>> WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, HE, LIKE OTHER HEADS OF STATE, FACED ANY UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE OF FIGHTING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS THAT SIDELINED POLICY AP AMBITIONS HE WAS EAGER TO PURCHASE SKEW ONCE SWORN INTO OFFICE HIS HANDLING OF THE COVI CRISIS HAS DRAWN BOTH PRAISE AN IN AN EXTENDED ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW, I TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT HIS PANDEMIC-RELATED EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE BACKLASH FROM TH >> WHEN YOU ARE ENGAGED IN THAT WAR, IT'S YOUR JOB TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS THING.

>> WE'LL DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO REIN IN THE GOVERNOR'S POWER ON STATEWIDE EMERGENCY ORDERS.

>> THE LIMITS THAT WE FEEL WE NEED TO PLACE ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH AUTHORITY IN BRINGING THE PEOPLE'S BRANCH GOVERNMENT, THE LEGISLATURE, TO THE TABLE.

>> AND HIS POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'LL ALSO SPEAK WITH FIRST LADY BRITAINY BESHEAR ABOUT GETTING THE COVID VACCINE.

>> TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST I FELT HONESTLILY A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT IT.

>> HER PLATFORM AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCED RAISING A FAMILY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

STAY WITH US FOR THIS ONE HOUR SPECIAL INTERVIEW, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, FIRST YEAR REFLECTIONS.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BEST AND WORST DAYS OF YOUR FIRST YEAR.

I CAN ASSUME THAT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT BROUGHT SO MUCH SIGN OF HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE AS IT LOOK LIKE PERHAPS WE COULD GET THE CORONAVIRUS UNDER CONTROL AND PERHAPS EVEN BEHIND US, I IMAGINE THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST DAY OF WHY ADMINISTRATION SO FAR.

WOULD I BE CORRECT?

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN THE BEST DAY SINCE OUR VERY FIRST CASE ON MARCH THE 6th, AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER LEAVING JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLY ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON -- IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN MARCH WHEN I GOT THAT CALL THAT THE VERY FIRST CASE OF THIS PANDEMIC HAD HIT KENTUCKY.

THAT WAS A TOUGH DAY, MAINLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOW SEEN EVERY DAY SINCE.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THAT FIRST DAY THAT THE VACCINE ARRIVED, THE VERY FIRST SHIPMENT TO UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL, SEEING THE VERY FIRST SET OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS GETTING THAT VACCINATION WAS AN INCREDIBLE DAY.

IT'S A DAY THAT WE KNEW WE WOULD WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO WATCHING THESE DOCTORS, INCLUDING ONE WHO HAD JUST LOST A PATIENT TO COVID WHILE WALKING DOWN JUST TO SEE THEM RENEWED WITH SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL TO BE A PART OF.

>> I DO THINK I KNOW OF THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, DR. VALERIE BROWN PRYOR WHO WE INTERVIEWED A FEW TIMES TO WHO WORKS AT JEWISH AND IS AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY LOUISVILLE, AND SHE HAD, IN FACT, LOST HER 26th OR 27th PATIENT?

>> IT WAS HER 27th PATIENT.

SHE WALKED INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE WERE WAITING IN, AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT SHE SAID.

IN LISTENING TO HER ABOUT WHAT THE ENTIRE COVID WING THERE HAD BEEN THROUGH, SHE EMBODIED ALL OF THE THOSE WORKERS THAT HADN'T JUST TRIED TO SAVE THOSE LIVES, HAD HELD THE HANDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT PASSED AWAY WITHOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BEING ABLE TO BE THERE WITH THEM DURING THOSE FINAL MOMENTS.

THIS VIRUS HAS BEEN MEAN.

IT'S BEEN MEAN IN THE WAY THAT IT'S TAKEN PEOPLE FROM US.

IT'S BEEN MEAN IN THE WAY IT'S SICKENED PEOPLE.

AND IT'S BEEN MEAN IN THE WAY THAT IT'S TAXED THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR HEALTH CARE HEROS.

AND ALSO ALL OF OUR KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

BUT DR. VAL, GETTING IT THAT DAY IN HONOR OF THOSE 27 PATIENTS, SOMETHING PRETTY SPECIAL.

>> CAN YOU SAY WHAT YOUR WORST DAY WAS IN THIS FIRST YEAR OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY THAT VERY FIRST CASE OF THE VIRUS ON MARCH 6th WAS TOUGH.

BUT GETTING UP EVERY DAY AND READING THE AGES AND THE COUNTIES AND THE GENDERS OF THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED ON HAS BEEN REALLY HARD.

THE FIRST DAY WE HAD OVER TEN.

VERY HARD.

THE DAY THAT WE HAD OVER 50, JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO, ALSO INCREDIBLY HARD.

WHEN WE LOST LILLIAN PRESS, WHILE SHE WASN'T IN KENTUCKY WHEN THAT REPORT CAME IN AND TRYING TO MEMORIALIZE HER DURING OUR UPDATE, THAT WAS A DIFFICULT DAY AS WELL.

I KNOW HOW MUCH SHE WENT FOR KET BUT SHE MEANT A LOT TO ME AS A FRIEND, AS A PERSON, AS A MENTOR, JUST A SPECIAL, SPECIAL PERSON.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING SO, GOVERNOR.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT CONTACT TRACING.

IS CONTACT TRACING PERFORMING THE WAY IT WAS ANTICIPATED?

IS THERE A FIRM HANDLE AND IS THERE STATEWIDE DATA AVAILABLE THAT SHOWS WHERE THE VIRUS SPREADS IN PARTICULAR LOCATIONS, NOT JUST IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, BUT WHETHER THERE IS VIRUS TRANSMISSION PRESENT IN SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND RESTAURANTS?

DO WE HAVE THAT DATA AVAILABLE?

>> SO WHAT'S GOTTEN LOST IN SOME OF THE THIS DISCUSSION OFTEN PUSHED BY THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO GO ALONG WITH THE RESTRICTIONS THAT SAVE LIVES, AND WE'VE PROVED IT THREE SEPARATE TIMES FIGHTING OFF THREE SEPARATE WAVES, IS THE POINT OF CONTACT TRACING.

THE POINT OF CONTACT TRACING FIRST IS TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW NOT TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR GO OUT IN PLACES THAT THEY CAN SPREAD IT, AND THEN TO CONNECT THEM WITH MEDICAL HELP IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING AND IT CHECKING IN ON THEM, AND I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING WILE WANT FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS POSITIVE WHO COULD SUFFER A BAD OUTCOME TO HAVE THAT HELP.

THE SECOND POINT OF CONTACT TRACING IS TING CONTAIN IT, TO TRY TO PUT A BUSHEL AROUND IT, TO GET PEOPLE TO CHRISTIANITY.

IT'S ONLY A THIRD OR A FOURTH CHRISTIAN -- TO QUARANTINE.

TO TRY TO TRACE IT BACKWARD.

THE CHALLENGE WE'VE HAD WITH TRACE INTERESTING BACK ARDS IS WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SYSTEM WHERE OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE QUASI-INDEPENDENT.

THEY DON'T FALL UNDER THE STATE.

FALL UNDER THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND EVERYBODY WAS USING THEIR OWN SYSTEMS.

I THINK JUST ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD EVERYBODY ON THE SAME SYSTEM.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHEN WE CREATED THAT SYSTEM, IT WASN'T INTENDED TO SAY, THIS NUMBER OF CASES HERE AND THAT NUMBER OF CASES THERE.

IT WAS INTENDED TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AND STOP THE DISEASE FROM SPREADING FURTHER.

BUT WE HAVE NATIONAL STUDIES.

WE HAVE CELL PHONE DATA SHOWING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN.

