2026 Legislative Session Preview

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Kentucky. Tonight I'm Renee
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Shaw. We thank you so much for
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joining us and happy New Year.
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Tonight we preview the 2026
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legislative session, which
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starts tomorrow. It's a 60 day
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session with state lawmakers
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working to pass a two year
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budget for Kentucky, as the
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state faces a budget shortfall
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of about $156 million this
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fiscal year, and lawmakers will
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deal with other issues from
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housing to artificial
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intelligence to education, and
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to discuss what to expect
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during the session for
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legislative leaders. Join us in
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our Lexington studio. State
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Senator David Givens, a
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Republican from Greensburg and
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Senate president pro tem. State
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Senator Gerald Neal, a Democrat
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from Louisville and Senate
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Minority floor leader. State
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Representative David Meade, a
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Republican from Stanford and
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House Speaker pro Tem and State
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Representative Pamela
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Stephenson, a Democrat from
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Louisville and House minority
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floor leader. We certainly want
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to hear from you tonight. You
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can send us your questions and
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comments by X, formerly Twitter
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at Pub Affairs KET. Send an
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email to KY tonight at ket.org
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or use the web form at ket.org
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KY tonight. Or you can simply
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give us a call at one 800 494
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70 605. Well welcome everyone.
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Happy New Year to you. Happy
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New year. Happy start of
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session. It's not sunny die.
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What's the Latin for? The
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opposite of sunny die. Session
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Eve session, session. Eve.
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That's good enough. Okay,
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before we talk about some of
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the issues, let's talk about
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what has gotten a lot of ink of
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late. And that's about access
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to the state capitol because of
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the Capitol renovations that
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are expected to take at least
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three years, perhaps more. It's
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not the same way to get access.
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And so there is some concern
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about how people can follow
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what's happening. There won't
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be the Capitol rotunda
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available for rallies and for
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others advocacy groups to
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engage with state lawmakers.
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Senator Gibbons, talk to us
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about the access to the
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temporary chambers. We know
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that the committee meetings
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will still happen in the annex,
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but the House and Senate
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chambers have a temporary
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location.
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>> Much needed renovations to
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the People's Capitol. It will
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last a number of years. Three
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would be optimistic. It may be
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a shade longer than that. We've
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got a temporary building that
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we're going to be in for
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purposes of meeting for regular
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session and any special
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sessions for a period of 3 to 5
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years. And then most likely, as
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I understand it, there's going
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to be some renovations done on
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the annex. So that temporary
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building will then be used to
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house offices that were
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previously in the annex after
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we get back in the Capitol. In
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terms of transparency, we do
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have a strong, robust media,
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and that will continue to be
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they'll continue to have full
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access. I think the role of KET
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is going to be even that much
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more. And so I'm appreciative
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of all the coverage that KET
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provides and would encourage
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anyone wanting to participate
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to continue to do so, either
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online through the YouTube
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channel or the KET coverage
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that's done so well.
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>> Yeah. Representative Mead,
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good to see you and thank you
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so much for being here. The in
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both of the chambers. Neither
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have galleries right where
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spectators could go and observe
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the proceedings. Was there any
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consideration about how that
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might be perceived by the
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public. And what was the the
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rationale for not including
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that in the overall plans for
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the temporary structure?
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>> Well, I think that the the
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overall plan was to make the
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temporary structure is as
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inexpensive as possible. Of
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course, it's going to be
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expensive to build anything
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like that. But I think that one
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one thing we have to keep in
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mind is that the contract was
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signed through the
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administration and not by us,
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and those plans were drawn out
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by the engineers that were
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there. The gallery, of course,
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is simply for spectating when
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you're in those in the House
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and Senate chambers. The rules
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say that you can't interfere
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with the proceedings, can't be
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noisy and discuss things up
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there. So you get to get to
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watch it. And that's that's the
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bad part of it, is you can't
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come in and see the historic
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floor proceedings and things
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like that, and that's the sad
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part about it. But as far as us
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doing business, we're going to
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continue to do business the
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same way. We have two committee
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rooms set up for the house, two
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committee rooms set up for the
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Senate. They will be viewing
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areas. KET, of course will
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continue to cover. LRC has
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expanding their YouTube channel.
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And then we have the LRC live
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feed. So there will be plenty
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of ways to to see that. I know
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that the governor has made
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comments about it. He's talked
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about having bleachers in there
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or whatever it may be. And I
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would just say that, you know,
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we're going to continue to
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operate in transparent manner.
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But I would just point out one
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thing that's the governor has
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said that we're not being
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transparent, that here recently,
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he was sued by the Lexington
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Herald-Leader for not
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fulfilling an open records
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request. And so I think that we
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have some questions about
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transparency there. And I will
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also say that we're talking
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about a man that closed the the
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mansion that was open to the
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public and now lives behind a
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fence that's paid by the
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taxpayers. So I think there's
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other questions that we could
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ask instead of the the eye
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being shot at us later.
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>> Neil, do you have any
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rebuttal to what Representative
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Mead have to say, and what are
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your thoughts about
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transparency?
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>> Well, you started out with
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the fact that we're going to be
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in different quarters and so
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forth. And I do want to point
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out that it's going to take
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some adjustment, but I think
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we'll adjust. Well. We've done
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things in the past where we had
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to do that, and I think it's
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very important. The
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transparency piece, in terms of
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the public being involved there,
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and I think we got to keep our
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eyes on what we're doing. We
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got to make sure that we take
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all the steps necessary to make
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sure the public is informed. So
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yes, KET plays a very key role
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in that, and the rest of the
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press does as well. So I'm
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looking forward to how that's
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going to play out and how it's
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going to engage. And I trust
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that we'll have the
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transparency. And I think we
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all work to get that together.
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Now as it relates to the
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governor, the governor's you
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know, people support this
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governor. He's doing a
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fantastic job. And the voting
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patterns speak for themselves.
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So, you know, I think we can be
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critical of each other on
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various kinds of things. But I
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think at the end of the day,
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all of us are trying to do
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what's right by the people, and
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I think that's why we're there.
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And we'll continue to try to do
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better as we go forward.
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>> Leader Stevenson have
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anything to add on this
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particular point?
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>> The only thing I would add
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it is the eve of session and
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already the fire has started.
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The real issue is this
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government is for the people,
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by the people to serve the
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people, and we all want them to
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have access. Everyone is doing
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the best they can with what
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we've got. So I would engage as
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the public to please start
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early, be early, use all the
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resources that were announced
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and stay engaged with us.
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>> Yeah. What are the
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expectations in terms of the
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numbers of bills that could be
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filed? Everything from owning a
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pet chicken in Kentucky to the
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state budget, which is a very,
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very serious matter. We don't
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mean to make light of that, but
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what kind of legislation is a
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priority for Senate Republicans?
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And what do you really want to
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see across the finish line
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other than the budget?
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>> Sure. Well, when you look at
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what what our priorities are,
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we talk about the budget being
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one of those, because really,
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what we end up doing, and we've
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discovered over time is that
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the place we spend the
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taxpayers hard earned money is
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where we tend to put the focus,
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and we can have lots of great
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ideas. We can file lots of
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pieces of legislation about
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things that we'd like to see
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happen, but what do we actually
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spend money on? And so the
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budget amplifies and magnifies
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those things. So when we say
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the budget, we're going to be
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spending money on education.
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When we think about the role of
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state government, education,
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transportation, Medicaid,
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incarceration, sadly. But that
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covers a lot of what we're
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going to be spending money on.
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Almost half of our state budget.
285
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General fund revenues go for
286
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education purposes, and that's
287
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the charge of almost every
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state.
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>> I'll go to this side, kind
290
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of get it out of here a little
291
00:07:51,833 --> 00:07:55,033
bit. I know the Senate
292
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Democrats are having a press
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conference tomorrow where
294
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you're unveiling the priorities
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for your caucus. Give us a
296
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little spoiler on that.
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>> Right on that. Give us the
298
00:08:02,233 --> 00:08:05,800
scoop. You wouldn't be
299
00:08:03,366 --> 00:08:08,433
surprised to know that we want
300
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to protect those things that
301
00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:12,000
are not only useful to people,
302
00:08:08,433 --> 00:08:13,133
but people expect in terms of
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services and so forth and so on.
304
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So we're talking about some of
305
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these areas that relate to the
306
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health, relates to the safety
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and the community. We're
308
00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:26,033
talking about those things that
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that relate to the ability to
310
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uphold what you need for your
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family, getting the proper wage,
312
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a living wage in some respects,
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and.
314
00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:35,066
>> There's a bill that's going
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to be filed to raise it to $15
316
00:08:33,166 --> 00:08:37,166
an hour, which has been an
317
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attempt for several sessions.
318
00:08:36,166 --> 00:08:40,066
>> Absolutely. We're going to
319
00:08:37,166 --> 00:08:41,166
visit that again, and I hope
320
00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:43,000
that we can persuade our
321
00:08:40,066 --> 00:08:44,500
colleagues across the aisle to
322
00:08:41,166 --> 00:08:46,100
join us with that. But there's
323
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going to be a number of things
324
00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:48,233
that we're going to deal with.
325
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We've got housing issues and
326
00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:52,000
problems. We're going to have
327
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to address those things. We had
328
00:08:50,066 --> 00:08:55,200
a task force to deal with some
329
00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:57,100
of that subject matter. I don't
330
00:08:53,133 --> 00:08:58,200
think it came to a total end
331
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because it's not an easy issue
332
00:08:57,100 --> 00:09:01,633
really to deal with. But I
333
00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:03,433
think we're together on both
334
00:09:00,233 --> 00:09:04,366
sides of the aisle on we have
335
00:09:01,633 --> 00:09:06,733
to tackle that and do something
336
00:09:03,433 --> 00:09:08,266
positive about that, and I
337
00:09:04,366 --> 00:09:10,333
think we will. So I'm
338
00:09:06,733 --> 00:09:13,166
encouraged by that. But I do
339
00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:14,700
want to say this we have some
340
00:09:10,333 --> 00:09:15,800
serious challenges. The moment
341
00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:17,933
might be something that's
342
00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:19,066
manageable, but we have some
343
00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:20,733
serious challenges and I
344
00:09:17,933 --> 00:09:22,233
imagine it will get into more
345
00:09:19,066 --> 00:09:23,666
of that discussion later on
346
00:09:20,733 --> 00:09:25,900
about what's happening on the
347
00:09:22,233 --> 00:09:27,233
national scene, its effect on
348
00:09:23,666 --> 00:09:28,333
what's happening in Kentucky.
349
00:09:25,900 --> 00:09:29,866
And I hope we get to that
350
00:09:27,233 --> 00:09:31,666
discussion. I trust.
351
00:09:28,333 --> 00:09:33,066
>> Absolutely, Leader Stevenson,
352
00:09:29,866 --> 00:09:34,466
for your caucus, that you also
353
00:09:31,666 --> 00:09:35,633
are planning a press conference
354
00:09:33,066 --> 00:09:37,366
on Thursday. But we would like
355
00:09:34,466 --> 00:09:39,133
for you to give the scoop
356
00:09:35,633 --> 00:09:41,566
tonight and perhaps many of
357
00:09:37,366 --> 00:09:44,500
those priorities in line with
358
00:09:39,133 --> 00:09:46,266
the state Senate Democrats.
359
00:09:41,566 --> 00:09:49,266
>> Absolutely. The people of
360
00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:51,400
Kentucky want a government that
361
00:09:46,266 --> 00:09:53,533
provides for the basics food,
362
00:09:49,266 --> 00:09:55,766
clothing, shelter and health
363
00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:57,866
care. You can't have a thriving
364
00:09:53,533 --> 00:09:58,600
family without those things. So
365
00:09:55,766 --> 00:10:00,466
our job is to create an
366
00:09:57,866 --> 00:10:01,633
environment where people can
367
00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:03,300
work 40 hours a week and take
368
00:10:00,466 --> 00:10:06,833
care of their families to
369
00:10:01,633 --> 00:10:08,966
provide an environment where
370
00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:11,466
there is access to housing. So
371
00:10:06,833 --> 00:10:14,766
our platform is going to focus
372
00:10:08,966 --> 00:10:16,566
on working families that do the
373
00:10:11,466 --> 00:10:18,366
work. But the check is not
374
00:10:14,766 --> 00:10:20,133
enough to make sure that the
375
00:10:16,566 --> 00:10:21,600
basic human needs are covered.
376
00:10:18,366 --> 00:10:23,400
>> Well, let's talk and
377
00:10:20,133 --> 00:10:24,500
representative, I'll allow you
378
00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,933
to talk about the House
379
00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,700
Republicans priorities, but
380
00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,800
also the Housing Task force. We
381
00:10:25,933 --> 00:10:29,766
know there are several task
382
00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:31,966
forces that, of course, they
383
00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,366
give their recommendations in
384
00:10:29,766 --> 00:10:34,800
December, and that's among them.
385
00:10:31,966 --> 00:10:36,266
So you can start there and
386
00:10:33,366 --> 00:10:37,300
other priorities that your
387
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,500
caucus deems absolutely
388
00:10:36,266 --> 00:10:40,400
priority for this session.
389
00:10:37,300 --> 00:10:42,300
>> Well, of course, the budget
390
00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:43,533
is taken up most of the time
391
00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,533
for us because it has to start
392
00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:46,400
in the House and all revenue
393
00:10:43,533 --> 00:10:47,533
measures start over there as
394
00:10:44,533 --> 00:10:49,366
well. And so that's what we've
395
00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,566
been focusing on the most. But
396
00:10:47,533 --> 00:10:52,300
and just really get getting to
397
00:10:49,366 --> 00:10:53,300
roll into other priorities here
398
00:10:50,566 --> 00:10:54,533
recently. But housing is one of
399
00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:56,300
those roads and infrastructure
400
00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:57,500
of course will be another one.
401
00:10:54,533 --> 00:10:59,300
I think child care will be
402
00:10:56,300 --> 00:11:00,466
another one for us. But as you
403
00:10:57,500 --> 00:11:02,300
did mention the housing task
404
00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:03,533
force, it did meet. It's met
405
00:11:00,466 --> 00:11:05,300
the past couple of years. We
406
00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:06,500
did a few things last year in
407
00:11:03,533 --> 00:11:07,866
legislation with that. But this
408
00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:09,566
year they concluded in November
409
00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:10,766
and sent their recommendations
410
00:11:07,866 --> 00:11:12,266
to us there in the House. And
411
00:11:09,566 --> 00:11:14,433
based on those recommendations,
412
00:11:10,766 --> 00:11:16,566
I think we'll you'll see ways
413
00:11:12,266 --> 00:11:17,633
of we'll start investing in
414
00:11:14,433 --> 00:11:18,766
local areas to try to invest in
415
00:11:16,566 --> 00:11:20,533
infrastructure and try to help
416
00:11:17,633 --> 00:11:22,533
with those things, getting it
417
00:11:18,766 --> 00:11:23,600
out of the way and preparing
418
00:11:20,533 --> 00:11:24,700
land to be able to be built on.
419
00:11:22,533 --> 00:11:25,700
There's other things that we
420
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,800
could do, like updating
421
00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:27,866
building codes. As the task
422
00:11:25,700 --> 00:11:29,600
force said, we've got some
423
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:31,666
antiquated building codes that
424
00:11:27,866 --> 00:11:32,400
are just very costly when it
425
00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:34,100
comes to building, streamlining,
426
00:11:31,666 --> 00:11:35,200
streamlining, permits. That's
427
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:37,066
one of the things that we hear
428
00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:38,233
most often from builders is
429
00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:40,000
talking about how slow it is to
430
00:11:37,066 --> 00:11:41,100
get permits and inspections,
431
00:11:38,233 --> 00:11:42,233
and maybe we need to put in
432
00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,133
timelines for the government on
433
00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:45,166
on honoring those permits. And
434
00:11:42,233 --> 00:11:46,066
if they don't, maybe we we give
435
00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:47,166
automatic permits on certain
436
00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:48,600
things like electric and
437
00:11:46,066 --> 00:11:50,100
plumbing and those type of
438
00:11:47,166 --> 00:11:52,000
things. There are land use
439
00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,900
policies that we can work with
440
00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:55,433
at the local level, as far as
441
00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,733
lot sizes and parking
442
00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:58,466
availability and setbacks for
443
00:11:55,433 --> 00:11:59,566
boundaries on buildings, some
444
00:11:56,733 --> 00:12:00,633
of those things, and I hope
445
00:11:58,466 --> 00:12:02,533
that our local leaders will
446
00:11:59,566 --> 00:12:03,633
partner with us in that.
