Democratic State Senator Dorsey Ridley of west Kentucky said he would vote ‘no’ on Governor Matt Bevin’s pension reform bill as it currently stands.
Ridley said he expects parts of the bill to change, including the additional three-percent insurance contribution and the freeze on Cost Of Living Adjustments.
Ridley said pension reform should be handled through multiple bills because “all pensions are different and need to be addressed differently.” He said, for instance, teachers are not able to receive social security benefits like other state workers.
“For that reason they are completely different, and needs to be at least two issues, instead of throwing it all in with one.” Ridley said.
Ridley said he has met with state workers in his district who understand there has to be a shared sacrifice with reforms, but says the proposed bill puts too many of those sacrifices on them.
He said the chance to pass the bill in 2017 is ‘eroding.’ And said in 2018lawmakers need to focus on tax reform, pension reform, the biennial budget and the road fund.
Ridley's district includes Caldwell, Crittenden, Henderson, Livingston, Union and Webster Counties.
