Transcripts For CSPAN Kentucky 20240705 : vimarsana.com

Investments, recovery from natural disasters, and plans for the upcoming year. This is about 40 minutes. Members of the General Assembly, constitutional officers, justices of the supreme court, our adjutant general, former governor steve bashir, and former first lady beshear. Lieutenant governor coleman, we are glad you are with us tonight along with the second gentleman. [applause] gov. Beshear first Lady Brittany beshear, thank you for all you do for our family and all kentucky families. I love you. And to all our kentucky families watching from home, good evening and everybody please be seated. Tonight i am speaking from the house chambers grateful for the invitation from our legislative leaders to offer this important annual review. It is a new year and everyone has something to be excited about. Many of you are excited i will be serving as your governor for the next four years. [applause] gov. Beshear and the rest are excited that i have now term limited. I am now term limited. [laughter] gov. Beshear regardless of your perspective it does give us a chance to put politics aside and move this commonwealth Forward Together. Tonight i am proud to report that thanks to the strength of our people and our redhot economy, the state of our commonwealth is stronger than it has ever been. [applause] over the past four years, we have gotten through so many hard times together. Now we are getting to the good times together. We have arrived here by leading with kindness, compassion, and empathy for one another. That is what my faith teaches me. To love my neighbor as myself. It is that golden rule and the parable of the Good Samaritan that have guided us and should guide us. Those who have stepped up, put politics and division aside just to help each other, because that is who we are as kentuckians. No pandemic, no tornado, no flood or any other challenge will ever change that. How we dealt with these historic challenges was not red or blue. It was not r or d. It was us, team kentucky, where everybody matters. Tonight we are going to discuss how we can embrace a new era as an economic and moral leader in this country. We will take the time to highlight Amazing Stories of those who are helping us to turn the last four years of progress into decades of prosperity. As we look forward to brighter days, i want you to hear about our Good Samaritans, our helpers, our heroes, who are out there day in and day out making a difference. Or as a pole laureate described it, those who carry us poet laureate described it, those who carry us. We entered 2024 after securing the best four year period for Economic Growth in our history. We set a record for private sector investments. More than 28. 7 billion. The most secure during the tenure of any governor. Together we created more than 51,200 new jobs for our communities and families and at some of the highest wages weve ever seen last year. We averaged 26 and . 67 26. 67 an hour before benefits. It takes the executive and legislative branches along with so many hardworking local officials and business leaders. Because of our work, because of all of our work, the eyes of the world around kentucky and what we are doing world are on kentucky and what we are doing. [applause] ford and its partner are building the two Largest Electric vehicle battery plants on planet earth in glendale, kentucky. It is the largest single Economic Development project in state history. It has cemented our status as an ev battery production capital of the united states. It secures our future as an automotive leader with a chance to be the automotive leader. The project is also a fast start. Approximately 400 kentuckians have already been hired and they are just getting started. Beginning this year, they plan to hire 2000 more people to work in hardin county. Among those helping to get our people to work are jamie low and ryan wheeler and both are here with us tonight. Ryan grew up in e town and had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. He was drafted by the yankees. No clapping for the yankees tonight . [applause] he started his career with ford and he has come back home to lead as a plant manager. Jamie as part of their hr team to help bring on engineers, production, and make them supervisors. She will not stop until she provides Career Opportunity to 5000 kentuckians. Thank you jamie, ryan, sk, and ford for leading us into the future. Now lets look to henderson. They opened the cleanest greenest recycle paper mill in the country with over 320 jobs paying almost 40 per hour. Transformational for our western kentucky families. Tonight we have the global ceo here with us. He sees what others are seeing more clearly every day. Kentuckys workforce is second to none. There is no better place to do business. Thank you, and thanks to executive chairman Anthony Pratt for your investment in us. If you think one kentucky plant is great, imagine what you could do with 2, 3, maybe even more. [applause] gov. Beshear tonight we are joined by pratts newest electrical and instrumentation supervisor. He is from henderson