
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on Trump Bill: “A Punch in the Face of Rural America”
Clip: 7/9/2025 | 17m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) explains why he says Trump's new bill is a disaster for rural America.
President Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has been signed into law, impacting Americans across the country. Millions of people on Medicaid are set to lose their health coverage, a loss that is raising serious concern even in traditionally conservative states. Andy Beshear, two-term Governor of Kentucky, joins the show to talk about the bill's real-life effect on rural communities.
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Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on Trump Bill: “A Punch in the Face of Rural America”
Clip: 7/9/2025 | 17m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
President Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has been signed into law, impacting Americans across the country. Millions of people on Medicaid are set to lose their health coverage, a loss that is raising serious concern even in traditionally conservative states. Andy Beshear, two-term Governor of Kentucky, joins the show to talk about the bill's real-life effect on rural communities.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> TURNING NOW TO THE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SWEEPING DOMESTIC POLICY BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON MEDICAID ARE SET TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
MICHEL MARTIN SPEAKS WITH THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY ABOUT THE REAL LIFE EFFECT THIS COULD HAVE ON RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE HIS OWN.
>> THANKS, CHRISTIANE.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> SO, YOU -- LET'S GO RIGHT TO IT, YOU CALL THE PRESIDENT'S TAX AND SPENDING BILL, WHICH HE AND HIS REPUBLICAN ALLIES HAVE CALLED THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THE WORST LEGISLATION YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR LIFETIME.
AS BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN, TELL US WHY.
>> THIS IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE BILL I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.
IN KENTUCKY, IT IS GOING TO KICK 200,000 PEOPLE OFF THEIR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.
THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE KIDS AND SENIORS, IT IS GOING TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO NEED CANCER TREATMENT AND WHO WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES WITHOUT THAT COVERAGE.
ON TOP OF THAT, IT IS GOING TO FIRE 20,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS, FROM ALL AROUND KENTUCKY, AND IT MAY SHUTTER UP TO 35 RURAL HOSPITALS.
SO, WHETHER YOU'RE ON PRIVATE INSURANCE OR ON MEDICAID, IF YOU ARE A RURAL AMERICAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE HOURS JUST TO SEE A DOCTOR.
AND THEN WHAT IT DOES TO OUR RURAL ECONOMIES IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY PAINFUL.
BECAUSE IF YOU REMOVE HUNDREDS OF DOCTORS AND NURSES AND ORDERLIES FROM THAT RURAL HOSPITAL THAT IS TYPICALLY THE SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THAT COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY FEELS THE PAIN.
THE COFFEE SHOP, THE RESTAURANT, THE BANK, THIS IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON RURAL AMERICA THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT SO MUCH HARDER FOR STRUGGLING AMERICANS TO GET BY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PATIENTS THEMSELVES.
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR THE BILL THAT SUPPORTERS KEEP INSISTING ON IS THAT IT WILL SHORE UP THE FINANCES OF MEDICAID IN PARTICULAR SO THAT IN PARTICULAR CHILDREN, IN PARTICULAR PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED, THIS WILL STABILIZE THE FINANCES OF MEDICAID SO THAT THESE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR WILL CONTINUE TO GET CARE.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
>> IT IS NOT.
BECAUSE IF IT WAS, THEY WOULD HAVE EXEMPTED THEM FROM LARGE PARTS OF THE BILL.
THE WAY THEY GET THEIR QUOTE, UNQUOTE SAVINGS IS BY INCREASING THE LEVEL OF PAPER WORK, MAKING YOU PROVE YOUR ELIGIBILITY, MULTIPLE EXTRA TIMES, WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY SO MANY CHECKS IN THERE AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FAMILY HAS A CHILD WITH A SEVERE DISABILITY, THAT IS COVERED BY MEDICAID, DOESN'T CHECK A CERTAIN BOX ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, THAT FAMILY CAN LOSE COVERAGE FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.
IT IS MEAN.
IT IS CRUEL.
THINK ABOUT THAT SENIOR, BECAUSE 70% OF OUR LONG-TERM CARE COSTS IN KENTUCKY ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID.
