House Democrats want governor to brief them on pension relief bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentucky House Democratic leaders sent a letter to Governor Matt Bevin Thursday, asking he brief them on the new pension relief bill.

In the letter, representatives Rocky Adkins, Derrick Graham, and Joni Jenkins, said Republican lawmakers were given a thorough and in-person briefing on the bill, while the three Democrats only received a late-afternoon review over the phone by two of Bevin’s staff members and Kentucky Retirement Systems Executive Director David Eager.

“Understandably, we are disappointed that House Democrats were not given the same in-person and in-depth review that our Republican counterparts received,” they stated in the letter.

The lawmakers go on to say they were told by the governor’s staff he would be available for a briefing if anyone had questions.

“Upon further review of the bill, our caucus has many,” they said.

Under the new pension relief bill, pension costs would be frozen for a year for Kentucky’s regional universities, county health departments and other agencies.

Democratic leaders want the briefing to take place Monday. They said if Bevin calls for the start of the special session on that day, they want to be briefed that morning.