AND WE HAVE THE TOP INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS IN THE WORLD TELLING YOU ARE WHERE THIS IS SPREADING, AND THOSE STUDIES ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

>> AND SO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT DATA DOES SHOW THAT CONTACT TRACING THAT IS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN SLOWING OR PREVENTING THE DISEASE SPREAD.

>> YES.

NO QUESTION THAT CONTACT TRACING HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TWO AREAS.

NUMBER ONE, TAKING CARE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.

LOOK AT OUR MORBIDITY COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE.

2400.

IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PER CAPITA THAN ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN MOST ALL OF THE 50 UNITED STATES.

IT'S ALSO HELPED PREVENT THE SPREAD FROM BEING WORSE THAN IT IS.

NOW, CERTAINLY ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE SPREAD RIGHT NOW IS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT IT IS OVERWHELMED MANY OF THOSE EFFORTS, BUT THAT'S LIKE SAYING, JUST BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, YOU STOP TRYING.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S WORKED IN LESSENING.

IT'S JUST OUR FAILURE TO WEAR MASKS AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD AND TO CUT DOWN OUR CONTACTS AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD HAS LED TO A COMMUNITY SPREAD THAT MAKES IT REALLY CHALLENGING.

>> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN ILLINOIS AND PENNSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND MARYLAND THAT HAVE PUBLISHED THEIR CONTACT TRACING DATA ON POTENTIAL EXPOSURE AND OUTBREAK LOCATIONS.

WHAT IS IT THOSE STATES ARE DOING THAT KENTUCKY COULD LEARN FROM AND IMPROVE UPON, GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, WE CAN IMPROVE UPON OUR SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.

CONTACT TRACING CAN BE USED FOR ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS: THE FLU, STDs AND OTHERS ARE TRADITIONALLY WHAT IT'S BEEN USED FOR IN THE PAST.

AND AS WE HAVE NEW AND DEVELOPING VIRUSES, LEARNING FROM THIS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WASTES CAN HELP US -- WAYS CAN HELP US IN MOVING FORWARD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE AREAS WE DON'T HAVE DETAIL AS OTHER STATES.

NOW, I WILL SAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL DATA WE PROVIDE, I THINK IT PROVIDES MORE TRANSPARENCY THAN JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE.

KY COVID.KY.GOV SHOWS NOT ONLY NEW CASES, CASES UNDER 18, CASES BROKEN DOWN BY RACE AND AGE DEMOGRAPHICS IT.

SHOWS THE NUMBERS OF CASES IN SCHOOLS.

THE KIDS QUARANTINED AND EVEN A BREAKDOWN BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL ALL ACROSS THE MONTH.

IT TRACES DAYCARES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES P IT.

SHOWS PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED TO SHOW TO OVERALL NUMBERS.

DURING THIS PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE INFORMATION EVERY DAY THAN EVER BEFORE.

NOW, THERE'S A HUNGER FOR THAT INFORMATION WHERE THERE'S ALWAYS THAT NEXT PIECE THAT PEOPLE WANT, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT, LIKE TRACKING HOSPITALIZATIONS BY REGION SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW CONCERNING IT IS IN THEIR AREA, BUT WE'RE EVEN IMPROVING ON THAT WITH NOW AN UPDATE EVERY SINGLE MONDAY.

SO A LOT OF INFORMATION, A LOT OF DATA, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALL ACROSS STATE, LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT ARE CHIPPING IN TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE INFORM.

>> GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS LEADERS SAID IN DECEMBER THAT THE APPROPRIATE DATA NOT BEEN AVAILABLE TO THEM TO KNOW THE REAL DRIVERS OF THE VIRUS SPREAD.

THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID IT'S OVERWHELMING AND INCONCLUSIVE WHEN IT WAS ASKED FOR.

HAS THE ADMINISTRATION MADE DECISIONS ON BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS AND SCHOOL CLOSURES WITH CLEAR DATA?

>> WE HAVE MADE EVERY ONE OF OUR DECISIONS BASED ON SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND BASED ON THE ADVICE OF THE TOP INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS IN THE COUNTRY.

DR. DEBORAH BIRX WHO IS ONE OF THE TOP TWO ON THE WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE, NOT ONLY RECOMMENDED THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN BUT SHE THEN HAS CONCLUSIVELY STATED, BASED ON THEIR DATA, THAT IT WORKED.

JUST LOOK AT THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.

EVERY SINGLE TIME WE'VE PUT SOME OF THE SAME RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AND THEY'VE WORKED.

SO IN JULY WHEN WE SAW CASES SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL, WE CLOSED INDOOR DINING, WE CLOSED BARS, WE RESTRICTED PRIVATE GATHERINGS, AND GUESS WHAT?

WE STOPPED THAT SURGE.

WE DID THE SAME HERE.

THESE LAWMAKERS BASICALLY WANT TO PUT THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND AND SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SANFORD AND NORTHWESTERN AND MULTIPLE OTHER UNIVERSITIES HAVE CONCLUSIVELY SHOWN WHERE IT SPREADS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF DR. FAUCI, DEBORAH BIRX EVEN MIKE PENCE SAY THIS IS WHERE IT'S SPREADING AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ACTUALLY WORKED EVERY TIME WE'VE DONE IT, THEY DON'T I CAN LIKE IT AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP ASKING FOR MORE DATA.

UNFORTUNATELY, KIND OF THE LIKE FOLKS THAT BEVE THE EARTH IS FLAT BUT DON'T -- BELIEVE THE EARTH IS FLAT BUT DON'T BELIEVE IT.

THEY'LL KEEP ASKING FOR MORE PICTURES FROM OUR SPACE THAT SHOW THAT IT'S ROUND AND SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA.

>> GOVERNOR DO YOU REGRET NOT HAVING MORE DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHEN YOU WERE DECIDING THE DIRECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE ON EARTH AND THE RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES, INDOOR DINING AND SCHOOL CLOSURES IN?

DO YOU WISH YOU HAD CONSULTED THEIR THEM EARLIER AND MORE OFTEN DURING THIS PROCESS?

>> RENEE, THAT WOULD BE PLAYING POLITICS, AND I VOWED TO BE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND OVER POLITICS WHEN FACED WITH A WORLDWIDE HEALTH PANDEMICS.

THE PEOPLE I TALK OVER THE DAY ARE THE MEDICAL EXPERTS WEREN'T MEDICAL EXPERTS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIP THERE.

THE MEDICAL EXPERTS IN OTHER STATES WORKING WITH GOVERNORS DeWINE AND ERIC HOLCOMB, WE HAVE HAD A GREAT BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIP THERE.

THE MEDICAL EXPERTS HERE IN THE STATE.

AND I'VE MADE DECISIONS BASED ON THE SCIENCE, THE SCIENCE OF HOW TO STOP THIS VIRUS.

IF I HAD SPENT MY TIME JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS PARTY OR THAT PARTY OR THE LEGISLATURE OR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THAT'S POLITICS IN ITS PUREST FORM.

THIS REQUIRED A RESPONSE THAT IS DIFFERENT.

AND IF IN THE END THEY'RE GOING TO COME THIS SESSION FOR BLOOD BECAUSE I DEFERRED TO THE SCIENTISTS, IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND IT SAVED LIVES AND DO IT AGAIN.

>> AND IS A VERY WELL KNOW, GOVERNOR, THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT YOU HAVE ISSUED HAVE CAUSED SOME CONSTERNATION, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.

SEVERAL BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED, PRE-FILED BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO AMEND STATE STATUTE 39A THAT YOU HAVE USED SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR IN ISSUING EMERGENCY ORDERS AND REGULATIONS.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENT AND THE DURATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AND MOST LIKELY EVEN THE FIRST WEEK TO REIN IN AND LIMIT YOUR EXECUTIVE POWER IN THAT REGARD.