and hes making sure pratt is rooted in western kentucky. He for a nationally recognized apprenticeship program. Now pratt is sponsoring two students starting in the spring. Thank you and thank pratt for all these opportunities for our people. [applause] gov. Beshear creating this economy takes all of us moving Forward Together. I want to thank the General Assembly for coming together to pass legislation needed to secure Major Projects like the 2 billiondollar 2000 job ev giga factory in bowling green. Another project that shows we are on a roll but also highlights the site preparation, the work it takes to lead the country and to secure these wins. You, the General Assembly, recognize this work and invested in the last budget session providing 200 million for Site Development across the commonwealth as well as a closing fund to keep us competitive. It is paying off. We have investments in 85 counties stretching from fulton to and the closing fund has been critical of macron landing critical in landing projects that create jobs. Im asking we move Forward Together and we reup this is our chance to build a top 10 economy with good jobs for all of our people. Lets make it happen together. As our economy is growing stronger so are our people. We have grown more resilient thanks to the kentuckians helping us rebuild after tornadoes devastated the west. Historic flooding ravaged the east. Just over two years ago, the deadliest tornadoes in our state history took the lives of 81 kentuckians. Together we mourned each one lost. We wrapped our arms around each of those families. In just six months later, Eastern Kentucky was hit with the deadliest flooding in my lifetime which took the lives of 45 kentuckians. In both areas, we came together to lift up those families. We committed to being there every step of the way to rebuild better than before. [applause] and that is exactly what we are doing. We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funding and raised millions more in donated funds for each region. We are rebuilding roads and bridges, water and wastewater systems, and building new homes for families who lost everything. We have pledged 21. 6 million to build and repair 300 homes with the help of nonprofit partners in the west. 175 of them are completed, under construction, or approved to start construction. We have project in called will, fulton, graves, hopkins, marshall, ohio, and warren counties. In the east we have announced seven sites for new developments on higher ground. They include skyview in perry county, Chestnut Ridge and olive branch in not county, wayland in floyd county, the cottages of thompson branch. Each site gives us the chance to start anew, to reimagine neighborhoods that bring revitalization and not just rebuilding. These homes are not just a safe place to call home, they are symbols of hope. We cannot be making this progress without leaders like pastor stephen boykin, president at the Hope Initiative and lead pastor of his House Ministry who is here with us tonight. [applause] pastor boykin and his team are living the word and they are relentless in working to build the next home and the next home and the next home after that. They have helped so many families like jackie and her mom who are also here with us tonight. Their home was destroyed by the commonwealth by the tornado but the family began working to make a difference in the lives of others instead of focusing on her own needs, jackie went to work at the district and Center Distribution center to take care of her neighbors. When their new home was built with funds from the key Tornado Relief fund, the Hope Initiative wanted to make sure it was acceptable. We celebrate that not only do they have a new home, but due to surgery, tammy is able to walk again. [applause] pastor boykin, jackie, and tammy, thank you for your work and strength. And happy birthday. We have seen leaders in the east like scott mcreynolds, executive director of the Housing Development alliance out of perry county. After the flood, scott and his team got to work tilting houses for people like the white family who are here tonight. William, cheyenne, and their son caleb were living in troublesome creek in not county. The family had just saved enough to start making their home their own and william was putting new floors in is the flooded their neighborhood. He watched as their home was washed away but thanks to scott and his team as well as so many generous donors to the flood relief fund, william, cheyenne, caleb, and their newest addition, maggie, have a new home and they do not have to worry about flooding ever again. Lets thank scott and his family for everything they are doing. [applause] gov. Beshear pastor boykin and scott are just two among so many people, nonprofits and volunteers, who have come together to help their neighbors in need after unimaginable natural disasters. Because of them, we are keeping our promise to help these families rebuild. As part of keeping that promise, in my Budget Proposal, i have 75 million for the Eastern Kentucky safe funds to continue rebuilding efforts and another 10 billion