One-on-one with Ky. Senate President Robert Stivers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, a Republican, has done something out of the ordinary.

He sat down at Goodwood in Frankfort to talk about school choice, his relationship with the governor and how Democrats and Republicans get along behind closed doors — plus the biggest topic this legislative session: the budget.

“New people can get overwhelmed by what they see,” said Sen. Stivers.

Despite being a Republican and the governor a Democrat, he says Andy Beshear has made gallant efforts to find common ground, but also says there’s still major work to be done.

“He has made an effort, and I think what we have agreed to do is we’ll talk more, but we’re not going to walk out and give you all a story about if we agreed or disagreed,” added Stivers.

A big commitment for Stivers is giving parents the choice of where their children go to school.

“If parents want their students to go to a city system or a county system, depending on what they think, then there’s no restriction. And so I don’t think you’ll see the impact of a charter school in rural areas, but there will always be that concern,” said Stivers.

Critics of the Republican-led legislature in Kentucky say that GOP Senators are re-running things like national GOP Senators.

“I don’t disagree with the governor that we need to pay, not just teachers but everybody in the school,” added Stivers.

But he also says he’s keeping his focus at the state level, and he’s willing to work with state Democrats to bring about the most change and impact to Kentucky.

Stivers has been a state Senator since 1997.