YOUR RESPONSE.

>> WELL, IT WOULD NOT ONLY BE A SHAME, IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDIES.

WITH THE END IN SIGHT, WITH US DEPLOYING VACCINES ALL OVER KENTUCKY, WITH THIS BEING JUST MONTHS FROM OVER, BUT BEING IN ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES FOR THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS WITH HOSPITAL BEDS FILLED AND ICUs FILLED, TO TEAR AWAY THE POWERS THAT EVERY GOVERNOR, NOT JUST ME OR EXERCISING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, IT WOULD BASICALLY BE SURROUNDING WHEN VICTORY IS IN SIGHT AND IT WILL COST PEOPLE THEIR LIVES.

THE OTHER THING IT WILL DO IS DAMAGE OUR ECONOMY.

NOW, TO THE ORDERS THAT I HAVE PASSED I'M NOT 23rd THAT'S CAUSED CONSTERNATION WITH DIFFERENT LAWMAKERS.

I'M CONCERNED THAT'S CAUSE REAL HARM TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND IT WAS NECESSARY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT NECESSARY WHEN PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.

INSTEAD OF FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER OR TRYING TO PULL POWER FROM HERE OR THERE, HOW ABOUT WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE REAL RELIEF TO THOSE THAT HAVE HAD TO SACRIFICE MORE THAN OTHERS, TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR RESTAURANTS, THOSE THAT HAVE HAD TO GIVE UP EVEN MORE THAN MOST, THOSE THAT HAVE WAITED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FAR TOO LONG.

WHY DON'T WE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

RENEE, THE OTHER THING I'D SAY IS THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AND RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES ISN'T JUST A GUBERNATORIAL POWER UNDER CERTAIN STATUTES BUT THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL NATURE TO IT.

OUR LEGISLATURE IS PART-TIME.

IT ON-THE-MEETS NOR A PERIOD OF TIME EACHER -- IT ONLY MEETS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME EACH YEAR.

THE IDEA THAT IN A EMERGENCY YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET 100 PEOPLE BY COMMITTEE TO AGREE ON A RESPONSE MEANS WE WOULD NEVER ACT FAST AND SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY ENOUGH.

I'VE BEEN WILLING TO MAKE THE TOUGH CALLS, EACH ONE BEING ONE OF LIFE AND DEATH, EACH ONE BEING UNPOPULAR.

MY ONLY CHOICES HAVE BEEN UNPOPULAR AND UNPOPULAR, AND IF OTHERS WANT TO SIT IN THAT SEAT, THEY OUGHT TO SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

IT'S -- IT'S A SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT BUT IT'S ONE THAT, TO SAVE LIVES, I'M WILLING TO SHOW UP AND DOVER DAY.

>> DO YOU AGREE, THOUGH, -- DO EVERY DAY.

>> DO YOU AGREE THAT THE LAW AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN NEVER CONTEMPLATED A SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN NOW?

THE MAGNITUDE AND THE DURATION.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S DESERVING OF TWEAKING AND PROVIDING GREATER CLARITY ABOUT GUIDANCE ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS?

>> IF YOU READ THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT OPINION, IT SAYS THAT THE CURRENT LAW DID FORESEE A PANDEMIC COMING.

IT EVEN USES TERMS REFERRING TO IT.

WE HAD THE SPANISH FLU JUST 100 YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE SEEN OUTBREAKS.

WE HAVE CONCERNS THAT EBOLA WOULD REACH THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CONSIDERED.

BUT IMAGINE, RENEE, IF THEY CHANGE THIS LAW TO WHERE YOU CAN RESPOND TO SHORT-TERM EMERGENCIES, BUT THE LONG-TERM ONES THAT COULD KILL MILLIONS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT.

THAT IS REALLY SHORT-SIGHTED.

AND IT'S NOT THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ME.

I'M GOING TO BE GOVERNOR FOR THREE TO SEVEN MORE YEARS.

IT'S THAT IT'S GOING TO HARM OUR FAMILIES AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED DECISIVE ACTION.

WHY IN KENTUCKY SHOULD WE MAKE OURSELF THE LEAST PREPARED STATE TO RESPOND WHEN EVERY OTHER GOVERNOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS HAD TO DO WHAT I HAVE DONE?

AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A GOVERNOR DOESN'T EXERCISE OR DOESN'T HAVE THE POWERS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS TALKING ABOUT PULLING BACK, LOOK AT SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE I MEAN, IT'S -- THE DEATH IN SOUTH DAKOTA PER CAPITA MAKES WHAT HAPPENED IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND ARIZONA OVER THE SUMMER LOOK MINOR.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH TO BE DURING COVID.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE EITHER THAT GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE OR WON'T EXERCISE THAT POWER.

THIS ISN'T THE LEGISLATURE ADVICE THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S NOT REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT.

IT'S LIFE VERSUS DEATH, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RISE ABOVE THE THE POLITICS TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE AND TO KNOW EMERGENCIES ARE EMERGENCIES.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE POLITICAL.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

THERE'S TALK ABOUT A POSSIBLE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO A LOCAL ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

THAT'S ONLY THE RIGHT THAT YOU HAVE AS GOVERNOR TO DO OR OTHER GOVERNORS TO DO.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HAS SAID THAT IT'S NOT INTENDED TO IMPEDE ON THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL ABILITY TO CALL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTO SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO AS WELL.

DO YOU VIEW THAT AS A POWER GRAB?

>> WELL, IT WOULD CREATE A FULL-TIME STATE LEGISLATURE.

THEY GET PAID EVERY DAY THEY'RE IN.

THIS LEGISLATURE WOULD BE IN EVERY SINGLE DAY TRYING TO RUN EVERY ASPECT OF THE STATE.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN IDEA THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENRICH THEMSELVES EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH NO CHECK ON THEM, THAT WOULD BE IT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IF THEY WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT, I THINK THEY SHOULD BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY WILL SPEAK VERY LOUD AND CLEAR THAT A LEGISLATURE SHOULDN'T ABLE TO PAY THEMSELVES FOR MORE DAYS IF THEY CAN'T GET WHAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE, DONE IN THE SESSION.

>> AND THIS IDEA HAS BEEN FLOATED AROUND BEFORE BY SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS, BUT PERHAPS IT HAS MORE FUEL THIS TIME AROUND.

I DO WANT TO GET TO SOME OTHER BUSINESS.

LAWMAKERS IN FRANKFORT ARE RECEIVING eMAILS FROM LETTERS, FROM CONSTITUENTS AND EVEN PETITIONS CONCERNING YOUR COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

THERE ARE TWO CURRENTLY ONLINE PETITIONS AT THE TIME WE SPOKE THAT SAY THAT YOU SHEWED SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND THEY CITE THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES, PUTTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK WEEK PREVENTING RELIGIOUS GATHERING WEEK PREVENT CAN PEOPLE FROM PEACEABLY ASSEMBLING AND THE MASK MANDATES.

GOVERNOR, YOU FEARFUL THAT ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT COULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE DURING THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

AND PARTICULARLY SINCE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKIANS HAVE WRITTEN IN THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR, WHAT THEY CONSIDER, ABUSE OF POWER WHEN IT COMES TO THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

>> NO, IT'S SILLY.

NOTHING THEY TALK ABOUT IS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, AND THOSE ACTIONS SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THEY MIGHT NOT BELIEVE IN COVID, BUT I DO.

THEY ARE ACTIONS TAKEN BY GOVERNORS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

THEY WERE RECOMMENDED BY THIS PRESIDENT.

AND SO PERHAPS THOSE THAT ARE SIGNING IT OUGHT TO -- OUGHT TO ALSO GIVE THEIR OPINION ON THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK YOU'D HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THERE.