THAT SENIOR WHO IS ALREADY GETTING SIGNIFICANT CARE, WHOSE FAMILY PROBABLY HAS TO FILL OUT THOSE FORMS, IF IT IS NOT DONE RIGHT, THAT PERSON LOSES THAT LONG-TERM CARE COVERAGE.
AND SO THAT FAMILY HAS TO TAKE THEM BACK INTO THEIR HOME, TRY TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES WHICH IS LIKELY IMPOSSIBLE, PROBABLY CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE FULL TIME HELP THAT IS NEEDED, THIS IS THE DAMAGE IT IS GOING TO CAUSE TO PEOPLE'S LIFE AND THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO DID IT TO THEM, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU WOULD, ABOUT THE IMPACT ON RURAL HOSPITALS AND THE FINANCING AND WHY YOU'RE SO CONVINCED THAT IT WILL HAVE SUCH A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON RURAL HOSPITALS IN PARTICULAR.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ALLIES SAY THAT THERE IS A FUND, SPECIFICALLY SET UP TO SUPPORT RURAL HOSPITALS.
TELL US WHY YOU SAY THAT YOU THINK THIS MANY HOSPITALS WILL CLOSE AND WHY IT WILL HAVE SUCH A SEVERE IMPACT.
>> THE WAY I KNOW THAT RURAL HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO GET HIT HARD, AND MANY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE IS THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY TELLING ME, THEY'RE TELLING THE COUNTRY, THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE GROUP.
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN OUT WITH THESE PROJECTIONS SAYING, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
THIS IS OVER A TRILLION DOLLAR CUT TO THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.
THAT'S A TRILLION DOLLARS OF REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS THESE RURAL HOSPITALS AND THERE IS A $50 BILLION FUND TO HELP RURAL HOSPITALS, THE REASON IT WON'T WORK IS MATH.
IT IS GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT RURAL HOSPITALS, THE REASON THEY GET HIT MORE IS THAT THERE IS A LARGER MEDICAID POPULATION THAN OTHERS AND THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE THAT MAY BE TRAVELING TO THEM.
BUT WHAT IT MEANS IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE HOURS JUST TO SEE YOUR FAMILY PRACTITIONER, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME SPECIALTIES.
THINK ABOUT OBGYNs.
40% OF ALL BIRTHS IN KENTUCKY ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID.
AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT HOSPITALS STRUGGLE ON THE FINANCES.
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS IN RURAL AMERICA, HAVING TO DRIVE HOURS JUST TO GET TO A BIG CITY, TO EVEN GIVE BIRTH, IT IS GOING TO HAVE MASSIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR URBAN AMERICA TOO.
BUT JUST --THIS IS A PUNCH IN THE FACE OF RURAL AMERICA AND MY STATE.
>> GOVERNOR, YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS WEIGHTED TOWARD REPUBLICANS, YOUR DELEGATION WAS KIND OF SPLIT.
YOUR SENATORS SPLIT, ONE VOTED FOR THE BILL, ONE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, RAND PAUL VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, MITCH McCONNELL, THE LONG TIME REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE, VOTED FOR THE BILL.
IN THE HOUSE, THE ONE DEMOCRAT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VOTED AGAINST IT ALONG WITH ONE REPUBLICAN, THOMAS MASSIE.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT.
WHY DO YOU THINK THEY SPLIT, WHICH THEY NORMALLY DON'T.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T EXPECT AND THAT'S TO GIVE THOMAS MASSIE AND RAND PAUL SOME CREDIT.
AND I'M WILLING TO DO THAT BECAUSE MY JOB IS TO BE THE BEST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND THE BEST GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY FOR THE PEOPLE.
RAND PAUL AND THOMAS MASSIE ARE JUST ABOUT THE ONLY TWO INDIVIDUALS, SAVE A COUPLE OTHERS, THAT WERE WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE PRESIDENT.
AND I'LL GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR STANDING UP ON FISCAL GROUNDS BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGELY FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE BILL, MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE BILLS I'VE EVER SEEN, IT IS GOING TO ADD TRILLIONS TO THE NATIONAL DEBT AND IT IS GOING TO PUSH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEW COSTS ON STATES, BLOWING UP OUR OTHERWISE BALANCED BUDGET.
