Tagged: pensions

Figuring out how to finance a plan to shore up Kentucky public employees' pensions will be the General Assembly's greatest task in 2013, two legislative leaders said.

A legislative task force has suggested several ways to brace  state employee pensions, but passing legislation and paying for it will be difficult. Lawmakers' proposals include relying on existing economic growth and raising taxes on Kentuckians with higher earnings.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he hasn't settled on a solution.

Gov. Steve Beshear is blending a mix of old and new when it comes to his legislative priorities in 2013. 

With the 2013 session’s first days only weeks away, Beshear is ready to push some old initiatives while helping lawmakers solve pressing issues like pensions.

Beshear says he will once again try to find enough votes to pass expanded gambling legislation in 2013. And he wants to pass the so-called dropout bill as well.

State employees with higher pensions should pay more to help the underfunded systems recover, Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said in a recent interview.

One thing Stumbo doesn't want to see is lawmakers floating bonds to help pay for the state’s underfunded pensions.

And that echoes what Republicans want; they're ruling out such a possibility.

A group of GOP House candidates are encouraging one Republican leader to take a bold stance on a pension issue.

Republicans Chris Hightower, Jason Crockett, Lynn Bechler, Bryan Lutz and Matt Lockett are all in competitive races for the state House this election cycle.

The candidates want Senate President David Williams to retire, rather than resign, if he is selected and accepts a judgeship in his home county.