BUT JUST SILLY.

>> SPEAKING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGES IN THE PAST HAVE HELPED KENTUCKY'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.

WE KNOW THAT REVENUES HAVE BEEN POSITIVE OR ON TRACK, MAYBE MEETING AND BEATING EXPECTATIONS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW IS NEEDED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO STATE AND MUNICIPAL AID?

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PACKAGE THAT GIVES SOME RELIEF TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

>> WELL, THE FIRST CARES ACT WORKED.

IT CYCLED MONEY THROUGH OUR ECONOMY.

IT HELPED PROVIDE RELIEF TO PEOPLE.

IT HAS OUR BUDGET SET UP TO BE IN A POSITIVE PLACE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT GAVE US DOLLARS TO FIGHT THIS VIRUS.

THIS MOST RECENT CARES ACT IS ALSO REALLY HELPFUL IN THAT IT PROVIDES MONEY FOR TESTING AND TRACING, IT PROVIDES FUNDS TO PREVENTS EVICTIONS OR PEOPLE'S UTILITIES FROM BEING TURNED OFF.

IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE RELIEF TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO BURY THEIR LOVED ONES DURING THIS VIRUS.

IT'S GOING TO PUMP ABOUT $2 BILLION IN THOSE DIRECT CHECKS INTO THE ECONOMY.

IT'S GOING TO EXTEND PEOPLE'S UNEMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE 300 EXTRA DOLLARS TO MANY OF THEM.

SO IT'S A VERY POSITIVE STEP.

HERE IN KENTUCKY I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT.

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS A BUDGET WHERE WE'LL END THIS CURRENT YEAR WITH A SURPLUS AND WHERE WE ARE STAGED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE BOLD INVESTMENTS INTO THE FUTURE AND PROVIDE SOME MORE RELIEF TO OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

CERTAINLY ANOTHER ROUND OF CARES ACT INVESTMENT IN STATE GOVERNMENTS WOULD ALLOWS TO DO MORE TO STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY.

BUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE IN THIS SESSION ON THE NEXT ONE-YEAR BUDGET ARE GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OUR RECESSION IS SHORT OR LONG, AND IT'S GOING TO DETERMINE OUR PLACE IN THE POST COVID ECONOMY.

ARE WE GOING TO LEAD OR ARE WE GOING TO SIT BACK AND WATCH?

ARE WE GOING TO BE FDR OR HER BETTER HOOVER?

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE OUR FUTURE AND TO MOVE AHEAD OF THE COAST COVID ECONOMY BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE BOLD TO DO IT.

BUT THE EXCITING THING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE TOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO SO.

THE QUESTION IS WILL WE HAVE THE WILL.

>> SO I DO WANT TO GET TO SOME OF THOSE BIG, BOLD IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE CALLED ON REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT, SPORTS BETTING, HISTORICAL RACING, ET CETERA, BUT BEFORE I GET TO THAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG ISSUE THAT PERHAPS HAS PLAGUED SEVERAL MONTHS OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION IN DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM, THE SHORTFALLS IN THAT SYSTEM.

BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, THE KENTUCKY'S AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS SAID THE STATE'S OFFICE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS STILL OUTSTANDING WITH A LARGE BACKLOG OF CLAIMS STILL UNRESOLVED.

SO WHY IS THAT NOT RESOLVED FOR PERHAPS 84,000 KENTUCKIANS AT THIS TIME WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR RELIEF?

AND WHAT CHANGES WILL YOU PROPOSE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO IMPROVE THIS SYSTEM?

>> WE PROVIDED NUMBERS TO THE STATE AUDITOR.

THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT THEM BUT WE CERTAINLY PROVIDED THOSE NUMBERS.

WE BELIEVE WE KNOW HOW MANY CLAIMS ARE STILL OUT THERE, AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THEM EVERY DAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HIT JUST BEVER STATE.

I SPENT A COUPLE MINUTES THE OTHER DAY LOOKING AT SOME OTHER DISPARITIES SEE THE AGRICULTURE THAT SAYS VIRGINIA HAS THE WORST UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN THE WHY I NORTH CAROLINA HAS THE WORST UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY AND IT GOES ON AND ON.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THE MOST CLAIMS WE HAVE EVER SEEN FILED IN HISTORY IN A -- IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN THEM FILED AT, AND HERE IN KENTUCKY THE FAILURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE PAST, OH, SEVERAL SESSIONS TO ADEQUATELY FUND UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE HAS JUST EXACERBATED WHAT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO ADDRESS.

WE HAVE AN I.T.

SYSTEM CREATED IN THE YEAR 2000 THAT WE HAVE TO CODE JUST TO GET BASIC INFORMATION.

IT MAKES IT INCREDIBLY HARD TO TRACK CLAIMS.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED YEARS AGO.

IT SHOULDN'T BE 20 YEARS OLD.

THE LEGISLATURE CUT 11 REGIONAL OFFICES WHERE WE COULD BE HELPING PEOPLE FACE TO FACE, CUT 90-SOMETHING EMPLOYEES AND CUT THE BUDGET ALMOST IN HALF.

SO WE'RE BEING ASKED WITH ONE ARM BEHIND OUR BACK TO DEAL WITH MORE THAN HAS EVER BEEN CONTEMPLATED.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

WE ARE A PROOFING MORE CLAIMS AS A PERCENTAGE -- APPROVING MORE CLAIMS AS A PERCENTAGE NOW THAN.

THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR OLDER CLAIMS QUICKLY.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES TO PROVIDE AN EXTRA $400 DURING A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THAT $600 ADDITIONAL STIPEND RAN OUT.

WE ARE ADDING AND TRAINING PEOPLE HAVE DAY.

WE'RE TRYING TO PATCH THAT SYSTEM AND MAKE UPGRADES.

BUT YOU CAN BET IN MY BUDGET WE ARE GOING TO RESTORE ALL OF THOSE OLDER PAINFUL CUTS BECAUSE EVEN IN GOOD TIMES WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR SAFETY NET IS STRONG SO THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

BUT I JUST WANT TO END BY MAKING SURE THAT, YES, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE FAST ENOUGH.

BUT IT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THOSE THAT ARE WORKING IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE.

THEY ARE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD, REALLY LONG HOURS, AND THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST.

WE ARE GOING TO FIX THIS SYSTEM MOVING FORWARD AND MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> SO IS THAT YEV HOW THEIEN HOW THE 755 AMOUNT, DOES THAT SQUARE WITH THE NUMBER OF UNRESOLVED CLAIMS?

IS THAT NUMBER RIGHT TO YOU, SIR?

>> THOSE CLAIMS WILL INCLUDE CLAIMS FROM, SAY, THE LAST MONTH BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S COMING INTO THE BUCKET.

I MEAN IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE BUCKET.

IT'S WHAT'S COMING IN.

THE OTHER CHALLENGE, IN THE ADVERTISEMENT TAKES IS IT'S NOT JUST INITIAL CLAIMS.

THIS SYSTEM WAS SET UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET PEOPLE TO QUIT.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO REQUEST EVERY SO OFTEN YOUR BENEFITS AND YOU'VE GOT TO ANSWER A WHOLE SERIES OF QUESTIONS.

SO EVERY DAY A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES HELP PEOPLE OUT THAT HAVE GOTTEN ON THE THIRD OR THE FOURTH TIME AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS WRONG.

SO IT'S NOT JUST GETTING THROUGH 80,000 CLAIMS.

IT'S HELPING SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOT THE SYSTEM, IT'S THE WAY THE LAW WAS SET UP THAT'S PUT OBSTACLES IN THEIR WAY AND THEY NEED THOSE DOLLARS.