in the general fund for the Affordable Housing trust fund. Our Community Needs additional funds. With a recordsetting economy we can and should be there for them. [applause] to our families in the east and west, we will be there every step of the way. By working together and by leading with our kentucky values of faith, family, and community, we will continue to march Forward Together with each one of you. Our commonwealth future grows brighter every day because of our Public Schools and our Public School educators. [applause] look, our School Employees show up for our kids every single day. That includes the toughest days. When the tornadoes hit western kentucky i went to assess the damage. There was a man driving a big pickup truck. He stopped and we talked for a bit. Turns out hes an educator. He has been a teacher for more than 20 years. He was volunteering with cleanup efforts by driving that truck to haul the debris. It was a special moment to meet one of our amazing teachers who is doing even more to help this community. His name is Matthew Oates and he is here with us tonight. [applause] matthew was a fourthgeneration coalminer. His wife who is here with us tonight is a third grade teacher at longest elementary. She has been a teacher for over 20 years. They grew up attending the Public Schools they now teach act. Teach at. [applause] gov. Beshear but to support themselves and their kids, matthew and jamie oates are both working two jobs. Our Public School employees deserve better than that. It is families like the oates who need us to step up right now and pay our Public School employees closer to what they deserve. [applause] our educators are difference makers every single day. Lets show them that we appreciate what they do by funding an 11 raise for every Public School employee. [applause] gov. Beshear we do not just need to. We have two. See, we have fallen behind. Kentucky ranks 44th in starting teacher pay and 40th in average teacher pay. That is unacceptable, and it is hard to understand why we have not been able to come together and get this done for our educators, especially when our neighbors are figuring it out. The republican governor of tennessee signed a bill last year to provide their teachers the largest pay raise in their states history, and indiana is looking to do the same. Folks, that is our competition. Our competition to the north and the south are showing us the way. This budget is our opportunity, our chance, to make things right here in kentucky. Lets Work Together and get it done, in this session. While we are at it, lets fund Student Transportation fully. [applause] if we want more bus drivers, lets pay them more and provide the support School Districts need. As for our youngest learners, its time to pass universal prek for all our 4yearolds. [applause] gov. Beshear we are rightfully concerned about learning loss. So, we should address it where it begins. In the last academic year, only 46 of kindergartners were considered kindergartenready. Instituting universal prek the right way means investing in both prek and our childcare providers. Thats why my Budget Proposal provides record funding to help our childcare providers in their transition to serve both younger children and provide afterschool program. Funding both, together, can be transformational. If we pass universal prek plus our childcare plan, an additional 34,000 kentucky children will receive prek services and thousands of additional childcare spots will open up. So where is the appetite for this . With 34,000 sets of parents per year and thousands more who cannot find childcare. Providing this opportunity serving that many citizens would not only make us more competitive, it would be a true legacy of this session of the General Assembly. See, i believe, more than ever, that we can do it because of what we have already accomplished and so many other important areas. Like building safer roads, bridges, and water systems. And moving ahead on so many megaprojects. All at the same time. When it comes to infrastructure we are truly in our eisenhower moment. Look at what we are doing together. Were building the brent spence companion bridge without tolls, [applause] gov. Beshear were fourlaning the entire mountain parkway and were pushing i69 forward. So fast indiana just did a wedding to catch up. Folks, we secured federal funding to make sure highspeed internet gets to every home in kentucky. And families are getting clean Drinking Water, many of them for the first time. Look to pendleton county, one of those homes belongs to tom and lori himmelsbach, who could not be with us tonight because they own a restaurant in butler called the kentucky millstone. They teach baking classes there and work to give back to their community. Like when a neighbors house burned down and they hosted a donation drive at the restaurant. But for 34 years tom and lori had been hauling water to their home. Thanks to the cleaner Water Program we were able to bring public water directly to their house for the first time ever. I have seen firsthand what this cleaner Water Program makes. Its lifechanging, and