Governor debate breakdown: Where Kentucky's candidates stand on the big issues A quick guide to each candidate's position Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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VICKI: WELCOME TO THE 2019 KENTUCKY GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE. JOINING ME ON STAGE TONIGHT IS REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN. AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDY BESHEA. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU TO THE KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR PARTNERING WITH WLKY AND PROVIDING THE QUESTIONS FOR THE DEBATE. IF BIG WELCOME TO OUR AUDIENCE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THE DEBATE RULES. PLEASE KEEP EACH CANDIDATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WITHOUT BEING INTERRUPTED. WE BEGAN WITH OPENING STATEMENTS. EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 90 SECONDS FOR OPENING REMARKS. MR. BEVIN WON THE COIN TOSS. GOV. BEVIN: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS. TO THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. I WANT TO THIK MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S WIFE AND CHILDREN. IT IS A GRIND TO GO THROUGH THESE THINGS. AS WE GET CLOSER, THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ON TV, THOSE OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. I WANT TO TELL YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT MYSELF. WE WILL TALK ABOUT A LOT OF IDEAS. I GREW UP IN A HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCE. FINANCIALLY BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, BUT BLESSED TO BE BORN IN A HOME WHERE A MOTHER AND FATHER TAUGHT ME TO RESPECT GOD AND COUNTRY. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. I AM A FATHER OF NINE CHILDREN ANY MILITARY VETERAN. AS SOMEBODY WHO LOVES KENTUCKY AND IS FIGHTING FOR THIS KENTUCKY, IRAN FOUR YEARS AGO ON WHAT I CALLED A BLUEPRINT PREVENT FOR KENTUCKY. I PUT OUT THIS BLUEPRINT AND IT HAD A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, AND MAY HAVE BEEN. WE HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN THEM ALL DONE. WE ARE MAKING INCREDIBLE STRIDES. RECORD LEVELS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I STAND FOR LIFE, I STAND FOR THE CONSTITUTION, I STAND FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND I STAND FOR ENSURING THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF ARE THE BEST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN BECAUSE WE TAKE ON THE TOUGH ISSUES AND WE HOLD KENTUCKY UP AND MAKE IT THE GREATEST VERSION OF ITSELF THAT IT CAN POSSIBLY BE. A.G. BESHEAR: THANK YOU TO WL, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND BELLARMINE FOR HAVING US. WE ARE 10 DAYS FROM THE SELECTION AND I AM FIRED UP. I AM FIRED UP BECAUSE I SEE IN ENERGY AND HUNGER ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY. A HUNGER FOR A GOVERNOR THAT LISTENS MORE THAN HE TALKS. A HUNGER FOR A GOVERNOR THAT SOLVES MORE PROBLEMS THAN HE CREATES. AND A HUNGER FOR A GOVERNOR THAT WOULD NEVER ENGAGE IN BULLYING AND NAME CALLING, BUT SPENDS ALL HIS TIME ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US. THAT’S THE TYPE OF GOVERNOR I WANT TO BE. ONE FOR EVERY DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT. ONE THAT FIGHTS FOR EASTERN, WESTERN, NORTHERN AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE LOSS AND THE LEFT BEHIND. I SEE A KENTUCKY WHERE WE HAVE BEEN DIVIDED. I SEE A GOVERNOR THAT HAS TRIED TO CREATE IN US VERSUS THEM. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE STATE. I LOVE THIS COMMONWEALTH. I KNOW WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IF WE CONTINUE TO DIVIDE OURSELVES. IF WE HAVE A THIS SIDE OR THAT SIDE, WE CANNOT HAVE AN US OR THEM, WE CAN ONLY HAVE A WEEK AND WILL FORWARD TOGETHER. I HAVE A VISION FOR A BIGGER, BETTER, BRIGHTER KENTUCKY. ONE WERE WE COULD BE AN NATIONAL LEADER IN AREAS LIKE AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING AND HEALTH CARE. ONE WHERE WE CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND ENSURING EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. I BELIEVE IN LIFTING UP OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ENDING THE BULLYING WE SEE ON OUR TEACHERS, AND MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER FOR OUR CHILDREN. VICKI: EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER YOU TO QUESTION. CANDIDATES WILL BE ALLOWED A 32ND REBUTTAL IF NEEDED FOR CLARIFICATION. MR. BASHIR WILL RECEIVE QUESTION NUMBER ONE FIRST. VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED BY NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR FOR POLITICIANS. AS GOVERNOR HOWELL YOU FOSTER CIVIL DISCOURSE AND BIPARTISAN COOPERATION TO SOLVE THIS. A.G. BESHEAR: WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH LAST FOUR YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN A GOVERNOR WHO HAS ATTACKED OUR TEACHERS. ACCUSE THEM OF CAUSING CRIMES TO TEACHERS. WE HAVE SEEN MINISTERS DON’T AGREE. WE DESPERATELY NEED TO CHANGE IN TONE. THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE BEHAVIOR OF OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR IS THE EXCEPTION OR RULE. IT IS TIME FOR A GOVERNOR THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER. THAT CAN CHANGE THE TONE TO ONE OF CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE. YOU CANNOT CALL PEOPLE NAMES AND THEN ASKED THEM TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH YOU. I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY WHO WANTS A BETTER KENTUCKY. THAT’S DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS AND THE PEOPLE ACROSS KENTUCKY. NO ONE WILL EVER BE LOCKED OUT OF THEIR CAPITAL EVER AGAIN. INSTEAD, EVERYONE WILL BE INVITED IN TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS. THE BEST IDEAS OFTEN COME FROM OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING. IMAGINE A STATE WITH UNITY OF PURPOSE. WERE WE KNOW PUBLIC EDUCATION, PENSIONS, HEALTH CARE AND JOBS ARE NOT PARTISAN. GOV. BEVIN: POLITICAL DISCOURSE IS MISSING IN OUR SOCIETY. I TOOK A MOMENT BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS DEBATE. I WENT OUTSIDE TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN ON BOTH SIDES THAT WERE OUT THERE WAVING SIGNS. THEY WERE WAVING SIGNS IN SUPPORT OF ME AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. I WAS STRUCK BY THE DIFFERENCE AMONG THOSE WAVING SIGNS. SOME MORE GRATEFUL. BOTH SIDES SAID HELLO. THERE WAS A LEVEL OF VICTORY. THERE WAS SOME NASTINESS THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAS BECOME A PART OF WHAT WE SEE NOW. IT DOES FALL UPON US IN THE POLITICAL WORLD TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS. IT WAS PARENTS. IT STARTS IN OUR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. IT INCLUDES OUR CHURCHES, EVERY SINGLE NE OF US HAS A RESPONSIBILITY. IT STARTS WITH EACH ONE OF US AS A INDIVIDUAL. I HAVE FOUGHT TO ENSURE WE TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE DISAGREEMENTS I AM GRATEFUL WE LIVE IN AN AMERICA WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISAGREE. A.G. BESHEAR: THOSE FOLKS OUTSIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR JUST ACCUSED OF VITRIOL ARE TEACHERS. THEY ARE WEARING RED AND HAVE BEEN BULLIED FOR FAR TOO LONG. THE ATTACKS CONTINUE TONIGHT. THESE ARE AMAZING PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT NEED TO BE LIFTED UP, NOT PUSHED DOWN. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND WORK EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T PAY THEM ENOUGH. IF I AM FRIEND LAURA WHO DRIVES UBER AT NIGHT TO MAKE ENDS MEET AFTER TEACHING DURING THE DAY. THIS GOVERNOR SAID THAT’S AMERICA, IT’S NOT. WE OUGHT TO DO BETTER FOR THEM. GOV. BEVIN: LET ME SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY. THE PERSON I WAS POKING -- SPEAKING TO WAS NOT A TEACHER. ARE YOU TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT WHO I SPOKE TO OR WHO THEY WERE IS A BIG MISTAKE ON YOUR PART. VICKI: MR. BEVIN, LET’S GO TO QUESTION NUMBER TWO. HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING OF CONTENTION PENSIONS -- KENTUCKY PENSIONS HAS HAD WIDE IMPACTS. WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE TO HELP THE KENTUCKY PENSION SYSTEM? GOV. BEVIN: THE PENSION SYSTEM HAS COLLAPSED IN KENTUCKY AND PUBLIC PENSION SYSTEMS IN AMERICA HAS. THERE USED TO BE 30 PEOPLE DOWN HERE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS RETIRED. THEN THERE WERE 20, 15, 12 THAN 10. SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY HAS 3.5 FOR EVERYONE RETIRED. NOBODY BELIEVES SOCIAL SECURITY WILL LAST. KENTUCKY HAS LESS THAN ONE. THIS SYSTEM HAS COLLAPSED. THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE IT, TO KEEP THE PROMISE THAT HAS BEEN MADE IS TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE FOR FUTURE EMPLOYEES. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO PROMISE FUTURE PEOPLE THE SAME THING THAT CURRENT AND PAST EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN PROMISED IF THERE IS TO BE ANY CHANCE THAT ANY OF THEM WILL GET WHAT’S PROMISE. IT IS ABOUT REALITY ON ITS IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP KICKING US CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I AM THE ONLY GOVERNOR TO FUND THIS PENSION AND KENTUCKY HISTORY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AND FIGHT TO MAKE SURE IT’S REQUIRED BY LAW. A.G. BESHEAR: IT IS A PROMISE WE MADE EVERY POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER AND SOCIAL WORKER. ALTHOUGH WE DON’T PAY THEM ENOUGH, WE WOULD MAKE IT UP WITH A SECURE RETIREMENT. THIS GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATOR BROKE THAT PROMISE. THEY TRIED TO ILLEGALLY CUT THE RETIREMENTS OF OVER 200,000 PUBLIC SERVANTS. THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT THEY THINK OF US. WE DEFEATED THEM, 7-0 IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT. WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW. THEY ARE PUSHING THOSE COSTS DOWN ON CITIES AND COUNTIES. MATT BEVIN IS RAISING OUR TAXES TO TRY TO PAY FOR THIS PENSION SYSTEM. IT IS TIME FOR NEW DEDICATED REVENUE. IT HAS TO BE IN A FORM OF EXPANDED GAMING WHERE WE LOSE $550 MILLION A YEAR. IT HAS TO BE IN A FORM OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA. IN THE FORM OF ENDING THESE TAXES FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE PAYING CUT RATE SALARIES TO COMPANIES. LET’S CLOSE LOOPHOLES. PEOPLE THAT FIVE PRIVATE JETS CAN AFFORD TO PAY SALES TAX. VICKI: MR. BEVIN REBUTTAL. GOV. BEVIN: I THINK THAT WAS MEANT TO BE FUNNY. WE TALK ABOUT BREAKING PROMISES. THE ONLY LEGISLATOR, THE ONLY GOVERNOR THAT IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE HAS EVER FULLY FUNDED THE PENSION, EVER, IS MYSELF AND THE CURRENT LEGISLATOR. WE HAVE TRIED THROUGH LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE THIS. BUT IT HAS BEEN FOUGHT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAVE THE SYSTEM IF WE KEEP MAKING PROMISES TO PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW WE CAN’T DELIVER ON. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE HONEST. SOMEONE SAID AS WE BEGAN THAT THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. IT IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. IT’S ALSO MATH AND WE CANNOT MAKE PROMISES THAT THERE IS NO MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO BACK UP. VICK CITIES LIKE LOUISVILLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH SKYROCKETING PENSION CAUSE, BUT THEIR LEADERS SAY THEY ARE HINDERED BY STATE LAW AND THEIR ABILITY TO RAISE REVENUE. WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SUPPORT TO ALLOW CITIES TO RAISE MORE MONEY? A.G. BESHEAR: IF I CAN RESPOND TO WHAT WE JUST HEARD, THERE IS A REASON THAT THE PATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HAVE ENDORSED MY TICKET. IT’S BECAUSE THEY TRUST US TO ADDRESS THIS PENSION SYSTEM. I BELIEVE POLICE ARE PRETTY GOOD AT GETTING TO THE FACTS AND MAKING THE JUDGMENT ABOUT WHO CAN MOVE THEM FORWARD AND WHAT THE UNDERLYING FACTS ARE. THE REASON THAT OUR COUNTIES ARE SCRAMBLING FOR THIS EXTRA REVENUE IS THAT THIS GOVERNOR HAS PUSHED THOSE PENSION COSTS ON TOP OF THEM. INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT NEW REVENUE SOURCES WHERE INDIANA IS EATING OUR LUNCH, AND TENNESSEE JUST LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING, THAT IN THIS MARKET ON YOUR STATION WE GET ADVERTISEMENT FOR SPORTS BETTING. WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THOSE DOWN, THOSE COSTS DOWN ON CITIES AND COUNTIES. WE ARE GOING TO LEGALIZE CASINO GAMING AND SPORTS BETTING. WE WILL PAVE THE WAY FROM LINE POKER. WE WILL CREATE THE TYPE OF REVENUE THAT INDIANA HAS TAKEN FROM US AND PUT ON THEIR ROADS AND PENSIONS. LET’S STEP UP, DO THE RIGHT THING, LET’S STOP THE BLEEDING AND NOT CONTINUE TO GET EXCUSES WHILE WE CREATE NEW REVENUE. GOV. BEVIN WE HAD RECORD LEVELS OF REVENUE IN KENTUCKY AFTER WE CUT BOTH PERSONAL AND THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATES BY 17%. WE HAD THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF REVENUE IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. YOU TALK ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE ONLY GOVERNOR THAT HAS NEVER SWEPT THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR IS A MAN WHO TOOK $117 OUT OF THERE IN EIGHT YEARS TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS. I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT, I NEVER WILL AND I HAVE NEVER SWEPT THE LOTTERY FUNDS. 100% HAS GONE TO EDUCATION FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF BUDGETS IN OUR COUNTY. THEY HAVE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE STAIN THAT THIS -- SEEM THAT THE STATE HAS. IT’S CALLED FINANCIAL REALITY AND THE BURDEN OF HANDLING MORE RETIREES THAN WORKERS. THIS WILL NOT GO AWAY WITH WISHFUL THINKING. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE IS 0% CHANCE THAT THIS LEGISLATOR WILL EVER PASS CASINO GAMBLING IN THE STATE. THEY HAVE SAID THIS EXPLICITLY, THEY SAID THIS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS IN A ROW. VICKI: REBUTTAL. A.G. BESHEAR: ONLY ONE OF US ON THE STAGE HAS TRIED TO ILLEGALLY CUT THE BUDGET OF THEM. ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE STATE WANTS TO PUSH FOR NEW DEDICATED REVENUE TOWARDS THAT PENSION SYSTEM AND THAT IS ME. VICKI: WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC PROPOSALS AND JOBS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. GOV. BEVIN: I AM NOT TRYING TO CUT THE PENSIONS, I AM TRYING TO SAVE THE PENSIONS. EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, EVERY DOLLAR THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT, EVERY ROAD, TEXTBOOK, TAXPAYER DOLLAR SPENT ON PAYING STATE EMPLOYEES IS PAID OUT OF TAXES THAT COME FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE AND PAY TAXES. I AM THE ONLY ONE ON THE STAGE I HAS EVER CREATED A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE. THIS IS SOMETHING I DID IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SOMETHING I HAVE DONE. WE HAD 57,000 NEW JOBS IN THE STATE. THE MOST PEOPLE WORKING OUT IN KENTUCKY IN HISTORY OUR RECORDS. RECORD LEVELS OF EXPORTS. RECORD LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT, RECORD LEVELS OF EVERYTHING POSITIVE FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT. THESE ARE FROM EAST TO WEST AND THESE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY FOCUS AS WE GO FORWARD IN THE YEARS AHEAD. A.G. BESHEAR: I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WORK A HARD WEEK, YOU OUGHT TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOUR FAMILY WORKING OUT ONE JOB. BUT THE GOVERNOR’S ANSWER SHOWS HOW OUT OF TOUCH HE IS. OUR FAMILIES AREN’T FEELING THIS PROSPERITY. IT’S GOING TO THAT OUT-OF-STATE CEO. MOST FAMILIES ARE WORKING AS HARD AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, BUT THEIR WAGES RARELY GO UP. THE PRICE OF GROCERIES, PHARMACEUTICALS GOES UP MONTH AFTER MONTH SO OUR FAMILIES ARE WORKING HARD, BUT FALLING FURTHER BEHIND. I HAVE A VISION WHERE WE WILL NOT BE THE THIRD POOREST STATE IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH WE ARE. BUT WHERE WE CAN BE A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEADER. IT’S ABOUT CREATING A GROTESQUE SECTOR WHAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR FOOD SUPPLY BY 70% IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS TO FEED THE WORLD’S POPULATION. THAT CREATES SIX-FIGURE JOBS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. JUST REMEMBER, IT’S ABOUT 82% OF JOBS THAT THE GOVERNOR CLAIMS HE HAS CREATED HAS BEEN INTO CITIES. EVERYBODY ELSE’S BEING LEFT OUT. I BELIEVE IF YOU LIVE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY OR EASTERN KENTUCKY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD JOB IN YOUR COMMUNITY. GOV. BEVIN I DON’T HAVE TIME TO REBUTTAL EVERY ONE OF THEM. THESE ARE NOT TRUE. PRETTY FAR WESTERN, PRETTY GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY BROUGHT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, WE KEEP RIPPING -- NUCOR IS BUILDING A $1.5 BILLION PLANT. LET ME SIMPLY SAY THAT, FORD, TOYOTA, AMAZON, ALL OF THESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE EMPLOYED SO MANY PEOPLE, AS WELL AS GE IN TOWN, THEY ALL HAVE OUT-OF-STATE CEOS. NO GOVERNOR WOULD EVER RIP OUT-OF-STATE CEOS BECAUSE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON IT. VICKI: MR. BEVIN -- MR. BESHEA WHAT ARE YOUR TAX PROPOSALS FOR MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES? A.G. BESHEAR: I JUST HEARD THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH DEPENDS ON OUT-OF-STATE CEOS. FUTURE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH IS FOUND IN CLASSROOMS. IT’S THE WORKFORCE WE ARE CREATING. THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CREATE JOBS EVERY YEAR THAN ANY OUT-OF-STATE CEO PROVIDES. I AM WITH OUR FAMILIES. THIS GOVERNOR WITH THOSE OUT-OF-STATE CEOS. WHAT HE ANNOUNCED THE OTHER DAY. HIS TAX PROPOSAL WOULD HARM ALMOST ALL OF US. HE WANTS TO CUT TAXES FOR HIM AND HIS BUDDIES. HE CALLS THEM JOB CREATORS. HE THINKS THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES OF PEOPLE. I DON’T AGREE. AT THE SAME TIME HE WANTS TO CUT THEIR TAXES HE WANTS TO RAISE THE SALE TAX ON EVERYBODY ELSE. I WILL NEVER ALLOW TAXES TO GO UP ON THOSE THAT ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM FALLING INTO POVERTY. IT IS TIME FOR NEW DEDICATED REVENUE. WE HAVE MORE THAN $550 MILLION JUST SITTING THERE FOR AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. IT PUTS COST DOWN ON CITIES AND HAVE THEM RAISE TAXES TO TALK ABOUT RAISING SALES TAXES WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING IS WRONG. GOV. BEVIN: WHO DO YOU THINK IS IN THE CASINOS THAT YOU KEEP PROMISING YOU CAN NEVER DELIVER ON? A LOT OF PEOPLE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM WHAT YOU DESCRIBE. THAT IS ONE OF THE CRUELEST AND MOST REGRESSIVE THINGS YOU COULD EVER DO TO THE STATE. TRY TO FORCE ON US THAT WHAT WE CLEARLY DON’T WANT, WHICH OUR LEGISLATORS DON’T WANT AND WE HAVE NOT WANTED. HIS HYPOTHETICAL $550 MILLION IS NOT TRUE. HOW DID WE GET INTO THE PLACE WE ARE? WE HAD ONE PARTY IN CHARGE OF THE STATE FOR 90 SIX STRAIGHT YEARS IN TERMS OF APPROPRIATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I AM THE FOURTH REPUBLICAN IN 100 YEARS. IF WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE, IF WE WANT TO SEE PROGRESS, IF WE WANT A BRIGHTER FUTURE, IT’S TIME TO KEEP GOING FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARD. A.G. BESHEAR: I WILL TELL YOU WHO IS IN THOSE CASINOS. IT’S KENTUCKIANS. GO ACROSS THE RIVER AND THERE IS THE CAP -- A CASINO. EVERY LICENSE PLATE IS FROM A KENTUCKY IN. THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR ENTERTAINMENT DOLLARS THERE AND INDIANA IS TAKING A CUT TO PAY FOR ITS ROADS TO PUT TOWARDS ITS PENSIONS TO TRY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR FOLKS. TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION. THIS IS A STATE RUN BY THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS COMING TO CAMPAIGN FOR THIS GOVERNOR. WE NEED EXPANDED GAMING RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY. IT’S A WAY THAT WE CAN CREATE THE REVENUE WE NEED. DEDICATED REVENUE FOR OUR PENSION SYSTEM. VICKI: MANY KENTUCKIANS ARE WORKING FULL-TIME JOBS STRUGGLING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO RAISE WAGES FOR WORKERS OF KENTUCKY? GOV. BEVIN: THAD COCHRAN TO AND TO MAKE SURE THERE IS TRAINING THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT SKILLS THEY NEED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. IT’S NOT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND NOR HAS IT LASTED A SHORT BLIMP WHEN GOVERNMENT INCREASES WAGES. I AM SOMEONE WHO GREW U BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE NO HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. THESE ARE EXPERIENCES I HAD ON MY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. I WAS IN MY 20’S AS AN ACTIVE-DUTY ARMY OFFICER. I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITY. HERE’S WHAT I KNOW. THE MORE I LEARN IN THE MORE SKILLS I HAD, THE MORE PEOPLE COMPETED FOR MY ABILITY. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO COMPETED, THE MORE POWER I HAD IN FIGURING OUT WHAT I WOULD BE MADE. WE HAVE SEEN WAGES GOING UP IN THE STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS. ARE WE STILL NEAR THE BOTTOM? WE ARE. BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE TURNED THE DIRECTION AFTER 96 YEARS FROM BAD LEADERSHIP, WE STARTED TO MOVE IN A GOOD DIRECTION. IT IS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD. I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER CREATED JOBS ON THE STAGE. THE FIRST PERSON MY OPPONENT EVER HIRED IS WATCHING THIS DEBATE FROM PRISON. A.G. BESHEAR: WE ARE 47 IN THE COUNTRY AND PER CAPITAL INCOME. THAT MEANS WE ARE THE POOREST. 70 KENT -- ONLY 70 GO UP. THERE ARE MANY WERE CURRENT CAPITAL INCOME IS GOING DOWN. OUR PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING. THIS PROSPERITY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT IS NOT REACHING US. I WILL BE THE GOVERNOR THAT DOES NOT RELY ON ANY NUMBER OF JOBS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALL CREATED. JUST ASK PIKE COUNTY, WHO WAS COUNTING ON A COMPANY. THEY SAID THERE WERE THE ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS PLUS AN INVESTMENT. DID NOT HAPPEN IN WAS NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. IT WAS FALSE HOPE. IT’S TIME WE MAKE THE INVESTMENTS IN AREAS WHERE WE CREATE SIX-FIGURE JOBS ACROSS KENTUCKY. WERE WE DECIDE THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN BE A LEADER. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, ROBOTICS, THE ENGINEERING PORTION OF THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HEALTH CARE. I AM TIRED OF BEING LAST. BY FOCUSING AND HAVING A VISION, INSTEAD OF MORE OF THE SAME, WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER. GOV. BEVIN: IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT PEOPLE WILL PERISH, AND WE DID FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE CENTURY. IT’S EASY TO SAY PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THAT MIGHT BE TRUE. BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE FIND SOMEBODY THAT PEOPLE WE WOULD LOOK TO FIND JOBS. AND EVERYBODY WHO LOOKS AT THIS FROM THE OUTSIDE, BLOOMBERG AMONG OTHERS, LOOKS AT KENTUCKY AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF CAPITAL BEING INVESTED, JOBS CREATED, AND THERE ARE A FEW OF ANY STATES AND THEN PER CAPITA THAT ARE DOING MORE THAN WE HAVE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. VICKI: EDUCATION IS OUR NEXT TOPIC. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF PER-PUPIL FUNDING IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. ON THE OTHER, THAT FUNDING HAS DECREASED WHEN ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION. HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS ATTIC -- ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION? . GOV. BEVIN: I AM A GRADUATE OF KENTUCKY’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I BELIEVE IN OUR TEACHER SO MUCH I SELECTED RUN AS MY RUNNING MATE. SHE WILL BE THE FIRST ACTIVE EDUCATOR TO SERVE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME. WE HAVE AN EDUCATION LAND ON ANDY BESHEAR.COM THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW WE WILL SHRINK CLASS SIZE. WE’VE WILL PROVIDE $2000 RAISE THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE EARNED SO WE CAN END THE TEACHER SHORTAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE A YEAR-ROUND SUBSTITUTE FOR CLASSES AS IMPORTANT AS OUT OF BREATH AND OTHER SCIENCE CLASSES. WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BUDGET FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FIRST. BEFORE WE REACH ANYTHING ELSE WE WILL MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. IT IS TIME THAT WE LOOK AT RAISING THAT FORMULA. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH STUDENT IS GETTING THE FUNDING THEY NEED AND DON’T BELIEVE THAT THIS GOVERNOR SOMEHOW FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION. JUST ASK MY RUNNING MATE. UNDER HIS BUDGET SHE HAD TO LAY OFF 10 OF ADULTS IN HER BUILDING. 10. GOV. BEVIN: WHEN BUDGETS ARE CUT ANYWHERE IN AMERICA, PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR, PEOPLE SOMETIMES LOSE THEIR JOBS, BUT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WORKING TODAY THAN EVER IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC EDUCATION. MY GRANDMOTHER RETIRED AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. MY FATHER WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. I BROTHER AND SISTER HAVE BOTH BEEN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. SHE IS STILL A FOURTH GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER HEARING KENTUCKY. I UNDERSTAND THIS FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE. LAST YEAR WHEN THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WERE LEFT HOME AS PEOPLE CAME TO LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD IN NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS WERE DISRUPTED, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES, SOME OF THOSE PUBLIC SCHOOL OR MINE. YOU SAY YOU ARE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL, BUT YOU HAVE NEVER TRUSTED THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE WITH THE EDUCATION OF YOUR OWN CHILDREN. I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE DO OH MONEY TO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO PROVIDE IT FOR. EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON EVERYTHING COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYERS IN OUR STATE. A.G. BESHEAR: WHAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AS A GOVERNOR THAT WOULD GO AFTER SOMEBODY’S KIDS. I WILL MAKE YOU A FEW PROMISES. I WILL NEVER BULLY OTHER KENTUCKY TEAMS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. I WILL NEVER TRY TO TEAR PEOPLE OFF OF THEIR HEALTH CARE OR BREAK A PROMISE THAT I HAVE MADE TO FOLKS THAT HAVE A SOLID RETIREMENT. THOSE ARE KENTUCKY VALUES AND THOSE ARE THE VALUES I WAS RAISED WITH. NO MATTER WHAT, MY OPPONENT SAYS ABOUT ME OR TO ME TONIGHT, I WILL NEVER BRING UP HIS KIDS IN THIS DEBATE OR ANY OTHER. GOV. BEVIN: LET ME SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY. I AM NOT CHALLENGING HIS CHILDREN. THIS WAS A DECISION THAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE MADE. THIS IS A CHALLENGE TO YOU AND THE DECISION YOU MADE. THEY DID NOT DECIDE WHERE THEY WOULD GO TO SCHOOL, YOU CHOSE TO REJECT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. VICKI: LET’S MOVE ON. A.G. BESHEAR MY KIDS GOT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD GET, THEY GOT TO GO TO PRESCHOOL. THAT LETS THEM BE KINDERGARTEN READY AND EVERY CHILD DESERVES A OPPORTUNITY. BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT FUNDED UNIVERSAL PRE-K THEY HAD TO GO TO A PRIVATE PRESCHOOL AND WE FELL IN LOVE AT THAT SCHOOL. BUT EVERY YEAR I PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS GOVERNOR HAS NOT ONLY TRY TO GET OUT OF THEM ON THE MANSION HE BOUGHT AT HALF-PRICE, HE HAS TRIED TO APPEAL THE AMOUNT TO A BOARD THAT HE APPOINTED AND WANTS TO SHORTCHANGE US THAT MUCH. MY SON THIS SATURDAY IS TAKING THE EXAM TO HEAD TO A PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE ARE EXCITED AND PROUD. VICKI: QUESTION NUMBER EIGHT CONTINUES WITH EDUCATION. YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOL VOUCHERS? GOV. BEVIN: YES. I WILL TELL YOU JUST FOR THE SAME REASON THE GENTLEMAN TO MY RIGHT MADE. EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE. EVERY CHILD. ASKED THE KIDS IN THE INNER CITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND OTHER PLACES. THEY DESERVE A SHOT WITH THE VERY SAME OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE GIVEN TO YOUR CHILDREN AND I HAVE PROVIDED TO MINE AND SO MANY WATCHING. EVERYBODY DOES, WHETHER THEY COULD AFFORD TO OR NOT. WHY SHOULD WE NOT HAVE TO WISH AND TAX CREDIT? WHY SHOULD WE NOT ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF OR YOU OR ANYONE ELSE TO BE ABLE TO GET A CREDIT FOR THAT MONEY FROM THE STATE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALLOW A CHILD TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THAT THEIR PARENTS CHOOSE, JUST AS YOU AND YOUR WIFE DID. I DO THINK WE SHOULD GIVE OURSELVES BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. TAKE A LOOK AT THE TESTING GOING ON IN THIS DAY. LOOK AT JEFFERSON COUNTY. 70% OF BLACK KIDS IN THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM CANNOT READ AT GRADE LEVEL. THAT IS REPREHENSIBLE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND WE’LL BETTER CHOICES TO THOSE IN OUR IT IS -- IN OUR INNER CITIES. A.G. BESHEAR: MY WIFE IS HERE WITH ME TONIGHT. I LOVE YOU. THIS GOVERNOR OWES YOU AN APOLOGY. I’M PRETTY SURE YOU WILL NOT GET IT. I AM OPPOSED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THESE GOUGERS. THIS GOVERNOR IS THE SINGLE GREATEST THREAT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION WE HAVE EVER SEEN. LISTEN TO THAT ANSWER. HIS PROPOSALS, HIS POLICIES THREATEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS ALL AROUND KENTUCKY AND WILL RESULT IN THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS IF HE GETS HIS WAY. MOST OF KENTUCKY, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU’RE A DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT. YOUR KIDS GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN YOUR SYSTEM CANNOT AFFORD A CHARTER SCHOOL. WHAT HE WOULD DO WITH FUNDING, HOW IT WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC SYSTEM WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMONWEALTH. DO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO DO BETTER? YES. EVERY CHILD WE FAIL IS ALL OF OUR FAILURES. THOUGH SYSTEMS NEED IN OUR EYE NOT AN ADVERSARY. NOT SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS A BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT CARES MORE ABOUT FOR-PROFIT CHARTER SCHOOLS. MY VERY FIRST WEEK OF GOVERNOR, WE WILL GET A WHOLE NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION, ONE THAT CARES ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. GOV. BEVIN WHEN I RE-STRUCTURED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THIS STATE I WAS SUED BY THIS GUY, BUT NOW HE WILL DO THE SAME THING ON DAY ONE. I WILL SAY THIS, WHICH IS INTERESTING, YOU TALK ABOUT THE FOCUS ON OUR SCHOOLS. EACH YOU TALKING ABOUT FOR-PROFIT CHARTER SCHOOLS. THERE ARE NONE OF THOSE IN KENTUCKY. NOBODY IS A PROSE -- OPPOSED TO BRINGING THOSE. LEGISLATION PASSED ONLY ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS PAID FOR BY PUBLIC EDUCATION DOLLARS. THEY ARE STAFFED BY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ARE QUALIFIED THE SAME WAYS AS OTHER. 100% OF CHILDREN ARE CHOSEN TO GO THERE BY THEIR PARENTS AND PAID FOR WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION DOLLARS. THEY ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. VICKI: WILL YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO FULLY FUND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY BILL THAT WAS PASSED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. A.G. BESHEAR: ABSOLUTELY. EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BE SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TOO MANY ENTRANCES AND EXITS. THEY ARE SADLY A SOFT TARGET. WE NEED TO PUT THE FUNDING IN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NEVER PRAYED UPON BY SOMEONE WHO WOULD COMMIT VIOLENCE. EACH AND EVERY FAMILY ON TO FEEL THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE WHILE THEY ARE IN SCHOOL. I BELIEVE EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS AND SRO AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THEY NEED THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, TO MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN IN THAT SCHOOL WILL LEAVE THAT THEY ARE THERE TO HELP AND TO PROTECT THEM. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EACH AND EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT IS OUT THERE. BUT LET ME GO BACK IF I CAN TO THE FUNDING ISSUE. THERE IS A TEACHER IN BRANDENBURG WHO JUST HAD TO COMBINE HER STUDENT LOAN WITH HER CHILD’S STUDENT LOAN. IF WE BELIEVE WE ARE FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT THIS GOVERNOR HAS DONE ENOUGH, JUST LOOK AT THAT. THAT IS WRONG. GOV. BEVIN: THERE IS NO CORRELATION TO STUDENT DEBT AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE FUNDING EDUCATION. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU GOT A DEGREE IN. MY QUESTION IS THIS. THE QUESTION YOU HAVE ASKED IS IS IT RELATES TO WHAT AGAIN? VICKI: SCHOOL SAFETY BILL. GOV. BEVIN: I WAS LEADING THE CHARGE WITH OUR LEGISLATOR. I HAVE SAT WITH THESE FAMILIES. YOU TALK ABOUT APOLOGIES. YOU OH AN APOLOGY FOR THE COURTESY OF A RESPONSE TO THE FAMILIES AND MARSHALL COUNTY THAT YOU STOOD ON THE STAGE IN THE LAST DEBATE AND SAID THAT YOU HAD MET WITH THEM. YOU HAVE NOT MET WITH THEM. THEY DON’T KNOW YOU, YOU HAVE NOT MET WITH THEM SINCE THEY MADE IT CLEAR THEY DON’T KNOW YOU. THE EXTENT THAT YOU SPOKE TO ANYBODY, THEY DON’T KNOW WHO YOU SPOKE TO. YOU OWN THEM THE COURTESY. WE ONLY TO THEM TO KEEP THEM SAFE NOT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALONE, BUT THE PARENTS WHO TAKE THEM THERE AND THE BUS DRIVERS. I AM TO MAKING SURE WE TRULY SECURE THE CAMPUS. THAT INCLUDES MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THESE NOT TO BE KNOWN AS GUN FREE ZONES. IF THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP A THREAT, PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO TARGET OUR SCHOOLS, THEATERS AND OTHER PLACES KNOWN TO BE GUN FREE IN THEIR ENTIRETY. A.G. BESHEAR 48 HOURS AFTER THE TRAGIC SHOOTING AND MARSHALL COUNTY I WENT TO MEET WITH THE PROSECUTORS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SMALL OFFICERS. I WAS COMMITTING EVERY RESOURCE WE HAD. I TALKED TO ONE ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR WHOSE WIFE TAUGHT AT THE SCHOOL AND HE WENT THERE. HE MET WITH THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WALKED ME UP TO THE GRAND JURY WANT -- ROOM OR WE SPOKE WITH FAMILIES FOR THE VERY FIRST HEARING. WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE HEARING WOULD BE LIKE AND I PLEDGE THAT EVERY SINGLE RESOURCE, WHICH WE HAVE PROVIDED. WE HAVE HELPED THE PROSECUTORS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WE HAVE HAD VERY -- VICTIMS ADVOCATES AT EVERY HEARING AND GOT A GRANT TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE AND MARSHALL COUNTY WERE PEOPLE CAN, WATCH THE TRIAL WITH VICTIMS ADVOCATES THERE BECAUSE THAT TRIAL IS IN HOPKINSVILLE% AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE SERVICES ARE THERE TO WRAP AROUND THOSE VICTIMS. VICK LET’S SWITCH GEARS TO HEALTH CARE. WHAT SHOULD THE STATE’S GOVERNMENT ROLE BE IN HEALTH CARE? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO HELP KENTUCKIANS GAIN ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, WHETHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY PROVIDED? >> I AM STILL ASKING YOU TO RESPOND TO THE LETTER WRITTEN BY THE FAMILIES. A.G. BESHEAR: I WROTE A LETTER -- LETTER BACK TO THE FAMILY JUDGE. GOV. BEVIN RESPOND TO THE FAMILIES. I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER LIVED WITHOUT HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EVER LIVED WITHOUT COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. THERE IS A LOT OF TALKS YOU GIVE ABOUT HOW I WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM PEOPLE. AND YOUR FATHER I LOST MY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION ON HE WAS THE GOVERNOR. NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS STATE HAS LOST COVERAGE DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR. NOR WILL THEY AS LONG AS I AM FOCUSED ON THIS. WE WANT NOT JUST HEALTH COVERAGE, WE WANT BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. I BELIEVE IN ABLE BODY WORKING AGE MEN AND WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO COULD GO TO WORK AND DON’T HAVE DEPENDENTS SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FREE HEALTH CARE THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE TO THEM MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE, THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR. I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE AT THEIR HELM. A.G. BESHEAR: HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR PARENTS OR KIDS TO A DOCTOR WHEN THEY ARE SICK. DYING FIGHTING THIS GOVERNOR WHO IS TRYING TO TEAR AWAY COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. THAT’S WHY I AM GOING AFTER BIG PHARMA. THIS LAST WEEK I ANNOUNCED NEARLY $40 MILLION OF SETTLEMENTS FOR FOLKS THAT COUCH MEDICAID OR WOMEN IN THIS COMMONWEALTH. I CONTINUED TO GO AFTER THE EVENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE CHARGING 300 TO $500 FOR A VIAL THAT COST $700 TO MAKE. THIS GOVERNOR’S EXPANDED MEDICAID WAIVER IS CRUEL. IT IS SHOWN IN ARKANSAS THAT THE PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OFF THEIR COVERAGE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY WORKING. IT CREATES BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE AND TEARS HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM PEOPLE. WHAT DID WE LEARN THIS LAST WEEK? HE WILL SPEND $270 MILLION OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF OF HEALTH CARE. THERE CANNOT BE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF US IN THIS RACE. I WILL PROTECT YOUR PRE-EXISTING CONDITION COVERAGE. GOV. BEVIN: A LOT OF LIES THERE. NOBODY IN THIS STATE HAS LOST ANY COVERAGE DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I AM THE ONLY ONE ON A STAGE THAT EVER LOST HEALTH CARE DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AND IT WAS WHILE YOUR FATHER WAS THE GOVERNOR. THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THIS, NOT BECAUSE THIS MEDICAID WAIVER WE ARE LOOKING FOR, NOT BECAUSE IT DAMAGES THEM ARE HERDS THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE, OR BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM BETTER ABILITY TO REACH PEOPLE. IT GIVES BETTER ABILITY TO GET ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE WERE MEDICAID SHOULD NOT BE A DEAD-END LIFE. AS FAR AS THE 271 MILLION DOLLARS IS CONCERNED, THAT IS THE CEILING UP TO WHICH WE WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO GO. EVEN IF WE WENT THERE, IT SAVES $500 MILLION THE YEAR, SO YOU GET TWICE THE RETURN. IT WILL COST $100 MILLION A YEAR TO SAVE 500 AND MORE PEOPLE WILL BE GETTING HEALTH COVERAGE, BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET. VICKI: LET’S MOVE TO NUMBER 11. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RECENTLY HEARD ARGUMENTS FOR WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME MEDICAID RECIPIENTS. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THESE REQUIREMENTS AND WHY? A.G. BESHEAR: I BELIEVE HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. I WOULD RESCIND THIS MEDICAID WAIVER. THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT REPORT. IT WILL COST US $270 MILLION TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF OF THEIR COVERAGE. THE REASON THAT NO ONE HAS LOST COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITION UNDER THIS GOVERNOR IS THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM HE IS TRYING AND. IT WAS IN BOWLING GREEN THAT HE SAID WE SHOULD GO BACK TO HOW WE TREATED PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS BEFORE THAT HEALTH CARE REFORM. THE YOU KNOW IT HAPPENED? PEOPLE LOST THEIR COVERAGE AND RUN OUT OF MONEY, SOMETIMES THEY EVEN RAN OUT OF LIFE. I WENT TO CHURCH WITH A WOMAN FOR 10 YEARS. SHE HAD NUMEROUS PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. VERY SERIOUS. HER LAST NIGHT ON EARTH WAS CHRISTMAS EVE THIS LAST YEAR AND SHE CAME TO CHURCH AND STOPPED ME AS WE LEFT THE SERVICE. SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO THANK ME FOR FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM BECAUSE IT ALLOWED HER SIX EXTRA YEARS WITH HER FAMILY THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAD. SHE PASSED AWAY THAT NEXT DAY, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HER AND FAMILIES JUST LIKE HER ALL OVER THIS COMMONWEALTH. GOV. BEVIN: FAMILIES LIKE HER AND THOSE YOU DESCRIBED WAS MY FAMILY GROWING UP. THAT WAS MY FAMILY ATE YEARS AGO WHEN WE LOST COVERAGE. I AM THAT FAMILY. I FIGHT FOR MY FAMILY AS WELL. THESE ARE THINGS I CARE ABOUT. THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT THIS HEALTH CARE WAIVER. WE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE BEING A UNIVERSAL RIGHT, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO PROVIDE IT. NONE OF US HAVE A RIGHT TO FORCE A PERSON TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES. WE’LL HAVE A RIGHT TO FORCE SOMEBODY AND TREAT SOMEBODY IF THEY DON’T HAVE MONEY. IT MAY BE A UNIVERSAL DESIRE, BUT THE CALL IT A RIGHT IS A BIT DIFFICULT WHEN IT COSTS MONEY AND REQUIRES A PERSON TO DO SOMETHING TO PROVIDE THAT RIGHT. I THINK THE KEY IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN DO FOR THEMSELVES DO DO FOR THEMSELVES, AND THAT WE DON’T JUST SEEK COVERAGE, BUT WE GET BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. KENTUCKY HEALTH WILL GET PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THEIR OUTCOMES AS PEOPLE ENGAGED TO HER CARE OF THINGS. THEY DO IT WITH THEIR OWN BODIES, THEIR OWN PERSONAL DECISIONS. I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE WHAT I DID NOT HAVE WHEN I WAS YOUNG. A.G. BESHEAR: MATT BEVIN WAS NOT THIS WOMAN’S FAMILY. SHE WAS NOT A MULTIMILLIONAIRE. WITHOUT PRE-EXISTING -- COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE LIVE THOSE LAST YEARS OF HER LIFE. EXPANDING MEDICARE IS WORKING. IT IS ULTIMATELY SAVING US MONEY AND SAVING LIVES. IT’S GETTING PEOPLE INTO PREVENTATIVE CARE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT GET THEIR, AND IT’S THE MORAL THING TO DO. WE DID NOT GET THE LAST 10,000 KIDS SIGNED UP FOR COVERAGE IN KENTUCKY UNTIL THEIR FAMILIES WERE SIGNED UP FOR MEDICAID. WE WERE A LEADER IN HEALTH CARE REFORM BEFORE. WE CAN BE A LEADER IN KENTUCKY AGAIN. ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING PARTS OF OUR ECONOMY, WE SHOULD BE STIMULATING THAT. GOV. BEVIN: I BET YOU ONE OF THESE WOMEN CHILDREN’S HAS A CHANCE TO GROW UP TO BE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE. VICKI: KENTUCKY RANKS FIFTH FOR PREVENTABLE DEATHS, LARGELY DUE TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. WHAT SPECIFIC PLANS TO YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC FACTORS CREATING THIS EPIDEMIC? GOV. BEVIN: THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE HAVE DONE IN OTHERS WE WILL DO SINCE I WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS AND I WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF THEM. HEALTH KY NOW -- HELP NOW KY -- LET ME TRY THAT AGAIN. FIND HELP NOW KY.ORG. GO TO THAT WEBSITE. 8338 KY HELP. WE HAVE HOPE AND HELP KY.COM, AND WE HAVE AN ANGEL INITIATIVE NOW, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STATE POLICE POST WHERE YOU CAN GO INTO ANY ONE OF THEM WITH DRUGS ON YOU, YOU COULD BE ADDICTED, YOU CAN EVEN HAVE THEM IN YOUR SYSTEM AND ON YOU AND WOULD NOT BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED AND WE WOULD HELP YOU FIND HELP. THAT 800 NUMBER IS STAFFED BY A LIVE PERSON THAT WILL HELP YOU IN KENTUCKY. LAST YEAR WE SAW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE DROPPED 5%. IN KENTUCKY WE LEAD THE NATION WITH A 15% DECLINE IN OPIOID DEBTS. THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE OF THE DOLLARS WE PUT IN. WE HAVE PUT IN OVER $40 MILLION AND WE RECENTLY REQUIRED ONE A GRANT FOR $90 MILLION TO HELP US ADDRESS THIS IN OUR STATE. A.G. BESHEAR: THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS A CHALLENGE OF OUR TIMES. WE HAVE 100 BABIES BORN EVERY MONTH GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL. WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO RESPOND FASTER AND WE HAVE TO RESPOND BETTER. I’M RAISING MY KIDS IN THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME FOR DRUGS THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN. THE LEGACY I WANT TO LEAVE FOR THEM IS WHAT WE GET PAST THIS CHALLENG THAT THREATENS OUR FAMILIES. I WANT THE KENTUCKY OPIOID DISPOSAL PROGRAM AIMED AT CLEARING OUT EVERY MEDICINE PROGRAM -- CAP. WE MUST CLEAN OUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE CABINETS. I HAVE BEEN THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AG IN THE COUNTRY I SUING OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS. THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE. I HAVE SUED MORE OF THEM THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE ONE EVERY MOTION AND ARGUMENT. THIS GOVERNOR HAS STOOD IN MY WAY EVERY STEP. A COMPANY CALLED JOHNSON AND JOHNSON WERE OKLAHOMA GOT A $705 MILLION VERDICT AND HE SAID HE DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT OR ANYTHING I DID. HE SAID BIG PHARMA GETS A BAD RAP TO THE AARP AND CALLS THESE LAWSUITS SHAKE DOWNS WHEN HE RAN. GOV. BEVIN I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU HIRING YOUR BUDDIES AT MORGAN AND MORGAN IN BRINGING THAT SUIT AND TAKING A HUGE CUT. HOW MANY DOLLARS HAVE YOU BROUGHT IN FOR ALL THESE LAWSUITS? YOU HAVE SET A LAWSUIT FOR SUING YOUR OWN GOVERNOR AMONG ATTORNEY GENERALS. YOU ARE NOW TWO VERSUS SIX. I WOULD SAY THE ONLY TIME YOU HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A SETTLEMENT WAS WHEN YOU AND YOUR LAW FIRM REPRESENTED PURDUE PHARMA AND PROFITED FROM WHAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING. YOU AND YOUR LAW FIRM REPRESENTED PURDUE PHARMA AGAINST THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. THAT IS THE ONLY VIEW YOU HAVE EVER HAD IN COURT ON THIS. A.G. BESHEAR: THIS LAST WEEK WE ANNOUNCED 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN FARM SETTLEMENTS. THAT IS NOT BAD FOR A WEEKS WORK. TO CLEAR THE RECORD, WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT PURDUE PHARMA SETTLEMENT. IT WAS NOT EVEN OUT MY LAW FIRM UP A TIME. WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY WAY IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. THIS IS MORE OF THE SAME FROM A GOVERNOR WHO SAID THAT SOMEONE COMMITS SUICIDE ON A CASINO FOR EVERY NIGHT, AND THAT OUR TEACHERS WHO CAME TO THE CAPITAL TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION SOMEHOW CAUSED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT TRUE AND NONE OF THAT IS EITHER. GOV. BEVIN I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING LIKE THAT ABOUT THE CASINO IN MY LIFE. I DO DENY SAYING IT. NO IT IS NOT ON TAPE. YOU ARE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH MATTERS. IF IT’S ON TAPE I WANT YOU TO PRODUCE THE TAPE AND SHOW PEOPLE WERE I SAID IT HAPPENED ON THE FLOOR. A.G. BESHEAR: YOU DID NOT SAY SOMEONE COMMITS SUICIDE ON THE FLOOR OF A CASINO? GOV. BEVIN: NO I DID NOT. YOU’RE STATING PUBLICLY THAT I DID SO I ASK YOU TO GIVE THE TAPE. YOU ARE A PARTNER AT THE FIRM THAT DEFENDANT PRODUCED PHARMA. YOU AND YOUR FATHER HAVE BEEN PARTNERS AT THE SAME FIRM THAT HAS DEFENDED PURDUE PHARMA, THE MAKERS OF OXYCONTIN AGAINST KENTUCKY. THAT IS A FACT, YOU PROFITED FROM IT AND HE NEVER PUBLICLY DENIED THAT YOU PROFITED FROM IT. WE ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT AS THESE PUBLIC RECORDS BECOME KNOWN HOW MUCH YOU PROFITED. A.G. BESHEAR: HAVE YOU EVER INSULTED A TEACHER? GOV. BEVIN: CLEARLY THERE ARE PEOPLE INSULTED BY A MANY NUMBER OF THINGS. THE QUESTION OF SOMEONE BEING INSULTED IS WHETHER YOU HAVE SAID SOMETHING TO INSULT THEM. PEOPLE CAN BE INSULTED BY THINGS. VICKI: LET’S MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION OR I WILL BE INSULTED. KENTUCKY HAS ONE OF THE WORST RATES OF CHILD NEGLECT IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT WILL YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. ? A.G. BESHEAR: IRAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BETTER PROTECT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE IS NEARLY TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF CHILD PREDATORS WE HAVE REMOVED FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF ARREST FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKERS LAST YEAR. BUT A RECORD NUMBER OF SAVES THE VICTIMS AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TEACHING EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP, TRAUMA CENTER VICTIM CENTER APPROACHES. WE ARE ADDRESSING A CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT EXISTING KENTUCKY, TO MAKE SURE NO VICTIM IS EVER ASKED WHAT WERE YOU WEARING AND WHY YOU WERE OUT SO LATE AT NIGHT. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT WE NEED TO DO. WE NEED TO HIRE MORE SOCIAL WORKERS AND WE NEED TO FINALLY COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE AMAZING WORK THEY DO. THAT IS HARD IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE GOVERNOR TRIES TO CUT THEIR PENSIONS AND SAY THEIR UNSKILLED PROFESSIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DECREASE THEIR CASELOADS AND MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE CABINET IS WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, AS GOVERNOR, I WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED EVERY DAY IN ADJUSTING THIS CRISIS. GOV. BEVIN: NOBODY’S PENSION HAS BEEN CUT. THOSE VERY SAME PEOPLE, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER FUNDED THEIR PENSION. I AM ALSO THE FIRST PERSON TO GIVE THEM ANY KIND OF PAY RAISE AS GOVERNOR IN MORE THAN A DECADE. YOUR FATHER NEVER DID IN HIS EIGHT YEARS. NOT ONLY FOR THE FRONTLINE WORKERS, BUT FOR SUPERVISORS AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT. CHILD WELFARE STARTS WITH DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE DID -- AND THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE. I AM UNAPOLOGETICALLY PRO-LIFE. THAT IS THE FIRST THING WE CAN DO FOR CHILD WELFARE, PROTECT EVERY LIFE, INCLUDING THE UNBORN AND THE INNOCENT. MY WIFE AND I ADOPTED FOUR OF OUR NINE CHILDREN. IT’S SOMETHING WE LIVE EVERY DAY AND SOMETHING WE ARE GRATEFUL -- GRATEFUL TO CONTRIBUTE TO. WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE ELEVATED TO SUCH A HIGH LEVEL. WE HAVE MORE THEN 1000 MORE FOSTER FAMILIES TODAY THAN WE DID JUST FOUR YEARS AGO. THESE ARE THINGS THAT BECAUSE OF THE PASSION OF MINE AND MY WIFE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON LIKE NEVER BEFORE. I WILL SAY ONE FINAL THING. THE JACK PROGRAM, WHICH TAKES KIDS STEPPING THROUGH THE FACTS -- CRACKS THAT HAD A PROGRAMS NOW HAS 66 PROGRAMS WITH 100% GRADUATION RATE. JOBS FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES, CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE IN EVERY AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLING KENTUCKY. A.G. BESHEAR: I SUPPORT ROE V. WADE, ESPECIALLY RESTRICTIONS FOR LATE-TERM PROCEDURES. THE DISCOVERER IS AN EXTREMIST. HE BELIEVES IN A COMPLETE AND TOTAL BAN, EVEN FOR VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INCENSE. WHEN YOU WORK WITH VICTIMS OF THAT TRAUMA AND THEY DESERVE OPTIONS. UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, A 13-YEAR-OLD RAPED BY A MEMBER OF HER OWN FAMILY AND IMPREGNATED WOULD HAVE NO OPTIONS. I THINK THAT IS WRONG. GOV. BEVIN: THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE. YOU SAY THESE THINGS, BUT YOU ARE SUPPORTED BY TAKING THE MONEY THAT INSISTS ON ABORTION UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF DELIVERY. YOU STAND WITH GOVERNORS SAY YOU SHOULD DECIDE AFTER A CHILD IS BORN WHETHER OR NOT THE CHILD SHOULD LIVE. YOU SUPPORTED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD THAT IS PROFITED BY THIS. YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THE ABORTION DOCTORS IN THE STATE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU BE HONEST THAT YOU ARE PRO-ABORTION AND TRY NOT TO PUT THE SAFE LITTLE COMMENTS AND FIND EXAMPLES WORTHIER -- WHERE THERE ARE EXAMPLES. A.G. BESHEAR: I WILL TELL YOU OR I AM. I SUPPORT REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS, ESPECIALLY ON LATE-TERM RESTRICTIONS. THAT 13-YEAR-OLD, RAPED BY A MEMBER OF HER FAMILY, THIS GOVERNOR HAS TOLD YOU WILL ELIMINATE EVERY OPTION FOR THAT CHILD. GOV. BEVIN: HOW MANY OF THEM WERE HEARING KENTUCKY LAST YEAR. VICKI: LET’S MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION. THE GAS TAX REVENUE HAS MANY LAWMAKERS DISCUSSING RAISING THE GAS TAX OR CREATING PER MILEAGE FEE PER DRIVERS. WHICH OF THESE OR EITHER DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? GOV. BEVIN: WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE TAX OR FOREIGN IN THE STATE. WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE DEATH TAX AND INVENTORY TAX AND WE NEED TO BE ABL TO ACCOMMODATE THESE THINGS BY MAKING SURE WE DON’T LEAVE THE THINGS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THEM. LIBRARIES, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ETC. OUT TO LUNCH. WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR SALES TAX AND INCOME TAX AND LOOK AT OUR ROAD TAX. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. EVERY SINGLE TIME THE GAS TAX GOES UP’S IS $31 MILLION. WE HAVE TWO SOURCES OF FUN. THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY TRUST FUND IS $750 MILLION AND THE GAS TAX HAVE THE FUEL PUMP. THAT GENERATES ANOTHER $700 MILLION. IF WE WANT NEW BRIDGES AND NEW ROADS AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE NOW, IT’S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT’S LIKE EVERYTHING. I WILL NOT KICK CANS DOWN THE ROAD. WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ADULT CONVERSATION AMONG OURSELVES AS LEGISLATORS, AS GOVERNORS, AS PEOPLE OF OFFICE, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR. A.G. BESHEAR: IT’S TELLING THAT THE GOVERNOR ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH THINK YOU WILL ONLY APPEAL TAXES THAT APPLY TO THE MOST WEALTHY. HIM AND HIS BUDDIES. HE WILL INCREASE THE SALES TAX ON ALL OF THE REST OF US. I BELIEVE COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM HAS TO LIFT US UP TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES THAT ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM POVERTY CAN ACTUALLY GET TO PROSPERITY. THAT WE DON’T RAISE THE SALES TAX ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING BY, AT LEAST FOR AREAS OF REVENUE FIRST. OUR ROAD BUDGET WILL TAKE SHORT-TERM FIXES AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, BUT ALSO HAS TO HAVE A VISION. A VISION WHERE WE WILL BUILD THE I-69 BRIDGE AND OPEN WESTERN IN MY FIRST TERM. IT HAS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO ROADS THAT ARE THE SEVEN MOST DANGEROUS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE LOSE HALF THE PEOPLE WE LOSE TO THE OPIOID -- OPIOID EPIDEMIC ON THE ROADS. WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT WILL OPEN UP PROJECTS OF THE STATE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE AND THAT WE PUT WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES FIRST, NOT OUR WEALTHY BUDDIES. GOV. BEVIN: ASKED THE PEOPLE IN OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT HOW THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF. WHEN I WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR FOUR YEARS AGO WE HAD $6 BILLION JUST ON OUR BRIDGES. WE HAD A PROGRAM CALLED BRIDGING KENTUCKY. WE ARE FIXING 1000 RIGHT NOW. MORE THAN 100 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THESE WERE CANS KICKED DOWN THE ROAD BY MULTIPLE PREVIOUS GOVERNORS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, WE ARE SPENDING MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. THE I-69 BRIDGE YOU KEEP REFERENCING, YOUR FATHER IGNORE THAT FOR ALL THE EIGHT YEARS. I AM THE GUY THAT MADE SURE WE FORWARDED THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, THE ENGINEERING STUDY, AND IT WILL GET DONE IN MY NEXT TERM AS GOVERNOR AND IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS NO MATTER WHO IS GOVERNOR BECAUSE OF THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. VICKI: LOOKING BACK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN YOUR POSITION, WHAT IS ONE POLICY OR ACTION YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY, AND HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE IT? A.G. BESHEAR: I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD DO. I WOULD FIGHT TO BETTER PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, SENIORS, I WOULD ADDRESS THE RAPE KIT BACKLOG AND WORK TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE DRUG EPIDEMIC. FOUR YEARS LATER I HAVE KEPT MY PROMISES. TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF CHILD PREDATORS WE HAVE REMOVED FROM THE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE RETURNED TO $.5 MILLION TO OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE HAD MONEY SCAMMED FROM THEM. WE HAVE TESTED EVERY KID IN THAT BACKLOG. WE HAVE 10 INDICTMENTS COMING OUT OF THAT BACKLOG. WE SUED MORE OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND ED THE OTHER ATTORNEY GENERAL AND WE HAVE ONE EVERY MOTION ON EVERY CASE. BUT I DID NOT GET AS FAR AS I WANTED TO ON ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OUR STATISTICS ARE NEARLY ONE IN TWO. NEARLY ONE INTO KENTUCKY WOMEN ARE SUBJECTED TO SOME FORM OF DOMESTIC FINANCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. AS A SON, AS A HAS-BEEN AND AS A DAD, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS EVER UNSAFE IN THEIR OWN HOME AND THAT WE DO BETTER. GOV. BEVIN: THAT RAPE TESTS -- TEST KIT BACKLOG OCCURRED UNDER YOUR FATHER. THAT’S THE SAD REALITY. IT WAS A LEMONADE IT BECAUSE OF BUDGETING I PUT INTO OUR STATE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENED. IT DID NOT COME OUT OF YOUR OFFICE AT ALL. YOU SHOULD NOT BE CLAIMING CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WEREN’T INVOLVED IN. THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS DON’T EVEN WORK FOR YOU. THEY WORK IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH MATTERS. THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CARE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE YOUR OF EVERYBODY. THAT INCLUDES THE VULNERABLE. WE ASK ABOUT THINGS WE COULD DO DIFFERENT, I WISH WE FIXED THE PENSION PROBLEM. I WISH WE HAD MODERNIZED OUR TAX CODE. WE HAVE NOT YET MODERNIZED IT TO MAKE US COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES. WE HAVE SET RECORD LEVELS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD ON. THERE ARE MANY THINGS I REGRET WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN DONE. THERE ARE STILL 2500 CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WAITING FOR A FOREVER FAMILY. WE HAVE 6500 HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN THE STATE. SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ONE HOME FOR EVERY TWO AND A HALF CHURCHES IN THIS COUNTRY. A.G. BESHEAR: I BELIEVE IT IS A GOVERNOR’S DUTY TO SERVE THE LOSS, LONELY AND LEFT BEHIND. BUT YOU DON’T DO THAT BY RIPPING 95,000 PEOPLE OFF THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. WHAT APPARENTLY IS HIS HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, THE CHILD SUFFERS AS WELL. YOU DON’T DO THAT BY GOING AFTER TEACHERS IN FAILING TO FUND SCHOOLS IN A WAY TO GIVE EVERY CHILD TRUE OPPORTUNITY. YOU DON’T DO THAT BY THREATENING THE PENSIONS OF SO MANY HARD-WORKING KENTUCKIANS THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. WE NEED A GOVERNOR THAT WILL BE AN EXAMPLE. AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BEHAVE IN OUR GOVERNOR SHOULD BEHAVE BETTER. VICKI: THAT CONCLUDES OUR TIMES FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE TIME FOR EACH CANDIDATE TO GIVE 90 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT. MR. BESHEAR WILL GO FIRST. A.G. BESHEAR: THIS GOVERNOR AND I DISAGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT HE SAID SOMETHING I DO AGREE ON. KENTUCKIANS WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OF US. ONE WAY THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT IS WHO THEY WOULD WANT TO LEAD THEIR COMPANY OR LOOK AFTER THEIR FAMILY. WOULD IT BE A GOVERNOR WHO HAS BULLIED HIS EMPLOYEES GOING AFTER TEACHERS? WOULD IT BE A GOVERNOR THAT GIVES HIS TEACHERS ABSORBED IN SALARIES. WOULD IT BE SOMEBODY WHO USES THE COMPANY’S PROPERTY AS HIS PLAYTHINGS FLYING A STATE PLAYING HERE AND USNG THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION THERE? WHAT IT BE SOMEONE WHO COULD NOT GET ALONG WITH THEIR CFO, AS THIS GOVERNOR HAS BULLIED HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. WOULD IT BE SOMEONE WHO REFUSES TO PAY AS THIS GOVERNOR REFUSES TO RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS? WHAT A BE SOMEBODY WHO BENEFITS FROM HIS POSITION OF GETTING HIS MANSION AT HALF-PRICE? NO. IT WOULD BE SOMEONE I GIVES YOU A BETTER TOMORROW. PLANS ON HOW WE CANNOT BE 47TH OR 48TH IN THINGS BUT A LEADER. OUR PLAN TO BOOST JOBS ACROSS KENTUCKY FOR THE FIRST TIME GIVES WESTERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REAL HOPE. IT SHOWS YOU AREAS WHERE WE CAN BE A NATIONAL LEADER. BUT WHAT WE DESPERATELY NEED IS A GOVERNOR THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER. ONE THAT WOULD NEVER ENGAGE IN A TYPE OF CONDUCT WE SEE. ONE THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT ONCE YOU ARE ELECTED YOU ARE A GOVERNOR FOR ALL OF US. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DISAGREES WITH YOU DOES NOT MAKE YOU THEIR ENEMY -- DOES NOT MAKE THEM YOUR ENEMY. GOV. BEVIN: THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU HAVE -- WHO HAVE TAKEN A TIME TO TUNE IN WHO ARE COMPETING AGAINST COLLGE FOOTBALL AND U.K., WHICH IN THE STATE IT’S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TUNE IN AND COME OUT IN THE RAIN. YOU DO HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OF US. YOU DON’T GET PART OF ME ARE PART OF HIM. IT IS ONE OR THE OTHER. ONE OF US WILL SIT DOWN ACROSS FROM THE CEOS OF COMPANIES IN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. WE WILL MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY KENTUCKY. ONE OF US WILL BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR MOVING THE STATE FORWARD OR TAKING IT BACKWARDS. I AM THE ONLY ONE ON THE STAGE TO HAS CREATED JOBS. I AM AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I AM AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EVER LIVED BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL ON THE STAGE. I AM THE ONLY ONE ON THE STAGE WITHOUT HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. IT DOES NOT MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON, IT INFORMS ME WITH A LEVEL OF EMPATHY. I AM MARRIED WITH NINE CHILDREN. FOUR OF WHOM ARE ADOPTED. EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES WE POUR BACK INTO OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WE WANT A BETTER TOMORROW FOR THEM THAT EVERYONE OF YOU WANTS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. I LOVE KENTUCKY, I LOVE AMERICA, I ONCE WORE THIS NATION’S UNIFORM. I WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR THE NATION AND I STILL WOULD. AS DAN PROBABLY WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I RESPECT HUMAN LIFE AND OUR CONSTITUTION. I RESPECT OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US. IF I AM ELECTED AGAIN I WOULD FIGHT FOR YOU LIKE I WOULD MY OWN FAMILY. I WOULD DEFEND THIS COMMONWEALTH AGAINST EVERYTHING AND THE WAY I DEFEND THIS NATION WHEN I WORE THE UNIFORM 30 YEARS AGO. VICKI: THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THE DEBATE. WE WANT TO THINK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR PARTNERING WITH WLKY AND PROVIDING US WITH THE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. REMEMBER TO VOTE NOVEMBER 5. POLLS OPEN AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. THOSE AT 6:00 IN THE EVENING AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW WLKY’S COVERAGE AS RESULTS COME IN. YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG ON AIR AND ONLINE AND OF COURSE ON OUR MOBILE APP. I AM VICKI

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