WE NEED AN UNEMPLOYMENT LEGAL SYSTEM THAT'S NOT SET UP TO SAY NO AT EVERY SINGLE STEP BECAUSE LOOK WHAT HAPPENS IN A PANDEMIC.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, SIR, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE INFORM HAVESOME YOUR BROADER BUDGET EMPLOYERS PRIORITIES FOR THIS UNUSUAL SESSION THAT WILL INCLUDE A SINGLE YEAR BUDGET THAT WILL BE PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.

WOULD YOU HAVE A PRICE TO GO WHAT IT WOULD MAKE TO SHORE UP THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, THE PRICE TAG IS FIRST THE INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE, ADDING BACK THOSE 90-SOMETHING EMPLOYEES.

IT'S SECOND, UPDATING THE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE BIDS IN.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT DONE EARLY THIS YEAR AND HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO SO.

IT'S OPENING UP REGIONAL OFFICES.

IF WE TRULY WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT, IT'S WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE LAWS.

AND THEN IT'S PAYING BACK UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT LOAN THAT WE HAVE TAKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT, YOU'LL SEE WITHIN THIS BUDGET IN THE CARES ACT TOGETHER, OVER $200 MILLION INTO REPAYING PORTIONS OF THAT LOAN.

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DETAIL FOR US ABOUT WHAT YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES WILL BE, WHAT IN BROAD TERMS, SIR, DO YOU HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS WILL EMBRACE?

>> WELL, MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL GET BEYOND BEING DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND REALIZE THAT WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE HURTING, AND THEN WE HAVE AB OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE IN A POST COVID WORLD THAN WE EVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

SO THE FIRST THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS PROVIDE RELIEF TO OUR STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.

THE SECOND THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE, IN EDUCATION, IN HEALTH CARE, IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS RETIREMENTS, IN CREATING GOOD JOBS.

THEN A THIRD THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS MAKE BOLD INVESTMENTS THAT WILL POSITION US TO BE LEADERS IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'VE EVEN SEEN A GLIMMER OF WHAT THAT CAN BE.

LOOK AT HARVEST, HELPING MAKE US THE AGRI-BECK CAPITOL OF THE WORLD OF THE NEW TREATMENT WITH THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT WHO LEADS IN THIS AREA IN THE WORLD.

MORE BUSINESSES FLYING TO LOOK AT OUR AGRI-TECH OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER BEFORE.

THESE OF THE TYPES OF THINGS IN THAT POST COVID WORLD WHERE NEW YORK AND L.A.

DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD SUBTLE WITH ALL THE DENSITY, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER BEFORE.

SO ARE WE GOING TO GRASP THEM?

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BOTH THE DOLLARS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

OR ARE WE GOING THE TO SIT BACK AND LET OTHERS TAKE THE LEAD AND STEAL OUR LUNCH?

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO EDUCATION.

EDUCATION FIRST I THINK IS A BIG PRIORITY THAT YOU ANNOUNCED, OF COURSE, DURING YOUR INAUGURATION AND YOUR STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS LAST YEAR.

ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL FOR AN INCREASE IN TEACHER PAY?

AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL, THE SCHOOL COOKS, BUS DRIVERS, ET CETERA?

DO YOU THINK NOW IS THE TIME FOR THEM ALL TO RECEIVE A PAY BUMP?

>> YES, I DO.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT OUR EDUCATORS AND BY WHICH THAT MEAN EVERYBODY IN THAT SCHOOL BUILDING HAVE DONE DURING THIS LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF INCREDIBLE.

SWITCHING MANY TIMES TO AN ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM AND MAYBE OUR TEACHERS HAVING THE WORK TWICE AS HARD TO REACH THEIR STUDENTS.

OUR OTHER CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL DELIVERING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF MEALS SO OUR KIDS DON'T GO HUNGRY P THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE A RAISE.

SO DO OUR STATE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTED IN IN FAR TOO LONG.

HIGHER EDUCATION GETS CUT AFTER CUT AFTER CUT UNTIL MY LAST BUDGET.

IT'S TIME WE INVEST IN THAT.

YOU GOT TO LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE OR A TWO-YEAR DEGREE OR A CERTIFICATE GETTING EVERY SINGLE STUDENT HEADED IN THAT RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A BOEING THAT'S GOING TO TRY TO REMOVE THE FINANCIAL -- A BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO TRY TO REMOVE THE FINANCIAL IMPEDIMENTS OF STUDENTS REACHING THOSE GOALS BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO BE A LEADER, EDUCATION IS GOING TO HELP US GET THERE.

AND LET'S FOR ONE GENERATION GET EVERYBODY EITHER A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE YIKE TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE IN SKILL AND LOOK AT WHERE WE'LL GO AS A STATE.

>> SPECIFICALLY, SIR, WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASES IN EDUCATOR PAY?

>> WE'LL TO HAVE WHAT IT ON THE ACTUAL BUDGET FOR THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO REVEAL THAT IN EARLY JANUARY, AS YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AB EXCITING BUDGET I THINK FOR EVERYBODY, FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.

I BELIEVE THAT EVERY FAMILY ACROSS KENTUCKY WILL FIND SOMETHING IN THIS BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO HELP MOVE THEM AHEAD OR HELP GET THEM THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, BUT THOSE ARE THE BASIC GOALS: RELIEF FOR OUR STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

INVESTMENT?

OUR PEOPLE AND BOLD INVESTMENTS IN OUR FUTURE.

>> AS YOU WELL KNOW, GOVERNOR, THERE IS SOME RENEWED DISCUSSION ABOUT TEACHER PENSIONS AND PERHAPS CHANGING THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR FUTURE TEACHER HIRES.

IS THE ADMINISTRATION WILLING TO GO TO BAT TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING TRADITIONAL SYSTEM AND AGAINST PERHAPS EITHER A HYBRID OR A 401(K) STYLE SYSTEM FOR NEW-HIRES IN EDUCATION?

>> THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED FOR NEW-HIRES HAD AND TEACHERS IN A DRAMATIC PAY CUT.

TEACHERS DO NOT GET SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE THEM A DEFINED PENSION BENEFIT IS GOING TO RESULT IN THEM MAKING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS OVER TIME.

AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED THE VERY BEST TEACHING OUR CHILDREN, WHY WOULD WE NOT COMMIT TO THEIR RETIREMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY?

I BELIEVE THAT SUPPORTING TEACHERS ISN'T ABOUT JUST KEEPING THE PLAN FOR THE THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY IN IT BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT COMPENSATION PACKAGE THAT CAN ATTRACT THE VERY BEST TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN.

AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT AT A TIME WHEN WE ALL SEE HOW IMPORTANT OUR EDUCATORS ARE, THE LEGISLATURE IS TALK ABOUT A PENSION CHANGE THAT WOULD COST THEM LIFETIME PAY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT EVER CONSIDERING RAISING THEIR PAY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> YOU SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BIG, BOLD IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED STATE LEGISLATURE, AND I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, SIR, ABOUT THE FACT THERE IS AN EXPANDED SUPER MAJORITY IN THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE.

75 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPUBLICANS, 30 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

CONSIDER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FRICTION POINTS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE LEGISLATURE.

HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE AND GET YOUR MESSAGE AND YOUR POLICY IDEAS ACROSS TO THE FINISH LINE IN THIS UPCOMING SESSION?

>> I'M CONFIDENT OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE CLEARLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND WHERE THIS STATE SHOULD GO.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE THE PRIORITIES OF KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, IF WE MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE, IT'S GOOD FOR YOU.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, IF YOU HAVE A STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE OF COVID, RELIEF IS GOOD FOR YOU.

SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO HELP ALL OF OUR FAMILIES NOW AND POSITION US FOR THE FUTURE IN HIGH WAGE JOBS, AGAIN, NOTHING DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ABOUT THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE THING THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES, THE THING THAT'LL MOVE KENTUCKY FORWARD OR IF THEY JUST WANT TO FIGHT.

I THINK THAT IT'S TOO IMPORTANT OF A TIME, IT'S TOO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW WITH SO MANY FAMILIES WORKING SO HARD JUST TO GET BY, IT'S TOO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW WHEN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IN THIS SESSION ARE GOING TO SET UP THE POST COVID WORLD AND ECONOMY TO SIMPLY FIGHT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I GUARANTEE YOU OTHER STATES ARE GOING TO MOVE AHEAD MAKING BOLD DECISIONS.

AGAIN, IT'S EITHER WE CAN LEAD OR BEING GET LEFT BEHIND.

>> AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ONE WAY OR A COUPLE OF WAYS TO BOOST STATE REVENUE IS THROUGH SPORTS BETTING AND HISTORICAL HORSE RACING AND PERHAPS THIS IS NOT A REVENUE ISSUE, LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

SO LET'S START WITH SPORTS BETTING AND HISTORICAL HORSE RACING FIRST.

WE KNOW THAT A REPUBLICAN FROM ERLANGER AB ADAM KOENIG, HAD TRIED TO MOVE THE SPORTS BETTING BILL IN THE 2020 SESSION TO NO SUCCESS.

SO DO YOU BELIEVE THE TIME IS RIGHT NOW?

AND WHY?

>> I BELIEVE THE TIME WAS RIGHT YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

WHEN VERTUALLY EVERY STATE AROUND US -- VIRTUALLY EVERY STATE AROUND US, ALL REPUBLICAN STATES ALREADY HAVE IT.

WE TALK ABOUT HAVING A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ALLOWING BUSINESS THAT EVERY STATE AROUND US IS.

THE FACT SUCK DRIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER VIRTUALLY ANY OF OUR BORDERS, AND ON YOUR CELL PHONE MAKE A BET, A DOLLAR OR A PERCENTAGE THAT OF BET IS GOING TO GO TO THOSE STATES FOR THEIR ROADS AND BRIDGES FOR THEIR SCHOOLS AND FOR OTHER NEEDS.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT AT THIS POINT IS NOT ONLY SILLY BUT PUTS US AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.

HISTORIC HORSE VANES SOMETHING THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE THE THOROUGHBRED CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

IT SUPPORTS THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF JOBS, AND IT'S TIME FOR THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TO STEP UP AND DO RIGHT FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT WE CANNOT LET GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IT IS PAST TIME.

IT CUTS ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, ALL PARTIES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T JUST BEEN EMBRACED BY SO MANY OTHER STATES.

SO MANY OF THEM HAVE MOVED PAST IT.

I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO IT IN A REVENUE-POSITIVE WAY, THOUGH I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER MODELS OUT THERE THAT WILL PROBABLY WORK BETTER AND CAN BE ADMINISTERED MUCH BETTER THAN THE STRUCTURE WE SAW IN A BILL LAST YEAR.

>> SO I WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT.

A REVENUE-POSITIVE WAY.

THAT MEANS TAXING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA?

>> WELL, THAT MEANS THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THE SYSTEM, RIGHTS?

THERE'S THE GROWING.

THERE'S THE FACILITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SELL IT.

AND THEN THERE IS THE PURCHASE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WITHIN THAT SYSTEM THERE'S A WAY THE DO IT REVENUE POSITIVE WHILE IT STILL BEING AVAILABLE AND THE ECONOMICS OF IT WORKING.

SO, YES, I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE REVENUE POSITIVE.

>> AND BY THE THAT DO YOU MEAN THAT THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING MEMORABILIA MARIJUANA FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY A TAX?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT PARTS IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THE REVENUE COMES OUT, BUT IT DOES TAKE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARM THAT'S REQUIRED TO DO THIS.

YOU WANT INSPECTORS.

YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE -- THAT THIS IS DONE CORRECTLY, THINK IT'S REAL PRESCRIPTIONS.

THAT THE FACILITIES THAT ARE ALLOWED TO STELL IT ARE MONITORED.

THAT REQUIRES A NEW PART OF STATE GOVERNMENT OR NEW EMPLOYEES IN A PLACE LIKE ABC TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND IF IT'S NOT REVENUE POSITIVE YOU CAN'T SUPPORT THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ARM THAT'S REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT.

>> AND THAT HASN'T BEEN A PART OF PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE BILL, SIR, BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS A COMPASSIONATE MEASURE, NOT A REVENUE-GENERATING ONE.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE AN ENORMOUS BARRIER TO OVERCOME?

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO VOTE ON, BUT ONE THING THAT NUMEROUS LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING AT VOTING ON IS REVENUE, BUT ON THE OTHER PIECE, CURRENT BILL DID HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT ARM.

IT HAD IT IN A PLACE CHFS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE INSPECTORS FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.

IT NEEDS TO BE OVER IN ABC WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE THE TRAINING, A GROUP OF INSPECTORS THAT WE CAN ADD TO.

THERE'S JUST A BETTER ADMINISTRATIVE WAY OF DOING THIS WHERE BEING BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN WE SAW IN ONE OF THE DRAFTS THE LAST TIME AROUND.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT AUTHOR OR ANOTHER WOULDN'T CHANGE IT, BUT WE CERTAINLY HOPE, GIVEN THAT ENFORCING THIS LAW WILL FALL UPON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THAT THEY WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT WHERE TO HOUSE AND IT HOW TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY TILL.

>> GOING BACK REALLY QUICKLY TO SPORTS BETTING IT HAS SAID THAT NEVADA HAS GENERATED $15 MILLION, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY A BIG TICKET DEAL FOR THEM AND THAT OTHER ESTIMATES HAVE COME IN AT $25 MILLION THAT COULD BE GENERATED FROM SPORTS BETTING.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

AS FOLKS OFTEN SAY, IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE?

>> YES.

IF EVERY OTHER STATE AROUND US IS DOING IT, IF THEY ARE TAKING OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND THIS IS A WAY TO KEEP IT HERE, YES.

BUT THOSE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO FULL CASINO GAMING.

INDIANA HAS IT.

THEY MAKE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN REVENUE.

WE OUGHT TO DO THAT.

I'M WILLING TO START WITH SPORTS BETTING, BUT HOW ABOUT WE COMPETE WITH WEST VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA AND INDIANA AND OHIO AND MISSOURI THAT ALL HAVE CASINOS AT OR NEAR OUR BORDERS?

OBVIOUSLY PENNSYLVANIA IS A A LITTLE FURTHER ONE AWAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TRULY LOOK AT OUR DOLLARS FLOWING OUT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TO TRULY BE COMPETITIVE, TO LET MARKET FORCES ACTUALLY WORK WEBSITES TIME TO ALLOW THE FULL THING, EWE BUT I'M WILLING TO TAKE STEPS TO WALK BEFORE WE RUN IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

>> SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PROPOSAL FULL-BLOWN CASINO STYLE GAMBLING GAMBLING IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION?

>> WE'RE NOT LIKELY TO PROPOSE THAT IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION.

WE WANT TO HELP PUSHING SPORTS BETTING OVER THE LINE, AND WE THINK THAT ONCE PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S THERE, THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE CLOSER TO THE FULL-BLOWN GAMING THAT I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIANS WANT AND ARE TIRED OF THEIR DOLLARS PAVING THE ROADS IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

>> IN ADDITION TO POLICY POSITIONS, I ASKED GOVERNOR BESHEAR ABOUT AN INCIDENT LAST SPRING WHERE ANY OF JIF HIM WAS HANGED FROM A FREE ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS, AND SEVERAL ARMED PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE EXECUTIVE MANSION DEMONSTRATING AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S COVID RESTRICTIONS.

