A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Gov. Bevin calls special legislative session to address Kentucky’s pension issue


Gov. Matt Bevin announced at a press conference Monday in Frankfort that he is calling a special legislative session this week to address Kentucky’s looming public pension issue.

Gov. Matt Bevin

Gov. Bevin issued the following statement Monday:

“Today, I am convening the General Assembly into special session to enact vital legislation that will be a meaningful first step toward shoring up our dying pension system. We stand at the threshold of financial failure. That is not acceptable.

Kentucky’s pension crisis represents the single greatest threat to the long-term financial health of the Commonwealth.

Last week’s decision by the Supreme Court to strike down SB 151, based solely on process, and with utter disregard for legal precedent and the separation of powers, has only served to create further uncertainty, fear and the likelihood of financial insolvency. Only the General Assembly has the authority and responsibility to pass laws to fix this pension debacle.

Gov. Bevin’s official proclamation calling for a special session. Click to enlarge

For the sake of all current and future Kentuckians, the legislature must act immediately before the Commonwealth incurs further credit downgrades that will cost tens of millions of dollars for taxpayers and further limit the Commonwealth’s ability to pay for essential services, including education and healthcare. I am confident that the General Assembly can, and will, do exactly that.

The elected lawmakers of Kentucky have a moral and legal responsibility to save the pension system from collapsing so that we can deliver on the promises made to our public employees.

The next generation is depending on the legislators of today to take swift, decisive action that will place Kentucky on solid financial footing. Time is not our ally.”

Office of the Governor


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One Comment

  1. Marv Dunn says:

    I thought Bevin and the legislative leadership would at least wait until their regular session next month; but
    NO. St. Matt the Devine” announces a special session starting in just a few hours. Imagine, if you represented western or eastern KY and the Governor tells you that you should be in Frankfort in four hours. It costs approximately $60,000 per day to keep the legislature in session. The Governor likes to spend your money. I watched some of the session on KET last night. It appears that the Republicans learned nothing from the 7 – 0 spanking that the Supreme Court gave them on Friday and will try to cut corners and ram this thing through again. Teachers and other state employees quickly filled the galleries and it was a noisy affair.

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