“This is not a tantrum”: teachers fire back at Governor

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Teachers out protesting the pension bill Thursday are fighting back against the Governor for calling them “selfish” and “uninformed”.

This week on WVLC Radio in Campbellsville Governor Bevin said protesters are “throwing a tantrum”.

Teachers and district staff demonstrating outside the central office Thursday afternoon said they feel the governor grossly mischaracterized them.

Their group was one of several Thursday in Fayette County holding demonstrations before and after school.

The bill would restructure the pension system for new teachers and temporarily take away annual cost of living raises for retired teachers until the system is 90% funded.

Supporters say Kentucky’s pension system is one of the worst funded in the county.

Teachers say they’ve paid into their pensions, they’ve kept their promise, but lawmakers aren’t keeping theirs.

The governor posted his radio interview online and told people they shouldn’t let others mislead them. He added he’s the only governor whose budget fully funds the pension system. Related: radio response from KEA.

Bevin’s Republican colleague, Acting House Speaker David Osborne, said the Governor’s comments have made it hard to pass the bill.

Lawmakers were expected to pass it last week, but it went back to committee with lots of celebration from the hundreds of teachers lining the halls of the Capitol.