Regional & State

Beshear and Republicans have long quibbled over who deserves credit for the state’s successes, but in Wednesday night’s speech Beshear extended an olive branch, acknowledging the legislature’s role in supporting economic development.

The bill helping pregnant, young Kentuckians is "50 years too late," Westerfield said.

Ahead of this year’s regular session, which began Tuesday, some GOP House members had called for changes to the rules.

The 60-day session will see the Republican-led General Assembly consider bills dealing with charter schools, abortion and firearms, as well as pass a two-year state spending plan.

Beshear agreed that his father's 2014 expansion of Medicaid under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, has played a key role in improving access to care.