NEITHER THE GOVERNOR NOR HIS FAMILY WERE HOME AT THE TIME.

KENTUCKY'S EXECUTIVE MANSION IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE LAST ONES WITHOUT SECURITY FENCING, BUT THAT CHANGED LAST FALL WHEN BLACK ORNAMENTAL SECURITY FENCING WAS INSTALLED FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTION OF THE FIRST FAMILY.

IT WAS FUNDED BY THE KENTUCKY EXECUTIVE MANSION'S FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, I'M SURROUNDED BY THE BEST SECURITY DETAIL THAT I COULD EVER ASK FOR, PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT NOT JUST ME BUT ABOUT MY FAMILY, AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR US EVERY MOMENT WE HAVE NEEDED IT.

YES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REAL THREATS.

THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING GRENADES THAT THANKFULLY AUTHORITIES WERE ABLE TO STEP IN AND STOP.

THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THREATS MADE EVEN WHEN I'VE BEEN PROVIDING UPDATES THAT HAVE REQUIRED ME TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE CAPITOL IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND, YES, AN ARMED MILITIA GROUP INTENDING TO TERRORS MY FAMILY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WENT PAST EVERY BARRIER THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME, STOOD ON THE EVIDENT.

GOVERNOR'S MANSION, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WINDOW PANE FROM WHERE MY KIDS PLAY, AND TRIED TO GET NEE ME TO COME OUT WHILE HOLDINGS THEIR ASSAULT RIFLES.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THE MESSAGE THAT THAT WAS INTENDED TO CONVEY.

BUT THEY WILL NOT DETER ME.

THEY WILL NOT SCARE ME.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND AS FAR AS MY KIDS GO, THEY DESERVE TO BE SHELTERED FROM A LOT OF THIS.

WE HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT THEY DO NOT DESERVE THIS.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, THEY THINK THAT THERE'S A TEN AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD WHO LIVE HERE.

THEY MEAN MORE TO ME THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON EARTH, AND WE'LL DO WHAT'S REQUIRED TO PROTECT THEM AS WELL.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S SPOUSE, FIRST LADY BRITAINY BESHEAR, SPOKE WITH US AS WELL ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RAISING A YOUNG FAMILY IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION, ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC.

TOUGH CONVERSATIONS SHE HAS HAD WITH HER TWO CHILDREN ABOUT CRITICISM OF THEIR FATHER, THE MESSAGE SHE WANTS TO SENDING THOSE RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE COVID-19 VACCINATION WHEN IT'S THEIR TURN, AND IS HOW SHE PLANS TO USE THEY ARE OFFICE TO ADDRESS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

FIRST LADY BESHEAR, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YES.

I'M SO GLAD WE COULD GET TOGETHER VIRTUALLY AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> WE'RE ALSO VERY USED TO OPERATING IN THESE SPACES LIKE THIS, AREN'T WE?

SO I THINK WE'RE MASTERING IT COMPLETELY.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU AT THE END OF THE YEAR, OF COURSE, AND I DID NOT ASK THIS OF THE GOVERNOR, ABOUT RECEIVING A COVID VACCINATION.

SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FEELING NOW THAT IT'S BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN FOR A FEW DAYS SINCE THAT WAS DONE AND WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU SEND TO THOSE WHO ARE A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT TAKING THE SHOT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO TAKE IT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

THE FIRST BEING THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO THIS VACCINE WOULD JUST BE A MIRACLE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST I FELT HONESTLY A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT IT, BUT WHAT I THINK REALLY WAS THE REASON I DID IT IS THAT AS A PARENT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS THAT I MIGHT HAVE AND HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT MY CHILDREN.

AND TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THE EXPERTS WHOM I TRUST, INCLUDING DR. STACK, DR. FAUCI, DR. BIRX, THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

AND SO I WANTED TO SHOW OTHER PARENTS AND MOMS THAT IT'S OKAY TO TAKE IT.

AND IT'S NOW GOING TO PROTECT ME.

IT'S GOING TO HELP ME PROTECT MY FAMILY.

AND IT'S GOING TO HELP ME TO PROTECT THOSE AROUND ME.

AND SO I JUST -- WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN, I JUST URGE EVERYBODY TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT.

>> AND YOU DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM IT?

>> WELL, I HAD ACTUALLY FROM THE TOP OF MY NECK DOWN INTO MY FINGERS WAS REALLY STIFF, WHICH WAS A NEW VACCINE EXPERIENCE FOR ME, AND IT JUST LASTED A DAY, AND THEN I HAD JUST PAIN AT THE INJECTION SITE AND TWO DAYS LATER I WAS FINE.

BUT I WILL TAKE THAT IF IT MEANS THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR COVID.

>> AND I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO WEATHER THROUGH THIS STORM WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL KIDS, WILL AND LILA?

YOU HAVE SPENT A LOT OF QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, HAVEN'T YOU, THE LAST FEW MONTHS?

>> YES, LIKE A THOUGHT OF HAVE LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES WE HAVE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF QUALITY TIME, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH ON US.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH ON AMERICANS AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I FEEL REALLY LOW, AND SO WHAT I TRY TO DO IN THOSE TIMES IS TO TAKE A BREATH AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE A WALK AROUND THE BLOCK, JUST DO SOMETHING TO GET MOVING, AND REMIND MYSELF THAT I WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.

THEY ARE AT THE AGES NOW WHERE THEY WANT TO BE AT THEIR FRIENDS' HOUSES AND GO TO ACTIVITIES AND THEY'RE BUSY AT SCHOOL, AND SO OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS COMING MORE OF SHIPS PASSING ONE ANOTHER.

THE QUALITY TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER WAS A GIFT THAT I REALLY TRY TO LOOK AT IT AS A GIFT AND AMIDST ALL OF THE HEARTBREAK AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL TREASURE.

>> AND A LOT OF KIDS ARE TRYING TO ADJUST AND PARENTS ARE TRYING TO ADJUST, AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, READING BOOKS AND ASKING FOLKS TO MASK UP, AND YOU EVEN HAD THE COVERINGS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DONATE MASKS TO SCHOOLKIDS AND TO EDUCATORS.

SO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'VE TRIED TO REALLY MOBILIZE AND USE THE VIRTUAL SPACE THAT MANY MAY BE A LITTLE TIRED OF AND FATIGUED OF HAVING TO USE.

BUT USE THAT AS A PLATFORM TO REALLY COMMUNICATE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

>> YES.

LIKE YOU SAID, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE VERY WEARY OF ZOOM CALLS AND GOOGLE MEETS, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE, AND WHEN ANDY FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, I HAD A LOT OF PLANS AND THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO, SPECIFICALLY WITH CHILDREN TO GET THEM MOVING AND ACTIVE, AND SO WHEN THAT WAS NO LONGER AN OPTION, DOING ZOOM CALLS AND CHECK-INS AND STORY TIMES AND ARTS AND CRAFTS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO PUT A POSITIVE FACE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO BRING JOY IN THE MIDST OF SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY SCARY FOR KIDS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT I HAVE DECIDED COMING OUT OF THIS HAD TO REALLY FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND PATRICIA MENTAL HEALTH PEED RAW YEAH TRICK MENTAL HEALTH IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND I REALIZE HOW OR NOT.

NIGH CHILDREN ARE, THAT THEY HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, THEY HAVE FOOT FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND THEY HAVE ONE PARENT WHO HAS A STEADY INCOME, SO I WAS ABLE TO BE HOME WITH THEM, AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR SO MANY.

