAIN FOCUSED ON HELPING OUR FAMILIES.

I'LL WORK ON FINDING COMMON GROUND AND USING COMMON SENSE TO MOVE THIS COMMONWEALTH FORWARD.

AND IN THIS SPIRIT, I URGE THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BE THOUGHTFUL, EVEN PRAYERFUL ABOUT THE LEGISLATION YOU CHOOSE TO PASS THIS SESSION.

WHILE TONIGHT'S SPEECH WAS IN MANY WAYS A NEW YEAR'S SPEECH, WE JUST JOURNEYED THROUGH CHRISTMAS TO GET HERE.

TO ME, CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT SO MUCH.

IT'S ABOUT GOD'S LOVE THAT BRINGS HOPE TO OUR WORLD.

IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF EVERY HUMAN BEING NO MATTER HOW HIGH THEIR STATUS BUT MOST ESPECIALLY NO MATTER HOW LOW.

AND THE CHRISTMAS STORY, GOD SHOWS MARY AND UNWED TEENAGER WHO HE FAVORED ABOVE ALL OTHERS.

HE CHOSE SOMEONE THAT PEOPLE IN THOSE DAYS WOULD JUDGE, WOULD LOOK DOWN ON.

WOULD PASS LEGISLATION AGAINST.

TO ME, GOD'S SELECTION OF MARY IS A PROFOUND STATEMENT ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD IN THOSE OTHERS MIGHT JUDGE.

SO, PLEASE, BE THOUGHTFUL.

BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW LEGISLATION TREATS THOSE SUFFERING FROM POVERTY OR ADDICTION.

HOW IT TREATS THE HOMELESS OR THE HOPELESS.

DO WE MAKE MORE ROOM AT OUR TABLES?

OR IN OUR PRISONS?

DO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CARROT AND THE STICK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEEDING OR BEATING.

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT GOD GRANTS US THE WISDOM TO SEE BEYOND THE ANGER OF TODAY TO THE POSSIBILITY AND THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW.

SO TO EVERYONE OUT THERE TONIGHT REMEMBER: LIFE'S SHORT SO DO GOOD THINGS AND WE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

SHOW EACH OTHER COMPASSION, LOVE, GENEROSITY AND PATIENCE.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS OUR COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DELIVERING HIS FIFTH STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS ABOUT 40 MINUTES AS YOU GUESSED IT SHERMAN BROWN.

AMY WICKLIFFE WITH MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS.

JOINING US IN OUR STUDIOS IN OUR FRANKFORT FACILITIES.

AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SHERMAN, THE SPEECH?

INSPIRATIONAL?

ASPIRATIONAL?

>> IT GOES BACK TO THE THEME OF TEAM KENTUCKY AND TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

IT WAS A RAH, RAH SPEECH.

WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF THIS.

THE THING I WROTE DOWN WAS WE, OUR AND TOGETHER I HEARD NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGH THERE.

THOSE WORDS.

SO WE DID THIS.

OUR COMMONWEALTH, HE TALKED ABOUT COMMON SENSE AND COMMON GROUND.

FINDING THINGS WE CAN ALL WORK ON AND WE TALKED BEFORE WHERE THE SPEECH WAS GOING TO GO IT WAS ALL ABOUT KENTUCKY.

EVERYTHING WAS ALL ABOUT KENTUCKY AND HE IS FOCUSED.

HE SAID FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THE ECONOMY IS STRONG HE IS FEELING LIKE WE'RE DOING THIS.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.

AND NOW IT'S MOVING STRONGER AND TRYING TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP LOOKING THE THAT GOT DOWN TO SEVERAL NOTES.

THAT IS WHAT I FELT.

>> Renee: IT TOOK HIM A WHILE TO GET TO HIS ASK OR MAYBE PERHAPS SAYING WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HE HOPES WILL NOT DO WHICH IS PUT TO BED SCHOOL CHOICE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

YOU HEARD A COUPLE THINGS IT TOOK US A WHILE TO GET THROUGH THE LITANY OF JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOB CREATION.

WHAT I TOOK FROM THIS HE WANTS KENTUCKIANS TO BE NICE TO EACH OTHER AND HE WANTS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER THAT AS A PROPOSE LEGISLATION.

I THINK IT WAS A FAITH-DRIVEN SPEECH WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL.

THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE FAITH-DRIVEN THAN WE'VE HEARD HIM IN THE PAST.