its something we owe to all our people. Thats why im proposing we invest another 500 Million Dollars in grants to our counties and local governments to continue this vital work. [applause] folks, this is not a partisan issue. Clean Drinking Water is a basic human right, and this program is building on what we created together. To build this better, stronger kentucky, im also seeking 300 Million Dollars to speed up the mountain parkway in the east and the i69 River Crossing in the west, as well as 50 Million Dollars to help repair local bridges. Those are bridges that get our people to school, to work and to church. We will keep moving forward, together by strengthening the infrastructure that keeps our families healthy, safe and connected and by modernizing the infrastructure that businesses rely on to succeed. These investments are our way pathway to progress. They help our communities bring in new investment and new opportunities. Our future is also brighter thanks to the healthcare heroes in our communities. Health care is also a basic human right, and ive spent my entire public career working to increase access to Quality Health care for our people. From keeping us safe during the Global Pandemic to caring for those affected by historic natural disasters, our healthcare heroes have more than proven their worth these past four years. And in that time, weve seen some amazing progress. We protected Health Care Access for nearly 100,000 kentuckians by removing governmental roadblocks. We relaunched and expanded the state insurance marketplace called kynect. We expanded medicaid coverage for new moms; we we boosted our workforce by adding dental, vision and hearing coverage; we capped the cost of insulin; and weve invested in our Hospital Systems across the state. One important step was securing the first hospital in West Louisville in 150 years. [applause] gov. Beshear see, we cannot move Forward Together until all of our people have access to quality, Affordable Health care in their own community. No one should have to drive two hours or take multiple busses just to see their doctor. Thats something Corenza Townsend recognized in her own community. In 2016, corenza was working at a Norton Healthcare center when she noticed West Louisville families didnt have a reliable place to get their health care. So, she got to work on the idea of starting a Community Health fair. But she also had bigger dreams a hospital in the west end. Ultimately, it was corenzas pitch that got the ball rolling on what we now know as the norton West Louisville hospital. Today, corenza has been named the chief Administrative Officer of this stateofthe Art Care Center that is receiving its final touches as we speak. [applause] gov. Beshear corenza views the new facility as, in her words, a communitybased hospital with no walls. Thats pretty special. Corenza is with us tonight, along with russell cox, president and ceo of Norton Healthcare. Russ, we know that corenza is a perfect example of our healthcare heroes going above and beyond to move our commonwealth forward, together. Thank you both. I also want to take a moment to talk about Mental Health care. Our administration has always treated Mental Health care the same as physical health. That is why we launched the 988 crisis hotline, which connects kentuckians facing a risk of suicide, Mental Health distress or an addiction crisis with trained counselors who can help. In kentucky, we want people to know its ok not to be ok, and you 988 is available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Somewhat someone is there to help you. On the other end of the line, youll find dedicated and compassionate kentuckians like haley johnson. Haley is a 988crisis counselor from lexington, and one of the first people hired there to answer calls. Haley has been there for kentuckians in some of their darkest hours. She takes the time to talk to these individuals, and make referrals for services and followup calls to make sure people know someone cares. Haley is with us tonight. I want to thank haley and all of our Mental Healthcare heroes for the amazing care they provide to our people. Thank you. [applause] gov. Beshear tonight, lets commit to moving Forward Together on our peoples mental and physical health. To do that, we need to fully Fund Medicaid including expanded medicaid to make sure were continuing to care for more than 1. 