Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on White House Disinviting Two Democratic Governors from Meeting

[00:00:00] Uh uh you're here in town for the [00:00:04] National Governor's Association. Um and [00:00:08] uh there's been a little bit of a [00:00:09] controversy because [00:00:10] >> some drama. [00:00:11] >> So uh you know, every White House I I've [00:00:13] served in a few has had extended [00:00:16] invitations to every governor and um and [00:00:20] that's just been the way Republicans and [00:00:22] Democrats have acted as president. uh [00:00:25] because actually the national governors [00:00:27] are people that you have to work with [00:00:28] regardless of party. [00:00:30] >> You're supposed to or at least that's a [00:00:32] theory and and this White House uh took [00:00:35] a different approach. Um so I guess and [00:00:38] and then you responded. [00:00:40] >> Um so I'd love just to uh have you share [00:00:43] why like what what happened with [00:00:45] Governor Moore and Governor Polus and [00:00:48] why you think it's wrong. [00:00:50] >> I'll start by saying for most of the [00:00:52] American public this is a lot of drama. [00:00:54] Uh most of the American public [00:00:56] admittedly isn't going to follow this [00:00:58] and and I understand why because they're [00:01:01] worried about their job and paying for [00:01:03] groceries. Uh they're thinking about [00:01:05] that next doctor's appointment. Uh [00:01:07] they're focused on their everyday life [00:01:09] and and that's what governors do, right? [00:01:11] Governors have to get results. We're not [00:01:14] given speeches on on on on floors in in [00:01:18] any chamber. And we recognize that [00:01:20] signing in the rose garden or I guess [00:01:22] there's no rose garden anymore um is no [00:01:25] longer is no longer real to the American [00:01:27] people, right? You actually have to put [00:01:29] it in action. You actually have to take [00:01:31] that program that may offer certain [00:01:33] incentives, get that company into your [00:01:35] state, get the facility built and and [00:01:38] while people make fun of the ribbon [00:01:39] cutting with the big scissors, it's the [00:01:41] most important day because that's when [00:01:43] people's lives are changed. That's when [00:01:45] people have that better job. That's when [00:01:46] a community um is going to have more [00:01:49] resources and and and has that new [00:01:52] partner. Um but that's one of the [00:01:53] reasons that these meetings are so [00:01:55] important [00:01:56] >> is that if governors are the people on [00:01:58] the ground getting results and getting [00:02:00] things done, talking to your federal [00:02:02] government, talking to your president or [00:02:05] or especially the cabinet secretaries or [00:02:07] head of agencies can be really [00:02:08] important. Um, I I remember in the in in [00:02:11] the Biden administration um having a lot [00:02:13] of good conversations that that spawned [00:02:16] action uh where we were able to get [00:02:18] things done faster. I remember going up [00:02:20] and also complaining about some things. [00:02:21] >> I remember that too. [00:02:22] >> Yes, I [laughter] [00:02:24] I think I was in your office uh several [00:02:26] times. But but that's what this [00:02:28] bipartisan tradition is about. And I [00:02:32] will say that the NGA has operated that [00:02:34] way, has stayed above the fray better [00:02:38] than many organizations. Uh but this [00:02:40] year, uh as invitations were going out, [00:02:44] um we learned that at least two of our [00:02:47] governors, uh Jared Polus from Colorado [00:02:49] and Wes Moore were not invited. Um [00:02:53] that's not okay. Those are two good [00:02:56] governors. Um, one is being pressured to [00:03:00] issue a pardon, which no president [00:03:02] should ever be doing to a governor. Um, [00:03:05] the other the president apparently [00:03:06] doesn't like. He's our one black [00:03:09] governor in this country and he's not [00:03:11] invited. [00:03:13] So, when I heard that, it was a pretty [00:03:14] easy choice for me. I stand with Wes. I [00:03:17] stand with Jared. If we're not if we're [00:03:19] all not invited, I ain't going. [00:03:27] which [00:03:28] >> and let me just say he's attacking Wes [00:03:30] on his performance as governor. I think [00:03:31] Wes Morris has done a great job. [00:03:33] >> Yeah.