A shameful end

This from C-J:

The Governor and every Kentucky legislator, mayor, public school teacher and government employee knows how critical solving the pension problem is. The
current system is unsustainable and has a $26.6 billion unfunded liability.

Taxpayers will have to pay that debt -- which increases by hundreds of millions
each year.

No issue was more important. All parties said a solution would be found. Then a little before midnight on the last night, the House balked. Ironically, the proposal it rejected was almost exactly what it had wanted. The Senate had given in on the last two contentious issues, including its determination to divert some retirement money to a 401(k)-type plan.

The Senate did, however, want to keep the possibility of these "defined contribution" plans open for the future, but, sadly, that wasn't acceptable to some interest groups friendly with the Democratic-controlled House. Brent McKim of the Jefferson County Teachers Association, for example, calls that provision "a Trojan horse." Never mind that 401(k)s are a reality for most private sector employees.

So the hope for solving this problem died. Last year, the House also killed a pension bill. Others can share some blame for this year's failure. The Governor didn't push the pension bill effectively. Senate President David Williams, in a casual remark weeks ago, led House members to believe they need not seriously negotiate, because the Senate's fallback position would be to accept the House plan. Finally, the legislature's dysfunctional way of doing business hurt, too:

Members save too many big decisions for the last minute, leaving little time even to read last-minute versions of far-reaching proposals.

Still, the House deserves the most blame. In the aftermath of this debacle, Sen. Williams said, "It may be that with the current makeup of the House, we can't do pension reform."

That's a sobering thought. Taxpayers have every right to expect better.

And more from Mark Hebert.

Blame Game in Frankfort

House Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark called it the worst final day of a session he's seen during his more than 20 years in Frankfort. Clark says he's "embarrassed to be a part of a leadership" and embarrassed to be a part of what happened last night in Frankfort...

David Williams blamed the KEA and JCTA for killing the pension bill, saying the teachers' lobbyists scared enough house members about details of the agreement reached between House and Senate leaders...