447
00:12:00,633 --> 00:12:04,733
>> And one of the things, and
448
00:12:02,533 --> 00:12:05,733
perhaps you already mentioned
449
00:12:03,633 --> 00:12:07,200
it, was allow local governments
450
00:12:04,733 --> 00:12:08,666
flexibility to adopt their own
451
00:12:05,733 --> 00:12:09,766
pro-housing policies. Right? So
452
00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,933
giving that flexibility to
453
00:12:08,666 --> 00:12:12,266
local governments, and we know
454
00:12:09,766 --> 00:12:13,833
that the General Assembly has
455
00:12:10,933 --> 00:12:15,533
already addressed this in some
456
00:12:12,266 --> 00:12:16,666
measure in the last legislative
457
00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:18,833
session, House Bill 160 that
458
00:12:15,533 --> 00:12:19,966
prevent local governments from
459
00:12:16,666 --> 00:12:21,333
placing certain restrictions on
460
00:12:18,833 --> 00:12:22,433
manufacturing housing. Senate
461
00:12:19,966 --> 00:12:23,500
Bill 25 allows local
462
00:12:21,333 --> 00:12:24,500
governments to issue industrial
463
00:12:22,433 --> 00:12:25,733
revenue bonds for the
464
00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:26,666
construction of large
465
00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:28,533
multi-family housing
466
00:12:25,733 --> 00:12:30,000
developments. And another
467
00:12:26,666 --> 00:12:31,033
measure, House Bill 321, that
468
00:12:28,533 --> 00:12:33,233
placed restrictions on who has
469
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,933
standing to appeal. Planning
470
00:12:31,033 --> 00:12:35,600
and zoning determinations of a
471
00:12:33,233 --> 00:12:36,766
planning unit. So you've
472
00:12:33,933 --> 00:12:39,666
already done some things and
473
00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:41,466
this is just building on that.
474
00:12:36,766 --> 00:12:42,900
You would say yes. Do you
475
00:12:39,666 --> 00:12:44,333
envision for the budget?
476
00:12:41,466 --> 00:12:46,833
Because usually it always kind
477
00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:48,433
of comes together toward the
478
00:12:44,333 --> 00:12:51,166
end. Is there any thought that
479
00:12:46,833 --> 00:12:52,866
perhaps you get there and do
480
00:12:48,433 --> 00:12:56,900
that first sooner and quicker
481
00:12:51,166 --> 00:12:58,000
than perhaps in the past? And
482
00:12:52,866 --> 00:12:59,200
is that even a reasonable
483
00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:02,400
option?
484
00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:04,133
>> Every option is reasonable
485
00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:05,200
until it's not agreed.
486
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:06,233
>> And and so the quote of the
487
00:13:04,133 --> 00:13:08,100
session right there, I'd like
488
00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,300
to quote number one.
489
00:13:06,233 --> 00:13:10,400
>> I'd like to circle back for
490
00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:11,300
just a moment on this fiscal
491
00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:13,033
health of the Commonwealth
492
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:14,266
conversation, because I think
493
00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:15,300
we've got something here that
494
00:13:13,033 --> 00:13:17,100
we all need to celebrate. We
495
00:13:14,266 --> 00:13:18,233
really, truly do. You raised
496
00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:20,200
the point of there's going to
497
00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:21,366
be some concerns, but this is
498
00:13:18,233 --> 00:13:23,200
going to be one of the best
499
00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:25,066
sessions, I think, that we're
500
00:13:21,366 --> 00:13:26,300
ever going to have. And and I'm
501
00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:28,066
going to look to my colleague
502
00:13:25,066 --> 00:13:29,200
here on the left, because this
503
00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:30,300
will be the 10th year that
504
00:13:28,066 --> 00:13:31,266
we've had the chance to work
505
00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,200
together as a Republican
506
00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:33,466
majority in the House,
507
00:13:31,266 --> 00:13:35,066
Republican majority in the
508
00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,633
Senate on addressing the fiscal
509
00:13:33,466 --> 00:13:38,366
health of the Commonwealth. And
510
00:13:35,066 --> 00:13:40,033
when you look at how far we've
511
00:13:36,633 --> 00:13:41,600
come in those ten years, I
512
00:13:38,366 --> 00:13:43,733
think we need to pause for a
513
00:13:40,033 --> 00:13:47,333
moment and celebrate that we're
514
00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:49,133
talking about. When we started
515
00:13:43,733 --> 00:13:51,300
working on this in 2016, we had
516
00:13:47,333 --> 00:13:52,833
a budget reserve trust fund of
517
00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:54,966
zero. We had actually floated a
518
00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:56,766
check that we had to move out
519
00:13:52,833 --> 00:13:58,600
of the biennium to make the
520
00:13:54,966 --> 00:13:59,633
budget balance of $70 million
521
00:13:56,766 --> 00:14:01,900
paycheck. We had to move
522
00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:03,566
because we couldn't balance
523
00:13:59,633 --> 00:14:05,033
that budget. Today, we've got
524
00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:05,700
the highest level of investment
525
00:14:03,566 --> 00:14:07,233
in K through 12 and
526
00:14:05,033 --> 00:14:08,966
post-secondary education in the
527
00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:11,566
history of the Commonwealth.
528
00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:14,700
Our pension funding has moved
529
00:14:08,966 --> 00:14:15,500
from the low teens, around 12
530
00:14:11,566 --> 00:14:17,433
or 13% funded to the high 2829
531
00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:18,666
range. Now, we're not as
532
00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:20,866
healthy as we want to be, but
533
00:14:17,433 --> 00:14:21,866
we're on the right path there.
534
00:14:18,666 --> 00:14:23,366
On top of that, we've now not
535
00:14:20,866 --> 00:14:24,833
only have we funded those
536
00:14:21,866 --> 00:14:26,266
pensions so well and that
537
00:14:23,366 --> 00:14:27,266
budget reserve trust fund,
538
00:14:24,833 --> 00:14:29,166
highest level of education
539
00:14:26,266 --> 00:14:31,633
investment, but we've lowered
540
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:33,433
that personal income tax from
541
00:14:29,166 --> 00:14:34,600
6% down to 3.5%. So we're
542
00:14:31,633 --> 00:14:36,700
starting at a really good place.
543
00:14:33,433 --> 00:14:38,500
Now that doesn't mean we don't
544
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:39,900
have challenges to meet. But
545
00:14:36,700 --> 00:14:41,800
boy oh boy, when we don't talk
546
00:14:38,500 --> 00:14:43,033
about structural imbalance and
547
00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:44,766
having to sweep funds from Fish
548
00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:46,100
and Wildlife and other places
549
00:14:43,033 --> 00:14:47,133
to balance the budget, we don't
550
00:14:44,766 --> 00:14:48,900
even have those conversations
551
00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:49,633
anymore because we've moved
552
00:14:47,133 --> 00:14:50,800
past that. So so I'm excited
553
00:14:48,900 --> 00:14:52,633
about that.
554
00:14:49,633 --> 00:14:53,633
>> So we look at, as I
555
00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,366
mentioned at the beginning of
556
00:14:52,633 --> 00:14:58,633
the program, 150 something
557
00:14:53,633 --> 00:15:00,400
million dollar deficit that
558
00:14:55,366 --> 00:15:01,700
seems easier to deal with. And
559
00:14:58,633 --> 00:15:02,300
can that cause any kind of
560
00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,666
reduction in services or cuts
561
00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:04,766
to agency?
562
00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:07,033
>> Certainly we have to be
563
00:15:03,666 --> 00:15:08,366
mindful because the way we've
564
00:15:04,766 --> 00:15:09,633
structured these, these tax
565
00:15:07,033 --> 00:15:11,533
decreases on personal income
566
00:15:08,366 --> 00:15:12,766
tax, we've got triggers we've
567
00:15:09,633 --> 00:15:14,666
got to hit. So we've got to
568
00:15:11,533 --> 00:15:16,033
spend that money wisely. $150
569
00:15:12,766 --> 00:15:17,300
million is still a lot of money.
570
00:15:14,666 --> 00:15:19,566
But we're now writing $15
571
00:15:16,033 --> 00:15:22,166
billion annual budgets as
572
00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:24,666
opposed to eight, nine and $10
573
00:15:19,566 --> 00:15:26,733
billion annual budgets. So 150
574
00:15:22,166 --> 00:15:27,866
million in a $15 billion budget
575
00:15:24,666 --> 00:15:29,000
is less impactful.
576
00:15:26,733 --> 00:15:31,033
>> Yeah. Well, you have
577
00:15:27,866 --> 00:15:32,100
anything you want to add there.
578
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,233
>> Before I. Well, well, a lot
579
00:15:31,033 --> 00:15:34,666
to add okay.
580
00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:36,266
>> Sure.
581
00:15:33,233 --> 00:15:37,433
>> I think there are some good
582
00:15:34,666 --> 00:15:39,266
things that have happened. And
583
00:15:36,266 --> 00:15:40,433
I think we've all shared in
584
00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:41,566
that, and we've agreed on a
585
00:15:39,266 --> 00:15:44,033
number of things that have been
586
00:15:40,433 --> 00:15:45,333
beneficial to the Commonwealth.
587
00:15:41,566 --> 00:15:46,533
But I think it's important to
588
00:15:44,033 --> 00:15:47,966
recognize that, you know, when
589
00:15:45,333 --> 00:15:51,000
you started off this piece, you
590
00:15:46,533 --> 00:15:53,766
started talking about a
591
00:15:47,966 --> 00:15:56,200
shortfall more than $100
592
00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:57,966
million, $156 million shortfall.
593
00:15:53,766 --> 00:15:59,900
That's not good news. The fact
594
00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:01,633
of the matter is, is that we're
595
00:15:57,966 --> 00:16:03,533
impacted not just by what the
596
00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:05,000
challenges are locally, that we
597
00:16:01,633 --> 00:16:06,633
would just stem from what we do
598
00:16:03,533 --> 00:16:08,933
from day to day. But what
599
00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:11,066
happens nationally? So now we
600
00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:12,300
see we have a situation now
601
00:16:08,933 --> 00:16:13,966
where if you look at what the
602
00:16:11,066 --> 00:16:16,133
federal government is doing,
603
00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:17,933
what Trump is doing in terms of
604
00:16:13,966 --> 00:16:19,733
his leadership, they're cutting
605
00:16:16,133 --> 00:16:21,433
money that we normally would
606
00:16:17,933 --> 00:16:24,333
rely on. That's going to
607
00:16:19,733 --> 00:16:26,833
require us to either make a
608
00:16:21,433 --> 00:16:28,366
decision to not provide certain
609
00:16:24,333 --> 00:16:30,466
services, or to pay for those
610
00:16:26,833 --> 00:16:33,700
services, or and we're doing it
611
00:16:28,366 --> 00:16:36,666
at a time where we're headed
612
00:16:30,466 --> 00:16:37,766
toward zero down to 3.5. We got
613
00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:39,500
two over two point well over $2
614
00:16:36,666 --> 00:16:40,933
billion. We're not going to
615
00:16:37,766 --> 00:16:44,400
recover from the journey we've
616
00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:47,000
had to where we are now. And
617
00:16:40,933 --> 00:16:49,333
now over $700 million more when
618
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:51,266
we go to 3.5. Now, I'm not
619
00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:52,533
saying that that outcome in 4
620
00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:54,433
or 5 years from now or three
621
00:16:51,266 --> 00:16:56,300
years from now is not going to
622
00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:57,500
be one that we can manage. I
623
00:16:54,433 --> 00:16:59,266
trust we'll be able to manage.
624
00:16:56,300 --> 00:17:00,733
But the reality is, and it's a
625
00:16:57,500 --> 00:17:02,833
fact that because of what's
626
00:16:59,266 --> 00:17:04,266
happening on the national level,
627
00:17:00,733 --> 00:17:06,100
the shift in what is happening
628
00:17:02,833 --> 00:17:07,600
in terms of wealth toward those
629
00:17:04,266 --> 00:17:09,433
who really don't need it and
630
00:17:06,100 --> 00:17:11,533
where it's being cut off at the
631
00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:12,900
bottom, is going to have
632
00:17:09,433 --> 00:17:14,466
negative impacts, if not this
633
00:17:11,533 --> 00:17:15,533
year, next year or the
634
00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:18,033
following year in the
635
00:17:14,466 --> 00:17:19,133
Commonwealth. And I think it's
636
00:17:15,533 --> 00:17:20,966
naive for me or anyone else, to
637
00:17:18,033 --> 00:17:22,133
think it's not going to have
638
00:17:19,133 --> 00:17:23,133
that. We're going to have to
639
00:17:20,966 --> 00:17:24,900
deal with that. It's going to
640
00:17:22,133 --> 00:17:26,000
be a challenge.
641
00:17:23,133 --> 00:17:27,333
>> Speaker Meade, do you find
642
00:17:24,900 --> 00:17:28,133
validity and what Leader Neil
643
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,900
is saying, and is that a
644
00:17:27,333 --> 00:17:31,333
consideration, particularly
645
00:17:28,133 --> 00:17:33,433
there are conversations about
646
00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:34,866
lowering the state income tax
647
00:17:31,333 --> 00:17:36,000
and maybe even some division
648
00:17:33,433 --> 00:17:38,100
and different interpretations
649
00:17:34,866 --> 00:17:40,700
of whether or not those
650
00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:42,766
triggers were met. So is there
651
00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:44,533
some divide among Republicans
652
00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:45,733
about the persistence in
653
00:17:42,766 --> 00:17:46,833
lowering that tax all the way
654
00:17:44,533 --> 00:17:48,333
to zero? And if they're
655
00:17:45,733 --> 00:17:50,033
satisfied, you're satisfying
656
00:17:46,833 --> 00:17:51,533
certain triggers that you put
657
00:17:48,333 --> 00:17:52,900
in statute to satisfy?
658
00:17:50,033 --> 00:17:54,466
>> I think that there's not
659
00:17:51,533 --> 00:17:57,166
much division in the Republican
660
00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:58,300
Party. No. When it comes to
661
00:17:54,466 --> 00:17:59,466
this and what you asked about
662
00:17:57,166 --> 00:18:01,233
150 million, if that's a
663
00:17:58,300 --> 00:18:03,366
difficult task for us to meet.
664
00:17:59,466 --> 00:18:04,466
And of course, when we're
665
00:18:01,233 --> 00:18:06,500
sitting on a the largest budget
666
00:18:03,366 --> 00:18:08,333
reserve trust fund the state
667
00:18:04,466 --> 00:18:09,866
has ever seen and and soon will
668
00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:11,533
probably be the largest per
669
00:18:08,333 --> 00:18:13,033
capita in the country, it makes
670
00:18:09,866 --> 00:18:15,233
it much easier to meet those
671
00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:16,233
needs. However, we still have
672
00:18:13,033 --> 00:18:17,233
to look at where we're spending
673
00:18:15,233 --> 00:18:18,833
money and where there's
674
00:18:16,233 --> 00:18:20,266
wasteful spending in government.
675
00:18:17,233 --> 00:18:21,466
I mean, just as we saw here
676
00:18:18,833 --> 00:18:22,533
recently, the auditor gave us a
677
00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:24,266
report on Medicaid and showed
678
00:18:21,466 --> 00:18:25,466
there's a lot of wasteful
679
00:18:22,533 --> 00:18:26,600
spending there. I mean, we
680
00:18:24,266 --> 00:18:28,366
still need to make those cuts
681
00:18:25,466 --> 00:18:29,566
and continue down that pathway.
682
00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:31,333
As far as what's going on at
683
00:18:28,366 --> 00:18:33,233
the federal level. Yes, that
684
00:18:29,566 --> 00:18:34,300
will affect us somewhat in some
685
00:18:31,333 --> 00:18:35,300
ways, but I will say that this
686
00:18:33,233 --> 00:18:36,366
administration, presidential
687
00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:37,566
administration, was going to
688
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:38,500
start making those cuts to
689
00:18:36,366 --> 00:18:40,100
those entitlement programs to
690
00:18:37,566 --> 00:18:41,466
begin with. That was one of
691
00:18:38,500 --> 00:18:43,000
their priorities coming in,
692
00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:44,600
because there is so much waste
693
00:18:41,466 --> 00:18:45,666
and abuse there. And I think
694
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,866
what you're seeing is the
695
00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:49,033
reason that they're having to
696
00:18:45,666 --> 00:18:50,600
make those cuts is because it's
697
00:18:46,866 --> 00:18:52,266
not been done previously. We
698
00:18:49,033 --> 00:18:54,833
should have been doing this all
699
00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:56,666
along. In our state, we have
700
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:57,800
about estimated about 150,000
701
00:18:54,833 --> 00:18:58,900
able bodied adults who have no
702
00:18:56,666 --> 00:19:00,666
dependents at home, who are on
703
00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,766
Medicaid, who could be out
704
00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:02,966
working, that those are the
705
00:19:00,666 --> 00:19:04,800
things that they want us to
706
00:19:01,766 --> 00:19:06,666
start cutting. That's what they
707
00:19:02,966 --> 00:19:07,766
need us to look at. Had that
708
00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,866
been done all along, and those
709
00:19:06,666 --> 00:19:10,766
folks have not been taking
710
00:19:07,766 --> 00:19:11,866
advantage of those systems, and
711
00:19:08,866 --> 00:19:13,633
it had been going to the people
712
00:19:10,766 --> 00:19:14,766
that needed it. They wouldn't
713
00:19:11,866 --> 00:19:15,866
be making these cuts right now.
