Bashear spent the majority of his time at the microphone rehearsing familiar themes — emphasizing kitchen table issues and touting economic projects, job growth, and progress in recovery from natural disasters.
In a speech peppered with references to faith, Beshear used the Christmas narrative — singling out the story of Mary — to urge the General Assembly to be "thoughtful" about how legislation affects marginalized people. The governor then connected the message to modern political divisions, calling on lawmakers to take a cue from small acts of community.
"When a person who attends your church is sick, we don't check their social media before offering to help," he said.
Beshear renewed his push for universal pre-K and educator raises, while using the defeat of Amendment 2 in November as a springboard to appeal to the legislature not to pursue other avenues for funding private school options.
"That's what you call a mandate," he said, referring to the clear blow the measure faced at the ballot box. "A mandate to prioritize public education. So let's stop with the attempts to defund. Let's stop the voucher nonsense. Let's stop the end run through tax shelters. Instead, let's roll up our sleeves, and let's do the hard work to strengthen and improve our public schools."
Whether lawmakers look for more inroads to promote public education alternatives this session is an open question.
GOP Reaction
Beshear's most direct attack on Republican priorities came near the end of this speech when he called on the legislature to stop pursuing efforts he views as anti-public education.
Speaking on KET, House Speaker David Osborne took issue with the governor's characterization.
"The impetus of Amendment 2 was about trying to help those kids that public schools are not serving adequately in today's systems. It was not about tearing down education. It was not about failing schools in particular. It's about failing kids. And unfortunately, we continue to fail kids in this state," he said.
Osborne said the legislature will continue to seek more accountability measures for schools.
Regarding the tone of the speech, newly-minted Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise said he appreciated more conciliatory moments when the governor made a point of including and praising the work of the GOP-led legislature.
"We worked really hard with our budget the last few years, and I was glad to see the governor acknowledge that," Wise said.
Beshear's speeches have rankled Republicans who see the governor as taking credit for economic gains they say are the result of GOP policies.
Not all were on board with the governor's invoking of Biblical references in his address, which steered clear of specifics — instead noting Mary was the type of person people might have "judged" or "legislated against."
"Beshear using Mary, the Mother of God, to attack pro-life, pro-family, pro-faith, pro-freedom Kentuckians was beyond shameful - outright blasphemous," Rep. TJ Roberts posted to X.
The speech was given before a notably thin audience in the Kentucky House, with Republican leaders in both chambers canceling their standard post-speech press conference — citing weather forecasts and concern for staff.