BUT, YEAH, YOU HAD DIRECT ASKS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECTION HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR INVESTMENT IN A TALENT ATTRACTION PROGRAM RUN BY STATE AGENCIES.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT INCLUDES.

AND ALSO TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT RAISING TEACHER SALARIES.

WHICH HE'S BEEN FOR BEFORE.

AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS RESPONDED.

HAVE THEY RESPONDED IN THE MANNER THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE?

NO.

BUT THEY HAVE DONE SO IN A FISCALLY SOUND WAY BY ALLOWING THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS SO THAT THEY FIT WHAT IS BEST NEEDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> Renee: AND HE ALSO SAID WE MUST ENACT UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.

HE AGAIN IS GOING TO KEEP HARPING ON THAT MESSAGE ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K. >> AND HE IS PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WHO IS TALKING ABOUT THAT IN FRANK FOR THE.

>> Renee: EVEN OTHER DEMOCRATS?

>> HE IS TYING IT BACK TO THE WORKFORCE AND THAT IS THE MESSAGE.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS THEY ARE NOT PREPARED AND WHERE THAT GOES DOWN THE ROAD.

34,000 KENTUCKY CHILDREN IS WHAT HE IS LOOKING AT.

>> Renee: AND HE DID GIVE THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY CREDIT.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY EXPANSION 150 MILLION DOLLARS IN HELP WITH THAT FEDERAL MATCH.

HE DID AS YOU SAID A LOT OF WE, US, TOGETHER, KIND OF LANGUAGE TONIGHT.

>> I WROTE DOWN TWO THINGS AND WATCH TO GO THE 250 MILLION INVESTED IN THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS AND WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT RYAN QUARELS AND THE RECORD FUNDING IN CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH.

I THINK HE'S FOUND THOSE BOTH OF THOSE BEING VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

BUT JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WINS AND GIVING THE CREDIT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY IT WAS INTERESTING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR AND HE TALKED ABOUT MATT BEVIN.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JUST I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

IT WAS GOING BACK HE IS GIVING EVERYBODY CREDIT.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK THAT STRIKES A DIFFERENT TONE FOR THE REMAINING DAYS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE CREDIT HE SHARED WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> I THOUGHT SO UNTIL HE MINCED NO WORDS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 AND THE DEFEAT OF THAT WHEN HE SPECIFICALLY SAID LET'S STOP WITH THE ATTEMPTS TO DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

STOP TALKING ABOUT THE VOUCHER NONSENSE.

AND THE END AROUND WITH TAX SHELTERS.

I THINK A LOT WERE NOT THERE TONIGHT.

BUT YOU HAVE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO HAS BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL CHOICE FITS BEST IN KENTUCKY I THOUGHT SO AND HE TOOK HIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIS DIG IN.

I'M NOT SHOCKED ABOUT THAT.

HE WAS VOCAL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

NO SHOCK THERE.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Renee: SEE WHERE IT GOES.

WE ARE STANDING BY IN JUST A MOMENT WE ARE GETTING READY SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE WHO WILL COME DOWN AND THEY WILL BE STEPPING DOWN THEY ARE PROBABLY GAVELING OUT SO THEY CAN ADJOURN FOR THE DAY.

AND THEN WE WILL CONNECT WITH THEM AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THEY GET THEIR TURN AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS GET THEIRS AS WELL.

WE WILL BE BANTERING BACK AND FORTH.

STAY WITH US.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE COVERAGE TO GO.

YOU WILL NOT MISS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM BY PBS WE WILL JOIN THAT PROGRAM IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN WE FINISH UP AT THE CAPITOL.

WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID SAY THAT WAS ENCOURAGING THE TONE HE TRIED TO SET.

DO WE THINK THAT WILL SHIFT THE MOOD GOING FORWARD?

OR ARE REPUBLICANS SOLIDIFIED ON WHAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS SESSION WHICH IS WHAT?

OTHER THAN INCOME TAX REDUCTION.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE UNITED WHAT THEIR AGENDA WILL BE GOING FORWARD.

THE REALITY IS AND NO DISRESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR BUT THE GOVERNOR KNOWS THAT.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS TONIGHT HAS NO IMPACT ON WHAT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THE SHORT SESSION.

NOW, A LOT OF WHAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH HAS YET TO BE SEEN.