714
00:19:13,633 --> 00:19:17,633
>> So we're getting several
715
00:19:14,766 --> 00:19:18,833
questions in from viewers. And
716
00:19:15,866 --> 00:19:19,933
one of them from Jason Talley
717
00:19:17,633 --> 00:19:21,633
is what about state workers? Is
718
00:19:18,833 --> 00:19:22,166
there an appetite to offer
719
00:19:19,933 --> 00:19:22,966
state workers a raise this
720
00:19:21,633 --> 00:19:24,666
budget session?
721
00:19:22,166 --> 00:19:26,900
>> There's always an appetite
722
00:19:22,966 --> 00:19:28,266
to reward our talented, good
723
00:19:24,666 --> 00:19:30,266
people that do great work
724
00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:31,600
within within the constraints
725
00:19:28,266 --> 00:19:33,366
of what can we do and what will
726
00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:35,333
we do? We'll have to see. We
727
00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:37,500
were fortunate to be able to do
728
00:19:33,366 --> 00:19:39,100
a sizable raise a budget or two
729
00:19:35,333 --> 00:19:39,833
ago, and I was I was thankful
730
00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:41,600
and appreciative of that. I
731
00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:43,800
haven't heard a lot of
732
00:19:39,833 --> 00:19:45,233
conversation around a raise in
733
00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,500
this budget for anyone, but
734
00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:47,166
that doesn't mean we can't do
735
00:19:45,233 --> 00:19:49,200
it.
736
00:19:45,500 --> 00:19:51,200
>> What does this side think?
737
00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:52,366
>> Well.
738
00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:54,033
>> No, I was just going to say
739
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,633
the Kentuckians depend on the
740
00:19:52,366 --> 00:19:57,833
government to do collectively
741
00:19:54,033 --> 00:19:59,233
what they can do for themselves.
742
00:19:55,633 --> 00:20:01,700
When we started reducing the
743
00:19:57,833 --> 00:20:03,333
tax, we already didn't have
744
00:19:59,233 --> 00:20:06,466
enough money to fulfill on
745
00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:08,600
basic needs. Now I would like
746
00:20:03,333 --> 00:20:10,700
to see I don't think there's
747
00:20:06,466 --> 00:20:13,266
150,000 able bodied people on
748
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:15,433
welfare. That's not what my
749
00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:18,266
data shows me. But I do believe
750
00:20:13,266 --> 00:20:20,100
that wherever there is fraud,
751
00:20:15,433 --> 00:20:22,400
get it out. We are. We stand
752
00:20:18,266 --> 00:20:24,066
with that. But while you're
753
00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:25,966
doing it, don't punish people
754
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:27,700
that are working two jobs to
755
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:29,066
have their families thrive.
756
00:20:25,966 --> 00:20:30,700
>> So to that point about what
757
00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:32,366
does the data say about the
758
00:20:29,066 --> 00:20:35,300
number of able bodied working
759
00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:36,466
age Kentuckians who are
760
00:20:32,366 --> 00:20:37,600
defrauding these welfare system?
761
00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:38,733
What's the number?
762
00:20:36,466 --> 00:20:40,600
>> The best estimate? When I
763
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:42,533
was doing all the welfare
764
00:20:38,733 --> 00:20:45,033
reform, the last five to 6 or 7
765
00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:46,366
years, the best numbers that we
766
00:20:42,533 --> 00:20:47,866
we had was about 150,000. The
767
00:20:45,033 --> 00:20:49,033
cabinet cannot give us the
768
00:20:46,366 --> 00:20:51,066
actual number of it. There's
769
00:20:47,866 --> 00:20:52,133
data over that they haven't
770
00:20:49,033 --> 00:20:53,066
kept. And in some of us, in
771
00:20:51,066 --> 00:20:54,366
some of our minds,
772
00:20:52,133 --> 00:20:56,033
intentionally hasn't kept for
773
00:20:53,066 --> 00:20:57,166
the past several years. And I
774
00:20:54,366 --> 00:20:59,033
think that that's one thing
775
00:20:56,033 --> 00:21:00,033
that we're going to do this
776
00:20:57,166 --> 00:21:01,033
year is we're going to require
777
00:20:59,033 --> 00:21:02,300
accountability out of that
778
00:21:00,033 --> 00:21:04,100
Medicaid program. We're going
779
00:21:01,033 --> 00:21:05,300
to ask for data that they have
780
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:07,033
not kept before. We're going to
781
00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:08,333
ask for more access to that
782
00:21:05,300 --> 00:21:10,133
data, which they haven't given
783
00:21:07,033 --> 00:21:12,066
us in the past. And we're going
784
00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:13,466
to to hold them accountable in
785
00:21:10,133 --> 00:21:15,066
that, in that, in that way. But
786
00:21:12,066 --> 00:21:17,000
as I said, the auditor with her
787
00:21:13,466 --> 00:21:18,566
report here recently just did
788
00:21:15,066 --> 00:21:20,666
it in her audit. The Medicaid
789
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:22,066
program is so expensive that
790
00:21:18,566 --> 00:21:23,500
her audit was was not a
791
00:21:20,666 --> 00:21:24,966
tremendously deep dive. It just
792
00:21:22,066 --> 00:21:26,800
scratches the surface of that
793
00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:28,400
program. And just in that audit,
794
00:21:24,966 --> 00:21:29,933
she found over $800 million of
795
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,500
waste in that program. That
796
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,666
shows us that there is so much
797
00:21:29,933 --> 00:21:34,533
money that is being spent that
798
00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:36,400
we don't even know where it's
799
00:21:32,666 --> 00:21:37,466
going over there. And as for us
800
00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:38,633
working and making sure that we
801
00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,666
don't punish people, that was
802
00:21:37,466 --> 00:21:41,633
the whole plan during those
803
00:21:38,633 --> 00:21:43,433
reforms that they would not
804
00:21:39,666 --> 00:21:44,566
pass with us in the House, was
805
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:45,766
that we were wanting to make
806
00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:47,533
sure that those people were can
807
00:21:44,566 --> 00:21:49,400
continue to have those programs
808
00:21:45,766 --> 00:21:49,633
in place. While we took we took
809
00:21:47,533 --> 00:21:51,433
out those who were abusing the
810
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,600
system.
811
00:21:49,633 --> 00:21:53,800
>> And the abuse of the system,
812
00:21:51,433 --> 00:21:54,833
some would say, is not just
813
00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,400
from the Medicaid beneficiaries,
814
00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,466
but from the Medicaid providers.
815
00:21:54,833 --> 00:21:59,066
Right. So is there an
816
00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:01,366
evaluation of maybe providers
817
00:21:57,466 --> 00:22:02,000
who were booking the system out
818
00:21:59,066 --> 00:22:03,833
of money unnecessarily and
819
00:22:01,366 --> 00:22:05,333
fraudulently?
820
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:07,033
>> My understanding is that we
821
00:22:03,833 --> 00:22:08,133
have a medicaid managed care
822
00:22:05,333 --> 00:22:10,033
model in Kentucky. This was the
823
00:22:07,033 --> 00:22:11,600
result of what Governor Steve
824
00:22:08,133 --> 00:22:14,166
Beshear implemented. And when
825
00:22:10,033 --> 00:22:15,200
you look at the trajectory of
826
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:16,333
our cost, our cost has gone up
827
00:22:14,166 --> 00:22:17,700
substantially in Medicaid. When
828
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:20,733
you look at the benefits
829
00:22:16,333 --> 00:22:22,600
overall, the numbers are we're
830
00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:24,733
at $20 billion of Medicaid
831
00:22:20,733 --> 00:22:25,966
benefits annually. Now, that's
832
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:27,233
larger than our state budget is.
833
00:22:24,733 --> 00:22:29,133
So that's a combination of both
834
00:22:25,966 --> 00:22:31,533
state and federal money flowing
835
00:22:27,233 --> 00:22:33,600
through the Mcos managed that
836
00:22:29,133 --> 00:22:36,266
on a per capita basis. We pay
837
00:22:31,533 --> 00:22:37,333
them capitation rate per member
838
00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:38,466
per month. The challenge is
839
00:22:36,266 --> 00:22:40,400
really are we getting the
840
00:22:37,333 --> 00:22:41,933
quality of outcomes that we
841
00:22:38,466 --> 00:22:42,333
want or not? And I think that's
842
00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,333
an ongoing question. We need to
843
00:22:41,933 --> 00:22:44,600
tackle.
844
00:22:42,333 --> 00:22:46,366
>> The health outcomes.
845
00:22:43,333 --> 00:22:48,100
>> Health outcomes. There's
846
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:50,000
still a fee for service model.
847
00:22:46,366 --> 00:22:51,100
So a lot of the a lot of the
848
00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:52,266
providers, rightly so, are good
849
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:54,066
minded people, but they paid
850
00:22:51,100 --> 00:22:55,066
get based on the number of
851
00:22:52,266 --> 00:22:56,500
tests they run, the number of
852
00:22:54,066 --> 00:22:57,800
visitations they have, the
853
00:22:55,066 --> 00:22:59,500
number of office visits, the
854
00:22:56,500 --> 00:23:01,066
number of prescriptions. They
855
00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:02,733
write. We need an outcomes
856
00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:04,000
based model as opposed to a fee
857
00:23:01,066 --> 00:23:04,333
for service model. But it's
858
00:23:02,733 --> 00:23:05,433
been a long time transitioning
859
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,800
performance.
860
00:23:04,333 --> 00:23:07,233
>> Based funding.
861
00:23:05,433 --> 00:23:07,500
>> Well, in.
862
00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,300
>> Some ways, like higher
863
00:23:07,233 --> 00:23:11,100
education.
864
00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:13,200
>> In some ways we do. We do,
865
00:23:09,300 --> 00:23:14,100
we really do. And and there are
866
00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:15,433
some elements of Kentucky
867
00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,333
medical delivery that are
868
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:19,066
talking about that, but we just
869
00:23:15,433 --> 00:23:20,500
can't quite get there yet. It's
870
00:23:17,333 --> 00:23:22,100
a substantial cost. It's only
871
00:23:19,066 --> 00:23:23,700
rising. It's only rising.
872
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:25,466
>> You know, we can get into
873
00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:27,733
the weeds on a lot of these
874
00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:30,966
issues here, but the fact
875
00:23:25,466 --> 00:23:33,100
remains that the federal
876
00:23:27,733 --> 00:23:36,366
government, the Congress, the
877
00:23:30,966 --> 00:23:38,500
president, they did not extend
878
00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:40,066
the subsidies for ACA, the
879
00:23:36,366 --> 00:23:41,300
affordable health care piece.
880
00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:43,333
And now what do we have? We
881
00:23:40,066 --> 00:23:44,633
have a situation that's going
882
00:23:41,300 --> 00:23:46,433
to be a crisis in Kentucky.
883
00:23:43,333 --> 00:23:47,866
You're going to find that
884
00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:49,633
people are going to be up in
885
00:23:46,433 --> 00:23:50,600
terms of premiums they have to
886
00:23:47,866 --> 00:23:52,500
pay. We're going to see and
887
00:23:49,633 --> 00:23:53,833
understand that there are going
888
00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:55,766
to be people that have to make
889
00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:57,666
choices, not to have insurance
890
00:23:53,833 --> 00:24:00,133
to cover them. That's going to
891
00:23:55,766 --> 00:24:01,633
translate into people going to
892
00:23:57,666 --> 00:24:03,366
where to emergency rooms and so
893
00:24:00,133 --> 00:24:05,200
forth. That's going to impact
894
00:24:01,633 --> 00:24:06,233
and translate back through the
895
00:24:03,366 --> 00:24:07,900
system as well. And on top of
896
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:09,766
that, you're going to have
897
00:24:06,233 --> 00:24:10,966
people that are out there that
898
00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:12,400
are not going to have access to
899
00:24:09,766 --> 00:24:13,833
health care where they would do
900
00:24:10,966 --> 00:24:15,966
it from a preventative
901
00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:17,300
standpoint with respect to
902
00:24:13,833 --> 00:24:18,933
going forward. So a big chunk
903
00:24:15,966 --> 00:24:21,400
of the leverage that we would
904
00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:23,833
have in a state like Kentucky
905
00:24:18,933 --> 00:24:24,833
has been taken away by what the
906
00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:27,133
federal piece has taken into
907
00:24:23,833 --> 00:24:28,333
consideration. Now, what does
908
00:24:24,833 --> 00:24:30,166
that mean? That means that here
909
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:31,833
where we are, we're going to
910
00:24:28,333 --> 00:24:33,200
either live with that or we're
911
00:24:30,166 --> 00:24:34,466
going to step in and moderate
912
00:24:31,833 --> 00:24:36,300
that somewhere. That means we
913
00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,566
have to go back to questions of
914
00:24:34,466 --> 00:24:39,766
the budget and what we're going
915
00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:41,566
to contribute to moderate our
916
00:24:37,566 --> 00:24:43,033
our minimize that impact or
917
00:24:39,766 --> 00:24:44,966
whatever. That's just one
918
00:24:41,566 --> 00:24:46,100
aspect of what we have. And as
919
00:24:43,033 --> 00:24:47,033
we go on, we can talk about
920
00:24:44,966 --> 00:24:48,733
others. But I'm interested in
921
00:24:46,100 --> 00:24:51,233
the comment about the
922
00:24:47,033 --> 00:24:53,100
legislation that you all put
923
00:24:48,733 --> 00:24:54,266
together that they did not pass.
924
00:24:51,233 --> 00:24:55,533
I just was curious as to who
925
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:57,100
they were that did not.
926
00:24:54,266 --> 00:24:58,266
>> What legislation are you.
927
00:24:55,533 --> 00:24:59,933
>> Talking about? I was asked,
928
00:24:57,100 --> 00:25:01,066
that's why I'm asking. What was
929
00:24:58,266 --> 00:25:02,500
that legislation? Who was they?
930
00:24:59,933 --> 00:25:04,000
>> Very large welfare reform
931
00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:05,100
package that we passed three
932
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:06,200
years ago in the House that I
933
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:08,533
carried in the House.
934
00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:09,700
>> Okay. And whose they.
935
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:11,600
>> Fully Partizan lines, fully
936
00:25:08,533 --> 00:25:11,800
Partizan lines did not have any
937
00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:12,900
help from the the Democratic
938
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,100
Party.
939
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,866
>> You're talking about in the
940
00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:16,100
house.
941
00:25:13,100 --> 00:25:17,033
>> In the house. Okay. Went to
942
00:25:14,866 --> 00:25:17,933
the Senate. The bill was
943
00:25:16,100 --> 00:25:19,833
drastically changed in the
944
00:25:17,033 --> 00:25:21,833
Senate before it.
945
00:25:17,933 --> 00:25:23,733
>> Came back. But who is they
946
00:25:19,833 --> 00:25:24,033
that did not pass it in? In who?
947
00:25:21,833 --> 00:25:25,800
>> You know, they did not help
948
00:25:23,733 --> 00:25:26,033
us pass it.
949
00:25:24,033 --> 00:25:27,733
>> You talking about in the
950
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,933
Senate?
951
00:25:26,033 --> 00:25:30,733
>> No, no, in the House.
952
00:25:27,733 --> 00:25:31,800
>> What did the Senate do?
953
00:25:28,933 --> 00:25:32,000
>> The Senate passed a very
954
00:25:30,733 --> 00:25:33,866
watered down version of the
955
00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,766
bill.
956
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:36,900
>> Okay. I just want to I just
957
00:25:33,866 --> 00:25:38,766
want to make sure we understood
958
00:25:35,766 --> 00:25:39,766
what they see. This is more
959
00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:40,900
complex than just being a the
960
00:25:38,766 --> 00:25:42,033
Republicans and the Democrats.
961
00:25:39,766 --> 00:25:43,166
These are very complex issues.
