What are they REALLY saying?: Economic development.

This week's question is about the High Road Initiative that will "sunshine" activities surrounding the tax incentives given to corporations to locate in Kentucky, and whether or not as Governor candidates will support or stymie the initiative. Here's what they are REALLY saying:

Democrats:

Jody Richards: "My administration will offer incentives to both new and established home-grown companies, since they are less likely to leave the state." Jody will focus on Kentucky grown companies.

Steve Beshear: "... [O]ur Kentucky Economic Plan ... calls for shifting the focus of Kentucky’s energy and resources to growing businesses from within and [r]equiring companies receiving incentives to be accountable for creating the jobs and investments they promise using "clawback" provisions, while [s]hifting tax incentives to worker training and education ... ." Steve will focus on Kentucky business, plus require accountability for Kentucky's business investments and make companies use the incentives for worker training and investments.

Gatewood Galbraith: "Public advocacy groups are a great asset toward governmental accountability." The rest of Gatewood's answer deals with Public Service Contracts which he wants to "do something about".

Steve Henry: "Kentucky's government ought to be creating jobs ... and ... move Kentucky businesses to the front of the line for state contracts." Steve will favor Kentucky business for state contracts.

Otis Hensley: "I will review the effectiveness of current business incentive programs and make needed changes. The surviving programs will be open to public scrutiny." Otis favors public scrutiny of the economic incentive program.

Bruce Lunsford: "[W]e will assess the cost-benefit of tax incentives and develop an effective incentive program that only invests tax dollars that benefit the economy and brings good-paying jobs to stay." Bruce favors accountability and effectiveness of the incentives program.

Jonathan Miller: "We will target funds to businesses in sectors where growth is really needed – like alternative energies and technologies. ... In line with our overall policy of transparency, any and all deals will be done under public scrutiny." Jonathan favors transparency and will use incentives where they are "really needed".

Republicans:

Billy Harper: "I will focus on growing small businesses, which create more than 60 percent of Kentucky’s new jobs. Expanding locally owned companies ... will have the greatest impact on our economy [] [as] [l]ocal jobs are much more likely to stay right here in Kentucky." Billy will grow jobs here and focus on small businesses.

Ernie Fletcher: "I will continue to broaden Kentucky's economic development efforts ... by provid[ing] resources to high tech start up businesses in Kentucky." Ernie will continue his economic development efforts for high tech start up jobs in Kentucky.

Anne Northup: "We should compare our economic incentives with other states and evaluate them in light of their long-term success." Anne wants to see how successful the incentive program is compared to other states.

That's it folks, what they're REALLY saying, in their own words, deciphered.