WE ARE WAITING TO SEE WE'LL SEE ALL THE BILLS FILED THIS WEEK DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE SOLIDIFIED BUT GOING BACK TO OUR HOUSING ISSUES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TASK FORCES THAT CONVENED DURING THE INTERIM, I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BE PRESENTED FROM THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, THE WORSE FORCE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION THERE'S GOOD WORK TO BE DONE THERE AND ON THE EDUCATION FRONT.

AGAIN, NO DISRESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT I THINK THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE 80 MEMBERS IN A HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THEM BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

BUT I THINK IT THEY HAVE THEIR AGENDA THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT MOVING FORWARD.

AND SAME THING IN THE SENATE.

THERE ARE SUPER MAJORITIES IT IS A DIFFERENT DEAL WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY MAKING.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WE HAVE HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE AND SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR TAKING THE TIME WE APPRECIATE IT THIS EVENING.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

>> Renee: MR. SPEAKER I WILL START WITH YOU SINCE WE ARE IN YOUR CHAMBER GIVE US YOUR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS THE TONE AND WHAT HE COMMUNICATED AND SHARED?

>> THE GOVERNOR DELIVERS A GREAT SPEECH.

HE REALLY HAS BECOME A VERY SKILLFUL OTHER FOR AND DOES A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE TEST OF THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS DICTATED AUTO TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN KENTUCKY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THEIR STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS AND THAT'S WHAT CONTINUES TO DRIVE OUR POLICY AND THAT IS WHAT CONTINUES TO DRIVE VOTER HAB WITNESSES.

>> Renee: THE POINT WE WERE MAKING YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OUR CONVERSATION WITH SHERMAN BROWN AND AMY WICKLIFFE ABOUT THE KIND OF REMARKS THAT HE MADE TOWARD THE END OF HIS SPEECH ABOUT LET'S SEIZE THE TALK ON SCHOOL CHOICE AND OTHER MEASURES THAT THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY HAVE SAID WHAT THEY WANT.

WHERE DOES THAT CONVERSATION GO FROM HERE, MR. SPEAKER?

>> I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE AND APPROPRIATE THAT THE GOVERNOR TAKES A VICTORY DANCE ON AMENDMENT 2.

I AM A LITTLE BIT I GUESS, PUZZLED BY THE CONTINUED ASSERTIONS THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW DEFUNDING EDUCATION WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND EDUCATION AT RECORD LEVELS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE WAS NO PROPOSAL TO HAVE VOUCHERS THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE WAS NO TAX SCHEME.

SO I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT RHETORIC CONTINUES.

BECAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVE FUNDED EDUCATION AT RECORD LEVELS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

BUT WE WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE A TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE CONTINUED FAILURES OF EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE OVER HALF OF THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY THAT DO NOT READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

WE HAVE LESS THAN A THIRD THAT ARE PROFICIENT IN MATH.

THOSE ARE LEVELS THAT ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE.

AND BY EVERY METRIC, EVEN ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION REGARDLESS OF WHAT ECONOMISTS CONTINUE TO SAY, WHICH ARE NOT ECONOMISTS, WE CONTINUE TO FUND EDUCATION AT RECORD LEVELS.

AND EVEN WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT WE NEEDED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON EDUCATION, THE ONLY INTENTIONAL PROPOSAL THAT WE EVER GET IS MORE MONEY.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO SHOWER MORE MONEY ON FAILING SYSTEMS.

>> Renee: AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE POINT ABOUT LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AN IMPETUS BEHIND AMENDMENT 2 ON THE BALLOT.

THERE WAS A TASK FORCE THAT WAS -- >> LET ME DISAGREE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.

THE IMPETUS OF AMENDMENT 2 WAS NOT ABOUT FAILING SCHOOLS.

IT WAS ABOUT TRYING TO HELP THOSE KIDS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT SERVING ADEQUATELY IN TODAY'S SYSTEMS.

IT WAS NOT ABOUT TEARING DOWN EDUCATION.

IT WAS NOT ABOUT FAILING SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR.

IT'S ABOUT FAILING KIDS AND WE CONTINUE TO FAIL KIDS IN THIS STATE AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN TOLERATE.

>> Renee: THERE ARE SOME BEFORE I GO TO Mr. PRESIDENT WHO WOULD SAY IN ORDER TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE KIDS WHO ARE FALLING BEHIND AS YOU'VE DESCRIBED IT, PERHAPS ADOPTING A UNIVERSAL PRE-K SYSTEM WOULD HELP THEM AT THE EARLY AGES TO BE INTERVENED SO THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER START WHEN THEY GET TO KINDERGARTEN.

