Bevin says Kentucky has strong ally in Trump

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Gov. Matt Bevin says he spoke by phone with Donald Trump and came away even more convinced that Kentucky has an ally in the president-elect.

The Republican governor said Monday he chatted with Trump last week after the incoming president reached out. Bevin says topics included the manufacturing and coal sectors.

Bevin says the Bluegrass state is “in a good place to have the ear” of Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Trump easily carried Kentucky in this month’s election.

Bevin says he and Trump didn’t talk about specifics in efforts to try to revive the coal industry but said the president-elect is committed to its comeback.

Bevin says the chat also touched on Medicaid. Federal officials are reviewing a plan by Bevin’s administration to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.