Governor Andy Beshear

And so when you look at these tariffs, it not only makes the operations and the cost of operations that much more difficult because we do have to import right now materials, and we're going to have to until we build out this industry, which is going to take time. But what's happening before this tariff policy, but you also are insulting and or attacking the countries where these companies are in.

I mean, I never thought a president could push Japan and South Korea towards China. That's bad for foreign direct investment. That's bad for global security. I'll give you another example. The biggest Toyota plant in the world is in Kentucky. It's in Georgetown.

I mean, I never thought a president could push Japan and South Korea towards China. That's bad for foreign direct investment. That's bad for global security. I'll give you another example. The biggest Toyota plant in the world is in Kentucky. It's in Georgetown.

In the world. Yeah. We make the Camry. We also make some Lexuses. Right. But when you push away countries that invest and their companies invest so much in us, it creates some significant concerns. I mean, you look at what's going on in Canada right now, where they rightfully feel attacked by this administration. Sure.

In the world. Yeah. We make the Camry. We also make some Lexuses. Right. But when you push away countries that invest and their companies invest so much in us, it creates some significant concerns. I mean, you look at what's going on in Canada right now, where they rightfully feel attacked by this administration. Sure.

Or it's that guy that has walked with you everywhere you've gone, has tried to protect you, and then you turn on him.

Or it's that guy that has walked with you everywhere you've gone, has tried to protect you, and then you turn on him.

Well, thankfully, we've got a really good pipeline of projects, and I think our economy will continue to be hot, but we're seeing a slowdown all over the country. In fact, this Derby week, Churchill Downs just canceled a $900 million project, or at least paused it. that would have added hundreds, if not thousands of construction jobs over the next year.

Well, thankfully, we've got a really good pipeline of projects, and I think our economy will continue to be hot, but we're seeing a slowdown all over the country. In fact, this Derby week, Churchill Downs just canceled a $900 million project, or at least paused it. that would have added hundreds, if not thousands of construction jobs over the next year.

And their president talked about it being because of tariffs, the uncertainty of what things will cost. And as you know, John, it's not just the current tariff policy. It's that it changes every day. It's the uncertainty of it. Right. Or two or three times a day. And what it also suggests is they just don't know what they're doing.

And their president talked about it being because of tariffs, the uncertainty of what things will cost. And as you know, John, it's not just the current tariff policy. It's that it changes every day. It's the uncertainty of it. Right. Or two or three times a day. And what it also suggests is they just don't know what they're doing.

It permeates. It permeates with that small business owner that was expanding and is now looking at laying people off. Small businesses are the first to hire, the last to fire, because when they fire someone, they know them. They might go to church with them. They'll see them in the grocery store and know the impact on their lives. And so, sadly, people are feeling pain.

It permeates. It permeates with that small business owner that was expanding and is now looking at laying people off. Small businesses are the first to hire, the last to fire, because when they fire someone, they know them. They might go to church with them. They'll see them in the grocery store and know the impact on their lives. And so, sadly, people are feeling pain.

pain in paying their bills, pain in running their company, and so that certainly permeates. But I tell you what I hear about just as much, and it's the potential cuts to Medicaid. Really? What it would do, first of all, for healthcare generally, I mean, Medicaid covers the people we love the most, our parents and our kids. 50% of Kentucky's kids have some Medicaid coverage.

pain in paying their bills, pain in running their company, and so that certainly permeates. But I tell you what I hear about just as much, and it's the potential cuts to Medicaid. Really? What it would do, first of all, for healthcare generally, I mean, Medicaid covers the people we love the most, our parents and our kids. 50% of Kentucky's kids have some Medicaid coverage.

70% of our long-term care costs are covered by Medicaid and rural healthcare. is supported and cannot exist without Medicaid and at its current level without expanded Medicaid. So imagine if you live in rural America and they do these cuts, your hospital system, which is your number two employer behind the public school shuts down. All those jobs are lost. It hits your economy.

70% of our long-term care costs are covered by Medicaid and rural healthcare. is supported and cannot exist without Medicaid and at its current level without expanded Medicaid. So imagine if you live in rural America and they do these cuts, your hospital system, which is your number two employer behind the public school shuts down. All those jobs are lost. It hits your economy.

But then you, whether you have private insurance or Medicaid, have to drive an hour or two for your appointment, for your parents' appointments, for your kids' appointments to see the same doctor who lost their job in your town in a bigger city.

But then you, whether you have private insurance or Medicaid, have to drive an hour or two for your appointment, for your parents' appointments, for your kids' appointments to see the same doctor who lost their job in your town in a bigger city.

Well, on the tariff side, we're seeing it right now. UPS just announced 20,000 layoffs, which is startling. What? Yes. Our bourbon industry has been hit. We've seen a bottling plant shut down.