Pensions affect voters

Although Gov. Matt Bevin and supporting legislators believe their pension reform is fair, that is far from the truth. The proposal affects not only educators but also all government employees and, indirectly, all citizens.

Legislators have only funded their own pensions. Teachers pay almost 13 percent of their salary into Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System. Teachers cannot draw Social Security. Teachers will sacrifice financially by paying another three percent per year for retiree health insurance. The proposed plan means teachers are taking a three percent pay cut along with other benefit reductions.

The flawed proposal will encourage educators to retire, which will burden the pension fund further. Consequently, districts will employ fewer experienced teachers and that will undermine student achievement.

New teachers will pay into 401(k)s, eliminating pension funding. Obviously, the pension crisis will widen. Investment funds are at the mercy of the stock market and can crash, as in 2008.

Bevin continues to attack and insult educators, some personally, when there are calls to organize and protest. Perhaps the ultimate goal is to dismantle public education and make the electorate illiterate, passive and helpless. All should remember that this plan affects 500,000 voters. How will they vote in the next election?

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Pensions affect voters."