Ky Republicans thought legislative pensions were bad idea. Until they were in charge.

The story of Easter is important to Christians. Before Judas committed his act of betrayal, he was known to steal public funds. Stealing public funds in the story is to establish Judas as the lowest of the low.

You have to be a full-time employee in Kentucky to receive a state pension. But years ago, when Democrats controlled both House and Senate, these part-time lawmakers passed a brazen law giving themselves pensions. Half of the money going into their pensions is public tax dollars. Citizen legislators must not be above the law.

Republican legislators said they would not accept the unjust pensions. The Democrats then passed another law forcing all legislators to accept the stolen funds. That led top Republicans to say, “If the people of Kentucky ever vote us control of both House and Senate, we will repeal the legislative pensions law.”

The legislative pensions started out small. But on a regular basis, greed has pushed their pension benefits higher and higher. Today, some retired legislators are receiving upwards of $100,000 each year. That’s enough to lease a new Mercedes plus an ocean-front condo in Florida and then some. That’s also two to three times the amount the teachers who taught these legislators are receiving each year after working a lifetime. Enough is enough.

In 2016, the people of Kentucky voted Republicans a super-majority in both House and Senate. Senate President Robert Stivers recommitted then to repeal the pension law the Democrats had forced him and the other legislators to take.

Is there a difference between Democrat and Republican Legislators? Or once they taste public funds are they both the same? Does the concept of making your money in the private sector or stealing it from public funds matter? Our part-time legislators are now well paid for their time and expenses in Frankfort, up to $96,000 a year. Most legislators have regular jobs, private retirement plans and social security for retirement like regular citizens.

Legislative pensions result in full-time politicians, not citizen public servants. Republican legislators can repeal the Democrats’ legislative pension law and define who they are to the people of Kentucky. It may be painful for them to give back the public funds. Will it be the money, or the principal Republicans espouse?

Repealing the law will not mean any legislator loses what they have personally contributed into the pension fund. The amount each legislator contributed can be returned to them or their heirs plus interest in a lump sum, and then the remaining balance that was stolen from public funds can be transferred to the underfunded state pension funds for full-time employees. Republicans with a super-majority can repeal the unjust law “root and branch” tomorrow.

Then on Easter, Kentucky legislators can walk into church and no longer be known for stealing public funds. Restoring citizen legislators is essential for the future of Kentucky. Please remember that the next time you vote.

Fred A. Pope is a retired advertising executive.

This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 11:26 AM.