YOUR REFOR THE WHY THAT IS NOT A SOUND IDEA?

>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE ARGUMENTS FOR PRE-K AND THE PRESIDENT DISAGREES WITH IT.

THERE ARE MANY IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE PRICHER COMMITTEE THAT DISAGREES THAT UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE.

I THINK IF THERE IS AGAIN THERE IS WE FAILED TO SEE INTENTIONAL, CREATIVE PROPOSALS FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY ON THE WAY TO LIFT UP KIDS THAT ARE BEING FAILED RIGHT NOW.

AND UNTIL THERE IS CONSENSUS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS A PROPOSAL THAT THIS BODY IS GOING TO EMBRACE.

>> Renee: Mr. PRESIDENT I WILL ALLOW YOU TO PICK UP ON THAT POINT, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT YOU'VE MADE STERN COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.

AND IF YOU CAN IN YOUR RESPONSE, GIVE YOUR OVERALL REACTION TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S SPEECH.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.

WHICH THAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.

>> Renee: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K. THAT WAS THE THAT I WAS REFERRING TO.

>> JUST CLARIFYING.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION OR ANSWER TO WHAT I BELIEVE ANYTHING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LOOK AT A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

A SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR.

THOSE STUDENTS FROM FOUR TO 6:00.

THE STUDENTS WHO OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO NEED DAYCARE ON THE SECOND SHIFT OR WEEKENDS THOSE STUDENTS OR FAMILIES THAT NEED DAYCARE ON THE HOLIDAYS OR THE SUMMER VACATIONS.

EACH AND EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR COUNTY OR CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEVELOP A POLICY OF THEIR OWN.

AND YOU ARE SEEING IT IN MANY PLACES IN CLARK COUNTY IN DOOR BIT IN MY DISTRICT LOOKING AT CREATING 100 SLOTS FOR DAYCARE.

WITHOUT DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM, I DON'T THINK YOU SEE MANY PEOPLE IN THE JCPS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE DO UNIVERSAL DAYCARE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE SPEAKER AND I ARE BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE.

MONEY, PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

BUT WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO GET THAT CHILD THAT STUDENT AT LEVEL IN THE FOURTH GRADE BE IT IN MATH OR READING.

>> Renee: BEFORE I GO BACK TO THE SPEAKER I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE YOU SINE DIE MARCH 30TH.

>> GOOD YES.

I HEARD AMY TALK ABOUT THINGS BRIEFLY.

GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT ALL THE SUCCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE.

AND I THINK HE SHOULD TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT THE LEGISLATURE WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT ALL THE INDICES HOW AND HOW WE HAVE HAD THE GOOD CREDIT RATINGS AND THE INDEXES ARE BETTER THAT STARTED IN 2016.

AND YOU SAW THE JOB CREATION START THEN.

YOU SAW US GET CONTROL OF OUR PENSIONS.

YOU SAW US GET CONTROL OF OUR BUDGET RESERVES.

YOU SAW US DO THINGS THROUGH THE POLICIES WE ADOPTED.

THE PERSON WHO GOT THE BENEFIT WHO GETS TO ANNOUNCE THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS, ANNOUNCE NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, HAPPENED TO BE THIS CURRENT GOVERNOR AND IT'S DUE TO THE FACT IN 16 I PARTNERED IN DEVELOPING LEGISLATION AND DAVID OSBORNE AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND ALL THE THINGS YOU READ IN THE REPORTS ABOUT OUR RATINGS ARE ALL THE THINGS WE STARTED TO CHANGE THAT YEAR.

>> Renee: IF I CAN GO BACK TO THE SPEAKER TODAY, OF COURSE, HOUSE BILL ONE WHICH REDUCES THE STATE INCOME TAX BY HALF A PERCENT TO 3.5% PASSED THE HOUSE AND COMMITTEE ARE EXPECTING A HOUSE FLOOR VOTE TOMORROW.

THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS ASKED A NEW MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP AL GENTRY IN THE COMMITTEE ABOUT WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE RATIONAL FOR TAKING THIS APPROACH?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GAIN?

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S WORKING?

>> WELL, I THINK THE RATIONALE IS THAT WE CLEARLY HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT IS DOING WELL.

