With chance of VP pick, Beshear questioned on national issues. Here's what he had to say

As Gov. Andy Beshear is thrust into the national spotlight as a contender for the Democratic vice presidential nomination , the two-term Kentucky statesman is being pushed to answer questions about topics ranging from border security to the Israel-Hamas war.

The popular Democratic governor is mostly known inside of Kentucky for his steady leadership during a series of crises that have struck the state, including floods, tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic — and for his Bluegrass boosterism that has helped bring more than 50,000 jobs to the state.

But Beshear has never held a national elected office, and even in Kentucky, his policymaking has been constrained by a veto-proof Republican majority in the legislature.

Now, though, he's getting a lot of inside-the-beltway policy questions. Here’s where he stands:

Immigration

As he frequently does for a range of policy issues, Beshear used his Christian faith as a guidepost when talking about immigration during his weekly press conference Thursday.

When it comes to broader immigration issues, Beshear did not propose a concrete solution, but rather said he wants to see the country “look at the policy of what our American workforce needs” and “pass reasonable immigration reform.”

“Illegal immigration is illegal. We can't say that the rule of law applies to the former president and doesn't apply in other instances,” Beshear said in a pointed reference to former President Donald Trump’s convictions. “But we also can say that these are human beings, and we ought to make sure that the way that we enforce our laws shows our humanity.”

Beshear said he believes that Dreamers — undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children and grew up here — should be able to get full American citizenship.

"These are kids, and I believe every child is a child of God, and we ought to prove it when it comes to these individuals," Beshear said.

Though the state is a thousand miles from the southern U.S. border, immigration does get attention in Kentucky, with some Republicans going so far as to say it's a border state.

"Kentucky has become a border state, and our children are at risk," Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman said earlier this year when he signed a letter of support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over his dispute with the federal government at the Mexican border. State legislators this year also called on Beshear to support efforts to “secure the border.”

Jobs

With his hands tied by a Republican-led legislature, Beshear has made job growth a key part of his administration.

He frequently touts the jobs brought to the commonwealth under his watch, as well as his ability to bring economic development projects to all parts of Kentucky, not just major cities like Louisville and Lexington.

One of those projects, the BlueOval SK Battery Park, a joint venture between Ford and South Korean partner SK On in Glendale, is expected to create 5,000 of those jobs.

“The jobs should come to people instead of expecting people to travel to jobs,” Beshear said Thursday.

But can his Kentucky jobs message translate to voters nationwide?

Beshear answered that question by emphasizing his focus on "our people and making sure that we make every moment providing just a better life for them… Legacy is about the people you help, and that comes from my faith.

“What a governor can bring to the table is knowing how to get it done. Knowing how to get the dollars that are allocated by these projects out there,” Beshear said. “I know how to execute on legislation.”

Kentucky Republicans dispute that Beshear should get credit for the state’s economic successes.

“Record growth started before he took office...,” said Andrew Westberry, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky.

'Public dollars for public schools'

Beshear praised Vice President Kamala Harris for believing in public education and touted bills supporting public education in Kentucky in the past.

"I still view one of my best and greatest accomplishments when we overturn that sewer bill and protected the pension of every teacher, police officer, firefighter and social worker throughout this state," Beshear said.

Beshear is referring to the lawsuit he filed as attorney general in 2018 against an erstwhile sewer bill that became a vehicle for a major state pension overhaul. The lawsuit said the process of passing the law was flawed and the contents of the bill broke legal promises to public employees, and the state Supreme Court eventually found the law unconstitutional.

He also spoke against the constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in the fall, asking Kentucky voters whether they want to allow the legislature to use taxpayer dollars on non-public schools.

"I will do everything I can to defeat Amendment 2, which aims to defund our Kentucky public education," Beshear said.

Israel-Hamas War

With the Israel-Hamas war proving a divisive point in the Democratic Party , any vice presidential candidate will need to answer questions about it.

But on Thursday, Beshear dodged a series of questions about his position.

“Foreign policy is set by the President of the United States,” he said.

“Israel is a strong ally of the United States. When you have disagreements with a strong ally, I think you have them privately,” Beshear added. “I don't think you can litigate foreign policy through the press.”

'Secret Service better do better'

Beshear said the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump shouldn't have happened, and it was a "full failure" by the Secret Service.

"The Secret Service better do better," he said. "Every American deserves to be safe and feel safe wherever they are. And that includes Donald Trump, and it includes anybody at a political rally."

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday after testifying earlier this week in front of the House Oversight Committee , which is chaired by Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer. Beshear said "he hated an individual lost their life" because they decided to attend a political rally, referring to Pennsylvania firefighter Corey Comperatore .

"No one should ever lose their life when they're showing up to express their First Amendment rights," Beshear said.

Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: With chance of VP pick, Beshear questioned on national issues. Here's what he had to say