962
00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:44,766
We talk about them in very
963
00:25:42,033 --> 00:25:46,000
complex discussions that we
964
00:25:43,166 --> 00:25:47,066
have. And there are many
965
00:25:44,766 --> 00:25:48,766
reasons for passing and not
966
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,266
passing legislation, as you
967
00:25:47,066 --> 00:25:52,400
know. But I don't think it was
968
00:25:48,766 --> 00:25:53,500
something that leaned against
969
00:25:50,266 --> 00:25:55,266
your ideas. You thought it was
970
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,466
good. That's fine. That's part
971
00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:58,633
of the process we undertake.
972
00:25:55,266 --> 00:26:00,400
We're going to revisit that.
973
00:25:56,466 --> 00:26:02,133
But I got to point out again,
974
00:25:58,633 --> 00:26:03,566
we got big challenges and I
975
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:05,233
like I like what my colleague
976
00:26:02,133 --> 00:26:06,366
from the Senate referenced. I
977
00:26:03,566 --> 00:26:07,566
think he's right. I think we
978
00:26:05,233 --> 00:26:09,333
ought to celebrate those things
979
00:26:06,366 --> 00:26:10,866
that we have done together, and
980
00:26:07,566 --> 00:26:12,666
we have done them together.
981
00:26:09,333 --> 00:26:14,833
Republicans and Democrats,
982
00:26:10,866 --> 00:26:16,300
House and Senate, to get some
983
00:26:12,666 --> 00:26:17,900
good results as to where we are
984
00:26:14,833 --> 00:26:19,500
right now. That's true. But the
985
00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:20,900
fact of the matter is that we
986
00:26:17,900 --> 00:26:22,433
have challenges that we cannot
987
00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:24,066
close our eyes to. And I'm not
988
00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:26,266
even suggesting that we will.
989
00:26:22,433 --> 00:26:27,700
We won't, but we're going to
990
00:26:24,066 --> 00:26:28,966
have those challenges. And that
991
00:26:26,266 --> 00:26:30,533
piece that happened when they
992
00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:32,366
did not extend those health
993
00:26:28,966 --> 00:26:33,466
care subsidies is going to be
994
00:26:30,533 --> 00:26:34,866
one that's going to negatively
995
00:26:32,366 --> 00:26:37,466
impact us in Kentucky.
996
00:26:33,466 --> 00:26:38,533
>> Let's speak to that for just
997
00:26:34,866 --> 00:26:39,700
a moment. So with some some
998
00:26:37,466 --> 00:26:41,066
foresight that the House and
999
00:26:38,533 --> 00:26:42,433
the Senate shared together, we
1000
00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:43,933
created a new entity called
1001
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:45,900
Moab, the Medicaid Oversight
1002
00:26:42,433 --> 00:26:47,600
Advisory Board. Co-Chair,
1003
00:26:43,933 --> 00:26:48,933
Fleming, co-chair Julie Raque
1004
00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:50,266
Adams, both very talented and
1005
00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,500
knowledgeable, made up of a
1006
00:26:48,933 --> 00:26:53,200
bipartisan group of legislators
1007
00:26:50,266 --> 00:26:54,700
from both the House and the
1008
00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:56,500
Senate working on how do we get
1009
00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:58,266
ahead of this Medicaid question?
1010
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:59,733
So we've got a dedicated panel
1011
00:26:56,500 --> 00:27:01,233
now, and the model we're
1012
00:26:58,266 --> 00:27:02,633
following is actually the
1013
00:26:59,733 --> 00:27:04,433
Pension Oversight Group. If you
1014
00:27:01,233 --> 00:27:06,200
remember our public pension
1015
00:27:02,633 --> 00:27:07,633
oversight group, we saw the
1016
00:27:04,433 --> 00:27:09,433
results of of of taking some
1017
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:10,300
talented legislators skilled in
1018
00:27:07,633 --> 00:27:12,066
the area and focusing on the
1019
00:27:09,433 --> 00:27:13,400
issue. And we started that
1020
00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:15,800
about a year ago with Moab,
1021
00:27:12,066 --> 00:27:18,100
almost a year ago now. And so
1022
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:19,633
I'm excited about us wrestling
1023
00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:22,466
with the issue as best we can,
1024
00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:23,933
because we're going to have
1025
00:27:19,633 --> 00:27:25,200
issues after this one that we
1026
00:27:22,466 --> 00:27:26,433
aren't even talking about yet.
1027
00:27:23,933 --> 00:27:28,200
AI, who knows what that's going
1028
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:29,633
to be like? That's true. We've
1029
00:27:26,433 --> 00:27:31,400
got an AI task force, but I'm
1030
00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:33,633
excited about Moab focusing and
1031
00:27:29,633 --> 00:27:35,433
working on us finding a way to
1032
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:37,666
move from today. We're almost 1
1033
00:27:33,633 --> 00:27:39,566
in 3 Kentuckians are on
1034
00:27:35,433 --> 00:27:41,600
Medicaid. It was 1 in 5 a few
1035
00:27:37,666 --> 00:27:43,466
years ago, and now we're down
1036
00:27:39,566 --> 00:27:44,900
to 1 in 3. We've got to find a
1037
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:46,800
way to earn enough money and
1038
00:27:43,466 --> 00:27:48,100
have enough quality of services
1039
00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:49,433
at a at a nominal cost for us
1040
00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,500
to deliver quality health care
1041
00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:51,933
to these individuals.
1042
00:27:49,433 --> 00:27:52,733
>> And of course, they did
1043
00:27:50,500 --> 00:27:54,233
issue their findings and
1044
00:27:51,933 --> 00:27:56,266
recommendations. And there are
1045
00:27:52,733 --> 00:27:57,266
12 key items that they point
1046
00:27:54,233 --> 00:27:58,466
out. So do you see any of those?
1047
00:27:56,266 --> 00:28:00,300
And without reciting all of
1048
00:27:57,266 --> 00:28:01,400
those, those all are available
1049
00:27:58,466 --> 00:28:03,133
online. Do you see any of those
1050
00:28:00,300 --> 00:28:04,600
being taken up in singular
1051
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,400
legislation or big omnibus bill?
1052
00:28:03,133 --> 00:28:07,200
>> I think it will be senior
1053
00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,500
legislation because it's a
1054
00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,700
little easier to to pick the
1055
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:11,366
low hanging fruit, move that
1056
00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:12,866
forward through the process.
1057
00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:14,466
We've got some access to care
1058
00:28:11,366 --> 00:28:15,600
issues across the Commonwealth.
1059
00:28:12,866 --> 00:28:16,733
>> What give us an example of a
1060
00:28:14,466 --> 00:28:18,500
low hanging piece of fruit.
1061
00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:19,633
>> Well, I'm thinking I'm
1062
00:28:16,733 --> 00:28:21,566
thinking if you look at the
1063
00:28:18,500 --> 00:28:22,633
state health plan, that's one
1064
00:28:19,633 --> 00:28:23,733
of the key places to go. And we
1065
00:28:21,566 --> 00:28:24,833
don't have a lot of
1066
00:28:22,633 --> 00:28:26,466
conversations about the state
1067
00:28:23,733 --> 00:28:27,633
health plan because everyone
1068
00:28:24,833 --> 00:28:28,766
wants to target certain pieces.
1069
00:28:26,466 --> 00:28:30,533
But that state health plan is a
1070
00:28:27,633 --> 00:28:31,566
guiding document that the
1071
00:28:28,766 --> 00:28:32,733
cabinet has to file with the
1072
00:28:30,533 --> 00:28:34,566
federal government for us to
1073
00:28:31,566 --> 00:28:36,233
get Medicaid dollars to draw
1074
00:28:32,733 --> 00:28:38,366
down. When you look at how we
1075
00:28:34,566 --> 00:28:40,233
define access, that's one
1076
00:28:36,233 --> 00:28:41,333
example. Access can be, sadly
1077
00:28:38,366 --> 00:28:43,066
enough, someone who says they
1078
00:28:40,233 --> 00:28:44,200
actually see patients in a
1079
00:28:41,333 --> 00:28:46,033
region, but they don't. Maybe
1080
00:28:43,066 --> 00:28:47,200
they maybe they have office
1081
00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:49,266
hours one day a month in a
1082
00:28:46,033 --> 00:28:51,100
region, and that checks the box
1083
00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:52,400
on access. So the MCO then says,
1084
00:28:49,266 --> 00:28:53,533
hey, there's access there. They
1085
00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:55,333
show it to the state. The state
1086
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:56,466
says, hey, there's access there
1087
00:28:53,533 --> 00:28:58,200
when there's really not. We
1088
00:28:55,333 --> 00:28:59,633
talk about workforce and
1089
00:28:56,466 --> 00:29:02,166
getting people back to work.
1090
00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:04,333
Telehealth's a great example of
1091
00:28:59,633 --> 00:29:05,400
that. If we can have quality
1092
00:29:02,166 --> 00:29:06,966
providers and folks that are in
1093
00:29:04,333 --> 00:29:08,866
relationship with them doing
1094
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,866
telehealth in a way that covers
1095
00:29:06,966 --> 00:29:10,866
the Commonwealth, and then when
1096
00:29:08,866 --> 00:29:12,233
you have those specialty
1097
00:29:09,866 --> 00:29:13,866
moments, you've actually got
1098
00:29:10,866 --> 00:29:16,133
quality providers in the area.
1099
00:29:12,233 --> 00:29:17,633
One thing we've got to focus on
1100
00:29:13,866 --> 00:29:20,466
is dental care. We're headed
1101
00:29:16,133 --> 00:29:22,133
toward no dentist seeing
1102
00:29:17,633 --> 00:29:23,500
Medicaid patients. It's it's a
1103
00:29:20,466 --> 00:29:25,000
tragedy what we're how little
1104
00:29:22,133 --> 00:29:26,433
we're paying these dentists to
1105
00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:27,900
see Medicaid patients and a lot
1106
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,433
of Medicaid patients. Dentists
1107
00:29:26,433 --> 00:29:30,500
will tell you they'll schedule
1108
00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,733
a visit and they won't show up.
1109
00:29:29,433 --> 00:29:33,566
So suddenly they've taken a
1110
00:29:30,500 --> 00:29:34,733
slot. There's no penalty for
1111
00:29:31,733 --> 00:29:36,433
them not showing up. And it's
1112
00:29:33,566 --> 00:29:37,600
hard on these dental practices
1113
00:29:34,733 --> 00:29:39,500
to do that. So those are the
1114
00:29:36,433 --> 00:29:40,566
sort of things we've got to
1115
00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:40,900
address to be able to provide
1116
00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:42,533
access to care across the
1117
00:29:40,566 --> 00:29:43,333
Commonwealth.
1118
00:29:40,900 --> 00:29:45,333
>> Okay. I want to move real
1119
00:29:42,533 --> 00:29:47,500
quickly, Senator.
1120
00:29:43,333 --> 00:29:49,233
>> So if I may make sure that
1121
00:29:45,333 --> 00:29:51,466
what we're talking about, those
1122
00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:53,033
subsidies being continued as it
1123
00:29:49,233 --> 00:29:54,133
relates to ACA, that's not the
1124
00:29:51,466 --> 00:29:56,333
same thing as what we just got
1125
00:29:53,033 --> 00:29:57,133
through talking about in terms
1126
00:29:54,133 --> 00:29:58,133
of Medicaid situation.
1127
00:29:56,333 --> 00:29:59,433
>> Those are.
1128
00:29:57,133 --> 00:30:01,366
>> Different things that
1129
00:29:58,133 --> 00:30:03,266
doesn't kick in until later on.
1130
00:29:59,433 --> 00:30:04,333
And but the fact of the matter
1131
00:30:01,366 --> 00:30:05,500
is, that has nothing to do with
1132
00:30:03,266 --> 00:30:07,300
what's going to happen to
1133
00:30:04,333 --> 00:30:08,533
premiums that are getting ready
1134
00:30:05,500 --> 00:30:10,300
to hit very soon. And we're
1135
00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:11,500
going to see the reaction that
1136
00:30:08,533 --> 00:30:13,300
we're going to have to wrestle
1137
00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:14,500
with that. And the other thing
1138
00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:16,333
is, and I think he's correct,
1139
00:30:13,300 --> 00:30:17,533
we have to step up and meet
1140
00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:19,333
those realities as they come up.
1141
00:30:16,333 --> 00:30:19,600
But it does not necessarily
1142
00:30:17,533 --> 00:30:21,300
we're going to come up with the
1143
00:30:19,333 --> 00:30:23,000
solution.
1144
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:24,066
>> So does your caucus have a
1145
00:30:21,300 --> 00:30:25,300
solution for the Affordable
1146
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,466
Care Act subsidies?
1147
00:30:24,066 --> 00:30:28,300
>> No, we have a bipartisan
1148
00:30:25,300 --> 00:30:29,400
piece, as he pointed out, with
1149
00:30:27,466 --> 00:30:31,200
Medicaid. That's where we're
1150
00:30:28,300 --> 00:30:32,533
going. We don't know where
1151
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:35,066
that's going to end up. But
1152
00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:36,566
that's not the same thing as
1153
00:30:32,533 --> 00:30:38,233
not the continuation of
1154
00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:39,300
subsidies for ACA. I don't want
1155
00:30:36,566 --> 00:30:39,533
to conflate that. We want to
1156
00:30:38,233 --> 00:30:41,300
make sure we separate those
1157
00:30:39,300 --> 00:30:42,366
issues.
1158
00:30:39,533 --> 00:30:43,433
>> And we may have a whole
1159
00:30:41,300 --> 00:30:45,366
separate show and a whole
1160
00:30:42,366 --> 00:30:47,200
separate hour just for that
1161
00:30:43,433 --> 00:30:48,266
issue to dive a little bit more
1162
00:30:45,366 --> 00:30:49,266
in. So here's a question from
1163
00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,400
Martin Rivers in Lexington. How
1164
00:30:48,266 --> 00:30:52,200
do legislators view the
1165
00:30:49,266 --> 00:30:53,366
appropriate level of the budget
1166
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,500
reserve trust fund? What is too
1167
00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,300
low and what is too high?
1168
00:30:53,366 --> 00:30:57,666
Personally, he says, I've been
1169
00:30:54,500 --> 00:31:00,300
told we should have about three
1170
00:30:56,300 --> 00:31:01,700
months of savings just in case.
1171
00:30:57,666 --> 00:31:02,933
Does that sound on par with
1172
00:31:00,300 --> 00:31:04,533
what you're doing?
1173
00:31:01,700 --> 00:31:06,233
>> That's very close. 10% is
1174
00:31:02,933 --> 00:31:07,466
the target, 12% is a good,
1175
00:31:04,533 --> 00:31:09,966
healthy number. We'd like to be
1176
00:31:06,233 --> 00:31:11,100
above both of those numbers.
1177
00:31:07,466 --> 00:31:13,266
And we are we're a little above
1178
00:31:09,966 --> 00:31:15,733
$3 billion right now in that
1179
00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:17,200
rainy day fund. And so that
1180
00:31:13,266 --> 00:31:18,900
reflects about a 20% number,
1181
00:31:15,733 --> 00:31:19,966
what we've got to acknowledge.
1182
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,433
And we're one of the few states
1183
00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:23,233
that's done this. And I'm
1184
00:31:19,966 --> 00:31:25,466
thankful we have a lot of
1185
00:31:21,433 --> 00:31:27,200
states took that influx of
1186
00:31:23,233 --> 00:31:29,066
Covid relief funds and and
1187
00:31:25,466 --> 00:31:30,266
built it into recurring
1188
00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:32,000
expenses. Not a good thing to
1189
00:31:29,066 --> 00:31:33,433
do when you have one time
1190
00:31:30,266 --> 00:31:34,733
monies and you're spending on
1191
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:36,266
recurring expenses. So we've
1192
00:31:33,433 --> 00:31:38,000
been fortunate in that we
1193
00:31:34,733 --> 00:31:39,200
haven't done that. And that's
1194
00:31:36,266 --> 00:31:42,700
caused this, this rather
1195
00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:44,366
healthy, rainy day fund that we
1196
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:45,666
want to hold on to. We we
1197
00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:47,766
together did about $2 billion
1198
00:31:44,366 --> 00:31:49,366
of one time investments with
1199
00:31:45,666 --> 00:31:50,433
those funds. That rainy day
1200
00:31:47,766 --> 00:31:52,366
fund was a little above $5
1201
00:31:49,366 --> 00:31:53,533
billion, which is almost too
1202
00:31:50,433 --> 00:31:54,633
much money to keep out of the
1203
00:31:52,366 --> 00:31:56,033
economy. So we found some one
1204
00:31:53,533 --> 00:31:58,533
time investments that we
1205
00:31:54,633 --> 00:32:01,033
thought would generate revenue
1206
00:31:56,033 --> 00:32:02,333
and help citizens across the
1207
00:31:58,533 --> 00:32:04,633
Commonwealth. And that included
1208
00:32:01,033 --> 00:32:06,833
roads, buildings, things that
1209
00:32:02,333 --> 00:32:07,933
we needed to do, infrastructure.
