Pension Reform Media Coverage

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear today signed pension reform legislation, concluding a five-day special session of the General Assembly, according to the governor’s website. ...

Beshear signs pension-reform bill into law

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Saturday, June 28

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Steve Beshear signed a public-pension-reform bill yesterday that has been two years in the making -- but not all legislators were bragging about it. ...

Gov. Beshear signs pension-reform bill

Business First of Louisville
Friday, June 27

With a stroke of the pen this afternoon, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear brought a special session of the Kentucky General Assembly to a close and relief to county and city governments across the state. ...

House passes pension reform

By Patrick Crowley

The Kentucky Enquirer
Thursday, June 26

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky House moved Wednesday toward making the state's pension fund more secure, a process that will take years, hundreds of millions of dollars and more legislation from the General Assembly to complete. ...

Big 'if' in pension reform

By Ronnie Ellis

CNHI News Service
Wednesday, June 25

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- As a public pension reform bill easily cleared the first steps in a special session that began yesterday, Gov. Steve Beshear heralded the measure as the beginning of a more cooperative era in Frankfort. ...

Beshear praises pension reform effort

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Wednesday, June 25

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- There’s a big “if” in the pension reform legislation being touted as a “big step forward” by lawmakers and Gov. Steve Beshear. ...

Beshear addresses pension reform issues

Associated Press
Monday, June 3

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of the Kentucky General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, Honorable Members of the Court of Justice, honored guests including Kentucky's First Lady, and my fellow Kentuckians. ...

Pension reform bill in works

By Kevin Kelly

Cincinnati Enquirer
Sunday, June 22

A special legislative session will bring Kentucky lawmakers back to Frankfort to take care of some unfinished business starting Monday. ...

Special session for pension bill opens today

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Monday, June 23

A public pension reform bill is expected to sail through the legislature during the special session that begins today -- but officials say shoring up the state retirement systems can't stop there. ...

Teachers' unions influence pension reform plans

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Monday, June 23

In 2004 thousands of teachers showed up at rallies organized by their unions to protest then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher's health care plan -- applying enough pressure to persuade the governor and lawmakers to change course. ...

Pension reform bill in works

By Kevin Kelly

The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sunday, June 22

A special legislative session will bring Kentucky lawmakers back to Frankfort to take care of some unfinished business starting Monday. ...

Pension reform could mean windfall for Louisville

Portfolio.com
Friday, June 20

The proposed changes in Kentucky's state pension system could provide a one-time windfall of about $5 million for Louisville Metro Government in the coming fiscal year, according to Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson. ...

Kentucky legislators to talk pension reform

Pension and Investments Online
Wednesday, June 18

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear called a special session of the General Assembly for June 23 to decide on a bill that would help reduce unfunded pension liabilities of state retirement systems. The $17 billion Kentucky Retirement Systems and the $15.5 billion Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System have an estimated $26 billion in total unfunded liabilities. Mr. Beshear issued the proclamation for the special session Tuesday. ...

Ky. Governor calls special session on pensions

By Joe Biesk

CNBC
Tuesday, June 17

Gov. Steve Beshear wants to tackle pension reform for public employees during a special legislative session. ...

Beshear calls special session to fix pension crisis

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Wednesday, June 18

Gov. Steve Beshear yesterday called a special legislative session for Monday to address the state's public pension crisis. ...

Ky. governor calls special session on pensions

Associated Press

Tuesday, June 17

Gov. Steve Beshear wants to tackle pension reform for public employees during a special legislative session. ...

Report: Kentucky pension system underperforming compared to other states

WHAS Coverage

Wednesday, June 11

Kentucky's pension system is underperforming for more than 400,000 retired and current state employees and teachers covered under the pensions. They are not earning as much from their investments as similar systems in other states. And, a report released Thursday says it's making the pensions systems' financial problems worse...

Special session only a start

By Patrick Crowley

Cincinnati Enquirer
Thursday, June 12

A planned special session to deal with a financially strapped state pension plan will only begin reforming the system, a Northern Kentucky lawmaker told area home builders Wednesday. ...

Pension liabilities loom as states try to help retirees

By Dennis Cauchon

USA Today
Wednesday, June 11

The high price of gasoline and food is prompting many states to fatten cost-of-living increases for retired teachers and civil servants...

Pension plan awaits special session

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier Journal
Wednesday, June 11

Future state workers would have to work longer before retiring -- and contribute more to their retirement -- under a deal the legislature is expected to approve in a special session later this month. ...