WHAT I WON'T GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR IS THAT THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING THIS BILL BECAUSE IT HURTS PEOPLE.
AND IT DOES.
IT HURTS PEOPLE IN KICKING OFF THEIR HEALTHCARE, AND FIRING HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CLOSING RURAL HOSPITALS, BUT THE CUTS TO SNAP ALSO MEAN THAT SENIORS AND CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GO HUNGRY AT NIGHT, GOING TO WAKE UP WITH HUNGER PAINS AND IN MY FAITH, THE MIRACLE OF THE FISHES AND THE LOAFS IS THE ONLY MIRACLE IN THE ONLY BOOK OF THE GOSPEL.
IN A COUNTRY THAT GROWS PLENTY OF FOOD, ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE, NOBODY SHOULD STARVE.
>> WELL, SNAP IS FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AWARE OF IT.
USED TO BE CALLED FOOD STAMPS, NOW CALLED SNAP.
TO THE ISSUE OF THE DEFICIT, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE IS SCORING SAYING THE SENATE BILL, THE ONE THAT WAS ADOPTED, ADDS EVEN MORE TO THE DEFICIT THAN THE HOUSE BILL WOULD HAVE.
>> WHAT IS AMAZING TO ME ON THAT IS THAT THESE SENATE REPUBLICANS JUST AREN'T TELLING PEOPLE THE TRUTH.
THEY'RE TELLING PEOPLE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE WRONG.
AND WHILE THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WAS CREATED WAS TO HAVE A NONPARTISAN GROUP THAT WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THINGS COST AND GUESS WHO CREATED IT.
CONGRESS.
THE SAME SENATE AND THE SAME HOUSE IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS AND SO THIS IDEA THAT YOU CAN ARGUE THE NUMBERS IS JUST WRONG AND BLOWING SMOKE.
>> ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT THEY MAKE IS THAT THIS BILL WILL SOMEHOW GENERATE ENOUGH ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT IT WILL MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF, I DON'T KNOW, SPENDING A GUESS, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT, THAT IT WILL GENERATE THIS EXPLOSION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT'S WRONG.
>> THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
THIS BILL --THIS BILL --THEY CAUGHT A TRILLION DOLLARS OF REVENUE OUT OF ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES IN AMERICA.
IF YOU CUT A TRILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE ECONOMY, OUT OF HEALTHCARE, THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GENERATE EXTRA DOLLARS OUT OF IT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE A TARIFF POLICY THAT IS DESTRUCTIVE, THAT IS SLOWING OUR ECONOMY, WE'RE SEEING FEWER PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE'RE SEEING SMALL BUSINESSES LAY PEOPLE OFF.
HERE IS ANOTHER POINT ABOUT THIS BILL.
IT IS GOING TO HURT WORKER PRODUCTIVITY.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A WORKER IN RURAL AMERICA, THAT CAN CONCURRENTLY GO SEE A DOCTOR IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE MORNING AND NOW YOU HAVE TO DRIVE SEVERAL HOURS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE DAY OFF OF WORK.
IF YOUR PARENT COMES BACK INTO YOUR HOME, YOU GOT TO GET THEM TO THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT TWO HOURS AWAY, YOU TAKE ANOTHER DAY OFF WORK AND LET'S SAY YOU HAVE TWO KIDS, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GET THEIR APPOINTMENT ON THE SAME DAY, YOU GOT TO TAKE YET ANOTHER DAY OFF WORK.
OR IF YOU LOSE YOUR COVERAGE, YOU GET SICK MORE OFTEN, AND YOU MISS MORE DAYS OF WORK.
THAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORKFORCE LESS PRODUCTIVE.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY IF THIS IS SO OBVIOUS TO YOU, IT WASN'T AS OBVIOUS TO THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT YOUR STATE.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHY YOU THINK YOU SEE IT SO DIFFERENTLY.