1210
00:32:04,633 --> 00:32:09,233
But great question. I'm glad
1211
00:32:06,833 --> 00:32:10,833
he's asked it because we
1212
00:32:07,933 --> 00:32:13,266
struggle for years at zero, and
1213
00:32:09,233 --> 00:32:14,000
zero is definitely not the
1214
00:32:10,833 --> 00:32:15,466
right number, but 10% is the
1215
00:32:13,266 --> 00:32:17,366
target.
1216
00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,533
>> Do you think it's too high?
1217
00:32:15,466 --> 00:32:20,300
No. And should be maybe used to
1218
00:32:17,366 --> 00:32:21,500
make some investments?
1219
00:32:18,533 --> 00:32:22,833
>> No. I think the the rainy
1220
00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:24,700
day fund is very important.
1221
00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:26,133
There's no question about it.
1222
00:32:22,833 --> 00:32:29,033
In fact, if you don't have a
1223
00:32:24,700 --> 00:32:30,400
reserve or adequate reserve and
1224
00:32:26,133 --> 00:32:32,000
you have catastrophes that take
1225
00:32:29,033 --> 00:32:34,366
place and other kinds of things
1226
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:36,900
that are not foreseen, you're
1227
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:38,066
in a very bad situation. So I
1228
00:32:34,366 --> 00:32:39,900
think really don't have an
1229
00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:42,433
issue with the rainy day fund.
1230
00:32:38,066 --> 00:32:44,166
I think it's important to have
1231
00:32:39,900 --> 00:32:45,900
a a significant and substantive
1232
00:32:42,433 --> 00:32:47,733
rainy day fund. So I think I'm
1233
00:32:44,166 --> 00:32:49,533
comfortable with that.
1234
00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:50,533
>> Okay. This question from
1235
00:32:47,733 --> 00:32:52,433
Patricia Doherty in Lexington
1236
00:32:49,533 --> 00:32:54,233
regarding affordable housing.
1237
00:32:50,533 --> 00:32:55,633
So let's pivot back to that.
1238
00:32:52,433 --> 00:32:56,866
She asked, why are we not
1239
00:32:54,233 --> 00:32:59,000
addressing large apartment
1240
00:32:55,633 --> 00:33:01,433
complexes in our bigger cities
1241
00:32:56,866 --> 00:33:02,800
that are charging about $1,400
1242
00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:05,333
for one bedroom units? So when
1243
00:33:01,433 --> 00:33:06,733
that's the other thing, access
1244
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:07,933
and affordability. Speaker Mead
1245
00:33:05,333 --> 00:33:10,033
about what can the General
1246
00:33:06,733 --> 00:33:11,533
Assembly to address not just
1247
00:33:07,933 --> 00:33:12,833
single family housing, but also
1248
00:33:10,033 --> 00:33:14,866
these rental prices?
1249
00:33:11,533 --> 00:33:16,066
>> Well, like I said earlier, I
1250
00:33:12,833 --> 00:33:17,066
think what we can do is we can
1251
00:33:14,866 --> 00:33:18,866
work with local governments to
1252
00:33:16,066 --> 00:33:20,033
help give them the tools
1253
00:33:17,066 --> 00:33:21,800
necessary to expand and work on
1254
00:33:18,866 --> 00:33:23,733
some of those things that I
1255
00:33:20,033 --> 00:33:25,400
said earlier to reduce costs
1256
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:26,600
and building. As for what is
1257
00:33:23,733 --> 00:33:27,800
charged in rent, there's not a
1258
00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:29,400
whole lot we can do. I mean,
1259
00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,966
the market determines that
1260
00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,400
those landlords that own those
1261
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,566
buildings determine that
1262
00:33:29,966 --> 00:33:32,833
there's not much that the
1263
00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,500
government can do to interfere
1264
00:33:32,566 --> 00:33:35,400
with that.
1265
00:33:32,833 --> 00:33:36,733
>> Yeah.
1266
00:33:33,500 --> 00:33:40,366
>> Well, one of the things we
1267
00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:42,400
can do is the minimum wage is
1268
00:33:36,733 --> 00:33:45,000
$7.25 an hour. That is like
1269
00:33:40,366 --> 00:33:47,500
$290 a week. And most young
1270
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:50,833
people are paying over 30% of
1271
00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:53,200
their income for rent. So we
1272
00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:54,666
need to look at the programs
1273
00:33:50,833 --> 00:33:57,200
that we are promoting and the
1274
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:59,400
legislation that we're passing,
1275
00:33:54,666 --> 00:34:00,866
and pass legislation that will
1276
00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:02,400
allow them to earn more money
1277
00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:04,133
because they are working. Most
1278
00:34:00,866 --> 00:34:05,866
of them are working, some of
1279
00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:07,033
them are working two jobs.
1280
00:34:04,133 --> 00:34:10,233
We've got to support their
1281
00:34:05,866 --> 00:34:12,666
efforts. The other thing we
1282
00:34:07,033 --> 00:34:14,433
have to do is look at our most
1283
00:34:10,233 --> 00:34:16,666
vulnerable, that 10%, because
1284
00:34:12,666 --> 00:34:20,200
of what's happening in
1285
00:34:14,433 --> 00:34:21,733
Washington, 10% of our veterans
1286
00:34:16,666 --> 00:34:23,600
are eligible for Snap. Hi. How
1287
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:27,066
are you going to say take my
1288
00:34:21,733 --> 00:34:28,533
life to defend America? But I
1289
00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:30,166
need food stamps. We should be
1290
00:34:27,066 --> 00:34:32,466
providing what they need. So we
1291
00:34:28,533 --> 00:34:34,600
need to look through a
1292
00:34:30,166 --> 00:34:35,900
different lens and ask, what do
1293
00:34:32,466 --> 00:34:37,033
people Kentuckians need to take
1294
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:38,966
care of their families?
1295
00:34:35,900 --> 00:34:40,033
>> Is there any appetite on
1296
00:34:37,033 --> 00:34:41,133
this side of the table to raise
1297
00:34:38,966 --> 00:34:43,033
the minimum wage from the
1298
00:34:40,033 --> 00:34:45,433
current seven and a quarter
1299
00:34:41,133 --> 00:34:46,566
that it's been for since 2009?
1300
00:34:43,033 --> 00:34:47,700
I believe.
1301
00:34:45,433 --> 00:34:49,766
>> Statutorily it's tied to the
1302
00:34:46,566 --> 00:34:50,966
federal minimum wage. Our state
1303
00:34:47,700 --> 00:34:53,700
minimum wage is statutorily
1304
00:34:49,766 --> 00:34:56,233
tied to the federal minimum
1305
00:34:50,966 --> 00:34:57,700
wage. And so let the market
1306
00:34:53,700 --> 00:34:59,500
determine what allowable wage
1307
00:34:56,233 --> 00:35:01,100
is at an unemployment rate a
1308
00:34:57,700 --> 00:35:02,533
little below 4% here in
1309
00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:03,866
Kentucky right now indicates
1310
00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:05,600
that people are finding jobs.
1311
00:35:02,533 --> 00:35:07,100
People that want jobs are
1312
00:35:03,866 --> 00:35:08,133
finding jobs. We continue to
1313
00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:09,400
have a workforce participation
1314
00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:11,700
challenge, meaning there are
1315
00:35:08,133 --> 00:35:12,933
more jobs out there than there
1316
00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:15,000
are people seeking jobs.
1317
00:35:11,700 --> 00:35:17,166
Education is a key component of
1318
00:35:12,933 --> 00:35:18,666
this conversation, too, though.
1319
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:20,466
When you have skill sets and
1320
00:35:17,166 --> 00:35:21,766
talents that you can shop
1321
00:35:18,666 --> 00:35:23,166
multiple places because you're
1322
00:35:20,466 --> 00:35:24,333
well educated and you've
1323
00:35:21,766 --> 00:35:25,433
dedicated yourself to that hard
1324
00:35:23,166 --> 00:35:27,566
work of getting that education
1325
00:35:24,333 --> 00:35:28,900
and building those skills that
1326
00:35:25,433 --> 00:35:30,066
make you valuable, you get paid
1327
00:35:27,566 --> 00:35:31,600
more. And that's a reflection
1328
00:35:28,900 --> 00:35:32,633
of that.
1329
00:35:30,066 --> 00:35:33,900
>> I agree, I think the market
1330
00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:35,633
drives that. I mean, you're
1331
00:35:32,633 --> 00:35:37,433
seeing right now, McDonald's
1332
00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:40,200
paying $15 an hour chick fil A,
1333
00:35:35,633 --> 00:35:41,700
the same. You know, I own a
1334
00:35:37,433 --> 00:35:42,466
couple of stores as well, and
1335
00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,800
we're paying well above minimum
1336
00:35:41,700 --> 00:35:45,266
wage because that's what the
1337
00:35:42,466 --> 00:35:46,233
market has dictated right now.
1338
00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:47,266
>> Yeah. So it's already
1339
00:35:45,266 --> 00:35:48,500
happening. The market is
1340
00:35:46,233 --> 00:35:50,366
already handling this issue.
1341
00:35:47,266 --> 00:35:51,766
>> They say the reality is that
1342
00:35:48,500 --> 00:35:53,266
that is true. I believe what he
1343
00:35:50,366 --> 00:35:54,900
just said there. But not
1344
00:35:51,766 --> 00:35:57,466
everyone is getting paid at a
1345
00:35:53,266 --> 00:35:59,266
minimum wage level. That's
1346
00:35:54,900 --> 00:36:01,500
clearly not the case. And tying
1347
00:35:57,466 --> 00:36:03,300
ourselves to the federal piece
1348
00:35:59,266 --> 00:36:04,633
actually ties us into what they
1349
00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:05,766
say, what the market says. Well,
1350
00:36:03,300 --> 00:36:07,100
think about that just for a
1351
00:36:04,633 --> 00:36:08,600
second. What they're doing on
1352
00:36:05,766 --> 00:36:11,100
the federal level is not
1353
00:36:07,100 --> 00:36:12,666
necessarily what we need in
1354
00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:14,933
Kentucky. We need to pay people
1355
00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:16,600
a wage. Some people call it
1356
00:36:12,666 --> 00:36:19,366
even a living wage with respect
1357
00:36:14,933 --> 00:36:21,966
to that. And I think that we
1358
00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:23,433
are really passing let me say
1359
00:36:19,366 --> 00:36:24,833
this. We're not serving our
1360
00:36:21,966 --> 00:36:26,966
constituency very well. If we
1361
00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:28,133
don't deal with things like the
1362
00:36:24,833 --> 00:36:29,766
minimum wage, we must lift that.
1363
00:36:26,966 --> 00:36:32,066
People have challenges in their
1364
00:36:28,133 --> 00:36:33,766
own homes because they don't
1365
00:36:29,766 --> 00:36:35,033
have sufficient income to
1366
00:36:32,066 --> 00:36:37,500
overcome the challenges that
1367
00:36:33,766 --> 00:36:39,266
they have financially. We need
1368
00:36:35,033 --> 00:36:40,833
to raise the the wages.
1369
00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:42,100
>> In several other states have
1370
00:36:39,266 --> 00:36:44,000
already raised the minimum wage.
1371
00:36:40,833 --> 00:36:45,066
But anytime you say something
1372
00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:46,133
is tied to the federal
1373
00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:47,600
government, we need to be
1374
00:36:45,066 --> 00:36:50,066
worried because the federal
1375
00:36:46,133 --> 00:36:51,866
government is taking actions
1376
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:53,433
that are actually harming
1377
00:36:50,066 --> 00:36:55,466
Kentuckians. So when they harm
1378
00:36:51,866 --> 00:36:57,666
us and we say we're going to
1379
00:36:53,433 --> 00:37:00,100
rely on that, that's not what
1380
00:36:55,466 --> 00:37:02,600
they hired us to do. We need to
1381
00:36:57,666 --> 00:37:05,500
look differently and see what
1382
00:37:00,100 --> 00:37:06,600
does the Kentucky family need
1383
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:08,233
and how can we provide that and
1384
00:37:05,500 --> 00:37:09,200
do that thing.
1385
00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:11,033
>> So you are watching Kentucky
1386
00:37:08,233 --> 00:37:12,033
tonight, and we're doing a
1387
00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:13,666
preview of the 2026 Kentucky
1388
00:37:11,033 --> 00:37:14,700
General Assembly and regular
1389
00:37:12,033 --> 00:37:16,333
session session that starts
1390
00:37:13,666 --> 00:37:18,133
tomorrow. And of course, you
1391
00:37:14,700 --> 00:37:20,266
can catch that coverage when
1392
00:37:16,333 --> 00:37:21,400
they handle handle down the
1393
00:37:18,133 --> 00:37:24,566
gavel tomorrow at 12 noon and
1394
00:37:20,266 --> 00:37:26,233
the House and Senate. You can
1395
00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:27,733
watch that online and on air on
1396
00:37:24,566 --> 00:37:28,900
KET. If you are just joining us,
1397
00:37:26,233 --> 00:37:30,600
there are several ways to also
1398
00:37:27,733 --> 00:37:31,766
submit a question or comment.
1399
00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:33,766
The phone number that is on
1400
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:35,233
your screen. But you can also
1401
00:37:31,766 --> 00:37:36,766
reach out to us on X, formerly
1402
00:37:33,766 --> 00:37:40,000
known as Twitter at Pub Affairs
1403
00:37:35,233 --> 00:37:41,433
KET and also send us an email
1404
00:37:36,766 --> 00:37:43,300
to KY tonight at ket.org. This
1405
00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:45,066
question from Jeff Sims from
1406
00:37:41,433 --> 00:37:46,900
Caldwell County quote A large
1407
00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:48,333
push is underway to engage the
1408
00:37:45,066 --> 00:37:49,766
legislature in the shared
1409
00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:50,766
responsibility and burden to
1410
00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:52,600
counties for jails and jail
1411
00:37:49,766 --> 00:37:56,666
costs. How does the panel
1412
00:37:50,766 --> 00:37:58,500
perceive progress on this
1413
00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:59,833
crippling issue? I think.
1414
00:37:56,666 --> 00:38:01,600
>> From from our standpoint, as
1415
00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:03,400
in the House, we are looking
1416
00:37:59,833 --> 00:38:04,700
for a regional approach anymore
1417
00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:06,300
from jails. Right now, we have
1418
00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:07,800
counties coming to us asking
1419
00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:09,733
for individual jails. But I
1420
00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:10,933
think if we if counties are
1421
00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:12,833
going to to be able to offset
1422
00:38:09,733 --> 00:38:14,633
the cost of that, they're going
1423
00:38:10,933 --> 00:38:15,766
to have to do it on a regional
1424
00:38:12,833 --> 00:38:16,900
basis. And some of these
1425
00:38:14,633 --> 00:38:18,700
counties are going to have to
1426
00:38:15,766 --> 00:38:20,600
come together to form regional
1427
00:38:16,900 --> 00:38:21,900
jails. And then we at that
1428
00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:23,633
point, we can look at what we
1429
00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:24,733
can do at the General Assembly
1430
00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:25,633
level to put together a package
1431
00:38:23,633 --> 00:38:26,900
in order to do that.
1432
00:38:24,733 --> 00:38:28,633
>> But consolidation.
1433
00:38:25,633 --> 00:38:30,066
>> We also I would, I would,
1434
00:38:26,900 --> 00:38:31,133
yes. When you say consolidation,
1435
00:38:28,633 --> 00:38:32,933
yes. As far as county jails
1436
00:38:30,066 --> 00:38:34,700
coming together to form
1437
00:38:31,133 --> 00:38:36,933
regional jails there, right now
1438
00:38:32,933 --> 00:38:38,366
we have about six different
1439
00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:40,500
regions, four of which are
1440
00:38:36,933 --> 00:38:41,733
extremely necessary right now
1441
00:38:38,366 --> 00:38:44,133
for regional jails. And those
1442
00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:46,133
areas are from western Kentucky
1443
00:38:41,733 --> 00:38:47,666
to eastern Kentucky and some in
1444
00:38:44,133 --> 00:38:49,500
central. They have all come
1445
00:38:46,133 --> 00:38:50,566
together as 4 to 5, six
1446
00:38:47,666 --> 00:38:51,700
counties in order to form those
1447
00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:53,833
regional commissions to try to
1448
00:38:50,566 --> 00:38:56,033
build those jails. And that's
1449
00:38:51,700 --> 00:38:58,466
how that is going to be the
1450
00:38:53,833 --> 00:39:01,433
future for jails to do it on a
1451
00:38:56,033 --> 00:39:02,566
regional level. It's the same
1452
00:38:58,466 --> 00:39:04,433
with with building industrial
1453
00:39:01,433 --> 00:39:05,566
parks. Right now. We're having
1454
00:39:02,566 --> 00:39:06,733
to do that at a regional level
1455
00:39:04,433 --> 00:39:08,666
to compete, and that's that's
1456
00:39:05,566 --> 00:39:10,566
the only way that we're going
1457
00:39:06,733 --> 00:39:12,400
to be able to get costs down in
1458
00:39:08,666 --> 00:39:12,666
all these areas is now to do it
1459
00:39:10,566 --> 00:39:13,666
on, on a regional type
1460
00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:14,533
agreement.
