Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin says it’s “a fact” that “hundreds of thousands” of children were left home alone by single parents unable to afford child care, and some were raped, poisoned, and took drugs during the one-day teachers’ strike. The Tea Party Republican Friday evening blasted teachers statewide for going to the capitol to protest a lack of classroom and pension funding.

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“I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today, a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them,” Bevin, in the video below, tells reporters. “I guarantee you somewhere today, a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were left alone because a single parent didn’t have any money to take care of them.”

“Children were harmed – some physically, some sexually, some were introduced to drugs for the first time – because they were vulnerable and left alone,” he insisted.

The governor began his remarks by attacking students for “hanging out,” “smoking,” and “leaving trash” during the walkout.

Bevin said he is “offended” by the striking teachers who “cavalierly” and “flippantly disregarded what’s best for children.”

Governor Bevin was the first governor in the nation to win approval from the Trump administration to require some Medicaid recipients to work at least 80 hours each month to retain their medical benefits.

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“I am excited by the fact that Kentucky will now lead the nation,” Bevin said in January. 95,000 recipients were estimated to lose their health care coverage under Bevin’s new rules, which reduce spending by $2 billion. Bevin is also working to privatize welfare.

Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler told The Courier-Journal there was “ no rational comment ” she could make in response to Bevin’s attack on teachers.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin on the teacher rallies today. “I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them.” pic.twitter.com/Q4PpzFsTt2 — Marcus Green (@MarcusGreenWDRB) April 13, 2018