5 million kentuckians. We should further fund the expansion of the michelle p. And supports for Community Living waiver programs. They help our most vulnerable citizens. Because were seeing more opportunity for us. More opportunity for our people than at any time during my life. We need all of our people healthy enough to be a part of this future and the prosperity it will bring. So, lets continue to expand access to Quality Health care for all of our people. [applause] gov. Beshear we also have to thank those treating addiction and helping those in recovery. Across the nation the Opioid Epidemic continues to devastate communities and families, with fentanyl taking a deadly toll. Weve lost too many parents, children, relatives and friends. All are all children of god, taken too soon. We have worked hard to boost access to treatment while also reducing the stigma around asking for help. And in 2022, we saw the first reduction in Overdose Deaths since 2018. We were one of only eight states to record a decrease. Combatting this epidemic takes commitment. A commitment we have embraced by increasing treatment beds by over 50 in the last four years. And i am proud to say that we now have the more treatment beds per capita than any other state in the country. [applause] gov. Beshear in large part this is thanks to so many who are committed to helping others recover. And it is due in large part to amazing organizations like Addiction Recovery care, or arc. With us today, we have tim robinson, founder and ceo of arc, an essential partner in our fight against addiction. [applause] gov. Beshear we worked with arc to transition the former st. Catherines college in springfield to Crown Recovery Center, a 575bed drug treatment and recovery campus. To date, over 7,000 clients have walked through their doors. This facility is leading the way in helping many kentuckians to get better and then helping them find a good job. And there are some, like joseph bentley, who have completed the program and are now joining the Addiction Treatment field. Joseph, who is here with us tonight, faced active addiction for 20 years. He entered Crown Recovery Center soon after it opened and was the first client there to obtain his ged. Then he began helping others to get theirs. He also started working there and has worked his way up to a program manager, where he is once again helping others. This fall, joseph is starting college and, most important, hes spending more quality time with his family. Joseph, we see you, we are proud of you, and i cant wait to see all the great things you are going to do. [applause] tonight, we are also joined by debbie and walt rains. Sadly, debbie and walt lost their son zac to addiction. I cannot imagine the depths of pain that comes from losing a child, but debbie and walt have turned it into purpose. We are thankful for the work they are doing to educate our First Responders on the importance of administering narcan, and folks, the answer to how many times you should bring somebody back with narcan is every single time. [applause] gov. Beshear we have to remember that is someones son. That is someones zac. They also have been helping to reduce recidivism by speaking with our inmates prior to their release. Debbie, walt, we love you and thank you for helping your fellow kentuckians. Thank you for being here with us tonight. [applause] gov. Beshear every kentuckian also deserves to feel safe in their community, and our commonwealth is stronger thanks to our brave Law Enforcement officers, First Responders and our soldiers. First, let me start by saying that we have the best National Guard in the entire country. [applause] gov. Beshear from the tornadoes to the flooding, and every major weather event inbetween, we have seen our guard leave their families not knowing if it would be for a few days, a week or a month or longer to go help their neighbors. Our guard, with assistance from other First Responders, conducted 1,400 rescues during the flooding alone. That is 1,400 kentuckians that are still alive today. Because of their and otherswork. [applause] gov. Beshear no matter the difficulty or obstacle, we see the very best of who we are through our kentucky National Guard. So tonight, we are honored to have representatives with us. I want to recognize the achievements of Master Sergeant rudy parsons and his canine companion, callie. Together, they achieved a historic milestone. Callie is the first live findsearch canine in the department of defense, a program sgt. Parsons started. Their Exceptional Service during natural disasters and the recent mine Structure Collapse has showcased their unwavering commitment to our commonwealth and its citizens. [applause] gov. Beshear i also want to commend chief warrant officer 2 kristen beard. She is an aviator with our aviation medevac unit and was a key partner in our response to the Eastern Kentucky flooding. She is also an officer with the Lexington Police department, serving as a pilot in the air support unit. Chief beards dual role is a great example of the type of soldiers that make up our National Guard. Thank you both for your service. We are the home of the free because of you, the brave. [applause] thank you to all our soldiers and airmen at home and those serving abroad. Lets take a moment to pray for each and every one of them. Thank you. Those who serve in the armed forces, in Law Enforcement and First Responders live out their faith and values, often in the toughest of circumstances. For those Whose Service requires the ultimate sacrifice, that is a debt we can never fully repay. For their boundless love and selflessness, they only ask of us that we remember them. So tonight, we once again remember those lost in service to their community, state and country. It has been heartbreaking. Since 2022, we lost a kentucky National Guard Service Member while