1461
00:39:12,666 --> 00:39:16,500
>> Any other comment on that
1462
00:39:13,666 --> 00:39:17,666
before I yes.
1463
00:39:14,533 --> 00:39:19,500
>> I might, I might jump in. I
1464
00:39:16,500 --> 00:39:20,500
think there are two factors
1465
00:39:17,666 --> 00:39:21,500
that we need to talk about
1466
00:39:19,500 --> 00:39:23,400
specific to this jails
1467
00:39:20,500 --> 00:39:24,566
conversation that we're going
1468
00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:25,800
to see play out over the next
1469
00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:27,500
couple of years. One of those
1470
00:39:24,566 --> 00:39:28,466
is the Kentucky Association of
1471
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:29,700
Counties is going to make this
1472
00:39:27,500 --> 00:39:31,566
a priority conversation. And
1473
00:39:28,466 --> 00:39:32,633
the work they do is excellent
1474
00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:34,566
work as it relates to policy
1475
00:39:31,566 --> 00:39:36,433
development. So I think we'll
1476
00:39:32,633 --> 00:39:37,566
see a lead on it. The second
1477
00:39:34,566 --> 00:39:38,566
thing I want to talk about, and
1478
00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:40,433
this is no disrespect toward
1479
00:39:37,566 --> 00:39:41,666
Governor Beshear at all. So
1480
00:39:38,566 --> 00:39:42,800
don't take it that way. Heading
1481
00:39:40,433 --> 00:39:44,466
it off okay. It's going to take
1482
00:39:41,666 --> 00:39:45,566
the next executive. This
1483
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:47,500
problem is going to be a
1484
00:39:44,466 --> 00:39:48,666
multi-year problem to solve.
1485
00:39:45,566 --> 00:39:50,833
And if Keiko can get the next
1486
00:39:47,500 --> 00:39:52,233
executive, whoever he or she
1487
00:39:48,666 --> 00:39:53,266
may be, committed to this
1488
00:39:50,833 --> 00:39:54,700
process of addressing jails
1489
00:39:52,233 --> 00:39:55,800
across the Commonwealth, I
1490
00:39:53,266 --> 00:39:57,266
think we could actually make
1491
00:39:54,700 --> 00:39:58,333
some headway on this.
1492
00:39:55,800 --> 00:40:00,100
>> So you need to wait two
1493
00:39:57,266 --> 00:40:01,266
years before there's a new
1494
00:39:58,333 --> 00:40:02,466
executive order to do that.
1495
00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:04,133
>> I'm saying we can start
1496
00:40:01,266 --> 00:40:05,200
laying the groundwork now. We
1497
00:40:02,466 --> 00:40:06,266
can start talking about phasing
1498
00:40:04,133 --> 00:40:08,133
in and processes in the
1499
00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:09,266
regional approach, but we need
1500
00:40:06,266 --> 00:40:11,166
an executive that's going to be
1501
00:40:08,133 --> 00:40:12,366
committed to roll their sleeves
1502
00:40:09,266 --> 00:40:14,166
up to work on this. And two
1503
00:40:11,166 --> 00:40:17,033
years is not long enough.
1504
00:40:12,366 --> 00:40:18,800
>> So this question from Ohio
1505
00:40:14,166 --> 00:40:20,700
County caller unknown ask both
1506
00:40:17,033 --> 00:40:22,033
sides what each party is going
1507
00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:23,466
to do to make life more
1508
00:40:20,700 --> 00:40:25,366
affordable in Kentucky. What
1509
00:40:22,033 --> 00:40:26,400
specific actions or legislation
1510
00:40:23,466 --> 00:40:27,800
is planned to help everyday
1511
00:40:25,366 --> 00:40:29,566
Kentuckians? Instead of
1512
00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:30,733
engaging in partizan or culture
1513
00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:34,033
wars? People deserve a
1514
00:40:29,566 --> 00:40:35,566
government, they say, focused
1515
00:40:30,733 --> 00:40:37,200
on governing. So I'll start
1516
00:40:34,033 --> 00:40:39,000
with this side first. What's
1517
00:40:35,566 --> 00:40:40,766
your affordability plan other
1518
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:41,533
than raising the minimum wage
1519
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,300
to $15 an hour or something
1520
00:40:40,766 --> 00:40:44,433
similar?
1521
00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:45,700
>> Well, let's, let's let's
1522
00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:46,833
understand where we're
1523
00:40:44,433 --> 00:40:48,333
operating. When we started out,
1524
00:40:45,700 --> 00:40:49,366
we started talking about the
1525
00:40:46,833 --> 00:40:51,966
impact of the federal
1526
00:40:48,333 --> 00:40:53,433
government and what it's done
1527
00:40:49,366 --> 00:40:54,600
on Kentucky. It makes it
1528
00:40:51,966 --> 00:40:56,533
difficult for us to deal with
1529
00:40:53,433 --> 00:40:58,033
the bottom half of Kentucky.
1530
00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:59,900
I'm just using the half when
1531
00:40:56,533 --> 00:41:01,966
you have those kinds of
1532
00:40:58,033 --> 00:41:03,800
dynamics that are taking place.
1533
00:40:59,900 --> 00:41:05,233
Kentucky is not contrary to
1534
00:41:01,966 --> 00:41:08,033
recent dollars. We've had a
1535
00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:10,366
prosperous state. I mean, a
1536
00:41:05,233 --> 00:41:12,566
bunch of folks in Kentucky rely
1537
00:41:08,033 --> 00:41:15,833
on those federal subsidies, for
1538
00:41:10,366 --> 00:41:17,333
instance. They also rely on
1539
00:41:12,566 --> 00:41:19,366
SNAP, but they cut SNAP in 1.1
1540
00:41:15,833 --> 00:41:21,300
out of five people in Kentucky,
1541
00:41:17,333 --> 00:41:22,933
by some estimates, are going
1542
00:41:19,366 --> 00:41:24,600
hungry now before they did that.
1543
00:41:21,300 --> 00:41:26,200
So we have challenges that are
1544
00:41:22,933 --> 00:41:27,766
there now. When you say, how do
1545
00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:30,500
we overcome that? I think it's
1546
00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:32,500
going to be difficult because
1547
00:41:27,766 --> 00:41:34,400
we have to either cut services
1548
00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:35,866
or are we going to have to step
1549
00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:37,533
up and find sources of income
1550
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:39,533
that will take care of that
1551
00:41:35,866 --> 00:41:41,733
which has been dumped onto our
1552
00:41:37,533 --> 00:41:42,966
laps, or we're going to have to
1553
00:41:39,533 --> 00:41:44,766
just go without. And that's
1554
00:41:41,733 --> 00:41:46,633
going to be the challenge. And
1555
00:41:42,966 --> 00:41:47,866
I think I don't have a ready
1556
00:41:44,766 --> 00:41:48,833
answer for that. And if someone
1557
00:41:46,633 --> 00:41:50,800
has a ready answer for that, I
1558
00:41:47,866 --> 00:41:51,633
want to hear it.
1559
00:41:48,833 --> 00:41:52,866
>> Is there a ready answer on
1560
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,766
this side?
1561
00:41:51,633 --> 00:41:56,733
>> So short term, I'm going to
1562
00:41:52,866 --> 00:41:57,933
say that the things we need to
1563
00:41:54,766 --> 00:41:59,700
focus on as it relates to cost
1564
00:41:56,733 --> 00:42:01,633
of living and quality of life,
1565
00:41:57,933 --> 00:42:02,633
energy costs are going to be
1566
00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:03,733
one of the keys we've got to
1567
00:42:01,633 --> 00:42:04,633
continue to address, because
1568
00:42:02,633 --> 00:42:05,766
we're seeing some rise there
1569
00:42:03,733 --> 00:42:07,633
that's uncomfortable. It's
1570
00:42:04,633 --> 00:42:08,866
beyond what it should be. So
1571
00:42:05,766 --> 00:42:10,733
I'm going to point to those
1572
00:42:07,633 --> 00:42:11,833
energy costs as one of the keys.
1573
00:42:08,866 --> 00:42:12,766
I think the other short term
1574
00:42:10,733 --> 00:42:13,766
key we've got to continue
1575
00:42:11,833 --> 00:42:14,766
focusing on is job
1576
00:42:12,766 --> 00:42:15,766
opportunities. We've got to
1577
00:42:13,766 --> 00:42:17,766
create competition in the
1578
00:42:14,766 --> 00:42:19,633
workforce space so that a
1579
00:42:15,766 --> 00:42:20,866
worker who may not be earning
1580
00:42:17,766 --> 00:42:22,800
12 or $14 an hour, but is
1581
00:42:19,633 --> 00:42:24,000
earning 10 or 11, can find a
1582
00:42:20,866 --> 00:42:25,733
job for 12, 14 and 16. Those
1583
00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:26,833
are the two immediate things
1584
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,800
we've got to do longer term.
1585
00:42:25,733 --> 00:42:28,900
I'm going to talk about
1586
00:42:26,833 --> 00:42:30,633
something that's in House
1587
00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:30,933
resolution one. We've talked a
1588
00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:31,866
lot about what the federal
1589
00:42:30,633 --> 00:42:32,066
government.
1590
00:42:30,933 --> 00:42:33,766
>> That's the big beautiful
1591
00:42:31,866 --> 00:42:34,633
bill.
1592
00:42:32,066 --> 00:42:35,700
>> The big bill that federal
1593
00:42:33,766 --> 00:42:36,833
government did. House
1594
00:42:34,633 --> 00:42:38,666
resolution one also creates an
1595
00:42:35,700 --> 00:42:39,733
opportunity we all need to be
1596
00:42:36,833 --> 00:42:40,900
champions of. And this is a
1597
00:42:38,666 --> 00:42:41,833
longer term answer to a
1598
00:42:39,733 --> 00:42:43,633
difficult short term question.
1599
00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:44,766
Immediate question. And I know
1600
00:42:41,833 --> 00:42:46,666
he's wanting a short term
1601
00:42:43,633 --> 00:42:47,866
answer, but I want to talk
1602
00:42:44,766 --> 00:42:48,966
about a long term thing that I
1603
00:42:46,666 --> 00:42:49,800
think we should all champion.
1604
00:42:47,866 --> 00:42:51,700
And that's around scholarship
1605
00:42:48,966 --> 00:42:52,933
granting organizations and the
1606
00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:55,133
federal tax credit of $1,700.
1607
00:42:51,700 --> 00:42:56,233
That's going to be on the
1608
00:42:52,933 --> 00:42:58,100
horizon in 2027. And I'd like
1609
00:42:55,133 --> 00:43:00,100
to champion that for just a
1610
00:42:56,233 --> 00:43:01,166
second if I could, because this
1611
00:42:58,100 --> 00:43:02,300
is going to be big for all of
1612
00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:03,733
us. The federal government is
1613
00:43:01,166 --> 00:43:05,200
saying, would you rather send
1614
00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:07,000
$1,700 to Washington, D.C. or
1615
00:43:03,733 --> 00:43:08,800
would you rather invest in a
1616
00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:10,933
child's education in Kentucky?
1617
00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:12,433
I hope everybody chooses the
1618
00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:14,166
child's education in Kentucky.
1619
00:43:10,933 --> 00:43:16,566
So in other words, if you're a
1620
00:43:12,433 --> 00:43:18,266
taxpayer that owes $1,700 or
1621
00:43:14,166 --> 00:43:18,833
more after 2027, you can write
1622
00:43:16,566 --> 00:43:20,966
a check to a Kentucky
1623
00:43:18,266 --> 00:43:22,400
scholarship granting
1624
00:43:18,833 --> 00:43:24,433
organization that can help fund
1625
00:43:20,966 --> 00:43:26,200
through public schools or
1626
00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:27,600
private schools, the betterment
1627
00:43:24,433 --> 00:43:28,900
of a student's education in
1628
00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:30,300
Kentucky. So let's all get on
1629
00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:31,800
board to support that.
1630
00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:33,266
>> Even though Kentucky voters
1631
00:43:30,300 --> 00:43:34,766
a couple of years ago
1632
00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:35,033
resoundingly voted against
1633
00:43:33,266 --> 00:43:35,733
those type of scholarship tax
1634
00:43:34,766 --> 00:43:37,133
credits.
1635
00:43:35,033 --> 00:43:38,200
>> That's correct.
1636
00:43:35,733 --> 00:43:40,033
>> They did. Now, this is a
1637
00:43:37,133 --> 00:43:41,033
totally different question
1638
00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:42,166
because we have no vote in it.
1639
00:43:40,033 --> 00:43:43,166
The federal government is
1640
00:43:41,033 --> 00:43:44,333
saying these are the rules.
1641
00:43:42,166 --> 00:43:46,100
These are the rules.
1642
00:43:43,166 --> 00:43:47,133
>> And that creates the path.
1643
00:43:44,333 --> 00:43:49,033
>> That creates the path for
1644
00:43:46,100 --> 00:43:50,200
funding laptops for kids in
1645
00:43:47,133 --> 00:43:52,033
public schools, a tutor for a
1646
00:43:49,033 --> 00:43:53,266
child in public school, after
1647
00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:54,833
school tutoring, or a child
1648
00:43:52,033 --> 00:43:56,500
that wants a scholarship to
1649
00:43:53,266 --> 00:43:57,766
attend a private school. All of
1650
00:43:54,833 --> 00:44:00,233
those are going to be options
1651
00:43:56,500 --> 00:44:01,366
and options on the table, and I
1652
00:43:57,766 --> 00:44:02,466
think Kentuckians can spend
1653
00:44:00,233 --> 00:44:04,600
Kentucky money better than
1654
00:44:01,366 --> 00:44:05,633
Washington, D.C. can spend.
1655
00:44:02,466 --> 00:44:06,700
>> Is that Senate Bill one?
1656
00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,400
>> We'll see.
1657
00:44:05,633 --> 00:44:10,333
>> Renee. Renee, if I.
1658
00:44:06,700 --> 00:44:11,733
>> May.
1659
00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:13,433
>> Let me let me tell you, my
1660
00:44:10,333 --> 00:44:14,800
friend Senator Gibbons knows I
1661
00:44:11,733 --> 00:44:16,866
have tremendous respect for him.
1662
00:44:13,433 --> 00:44:18,066
We work together on many things.
1663
00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:20,733
We look forward to working
1664
00:44:16,866 --> 00:44:22,533
together going forward. As well
1665
00:44:18,066 --> 00:44:24,300
as my friend Representative
1666
00:44:20,733 --> 00:44:26,466
Mead, with respect to things
1667
00:44:22,533 --> 00:44:29,000
that we have to do. But that is
1668
00:44:24,300 --> 00:44:30,500
not a response to what we're
1669
00:44:26,466 --> 00:44:31,633
going to do to overcome what's
1670
00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:33,300
been cut back from people.
1671
00:44:30,500 --> 00:44:34,533
That's going to drive up their
1672
00:44:31,633 --> 00:44:36,166
rates in terms of insurance.
1673
00:44:33,300 --> 00:44:39,100
That's not going to deal with
1674
00:44:34,533 --> 00:44:41,033
the question of what happens
1675
00:44:36,166 --> 00:44:42,566
when you cut SNAP and 1 in 5
1676
00:44:39,100 --> 00:44:43,866
are going hungry anyway, and
1677
00:44:41,033 --> 00:44:45,000
that money is not available.
