FRANKFORT, Ky. (WHAS11) – Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin announced a special session for the Kentucky General Assembly will convene on Friday, July 19, at 8 a.m.
Bevin has introduced a proposal to provide immediate fiscal relief to the state’s quasi-agencies and give long-term options that will offer organizations the ability to stay in operation.
The governor’s office said the proposal is the only fiscally accountable plan that provides universities and quasi-governmental agencies with a way to a sustainable future.
The following statement is from House Democratic Leader Rocky Adkins, Caucus Chair Derrick Graham and Caucus Whip Joni Jenkins, and is in response to the special session announcement:
“The House Democrats have put forward a reasonable and financially sound pension proposal in BR 11 to help our public health departments, regional universities and other quasi-governmental agencies, and we look forward to presenting our ideas when the special session begins. Our proposal has been vetted by the governor’s chosen actuaries; it’s received positive feedback from those affected; and it provides more certainty and stability for the agencies, their employees, the state retirement system and state government. It would be immoral to pass a bill that does anything less.”
House Speaker David Osborne released the following statement:
“House Majority Caucus members have devoted more than two months to studying the details of the Governor’s proposal, and gathering feedback from stakeholders. We are ready to act on this bill in order to provide relief to quasi-governmental agencies, regional universities, their employees and the Kentuckians they serve. We remain committed to working towards the ultimate closure of this issue, during this special session and into future sessions.” Speaker David Osborne said. “The public pension crisis was not created overnight. It is the result of decades of mismanagement and policies that favored politics over the long-term good of our Commonwealth. It will take a real, long-term commitment to resolving it.”
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