GOP speaker says governor, others should tone down rhetoric

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s GOP House speaker says the state’s Republican governor and others need to tone down the rhetoric used when debating the future of the state’s troubled pension system.

House Speaker Jeff Hoover told reporters Tuesday he was disappointed with Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s recent comments about teachers. He said some state workers were hoarding sick days to boost their retirement checks and said teachers who would retire rather than face changes in the pension system “probably should retire.”

Bevin declined to speak with reporters after an event in the state Capitol.

The governor has said he will call a special session of the state legislature to address the state’s pension system, which is facing a shortfall of at least $33 billion.

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