1678
00:44:42,566 --> 00:44:46,866
It's short term, and I don't
1679
00:44:43,866 --> 00:44:49,133
know what that means for the
1680
00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:53,133
long term. We don't know if it
1681
00:44:46,866 --> 00:44:55,633
even evolved. This is right
1682
00:44:49,133 --> 00:44:58,700
upon us in 2020 2027, we will
1683
00:44:53,133 --> 00:44:59,966
be visited by a reality with
1684
00:44:55,633 --> 00:45:01,800
respect to cuts. This situation
1685
00:44:58,700 --> 00:45:03,766
right now as it relates to
1686
00:44:59,966 --> 00:45:05,633
subsidies being cut off, that's
1687
00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:06,833
already upon us. The question
1688
00:45:03,766 --> 00:45:09,333
is, what do we do to respond to
1689
00:45:05,633 --> 00:45:10,766
that? There are people that
1690
00:45:06,833 --> 00:45:12,533
will suffer whether respects
1691
00:45:09,333 --> 00:45:13,966
with respect to health care,
1692
00:45:10,766 --> 00:45:16,133
with respect to food on their
1693
00:45:12,533 --> 00:45:17,733
table, making choices that they
1694
00:45:13,966 --> 00:45:19,700
don't have really good options.
1695
00:45:16,133 --> 00:45:20,033
What takes care of that? But I
1696
00:45:17,733 --> 00:45:21,866
have not heard that in that, in
1697
00:45:19,700 --> 00:45:23,633
that response.
1698
00:45:20,033 --> 00:45:24,766
>> But to the point leader Neil,
1699
00:45:21,866 --> 00:45:25,900
there will be some that will
1700
00:45:23,633 --> 00:45:27,266
say there are kids who are
1701
00:45:24,766 --> 00:45:28,766
suffering because they are
1702
00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:29,866
relegated to go to failing
1703
00:45:27,266 --> 00:45:31,766
schools, and that what this
1704
00:45:28,766 --> 00:45:33,100
could do could open up an
1705
00:45:29,866 --> 00:45:34,200
opportunity for them to get a
1706
00:45:31,766 --> 00:45:36,366
better education and by
1707
00:45:33,100 --> 00:45:37,766
extension, a larger life.
1708
00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:39,566
>> But that does not feed a
1709
00:45:36,366 --> 00:45:41,433
person who is dealing with that.
1710
00:45:37,766 --> 00:45:43,533
Now, that does not take care of
1711
00:45:39,566 --> 00:45:45,333
a person's health situation
1712
00:45:41,433 --> 00:45:47,100
this year. That is a crisis
1713
00:45:43,533 --> 00:45:48,900
that forces them to go to E.R.
1714
00:45:45,333 --> 00:45:50,800
that does not solve the problem,
1715
00:45:47,100 --> 00:45:52,500
because there's been a massive
1716
00:45:48,900 --> 00:45:53,900
shift in wealth toward those
1717
00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:55,733
who don't need it, away from
1718
00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:57,233
those who are receiving the
1719
00:45:53,900 --> 00:45:58,300
kinds of supports that they
1720
00:45:55,733 --> 00:46:00,033
need to have a reasonable life
1721
00:45:57,233 --> 00:46:01,233
or reasonable chance.
1722
00:45:58,300 --> 00:46:03,033
>> Do you view that bill, which
1723
00:46:00,033 --> 00:46:04,400
could end up being Senate Bill
1724
00:46:01,233 --> 00:46:06,166
one, or a number between 1 to
1725
00:46:03,033 --> 00:46:06,666
10, being exactly what you're
1726
00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:08,266
saying? Well, only benefits the
1727
00:46:06,166 --> 00:46:09,366
upper income.
1728
00:46:06,666 --> 00:46:11,200
>> I just said that that does
1729
00:46:08,266 --> 00:46:12,433
not answer the question. I
1730
00:46:09,366 --> 00:46:14,400
don't know. I don't know how
1731
00:46:11,200 --> 00:46:15,433
else to say it. So that does
1732
00:46:12,433 --> 00:46:17,200
not, if I may, let me finish.
1733
00:46:14,400 --> 00:46:18,266
Sure, sure. That does not
1734
00:46:15,433 --> 00:46:19,400
answer the question. This is
1735
00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:21,333
nothing short term about it,
1736
00:46:18,266 --> 00:46:22,600
that's for sure. In terms of
1737
00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:24,233
dealing with a masses of people
1738
00:46:21,333 --> 00:46:25,600
that are adversely affected by
1739
00:46:22,600 --> 00:46:27,100
what we're talking about here,
1740
00:46:24,233 --> 00:46:28,133
that does not mean that we
1741
00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:29,900
don't do something like that.
1742
00:46:27,100 --> 00:46:31,766
I'm not saying that.
1743
00:46:28,133 --> 00:46:32,900
>> Because it can be a both.
1744
00:46:29,900 --> 00:46:34,833
>> And not either. No, no, no,
1745
00:46:31,766 --> 00:46:36,766
they don't equate that we can
1746
00:46:32,900 --> 00:46:37,966
do good things that do not get
1747
00:46:34,833 --> 00:46:39,833
us where we need to go. The
1748
00:46:36,766 --> 00:46:41,000
fact of the matter is, we need
1749
00:46:37,966 --> 00:46:42,800
to deal with the challenges we
1750
00:46:39,833 --> 00:46:43,866
have now. We need to have
1751
00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:44,200
things that are calculated to
1752
00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:45,966
address it that does not
1753
00:46:43,866 --> 00:46:47,000
address that.
1754
00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:48,900
>> I really enjoy the pushback
1755
00:46:45,966 --> 00:46:50,800
and exchange with you because
1756
00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:51,966
we do this a lot and good
1757
00:46:48,900 --> 00:46:53,000
policy comes as a result of it.
1758
00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:54,800
So I predicated my answer on
1759
00:46:51,966 --> 00:46:56,233
two pieces. I said the
1760
00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:58,833
immediate short term, we've got
1761
00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:59,833
to deal with the concerns we
1762
00:46:56,233 --> 00:47:00,733
have around energy costs. We've
1763
00:46:58,833 --> 00:47:01,900
got to do that.
1764
00:46:59,833 --> 00:47:03,066
>> I agree.
1765
00:47:00,733 --> 00:47:04,566
>> Short term. We've also got
1766
00:47:01,900 --> 00:47:06,200
to create these job
1767
00:47:03,066 --> 00:47:07,733
opportunities for persons in
1768
00:47:04,566 --> 00:47:10,366
the job market today to earn a
1769
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:11,900
better wage tomorrow, right
1770
00:47:07,733 --> 00:47:13,133
away. That's competition. Those
1771
00:47:10,366 --> 00:47:14,666
are the two immediate things I
1772
00:47:11,900 --> 00:47:16,800
talked about. You're an
1773
00:47:13,133 --> 00:47:17,900
advocate for education. I know
1774
00:47:14,666 --> 00:47:19,333
you are. That's my long term
1775
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:21,400
approach. We're going to have
1776
00:47:17,900 --> 00:47:23,600
this opportunity. And Renee is
1777
00:47:19,333 --> 00:47:25,400
exactly right. We've got to
1778
00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:27,000
continue investing in educating
1779
00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:28,066
kids that are in all systems,
1780
00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:29,833
the really good systems.
1781
00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:31,266
There's some great kids that
1782
00:47:28,066 --> 00:47:34,166
can be pushed even harder there.
1783
00:47:29,833 --> 00:47:35,033
We've got some failing systems
1784
00:47:31,266 --> 00:47:36,133
and maybe we have time to talk
1785
00:47:34,166 --> 00:47:37,366
about those.
1786
00:47:35,033 --> 00:47:39,266
>> I'm hoping we'll get.
1787
00:47:36,133 --> 00:47:41,033
>> PBS and M.c.p.s. And we've
1788
00:47:37,366 --> 00:47:42,033
got to be able to to get those
1789
00:47:39,266 --> 00:47:43,300
kids an opportunity to learn
1790
00:47:41,033 --> 00:47:45,100
and advance as well.
1791
00:47:42,033 --> 00:47:46,200
>> A very quick retort. I don't
1792
00:47:43,300 --> 00:47:48,133
think we should not give the
1793
00:47:45,100 --> 00:47:49,266
kids the opportunity to learn.
1794
00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:51,166
I did not say that. I'm saying
1795
00:47:48,133 --> 00:47:52,266
it does not deal with the
1796
00:47:49,266 --> 00:47:54,233
crisis that we have now and the
1797
00:47:51,166 --> 00:47:56,033
challenges we have now, and
1798
00:47:52,266 --> 00:47:56,866
there's no way to take that and
1799
00:47:54,233 --> 00:47:58,166
project that. As to having a
1800
00:47:56,033 --> 00:47:59,600
substantive, beneficial effect
1801
00:47:56,866 --> 00:48:01,466
on people who are suffering.
1802
00:47:58,166 --> 00:48:02,833
What is happening right now,
1803
00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:04,566
this year, right now, these
1804
00:48:01,466 --> 00:48:05,733
health care costs are going to
1805
00:48:02,833 --> 00:48:06,766
go sky high. People are going
1806
00:48:04,566 --> 00:48:07,800
to have to make choices.
1807
00:48:05,733 --> 00:48:08,933
They're going to have to do
1808
00:48:06,766 --> 00:48:11,166
without. It's going to
1809
00:48:07,800 --> 00:48:12,266
adversely affect their health.
1810
00:48:08,933 --> 00:48:14,000
It's going to moderate and
1811
00:48:11,166 --> 00:48:15,766
compromise the ability to deal
1812
00:48:12,266 --> 00:48:17,633
with preventative care. We're
1813
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:18,866
going to get out of the mold of
1814
00:48:15,766 --> 00:48:19,933
that. That is a crisis right
1815
00:48:17,633 --> 00:48:22,266
now. We also have the situation
1816
00:48:18,866 --> 00:48:23,933
where people are hungry right
1817
00:48:19,933 --> 00:48:25,066
now. We can't we can't we you
1818
00:48:22,266 --> 00:48:27,000
know, hunger is not one of
1819
00:48:23,933 --> 00:48:28,133
those things. You can go way
1820
00:48:25,066 --> 00:48:29,933
out in the future and try to
1821
00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:31,200
solve. They're hungry right now.
1822
00:48:28,133 --> 00:48:32,933
We need to address that. We're
1823
00:48:29,933 --> 00:48:34,233
going to have to make decisions
1824
00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:36,000
whether to pay money now to
1825
00:48:32,933 --> 00:48:37,766
take to step in where the
1826
00:48:34,233 --> 00:48:40,100
federal government has deprived
1827
00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:41,700
us of the support that people
1828
00:48:37,766 --> 00:48:43,566
rely on and deserve. So these
1829
00:48:40,100 --> 00:48:45,300
are things that we have to deal
1830
00:48:41,700 --> 00:48:47,100
with. Now, if I'm wrong about
1831
00:48:43,566 --> 00:48:48,900
that, praise the Lord. I love
1832
00:48:45,300 --> 00:48:49,200
that, but I don't think I am.
1833
00:48:47,100 --> 00:48:50,400
And I think go ahead. No,
1834
00:48:48,900 --> 00:48:52,200
that's.
1835
00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:53,500
>> All right. One more. There
1836
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:55,800
are other things we can do.
1837
00:48:52,200 --> 00:48:57,566
We're not being creative. For
1838
00:48:53,500 --> 00:48:59,566
example, why not give working
1839
00:48:55,800 --> 00:49:01,133
families similar tax breaks
1840
00:48:57,566 --> 00:49:02,533
that we give large corporations?
1841
00:48:59,566 --> 00:49:04,500
So, for example, I know
1842
00:49:01,133 --> 00:49:07,100
families that have paid their
1843
00:49:02,533 --> 00:49:08,766
rent on time for 20 years and
1844
00:49:04,500 --> 00:49:10,133
they don't get any mortgage
1845
00:49:07,100 --> 00:49:12,400
breaks like we give homeowners.
1846
00:49:08,766 --> 00:49:16,600
There are things that could be
1847
00:49:10,133 --> 00:49:18,800
done that we're not doing. I
1848
00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:20,200
think two sessions ago we cut
1849
00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:21,833
free lunches for children out
1850
00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:23,100
of the Kentucky school systems
1851
00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:25,333
are we refuse to take the money
1852
00:49:21,833 --> 00:49:27,033
from the federal government
1853
00:49:23,100 --> 00:49:28,500
instead of feeding children.
1854
00:49:25,333 --> 00:49:31,066
Children have no place in this
1855
00:49:27,033 --> 00:49:33,166
fight, and yet we put them at
1856
00:49:28,500 --> 00:49:35,000
the center every time. Do what
1857
00:49:31,066 --> 00:49:36,166
we can do, how we can do it so
1858
00:49:33,166 --> 00:49:37,033
people can have food, clothing,
1859
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:39,033
shelter and home. And that's
1860
00:49:36,166 --> 00:49:39,333
not our focus.
1861
00:49:37,033 --> 00:49:40,500
>> So is that one of the short
1862
00:49:39,033 --> 00:49:41,133
term goals?
1863
00:49:39,333 --> 00:49:42,366
>> So let's dig.
1864
00:49:40,500 --> 00:49:44,300
>> Into that.
1865
00:49:41,133 --> 00:49:46,166
>> One of the concerns you've
1866
00:49:42,366 --> 00:49:47,533
raised, which is around SNAP
1867
00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:50,166
and the Supplemental Nutrition
1868
00:49:46,166 --> 00:49:52,633
Assistance Program, we're
1869
00:49:47,533 --> 00:49:53,766
seeing it's estimated a $47
1870
00:49:50,166 --> 00:49:55,533
million increase cost in
1871
00:49:52,633 --> 00:49:56,733
Kentucky as a result of what
1872
00:49:53,766 --> 00:49:59,166
the federal government has done,
1873
00:49:55,533 --> 00:50:00,966
$47 million is the number that
1874
00:49:56,733 --> 00:50:02,700
we've been told. However that
1875
00:49:59,166 --> 00:50:04,866
can be drawn down to zero if we
1876
00:50:00,966 --> 00:50:06,566
if we get that failure rate
1877
00:50:02,700 --> 00:50:08,300
right, if we avoid the
1878
00:50:04,866 --> 00:50:09,533
penalties. So there's there's
1879
00:50:06,566 --> 00:50:11,300
some incentives there for us to
1880
00:50:08,300 --> 00:50:12,400
do a better job of being more
1881
00:50:09,533 --> 00:50:14,600
efficient at the state level
1882
00:50:11,300 --> 00:50:16,133
and continue drawing down those
1883
00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:18,500
benefits to feed those people.
1884
00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:20,400
I totally agree that when we
1885
00:50:16,133 --> 00:50:21,600
have someone hungry, education
1886
00:50:18,500 --> 00:50:22,533
is the last thing on their mind.
1887
00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:25,033
I'm proud of our communities
1888
00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:27,233
that are stepping up and
1889
00:50:22,533 --> 00:50:28,266
filling that need. I was
1890
00:50:25,033 --> 00:50:30,100
impressed by the community
1891
00:50:27,233 --> 00:50:31,400
response during that period of
1892
00:50:28,266 --> 00:50:32,666
the shutdown, when folks
1893
00:50:30,100 --> 00:50:34,466
rallied and said, we're going
1894
00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:35,566
to open up food banks and we're
1895
00:50:32,666 --> 00:50:36,766
going to stuff them full. My
1896
00:50:34,466 --> 00:50:38,533
rural communities in the ninth
1897
00:50:35,566 --> 00:50:39,866
Senate district super proud of
1898
00:50:36,766 --> 00:50:41,600
the work that they did. And I
1899
00:50:38,533 --> 00:50:42,733
saw it across the Commonwealth.
1900
00:50:39,866 --> 00:50:44,433
So we've got a lot of great
1901
00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:45,566
people that are dedicated to
1902
00:50:42,733 --> 00:50:46,800
taking care of their neighbors
1903
00:50:44,433 --> 00:50:47,700
still. And that's the sort of
1904
00:50:45,566 --> 00:50:49,866
resiliency that makes Kentucky
1905
00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:52,033
the place to live.
1906
00:50:47,700 --> 00:50:53,400
>> So getting back to if I can
1907
00:50:49,866 --> 00:50:54,833
interject here and include a
1908
00:50:52,033 --> 00:50:56,266
comment, a question from Percy
1909
00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:57,700
Stone in Harlan County, will
1910
00:50:54,833 --> 00:51:00,666
the Community Engagement
1911
00:50:56,266 --> 00:51:02,400
digital dashboard be brought
1912
00:50:57,700 --> 00:51:03,466
back for Medicaid, which is a
1913
00:51:00,666 --> 00:51:04,933
similar kind of action? I think
1914
00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:05,666
that came underneath the Ernie
1915
00:51:03,466 --> 00:51:06,833
Fletcher administration. This
1916
00:51:04,933 --> 00:51:08,000
caller says.