AND SO I THINK THAT COMING OUT OF THIS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IS PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, MADAME FIRST LADY, ABOUT WHAT WERE THE IDEAS YOU HAD PREEDE COVID AND NOW THAT YOU'RE MAYBE DID PRE-COVID AND BE NOW THAT YOU'RE SHIFTING GROUND, DO YOU PLAN TO PING UP SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT YOU FIRST SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS WORKING ON WAS A -- WE'RE SORT OF LOVINGLY CALLING IT IS FIRST LADY FIELD DAYS.

AND COMING UP WITH A PROGRAM TO GO AROUND THE STATE AND JUST KIDS OUTSIDE AND ACTIVE AND MOVING, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN IDEAS WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S PARTS OF MENTAL HEALTH IS EXERCISE, AND SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OVERLAP THAT WE CAN DO WITH THOSE.

>> AND WE DO KNOW THAT WHILE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ACROSS THE AGE SPECTRUM, RIGHT, BUT IN PARTICULAR FOR OUR YOUNG VULNERABLE CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF MAYBE THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH TIME FOR THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I HOPE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND MAYBE DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY WHO ARE HAVING THOSE CHALLENGES.

>> YOU'VE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED PICKING UP A PIECE FROM YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SURVIVORS DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE, AND THE SHOP AND SHARE PROGRAM.

YOU STILL HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES HAS KIND OF ALWAYS BEEN YOUR PASSION AS YOU'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER, I UNDERSTAND, FOR A LONG TIME IN THOSE AREAS.

SO DO YOU HOPE TO RESUME THAT MAYBE IN THE WAY THAT IT ORIGINALLY SOUGHT OUT BACK WHEN FIRST LADY JANE BESHEAR STARTED THAT PROGRAM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT SHOP AND SHARE IS THAT THAT IS A PROGRAM WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON.

IT MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW SAFE IT WILL BE WHEN FEBRUARY ROLLS AROUND WHEN WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE SHOP AND SHARE FOR PEOPLE TO STAND IN A GROCERY STORE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME COLLECTING DONATIONS, BUT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A WITH A TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID BE BE -- WITH A WAY TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION HAS BECOME EVEN MORE VULNERABLE WITH THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO WE CAN'T JUST IGNORE THOSE, THOSE CHALLENGES, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP IN KENTUCKY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE PEOPLE TOP OF MIND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS.

>> I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING YOU THIS QUESTION BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT HOW, AS A FAMILY, YOU ALL HAVE DEALT WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND, YOU KNOW, THE CRITICISM THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS RECEIVED, AND I TALKED TO YOUR HUSBAND ABOUT THE FENCING THAT'S NOW AROUND THE EXECUTIVE MANSION BECAUSE OF SOME ANTICS IN 2020 IN THE FALL.

SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU COMFORT YOUR KIDS IN TOUGH TIMES AND THEIR FATHER BEING IN THE TOUGHEST POSITION IN THIS STATE AND WHAT THEY MAY SEE AND HEAR, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU JUST KIND OF NAVIGATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT YOU HAVE A LOT OF TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO INSTILL IN THEM IS THAT LOVE ALWAYS WINS OVER HATE.

AND SO WHEN THEY HEAR OR SEE SOMETHING THAT IS PARTICULARLY NEGATIVE ABOUT THEIR DAD, WE REMIND THEM OF ALL OF THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE.

AND THOSE WHO TEND TO BE THE MOST NEGATIVE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR SOCIETY MAKES THE MOST WAVES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK FOR OUR KIDS TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES.

AND SO I CAN SIT HERE AND SAY THAT, AND SOMETIMES THOSE WORDS AS A PARENT WHEN YOUR CHILD IS UPSET ARE NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL.

AND IN THOSE INSTANCES YOU JUST WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND YOUR KIDS AND LET THEM CRY OR BE UPSET.

AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ALWAYS BEING KIND AND AND HAVING OPINIONS AND OPINIONS ARE WONDERFUL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR SOCIETY SO WONDERFUL, YOU KNOW, COLLECTIVELY, THAT WE CAN HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS, BUT TO KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE DO SUPPORT THEIR DAD AND HE'S DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND I THINK AS A ROLE MODEL IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE ANDY'S THAT THE KICKED LOOK UP TO AND SAY HE DOES THE RIGHT THINGS EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD.

>> AND FOR THEM TO HAVE A MOTHER WHO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT OF AS WELL AS FIRST LADY.

HOW ARE YOU ADAPTING TO THIS CHANGE?

I ASSUME IN LIFESTYLE AND LIVING AND JUST THE WAY YOU FUNCTION ON A DAILY BASIS IN THIS VERY, VERY PUBLIC ROLE.

>> YOU KNOW, I DO MY BEST TO JUST KEEP EVERYTHING AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAD TO GET USED TO.

THERE ARE STATE POLICE AROUND THE HOUSE ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STOP TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE HOUSE IN WHICH YOU LIVE, WHICH IS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS, IT'S A LITTLE INTERESTING.

AND DEFINITELY WIN LIKES TO ALERT TO US EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO STOPS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

WINNIE.

BUT I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S JUST TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE, AND TO KNOW THAT THIS PERIOD IN OUR LIVES WILL NOT LAST FOREVER AND TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF KENTUCKIANS.

AND SO WITH THAT, JUST ONE FOOT FORWARD EVERY STEP AND DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE AN IMPACT WHILE WE'RE HERE.

>> FINALLY, I ASKED THE GOVERNOR HOW HE WOULD SUM HIS FIRST YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FIVE SENTENCES.

THIS IS WHAT HE SAID HE'D WRITE.

>> WOW.

WELL, WE CERTAIN STARTED QUICKLY, RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS TO WHAT'S NOW OVER 1 YOU HUNDRED SEVENTY HOW THE KENTUCKIANS.

CREATING A NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT VALUES PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND PRESENTING HEALTH CARE TO 100,000 KENTUCKIANS WHO SO DESPERATELY NEEDED IT, NOT KNOWING A PANDEMICS WAS COMING.

AND THEN THAT PANDEMIC HIT.

BUT WE RESPONDED AGGRESSIVELY IN WAYS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OUR PEOPLE.

KENTUCKIANS CAME TOGETHER.

OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN BETTER THAN VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER STATE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.

AND IN 2021 WE WILL DEFEAT THIS VIRUS AND PEEL MOVE THIS STATE FORWARD, MAKE WE WILL MOVE IN STATE FORWARD.

THAT MAY BE MORE THAN FIVE SENTENCES BUT THAT'S THE PARAGRAPH.

>> GOOD ENOUGH.

AND FOR YOUR CRITICS TO HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT YOUR RESTRICTIONS AND ABOUT YOUR GOVERNING, WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO THEM?

BECAUSE YOU'RE THEIR GOVERNOR TOO.

>> I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S EASY TO LEAD, IT'S EASIER TO LEAD IN EASY TIMES.

IN DIFFICULT TIMES, OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN YOUR OWN POLITICAL FUTURE AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT EVEN IF IT MEANS THERE ARE MORE CRITICS OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC THAT'S TAKEN THE LIVES OF OVER 330,000 AMERICANS, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MORE AMERICANS TO COVID THAN WE LOST IN WORLD WAR II CASUALTIES.

WHEN YOU ARE ON THAT BATTLEFIELD, WHEN YOU ARE ENGAGED IN THAT WAR, IT'S YOUR JOB TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS THING.

OTHER PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PLAY POLITICS.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY BESHEAR FOR THEIR TIME.

AND OUR THANKS TO YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

WE HOPE YOU WILL RELY ON KET PROGRAMMING FOR COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WINTER AND OUR WEEKLY PROGRAMS THAT KEEP YOU IN THE KNOW ON WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WATCHING.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE, AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.