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Pension Transparency Legislation To Return In 2017

J. Tyler Franklin

With commanding majorities in the Kentucky legislature, Republican lawmakers will try to find ways to fix the state’s ailing pension systems during the upcoming General Assembly.

One proposal would make lawmakers’ pension information subject to open records requests.

Owensboro Republican Sen. Joe Bowen says the public should know how much lawmakers are earning in state pension benefits.

“I mean they’re paying the bill. If somebody’s getting a really rich benefit, the public ought to know,” Bowen said.

Lawmakers have come under fire for drawing larger pension checks by moving on from the legislature to more lucrative jobs in state government.

The pension fund for lawmakers has almost 80 percent of the money it needs to make future payments to retirees. Meanwhile the main pension fund for state employees only has 16 percent of the money it needs.

Ryland Barton is the Managing Editor for Collaboratives for Kentucky Public Radio, a group of public radio stations including WKMS, WFPL in Louisville, WEKU in Richmond and WKYU in Bowling Green. A native of Lexington, Ryland most recently served as the Capitol Reporter for Kentucky Public Radio. He has covered politics and state government for NPR member stations KWBU in Waco and KUT in Austin.
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