>> WHAT I SEE ARE PEOPLE WHO LACK THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND HAVE ABDICATED THEIR OATH OF OFFICE.
THEY WERE ELECTED TO BE THE BEST SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
NOT TO DO THE BIDDING OF THE PRESIDENT.
AND THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED WITH SEEING THE PRESIDENT SMILE AT THEM THAN WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A RURAL HOSPITAL OPEN IN THEIR DISTRICT OR WHETHER PEOPLE ARE OR ARE NOT STARVING IN THEIR DISTRICT.
THIS WAS A TEST OF BASIC HUMANITY.
AND THOSE THAT VOTED FOR THIS BILL FAILED.
>> AGAIN, PRESUMABLY THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY VOTED FOR -- >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY VOTED TO LOSE THEIR JOB.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY VOTED TO LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY VOTED TO HAVE THEIR RURAL COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY HIT AND IMPACTED POTENTIALLY EVEN DESTROYED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE CONVINCED THE LAST GROUP OF MOVEABLE VOTERS THAT HE WAS MORE FOCUSED ON HELPING THEM PAY THE BILLS AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS DISTRACTED ON A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ISSUES.
BUT EVERYTHING IN HIS TERM IS MAKING IT SO MUCH HARDER.
SEEING THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO BE HARDER.
PAYING THE BILLS UNDER TARIFFS ARE GO TO BE HARDER.
AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO FEEL BETRAYED AND CERTAINLY IF YOU VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND YOU LOSE YOUR JOB BECAUSE OF THIS BILL, YOU ARE BEING BETRAYED.
>> EXCEPT THAT THE WAY THIS BILL IS STRUCTURED, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR, IS THAT THE TAX CUTS COME IN SOONER AND THE SPENDING CUTS COME IN LATER.
AND IT WAS STRUCTURED THAT WAY.
THE TAX CUTS COME IN BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WHERE PRESUMABLY IF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU SAY THEY WILL, THEY COULD HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR VOTES, BUT THE TAX CUTS COME IN BEFORE THE MIDTERMS AND MOST OF THE SPENDING CUTS COME IN IN THE OUT YEARS, AFTER THE MIDTERMS.
GIVEN THAT REALITY, HOW DO YOU PERSUADE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU SAY IT IS?
>> YOU SEE THE PAIN AND YOU'LL SEE IT EARLIER THAN THEY THINK.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF REVENUE IN TWO TO THREE YEARS, YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THAT MOMENT AND FALL OFF THE CLIFF.
THEY'RE HAVING TO MAKE PLANS NOW ON WHAT LINES TO CUT, ON WHAT SERVICES TO PROVIDE, ON WHAT HOSPITALS MIGHT HAVE TO BE CLOSED.
THOSE THAT THE THOUGHT OF PUSHING THIS OFF WOULD PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SEEING IT, FIRST, THAT'S REALLY WRONG.
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING REALLY PAINFUL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION SO YOU RE-ELECT US.
THAT'S WRONG.
THAT'S NOT WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
BUT THEY ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THESE BUSINESSES WORK, WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE.
THESE HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RIGHT SIZE THEIR BUDGETS BEFORE THE FULL CUT COMES.
>> SO, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO BE THE BEST GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, NOT THE BEST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY.
BUT YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR FORTUNES AREN'T ALWAYS TIED TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU'VE BEEN RE- ELECTED --YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED AGAIN IN YOUR STATE, WHICH DOES LEAN CONSERVATIVE.
BUT OVERALL, DO YOU THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE THE CASE THAT YOU ARE MAKING?
>> WELL, I THINK THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF THIS BILL IS FACT.
SO, DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND THE NEWS NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
WHAT WE NEED IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY IN THE BILL AND WHAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE BILL.
IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, THAT WAS CONSIDERED FACT.
IT STILL IS.
AND SO I THINK THAT THERE IS NOT JUST DEMOCRATS, BUT ALL OF US THAT HAVE AN OBLIGATION FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THIS BILL DOES, AND WHO DID IT TO US.
>> WELL, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO LOWER INCOME PEOPLE OR MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE, LIKE THE TAX ON TIPS.
