Local legislators are defending their vote for pension reform legislation that made it to the governor’s desk Thursday afternoon.
Senator Whitney Westerfield voted for the bill and says the only change for current teachers is how accumulated sick days are calculated toward retirement benefits.
The General Assembly received criticism for inserting pension reform measures into a bill pertaining to wastewater, but Senator Westerfield says it was too late to get a new bill started.
There’s also criticism that there wasn’t time to read the 280 page bill, but Representative Myron Dossett says it’s the much-debated Senate Bill 1, minus some of the more contentious changes.
Representative Walker Thomas agrees and believes the legislation will keep the pension systems solvent.
Governor Bevin is expected to sign the measure into law.