he was serving on the southwest border, and another guardsman was severely injured. We lost two activeduty marines, one serving on a nato mission in europe. We lost nine soldiers from Fort Campbell who were lost to a Helicopter Training mission over trigg county. And another five from Fort Campbell in a Helicopter Crash over the mediterranean sea. Since 2022, we have lost eight kentucky Law Enforcement officers in the line of duty. They all served their fellow kentuckians honorably until the very end, and i know the commonwealth joins britainy and me in honoring them. Tonight, we are pleased to have savannah and Paisley Chaffins here with us. Paisley lost her dad and savannah lost her husband when we all lost Prestonsburg Police officer Jacob Chaffins in 2022 as he ran toward danger to protect his community. Jacob was a true public servant. A member of the prestonsburg fire department, a sergeant in the National Guard, an emt, a u. S. Marshal. Jacob was selfless and is missed every day by his loved ones. Today, i was blessed to spend time with paisley to make sure she knew how much we all appreciate her dads service and sacrifice and how important she is. The least we can do to honor jacob is to ensure paisley has a big, Bright Future filled with love, happiness and success. Thank you, savannah and paisley, for being here and letting us show you how much the commonwealth loves you. We will always walk with you. [applause] gov. Beshear savannah also sat behind my desk today. Well she currently plans to become a doctor she looked right at home being governor. Sadly, that same time we lost jacob, we also lost Prestonsburg Police captain ralph frasure, floyd county Deputy William petry and a k9. We will never forget their sacrifices, nor the sacrifice of scott county sheriffs deputy caleb conley, who we lost in 2023. Our commitment is to remember them and to lift up their families and to make sure we do everything we can here in frankfort to support our Law Enforcement. That is why my budget increases the pay once again of our Kentucky State Police troopers and officers. We are also proposing a raise in the training stipend we pay local Law Enforcement officers and local firefighters. And for the first time, lets add certified, parttime local Law Enforcement officers to that fund. [applause] i am further requesting 35 Million Dollars to fund grants for body armor to better protect our Law Enforcement and First Responders on those days when they run toward danger. On that night in floyd county, we would have also lost a state trooper, trooper billy ball, but for the most recent, most modern body armor. Lets make sure every single Law Enforcement officer has the very best protection. Tonight, we have been reminded of those in our great commonwealth who help make us so strong, who are helping us build a better kentucky. During the inauguration, just over three weeks ago, we also heard from our very own tyler childers, who reminded us through his universal sound to use our time to focus on the things that really matter the most. For me, as a dad and as your governor, that means working tirelessly to leave a better world for our fellow kentuckians, for my children, for all of our children. To me, improving life right here at home is the most important focus that we can have. And these next four years are our chance. Kentuckys chance to be the difference, to be both an economic and a moral leader of this country. This is our time to push away the division, to prove we can govern without namecalling or scapegoating, to do it without anger, fear or hatred. We can not only talk about our collective faith, but we can live it. Just think about what has happened when we have worked together. Together we passed medical marijuana, which is going to bring relief to so many. [applause] we finally gave our people what they have been asking for in sports betting. Boy did we learn they really wanted it. [applause] gov. Beshear and speaker, we solidified our place as the thoroughbred capital of the world after passing hhr. [applause] gov. Beshear those who are here know that passing each of those measures took both republicans and democrats. It took us moving Forward Together. With this new year comes new opportunity for progress, to build that better, brighter kentucky. That is what our children deserve. Children like those we mentioned tonight. Birthday boy khyree, caleb, maggie and paisley. We owe it them and all our children to make sure they can chase their dreams no matter how big they are right here in kentucky. Scripture reminds us, our god is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us. We are walking into that bright dawn, and were doing it together. Remember life is short, so do good things and be kind to each other. God bless the commonwealth of kentucky and god bless each and every one of you. Thank you and good night. [applause] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2024] coming up tonight, Jocelyn Benson talks about democracy and Election Integrity as we head into the 2024 election cycle. Then a discussion on military partnerships with foreign allies. Later,