AND WE ARE UNDER OUR CURRENT TAX SYSTEM ARE TAKING IN MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED.

AND TO LEAVE THOSE DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF HARD-WORKING KENTUCKIANS IS OUR GOAL.

AND I THINK IT IS A VERY SIMPLY STATED GOAL.

I CONTINUE TO FIND IT AMAZING THAT THE FALLACY THAT THE GOVERNOR SOMEHOW THINKS WE CUT TAXES ON INCOME IS ABSURD GIVEN THE FACT HE VETOED IT AND WE OVERRODE IT.

PROBABLY THE GOVERNOR'S SINGLE LARGEST LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT WE OVERRIDE HIS VETOES.

THE THINGS THAT HAVE DRIVEN THE GROWTH IN THE STATE, THE THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED PROSPERITY JUST ABOUT, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD STRUGGLE TO THINK OF ANY PRO GROWTH POLICIES THAT HE HAS LED ON THAT WE HAVEN'T OVERRIDDEN WITH VETOES ON.

>> Renee: I DON'T WANT TO RUIN THE CONVERSATION FOR MONDAY NIGHT WHEN YOU JOIN US WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS BUT I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT OPENING THE BUDGET.

DO YOU FORESEE THAT HAPPENING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT IS A NON-BUDGET YEAR?

AND WHAT WOULD BE THE REASONS FOR WHY YOU WOULD OPEN UP THE BUDGET?

>> AT THIS POINT I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SHORT SESSION IT IS A LONGTIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MARCH.

SO I'M NOT WILLING TO PROCLAIM THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL SEE US UNDERTAKE ANY LARGE SPENDING MEASURE IN THE SESSION.

I GENERALLY THINK EVEN THOUGH WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST AND DONE IT BECAUSE OF SOME INSTANCES THAT REQUIRED US SOME EXTERNAL INFLUENCES THAT REQUIRED US TO DO SO.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE US DO THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS, WE LOOK AT CLEARLY WE HAVE THE ONE OF THE LARGEST BUDGET RESERVES THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.

ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY THAT PRESENTS US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE STOPPED CALLING IT THE RAINY DAY FUND BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FOR BAD TIMES IT IS TO ALLOW US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT US WITH THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING AND WE STAND READY TO DO THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE AN INTENTIONAL DESIRE TO GO OUT AND SPEND MONEY.

I THINK WHEN WE STARTED EMBARKING ON RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING AND BASED OUR BUDGETING ON NEEDS VERSUS WANTS WE'VE PUT AN END TO JUST TRYING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO SPEND MONEY.

>> Renee: YOU AGREE WITH THAT PRESIDENT STIVERS?

>> I DO.

IF I COULD GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT YOU ASKED THE SPEAKER ABOUT HOW WE KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING ARE IMPACTING THE STATE IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WITH THAT POLICY WE HAVE PUT FORWARD AND I'VE TALKED TO C.E.O.INGS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT MOVED HERE IT'S THE POLICIES SET FORTH BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE ATTRACTIVE AND THE GOVERNOR RECRUITS ON THE POLICIES.

I JUST RETURNED FROM A NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH I WAS WITH A GROUP OF LEADERS FROM SENATE CHAMBERS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CHANGES.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE THE GROWTH IS OCCURRING IN THIS UNITED STATES, YOU LOOK AT THE STATES THAT WE ARE EITHER WORKING WITH, EMULATING OR REPLICATING AND THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE SEEING JOB RETENTION, JOB GROWTH AND INDIVIDUALS MOVING TO.

AND IT'S ALL THROUGH THE SOUTH AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THINGS WE'RE DOING OR WE'RE DOING THE SAME THINGS THEY ARE DOING.

>> Renee: THANK YOU SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE AS I ELUDED TO YOU WILL BE JOINING ME, I THINK IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO HOPEFULLY WEATHER PERMITTING MONDAY NIGHT ON KET'S KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID.

AMY WICKLIFFE AND SHERMAN BROWN WITH MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS I'M SHORTENING YOUR NAME.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER ABOUT THEIR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT THE AGENDA IS PARTICULARLY BY THE SENATE REPUBLICANS HE LAID THAT OUT.

>> IT IS A CONSISTENT MESSAGE, RIGHT?

AND ITH I THAT IT JUST SHOWED THE SPEAKER'S COMMENT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S GREATEST LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVE CAN.

