Audio from Kentucky Educational Television
Kentucky officially has a new Governor, after Andy Beshear was ceremonially sworn-in Tuesday afternoon on the steps of the Capitol Building in Frankfort.
Beshear was actually sworn in at midnight in the Governor’s mansion in a private ceremony, but it was publicly done with a full-fledged inauguration parade and ceremony Tuesday. During his inaugural address, Beshear announced that he intends to sign an executive order Thursday restoring voting rights to over 100,000 convicted felons.
He also says he has already reorganized the Kentucky State Board of Education, in the effort of keeping his promise of keeping education a priority.
Along with that, Beshear says his budget proposal will include raises for teachers across the state.
He says he fully intends to keep the promise of retirement to state workers, just as they have kept their promise to the state.
Beshear also discussed making sure Kentuckians have access to healthcare and maintained that he will be a Governor for all, and work across aisles with an outstretched hand. Beshear steps into the role left by former Governor Matt Bevin and also in the role once held by his father, former Governor Steve Beshear. The 2020 session of the General Assembly, which is a budget session, begins on January 7.