Stage set for pension reform

By Ryan Alessi

Herald Leader
Wednesday, June 11

After months of on-and-off negotiations, House and Senate leaders finally shook hands Tuesday on a package of changes to Kentucky's public employees' retirement system that are aimed at staving off financial ruin. ...

Lawmakers signal progress on pension

By Ryan Alessi And Jack Brammer

Herald Leader
Tuesday, June 10

Legislative leaders have reached a tentative agreement on a plan to overhaul the state retirement systems and appear ready for a special law-making session on the issue to begin June 23. ...

All Ky. will suffer without pension reform

By Steve Beshear

Herald Leader
Tuesday, June 10

Soon after the General Assembly gaveled out of session this spring without addressing Kentucky's $27 billion and rising public-pension liability, two national credit agencies lowered the state's credit rating outlook. ...

Pension reform meeting reporting some progress

By Bruce Schreiner

Evansville Courier & Press
Tuesday, June 10

Top Kentucky lawmakers meeting in private Monday neared a possible agreement that has eluded them in the past to begin shoring up the state's financially troubled pension system for public employees. ...

League supports pension plans

By Patrick Crowley

Cincinnati Enquirer
Monday, June 9

The organization that represents Kentucky's cities has endorsed the changes Gov. Steve Beshear has proposed for the state's public pension system. ...

Lawmakers close on pension deal, special session

By Ronnie Ellis

The Daily Independent
Monday, June 9

State lawmakers meeting on pension reform have come up with a “very detailed recommendation” which is likely to produce an agreement Tuesday for a special session before the end of the month. ...

Pension problem now 'critical'

By Patrick Crowley

Cincinnati Enquirer
Sunday, June 8

As far as statehouse issues go, public pension reform doesn't have the sizzle of casino gambling, the bare-fisted partisan bickering of tax increases or the deep social and religious overtones of abortion. ...

Lawmakers finishing work on public pension reform bill

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier-Journal
Tuesday, June 10

Legislative leaders today are expected to finalize details of a proposed public pension reform bill to be taken up in a special session later this month. ...

Some don't want to rush

By Paul Glasser

The State Journal
Tuesday, June 3

Lee Jackson, president of the Kentucky Association of State Employees, says a special session on pension reform is not necessary. ...

Legislators closer to agreeing on pension bill
KEA is opposed to special session

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier-Journal
Tuesday, June 3

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Legislative leaders said after a meeting yesterday that they are closer to agreeing on a pension-reform bill that could be taken up in a ...

Pension reform, now

Courier-Journal
Sunday, June 1

Good for Gov. Steve Beshear. He has asked lawmakers to make another pass at reforming the state pension system, which has become a huge burden on cities, counties, the state and, of course, taxpayers, too.

Beshear the leader
Governor moves forward on raising ethics standards, pension reform

By Larry Dale Keeling

Herald-Leader
Sunday, June 1

FRANKFORT -- This and that as we try to convince ourselves that the governor we saw in action last week is the same governor who seemed so inactive at times during the General Assembly session.

Pension system session planned
Legislative leaders are optimistic

By Jack Brammer And Ryan Alessi

Herald-Leader
Friday, May 30

Gov. Steve Beshear plans to call a special legislative session June 23 if lawmakers in the next three weeks can nail down details of a compromise fix to the state's financially strapped pension system.

Beshear considers special session
To Meet With House, Senate Leaders About Pension Fix

By Jack Brammer

Herald-Leader
Thursday, May 29

Gov. Steve Beshear will meet with House and Senate leaders Thursday morning to discuss a possible special legislative session -- maybe before July 1 -- to overhaul the state's retirement systems.

Beshear may call June special session in June on pension crisis

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier-Journal
Friday, May 30

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Steve Beshear said yesterday that he could call a special session for the final week of June if legislators can agree on a solution to the state's public-pension dilemma. During a press conference, Beshear said the five-day session would be limited to a pension bill. But legislative leaders were in another room in the Capitol lobbying for adding vetoed road projects to the agenda.

Beshear: special pension session possible

By Stephenie Steitzer

Courier-Journal
Thursday, May 29

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear said today that he could call a special session for the final week of June if legislators can agree on a solution to the state’s public pension crisis. Beshear met this morning with legislative leaders to discuss reforms that were agreed on before lawmakers adjourned the regular 2008 session last month without passing a pension bill.

Beshear moves to call special session, lawmakers not quite on board

Pol Watchers
Thursday, May 29

Gov. Steve Beshear, in a 50-minute closed-door conference with legislative leaders, laid out his suggested road map for how to address the increasingly expensive and chronically under-funded state employee retirement system.