IS THAT THEY OVERRIDE HIS VETOES.

THAT IS A REALITY THAT THE GOVERNOR FACES WHEN HE LOOKS AT SEEKING SUPPORT FOR INITIATIVES FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

JUST BASED ON THE PURE MAKEUP AND THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON POLICY.

BUT I THINK OPENING THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE ALL WATCHING.

I WAS INTERESTED IN THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS.

I THINK THEY'VE RECEIVED A MYRIAD OF BUDGET REQUESTS.

AND THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY STRONG AND PUNT THE REQUESTS UNTIL A FUTURE SESSION.

I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT WE WILL SEE.

>> Renee: YOUR TAKE ON IT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WHAT I'M WATCHING AND KEEP IN MIND THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS REALLY NOT TO THE PEOPLE TO THE LEGISLATORS.

HALF OF THEM WERE NOT THERE, THE REPUBLICANS.

SO WATCHING THAT THAT TO ME IS HE IS TRYING TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE USING REFER TO AS THE BULLY PULPIT BUT USING HIS PLATFORM TO TALK ABOUT HIS AGENDA AND WHERE THINGS ARE.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE REASON HE BROUGHT UP AMENDMENT 2.

WHERE HE WAS ON IT AND HE CAMPAIGNED ON IT.

WENT OUT THERE AND TALKED AND HAD THAT CONVERSATION ALL DURING 2024.

SO I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF HE DOES CHOOSE AND IF IT'S UNIVERSAL PRE-K WHAT ELSE HE IS LOOKING FOR, LOOKING FOR THAT BUDGET SESSION NEXT YEAR WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO THIS YEAR TO TEE THAT UP AND GET THAT ROLLING AND MAYBE THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND PART OF THE STRONG OF IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN UP THE BUDGET.

>> Renee: AND HE DID APPLAUD LOWERING THE INCOME TAX WHERE THE ORIGINAL MEASURE HOUSE BILL 8 HE REJECTED IT.

>> HE VETOED IT ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK HE SAW IT WAS WORKING.

KENTUCKIANS DID APPRECIATE IT.

ANYTIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN PASS POLICY TO PUT MORE MONEY BACK INTO THE POCKETS BACK ON TO THE KITCHEN TABLES OF HEART WORKING KENTUCKIANS IT IS A WIN.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAW THAT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHY WE SAW HIM CHANGE HIS TUNE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEY WILL NEVER LET HIM FORGET THAT VETO, THE FIRST VETO OF A MAJOR TAX MEASURE WILL LIVE WITH HIM FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

>> Renee: WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE IF WE WILL.

WE HAVE THE NEW HOUSE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER WITH US PAMELA STEVENSON.

AND GERALD NEAL WHO IS THE SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR STICKING AROUND.

I WANT TO GO TO LEADER STEVENSON FIRST.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Renee: ON YOUR NEW POSITION I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TELL YOU THAT.

TELL US YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID AND THE WAY HE SAID IT THIS EVENING?

>> I'M SO EXCITED EVERYPLACE I GO NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE STATE ALL PEOPLE WANT IS FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO WORK GOOD JOBS FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND GOOD EDUCATION.

AND WHEN THEY GET SICK OR GET A HEADACHE THEY LIKE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES NEED, KENTUCKY GROWS.

AND IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE THRIVE.

WE'RE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME AS THE GOVERNOR ELUDED TO AND THIS IS THE TIME WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PUT US IN THESE OFFICES.

>> Renee: LEADER NEAL YOUR RESPONSE, SIR?

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF NOT ONLY SAYING THAT WE ARE ON THE MOVE IN KENTUCKY IS ON THE MOVE, BUT HE IS SAYING WE MUST STAY ON THE MOVE AND WORK TOGETHER.

HE WAS PROMOTING AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUING BIPARTISANSHIP AND NOT BEING SMALL ABOUT IT.

HE IS CARRYING OUT HIS ROLE.

THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS IN EVERY STATE.

THIS THING ABOUT WHO DID WHAT WHEN, WE ALL PERFORM A ROLE HERE.

THE LEGISLATURE, APPROPRIATES IT SETS POLICY.

THE GOVERNOR THE MINISTERS SELLS OUR PROJECTS ENTICES PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SUPPORT THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR STATE AND THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND IT IS NOT EASY.

THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE PROBLEMS.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT ARE COMING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR US.

WE WILL HAVE TO ADJUST TO.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME.

I THINK HE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER AND DO EVEN BETTER.

>> Renee: LEADER NEAL, DID YOU EXPECT TO HEAR FROM HIM MORE OF A POLICY AGENDA THAT HE WANTED TO PUT FORTH FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER?

HE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST BUT THEY WERE ALMOST TREATED AS FOOTNOTES AND NOT BIG POLICY MOVES OR PROPOSALS.

WOULD YOU HAVE WANTED MORE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I REALLY WANT IS THE LEGISLATURE TO NOT JUST SAY IT'S WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

BUT ACTUALLY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT THAT MEANS IN EVERY STEP THAT THEY MAKE.

THEY NEED TO TRULY WORK WITH THIS GOVERNOR.

WE DO LIVE IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

MY EXPECTATION ON WHAT I GOT TONIGHT HE WAS INSPIRING US, HE WAS PUTTING IT DOWN HERE'S WHERE WE ARE HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GO FORWARD.

I THINK HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB DOING THAT.

>> Renee: LEADER STEVENSON WHAT IS THE POSTURE OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS BEING 19, 20 IN MEMBERSHIP.

WHAT WILL YOU DO OR WHAT WILL YOU TRY TO DO TO MAKE YOUR POSITION, YOUR ROLE RELEVANT IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IS WHEN WE KEEP FAMILIES IN THE CENTER OF ALL OUR DECISIONS THEN THINGS WORKOUT FOR EVERYONE.

WE ARE REACHING OUT ACROSS THE AISLE BECAUSE HE SET A CONTEXT FOR US.

THIS IS THE CONTEXT.

WHATEVER YOU DO, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.

BUT WHATEVER YOU DO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT KENTUCKY THRIVES.

AND IF WE FOCUS ON KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING, IF WE FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT WE AGREE UPON THEN WE CAN MOVE KENTUCKY.

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY HERE WANTS.

SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK AT GIVEN THAT IT'S 19, TO 80 WHAT CAN WE DO?

THE NUMBERS DON'T COME INTO PLAY WHEN EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON EVERY CHILD GOING TO SCHOOL AND NOT BEING HUNGRY.

THOSE NUMBERS DON'T COME INTO PLACE WHEN WE SAY LET'S GET RID OF HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN YOU KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING, THEN THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACING US BECOME APPARENT.

>> Renee: THE MAIN THING TOMORROW ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WILL BE A VOTE ON HOUSE BILL ONE THAT REDUCES THE INCOME TAX TO 3.5%.

THREE DEMOCRATS TODAY PASSED DID NOT CAST A VOTE ON THAT MEASURE.

WILL YOU VOTE FOR THAT MEASURE IF IT COMES UP ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW?

AND WILL YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MEMBERS TO DO THE SAME?

>> WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS THIS... WE KNOW THAT KENTUCKY FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING THAT THEY DON'T GET UP LIKE THE GOVERNOR SAID WORRIED ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE.

THEY GET UP WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE, HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEIR FAMILY THRIVES AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THE FAMILY CAN'T PROVIDE, ROADS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, PUT MONEY BACK IN THEIR POCKETS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES THRIVE.

SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY KENTUCKY'S GOING TO RISE.

>> Renee: YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF HOUSE BILL ONE IF IT COMES UP TOMORROW OR THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR -- I DON'T KNOW RENEE.

I'M STILL LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE.

I GOT TO MAKE SURE IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS IT'S GOING TO DO AND I WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT.

>> Renee: OKAY.

SENATOR NEAL I WANT TO ASK YOU THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT BILL WILL COME TO YOU PERHAPS WHEN YOU RECONVENE FOR PART TWO OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN FEBRUARY, THE SENATE WILL RECEIVE HOUSE BILL ONE THAT REDUCES THAT INCOME TAX.

WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT ISSUE.

>> FIRST OF ALL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT IF WE CAN PUT MORE MONEY INTO TAXPAYERS' POCKETS, FINE.

WE WANT TO EMPOWER FOLKS.

BUT HERE'S WHAT OUR CONCERN IS.

WHEN I SAY OUR I'M SPEAKING FOR THE BREADTH OF OUR CAUCUS, THAT IS THERE IS A REALITY OUT THERE.