1917
00:51:05,666 --> 00:51:09,933
>> Great question. He has more
1918
00:51:06,833 --> 00:51:11,500
depth of knowledge about it
1919
00:51:08,000 --> 00:51:11,900
than I do. I'm not certain that
1920
00:51:09,933 --> 00:51:13,900
I know specifically what he's
1921
00:51:11,500 --> 00:51:14,966
talking about.
1922
00:51:11,900 --> 00:51:16,100
>> Okay. So is there a leader?
1923
00:51:13,900 --> 00:51:17,900
Neil, I didn't mean to
1924
00:51:14,966 --> 00:51:19,100
interrupt you, sir. Do you want
1925
00:51:16,100 --> 00:51:20,233
to finish your thought about
1926
00:51:17,900 --> 00:51:21,266
that before we do talk about
1927
00:51:19,100 --> 00:51:21,900
with five minutes remaining,
1928
00:51:20,233 --> 00:51:23,033
Jake and Fayette County Public
1929
00:51:21,266 --> 00:51:24,066
Schools.
1930
00:51:21,900 --> 00:51:25,966
>> We have five minutes
1931
00:51:23,033 --> 00:51:27,700
remaining. I'm going to yield
1932
00:51:24,066 --> 00:51:28,900
to you. Except I want to say
1933
00:51:25,966 --> 00:51:30,633
this. I have not heard a
1934
00:51:27,700 --> 00:51:33,000
response now that deals with
1935
00:51:28,900 --> 00:51:35,200
the challenge and the crisis
1936
00:51:30,633 --> 00:51:38,433
that we are now facing,
1937
00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:39,866
relating to those people who
1938
00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:41,366
had that will not have now and
1939
00:51:38,433 --> 00:51:43,066
into the near future.
1940
00:51:39,866 --> 00:51:44,966
>> And I'll give this side one
1941
00:51:41,366 --> 00:51:46,700
last opportunity to provide
1942
00:51:43,066 --> 00:51:48,533
said response to that.
1943
00:51:44,966 --> 00:51:49,966
>> Well, as far as a lot of
1944
00:51:46,700 --> 00:51:51,366
things that we've done are
1945
00:51:48,533 --> 00:51:52,866
going are in the long term, of
1946
00:51:49,966 --> 00:51:54,666
course, with creating the
1947
00:51:51,366 --> 00:51:57,133
competition, David said. With
1948
00:51:52,866 --> 00:51:58,566
bringing jobs and job creation
1949
00:51:54,666 --> 00:52:00,200
here and investment, all those
1950
00:51:57,133 --> 00:52:01,366
things will take time to play
1951
00:51:58,566 --> 00:52:02,433
out. But when it comes to the
1952
00:52:00,200 --> 00:52:04,166
things that we are immediately
1953
00:52:01,366 --> 00:52:05,933
facing, those things have just
1954
00:52:02,433 --> 00:52:07,400
come about within the last few
1955
00:52:04,166 --> 00:52:08,666
months and we always seem when
1956
00:52:05,933 --> 00:52:09,766
we come into session, we always
1957
00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:11,366
come together, we always
1958
00:52:08,666 --> 00:52:13,366
discuss those things, and we
1959
00:52:09,766 --> 00:52:14,533
usually come to a solution by
1960
00:52:11,366 --> 00:52:16,466
the time that we get mid to the
1961
00:52:13,366 --> 00:52:17,666
end of the session. And, and
1962
00:52:14,533 --> 00:52:19,466
I'm sure that that is the way
1963
00:52:16,466 --> 00:52:20,533
that we're going to approach it
1964
00:52:17,666 --> 00:52:21,733
this time to work with all
1965
00:52:19,466 --> 00:52:23,500
sides of the aisle.
1966
00:52:20,533 --> 00:52:24,866
>> All hope session Eve. There
1967
00:52:21,733 --> 00:52:25,933
you go. There you go. Okay.
1968
00:52:23,500 --> 00:52:27,033
Really quickly. In four minutes
1969
00:52:24,866 --> 00:52:28,166
remaining, we know that
1970
00:52:25,933 --> 00:52:29,366
Republican leaders have really
1971
00:52:27,033 --> 00:52:30,633
keyed in on the financial
1972
00:52:28,166 --> 00:52:31,700
issues that are dealing with
1973
00:52:29,366 --> 00:52:32,766
the state's two largest school
1974
00:52:30,633 --> 00:52:33,900
districts, Jefferson County
1975
00:52:31,700 --> 00:52:35,633
Public Schools and Fayette
1976
00:52:32,766 --> 00:52:36,366
County Public Schools. We know
1977
00:52:33,900 --> 00:52:37,566
that Fayette County, the
1978
00:52:35,633 --> 00:52:39,500
superintendent, has been under
1979
00:52:36,366 --> 00:52:41,433
fire. The board chair has been
1980
00:52:37,566 --> 00:52:43,233
under fire, the superintendent
1981
00:52:39,500 --> 00:52:45,100
under fire because of expenses,
1982
00:52:41,433 --> 00:52:47,566
dealing with food and travel,
1983
00:52:43,233 --> 00:52:49,366
etc. that district faces a $16
1984
00:52:45,100 --> 00:52:50,466
million deficit. $188 million
1985
00:52:47,566 --> 00:52:51,500
deficit is in the face of the
1986
00:52:49,366 --> 00:52:53,666
new superintendent there,
1987
00:52:50,466 --> 00:52:56,533
Doctor Brian Yearwood for
1988
00:52:51,500 --> 00:52:58,333
Jefferson County Public Schools.
1989
00:52:53,666 --> 00:53:00,866
What what should, in your view?
1990
00:52:56,533 --> 00:53:02,100
I'll start with House speaker
1991
00:52:58,333 --> 00:53:04,866
David Meade Speaker Pro Tem,
1992
00:53:00,866 --> 00:53:06,733
unless you want to be upgraded,
1993
00:53:02,100 --> 00:53:08,066
I guess. What is the
1994
00:53:04,866 --> 00:53:09,133
temperature to get involved in
1995
00:53:06,733 --> 00:53:10,233
those issues? And we know,
1996
00:53:08,066 --> 00:53:11,666
having heard some of the
1997
00:53:09,133 --> 00:53:13,466
lawmakers who represent that,
1998
00:53:10,233 --> 00:53:13,666
those areas say that there
1999
00:53:11,666 --> 00:53:15,466
needs to be some involvement. I
2000
00:53:13,466 --> 00:53:16,500
think.
2001
00:53:13,666 --> 00:53:17,800
>> I think there's a lot of
2002
00:53:15,466 --> 00:53:18,866
discussion that's going on. I
2003
00:53:16,500 --> 00:53:20,466
think as you you've seen, it's
2004
00:53:17,800 --> 00:53:22,500
very concerning what has
2005
00:53:18,866 --> 00:53:23,533
happened over there. The public
2006
00:53:20,466 --> 00:53:25,100
has lost faith in those elected
2007
00:53:22,500 --> 00:53:26,466
officials and appointed
2008
00:53:23,533 --> 00:53:28,066
officials in the school board.
2009
00:53:25,100 --> 00:53:29,366
And there is a lot of talk
2010
00:53:26,466 --> 00:53:31,500
about possibly stepping in and
2011
00:53:28,066 --> 00:53:32,900
doing something with that is
2012
00:53:29,366 --> 00:53:33,666
just yet. I don't know, but
2013
00:53:31,500 --> 00:53:34,600
there's a lot of a lot of
2014
00:53:32,900 --> 00:53:36,466
concern with it.
2015
00:53:33,666 --> 00:53:37,600
>> Senator Givens.
2016
00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:38,733
>> I think you're going to see
2017
00:53:36,466 --> 00:53:40,600
legislation directed toward
2018
00:53:37,600 --> 00:53:41,900
board oversight and the role of
2019
00:53:38,733 --> 00:53:42,966
the boards. I think you're also
2020
00:53:40,600 --> 00:53:44,500
going to see.
2021
00:53:41,900 --> 00:53:45,900
>> The Supreme Court.
2022
00:53:42,966 --> 00:53:47,633
>> And the Supreme Court
2023
00:53:44,500 --> 00:53:48,800
reversal. We can still do those
2024
00:53:45,900 --> 00:53:50,633
things. They didn't say what we
2025
00:53:47,633 --> 00:53:52,766
did was wrong. They said the
2026
00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:54,033
way the way they perceived we
2027
00:53:50,633 --> 00:53:54,800
did it was wrong. So we can
2028
00:53:52,766 --> 00:53:55,933
address the board procedurally.
2029
00:53:54,033 --> 00:53:57,833
>> You can.
2030
00:53:54,800 --> 00:53:59,100
>> Procedurally, we can go back
2031
00:53:55,933 --> 00:54:00,900
and do it again. We certainly
2032
00:53:57,833 --> 00:54:02,066
can. And you may well see that.
2033
00:53:59,100 --> 00:54:04,000
I feel confident you'll see us
2034
00:54:00,900 --> 00:54:04,333
redefine the role of the board.
2035
00:54:02,066 --> 00:54:06,000
I think you also may even see
2036
00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:07,033
conversations.
2037
00:54:04,333 --> 00:54:08,100
>> Is that just for Jefferson
2038
00:54:06,000 --> 00:54:10,000
County? Because they also said
2039
00:54:07,033 --> 00:54:11,900
it couldn't be a specific.
2040
00:54:08,100 --> 00:54:12,933
>> We will write it in such a
2041
00:54:10,000 --> 00:54:13,333
way that it will fit any
2042
00:54:11,900 --> 00:54:14,833
district that looks like
2043
00:54:12,933 --> 00:54:15,066
Jefferson County.
2044
00:54:13,333 --> 00:54:16,833
>> Which would be Jefferson
2045
00:54:14,833 --> 00:54:17,833
County.
2046
00:54:15,066 --> 00:54:19,233
>> It's the only one that looks
2047
00:54:16,833 --> 00:54:20,833
like Jefferson County. Listen.
2048
00:54:17,833 --> 00:54:21,933
>> We have the guidance of the
2049
00:54:19,233 --> 00:54:23,100
Supreme Court on what they
2050
00:54:20,833 --> 00:54:24,833
expect, and we're going to be
2051
00:54:21,933 --> 00:54:25,866
following that. You'll see that
2052
00:54:23,100 --> 00:54:26,833
coming back. You'll also see
2053
00:54:24,833 --> 00:54:27,833
coming back. Thank you for
2054
00:54:25,866 --> 00:54:29,000
letting me finish.
2055
00:54:26,833 --> 00:54:30,733
>> I just ahead.
2056
00:54:27,833 --> 00:54:32,133
>> You'll also see us having a
2057
00:54:29,000 --> 00:54:33,566
robust conversation about
2058
00:54:30,733 --> 00:54:35,766
should these boards in these
2059
00:54:32,133 --> 00:54:38,300
large districts be elected or
2060
00:54:33,566 --> 00:54:39,433
should they be appointed? We
2061
00:54:35,766 --> 00:54:41,133
have large the Denver school
2062
00:54:38,300 --> 00:54:42,700
District, for example. Those
2063
00:54:39,433 --> 00:54:44,233
are appointed boards, not
2064
00:54:41,133 --> 00:54:45,400
elected boards. And so we're
2065
00:54:42,700 --> 00:54:47,366
going to have a rationale for.
2066
00:54:44,233 --> 00:54:47,633
>> Changing it and taking it
2067
00:54:45,400 --> 00:54:49,233
out of the hands of the people
2068
00:54:47,366 --> 00:54:50,366
to decide.
2069
00:54:47,633 --> 00:54:50,533
>> Elections are not working
2070
00:54:49,233 --> 00:54:52,233
right now. They're sure. Why do
2071
00:54:50,366 --> 00:54:52,466
you.
2072
00:54:50,533 --> 00:54:53,466
>> Say the elections aren't
2073
00:54:52,233 --> 00:54:54,233
working?
2074
00:54:52,466 --> 00:54:54,766
>> Number one, financially,
2075
00:54:53,466 --> 00:54:56,266
Jefferson County alone,
2076
00:54:54,233 --> 00:54:57,733
financially is struggling,
2077
00:54:54,766 --> 00:55:00,633
Fayette is struggling. The
2078
00:54:56,266 --> 00:55:02,366
failure rate to educate these
2079
00:54:57,733 --> 00:55:03,533
young citizens, these future
2080
00:55:00,633 --> 00:55:05,233
leaders in Jefferson County
2081
00:55:02,366 --> 00:55:05,666
points to reason enough. We've
2082
00:55:03,533 --> 00:55:06,633
got to take a look at doing
2083
00:55:05,233 --> 00:55:07,800
things differently,
2084
00:55:05,666 --> 00:55:09,266
substantially differently.
2085
00:55:06,633 --> 00:55:10,166
>> All right.
2086
00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:12,100
>> Now, my friend.
2087
00:55:09,266 --> 00:55:13,900
>> You've got a minute, sir.
2088
00:55:10,166 --> 00:55:15,033
>> Now that my good friend has
2089
00:55:12,100 --> 00:55:18,933
finished and he's allowed me to
2090
00:55:13,900 --> 00:55:21,166
speak. Thank you, my friend.
2091
00:55:15,033 --> 00:55:22,233
Look, the state should not be
2092
00:55:18,933 --> 00:55:23,366
directing what happens on these
2093
00:55:21,166 --> 00:55:25,500
local levels with respect to
2094
00:55:22,233 --> 00:55:27,200
these boards. We ought to be
2095
00:55:23,366 --> 00:55:31,266
giving support to these boards.
2096
00:55:25,500 --> 00:55:33,833
We should be giving them the
2097
00:55:27,200 --> 00:55:35,500
tools to create better results
2098
00:55:31,266 --> 00:55:38,100
in outcomes. We need to engage
2099
00:55:33,833 --> 00:55:39,466
with them in terms of our
2100
00:55:35,500 --> 00:55:41,366
advisory capacities, and lend
2101
00:55:38,100 --> 00:55:43,100
them the supports that we need.
2102
00:55:39,466 --> 00:55:44,933
With respect to that, let me
2103
00:55:41,366 --> 00:55:46,433
tell you, when we start doing
2104
00:55:43,100 --> 00:55:48,033
that from the federal level, I
2105
00:55:44,933 --> 00:55:49,600
mean the state level, and we
2106
00:55:46,433 --> 00:55:51,033
try to determine how they're
2107
00:55:48,033 --> 00:55:52,266
going to do their business down
2108
00:55:49,600 --> 00:55:54,100
there, we're going to miss the
2109
00:55:51,033 --> 00:55:56,033
mark. I suspect we should allow
2110
00:55:52,266 --> 00:55:57,000
them to do it. They have the
2111
00:55:54,100 --> 00:55:58,166
capacity to do it. They got a
2112
00:55:56,033 --> 00:56:00,033
new superintendent in Jefferson
2113
00:55:57,000 --> 00:56:01,100
County. We ought to give him
2114
00:55:58,166 --> 00:56:02,533
the chance to perform and to
2115
00:56:00,033 --> 00:56:05,100
deal with the challenges he's
2116
00:56:01,100 --> 00:56:06,233
facing. I don't know as much
2117
00:56:02,533 --> 00:56:07,266
about Lexington, but I think
2118
00:56:05,100 --> 00:56:09,233
that they ought to give them
2119
00:56:06,233 --> 00:56:11,100
the opportunity to do that.
2120
00:56:07,266 --> 00:56:12,166
>> Okay. We'll have to leave it
2121
00:56:09,233 --> 00:56:13,333
there. And maybe we pick this
2122
00:56:11,100 --> 00:56:14,366
up next week, because our
2123
00:56:12,166 --> 00:56:15,300
coverage of the 2026 Kentucky
2124
00:56:13,333 --> 00:56:16,333
General Assembly continues next
2125
00:56:14,366 --> 00:56:17,333
Monday night on Kentucky
2126
00:56:15,300 --> 00:56:19,166
tonight, when we'll have
2127
00:56:16,333 --> 00:56:20,333
different leaders who will talk
2128
00:56:17,333 --> 00:56:22,200
about some of these topics and
2129
00:56:19,166 --> 00:56:23,366
more. And we do hope that
2130
00:56:20,333 --> 00:56:24,500
you'll join us each week. Night
2131
00:56:22,200 --> 00:56:26,100
at 630 eastern, 530 central for
2132
00:56:23,366 --> 00:56:27,133
Kentucky Edition, because we'll
2133
00:56:24,500 --> 00:56:28,400
break down what's happening in
2134
00:56:26,100 --> 00:56:38,633
your state government. Until I
2135
00:56:27,133 --> 00:56:38,633
see you again. Take really good
2136
00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:38,633
care. So long.