THIS WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES SAYING THAT HE WAS GOING TO ADD A NEW TAX AND ALSO HE'S PROMISING THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST SENIORS WON'T SEE TAXES ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.
BUT I AM WONDERING WHETHER YOU THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE --THAT THOSE PROVISIONS WILL BE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAY IT WILL BE MORE HARMFUL THAN IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL.
>> IT WON'T BE ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE.
THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T PUT THIS MUCH STUFF IN ONE BILL, AND INCLUDING SOME PROVISIONS THAT APPEAR TO JUST BE BUYING OFF SOMEONE FOR A VOTE HERE OR A VOTE THERE, SENDING SOMETHING TO THEIR STATE.
THE PEOPLE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT RELY ON TAXES AND TIPS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE MARGINS AND HOW THEY GET THEIR HEALTHCARE.
MANY ARE GETTING IT THROUGH THE STATE- RUN EXCHANGES, WHICH ARE GOING TO TAKE A BEATING AS WELL.
MANY OF THEM ARE THE WORKING POOR THAT ARE OTHERWISE COVERED ON MEDICAID OR THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER AT HOME WHO ARE COVERED ON MEDICAID.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THAT RURAL RESTAURANT THAT NOW ARE GOING TO HAVE FEWER PEOPLE COMING IN BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE AFFORDABLE INCOME HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TAX CUTS, YEAH, TAX CUT WOULD BE REALLY NICE FOR A DOCTOR, IF THEY STILL HAD A JOB.
IF THEY LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE OF THIS BILL, THEY HAVE NO INCOME AND THERE IS NO TAX CUT.
>> SO, GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE NOW?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN YOU GOT TO MANAGE THE FALLOUT, WHATEVER IT IS.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
>> BEST I CAN FOR MY PEOPLE.
I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.
AND IT IS MY JOB TO FIGHT FOR THEM REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTY REGISTRATION, TO TRY TO MOVE US NOT TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, BUT MOVE US FORWARD.
SO, I'M GOING TO -- >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT THEY CORRECTLY FILL OUT THOSE FORMS, TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF EXTRA SERVICES AND ADVICE THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM, BUT NO STATE, NOT ONE STATE IN THE COUNTRY, HAS A BUDGET WHERE THEY CAN SIMPLY BACK FILL THESE DOLLARS.
EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO DO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST, BUT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA ARE GOING TO FEEL THE PAIN BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE OF THIS BIG UGLY BILL.
>> SO, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I KIND OF HATE THIS GAME THAT WE HAVE TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT IF YOU FEEL THE SITUATION IS AS DIRE AS YOU SAY THAT IT IS, SO WOULD YOUED ED AT LEAST IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
>> IF YOU ASKED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IF I'M CONSIDERING THIS, I WOULD SAY NO.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
I LOVE THIS JOB AND IT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF YOUR STATE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
BUT I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY KIDS A BROKEN COUNTRY.
SO THIS YEAR, AND NEXT YEAR, AND MY JOB AS GOVERNOR, I'M GOING TO BE WORKING TO CREATE JOBS AND TRY TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE WHEN I CAN WITH THIS BILL, TO BUILD SAFER ROADS AND BRIDGES AND IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS S AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY FEELS SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING IN A LOT OF STATES WHERE THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS BIG UGLY BILL AND THE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WHEN I SIT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT IT, MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, AM I A PERSON THAT CAN REPAIR WHAT IS BROKEN, AM I PERSON THAT CAN HEAL THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO ON WITH THE US VERSUS THE THEMES.
WE CAN'T GO ON DIVIDED WHEN OUR PLEDGE SAYS WE'LL KEEP OUR COUNTRY INDIVISIBLE.
IF I'M THAT CANDIDATE, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.
IF SOMEONE ELSE IS, I'LL BE FULLY BEHIND THEM BECAUSE I CARE A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND ITS FUTURE, FOR EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN, THAN I DO ABOUT WHAT ROLE I MIGHT PLAY.
>> GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR OF KENTUCKY, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US ONCE AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.
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