IF YOU GO DOWN THIS ROAD TOO FAR WHAT HAPPENS IS THE SERVICES THAT ARE NOW IN PLACE SOME OF WHICH ARE STILL I WOULD ARGUE UNDERFUNDED.

WHERE IS THAT PHONE GOING TO COME FROM?

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO USE OTHER MECHANISM LIKE SALES TAX WHICH IS I AREGRESSIVE TAX OR YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AWAY WITH SERVICES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GENERATE THE FUNDS FOR DOING THAT.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THERE'S BEEN NO LAYING OUT OF WHAT WE DO IF AS WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD.

ONLY THING WE DID WAS PUT TOGETHER IN THE TRIGGER IN PLACE AND WE HAVE IDEAS OR INDICATIONS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS WHEN THEY HAD TO RETREAT FROM THIS ROAD.

WE KNOW IN 10 THEY HAD TO RAISE THEIR SALES TAX AND PEOPLE ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY TO MAKE PURCHASES.

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.

WHAT I WANT TO HEAR NOT JUST FROM THE MAJORITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS BUT FROM ANYONE, ANY SOURCE AND I CAN'T FIND IT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS.

SO YES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE ROAD WHICH MEANS KENTUCKY IS BENEFITING BUT WE CAN GO TOO FAR AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE A ROAD PLAN FOR DOING THAT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET.

I'M ADVOCATING IT.

I'M LIKELY TO VOTE NO.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOME OTHER PERSON WANTS TO VOTE YES BUT WE'LL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THIS AND DO IT IN A WAY WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE BETTER POLICY THAT WE MEET WHAT WE HAVE TO MEET IN THE FUTURE.

THERE ARE INDICATIONS NOW NOT WITHSTANDING ANYTHING YOU HEARD WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PLAYING GROUND IN TERMS OF FISCAL.

THINK ABOUT IT THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW CUTTING OFF OR PHASING OUT THE FUNDS THEY BROUGHT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THAT ENABLED US TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

WE HAVE ENTITIES NOW THAT ARE BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES BUT GUESS WHAT?

SOME WILL BE UNEVEN IN TERMS HOW IT'S GOING TO FUND STATE PROCESSES AND STATE SERVICES THAT WE RELY ON.

I'M TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION, HEALTH AREA AND ACTUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO I WANT TO HEAR THE PLAN.

IT'S GOOD BECAUSE NOW WE GOT THAT MONEY WE HAD THAT FLUSH OF MONEY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONVENED ON US AS WE ARE NOW.

BUT WE DO HAVE A FUTURE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I DID NOT HEAR THE PLAN FOR THAT AND THAT IS MY CONCERN.

>> Renee: THANK YOU LEADERS NEAL AND STEVENSON WE WILL SEE YOU MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON KET'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AND THE REST OF THE SESSION THAT LIES AHEAD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEE YOU MONDAY NIGHT.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> BYE-BYE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GIVE SHERMAN AND AMY THE LAST WORD BEFORE WE GO TO REGULAR PROGRAMMING.

>> OFF AND RUNNING.

CLOSE OF DAY TWO.

IT IS A 30-DAY SESSION THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE LOOKING FORWARD WHERE WE LAND AT THE END OF MARCH AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALL UP RIGHT.

>> Renee: WE WILL BE LEANING FOR SURE.

SHERMAN?

>> IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

OVERALL IT GOES BACK TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR LED OFF WITH THE ECONOMY AND THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG AND GROWING STRONGER LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIFFERENT THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE WE GO AND AGAIN WE SHOULD BE PROUD AND IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR THAT, I THINK TO RECALL THAT.

BRINGS US ALL BACK AND THROW THE BIPARTISANSHIP -- PARTISANSHIP OUT AND BRING IN THE BIPARTISAN.

THAT IS IT, THAT'S THE MESSAGE.

>> Renee: THE OTHER MESSAGE IS THAT KET HAS YOUR WALL TO WALL GAVEL TO GAVEL COVERAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS HERE AT THE CAPITOL WHILE THEY ARE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION YOU CAN WATCH THAT ON-LINE AT KET.ORG AND ON THE KENTUCKY CHANNEL AND WE HAVE SUPREME COURT ACTION AS WELL.

WE ARE YOUR SOURCE TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR GOVERNMENT I'M RENEE SHAW FROM OUR FRANKFORT OPERATIONS CENTER IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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