I don’t know how I missed this announcement.
First Democrat Files for Gubernatorial Primary
“Otis Hensley Jr., of Wallins Creek, filed papers with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance last week to begin raising and spending money for the race. Hensley finished third in 2003 behind now-U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and House Speaker Jody Richards.”
I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.
This time I will record the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Debates on Kentucky Educational Television.
This guy is a contractor. Now for those of you that think Otis is a joke, answer this question.
How much free advertising is he getting across the state by running for Governor?
Think about it.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Passing The Buck
Ernie Fletcher once again has found some “waste, fraud and abuse” in Frankfort. This time he has found savings in the amount of money the state contributes to its’ career employees retirement.
The rates requested by the Kentucky Retirement Systems are listed below along with the Governor’s proposed budget.
Contribution Rates for Fiscal Year 2006-2007
Kentucky Employees Retirement System non-hazardous employees: 17.13%
Kentucky Employees Retirement System hazardous employees: 23.32%
State Police Retirement System: 42.30%
Governor Fletcher’s proposed budget has the following contribution rates:
Kentucky Employees Retirement System non-hazardous employees: 7.30%
Kentucky Employees Retirement System hazardous employees: 21.67%
State Police Retirement System: 24.82%
The problem with the Governor’s plan is that it ignores fiscal responsibility and creates the need for future unnecessary tax increases. How “NO NEW TAX“ Republicans like Fletcher can get away with this crap is unbelievable.
Passing the buck, or the tax increase in this case, to someone down the road is not solving the problem.
The bottom line was outlined by Bill Hanes, Executive Director of Kentucky Retirement Systems:
“As a taxpayer, you should know that pension promises are contractual, and must be honored. Ultimately, deferring the payment on those promises will increase your tax obligations in the future. Unlike corporations who go bankrupt and are able to shed their pension and healthcare promises, the state does not have that option. The retirement and healthcare benefits promised to current state public employees are contractual in nature and guaranteed by state law. These promised benefits cannot be reduced. They must be paid and it is a far superior option for them to be paid through adequate funding of employer contribution rates than through future cuts to other programs or tax increases.”
Now, I’m a retired state employee and a taxpayer so this issue really gets my knickers twisted into a wad a couple of ways.
First, Fletcher is abdicating his responsibity to provide a fiscally sound budget to all taxpayers and particularly to all state retirees.
Second, he’s pretty sure he can get away with it because previous, yes I’m sorry to say, Democratic Governors have done the same and because the General Assembly is populated by a bunch of wimps, most of whom, don’t even read the budgets they vote on.
Third and finally, I hope Bill Hanes is right and my retirement and health benefits are guaranteed by law.
But I keep thinking of Judge Gideon J. Tucker’s comment.
“No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
The rates requested by the Kentucky Retirement Systems are listed below along with the Governor’s proposed budget.
Contribution Rates for Fiscal Year 2006-2007
Kentucky Employees Retirement System non-hazardous employees: 17.13%
Kentucky Employees Retirement System hazardous employees: 23.32%
State Police Retirement System: 42.30%
Governor Fletcher’s proposed budget has the following contribution rates:
Kentucky Employees Retirement System non-hazardous employees: 7.30%
Kentucky Employees Retirement System hazardous employees: 21.67%
State Police Retirement System: 24.82%
The problem with the Governor’s plan is that it ignores fiscal responsibility and creates the need for future unnecessary tax increases. How “NO NEW TAX“ Republicans like Fletcher can get away with this crap is unbelievable.
Passing the buck, or the tax increase in this case, to someone down the road is not solving the problem.
The bottom line was outlined by Bill Hanes, Executive Director of Kentucky Retirement Systems:
“As a taxpayer, you should know that pension promises are contractual, and must be honored. Ultimately, deferring the payment on those promises will increase your tax obligations in the future. Unlike corporations who go bankrupt and are able to shed their pension and healthcare promises, the state does not have that option. The retirement and healthcare benefits promised to current state public employees are contractual in nature and guaranteed by state law. These promised benefits cannot be reduced. They must be paid and it is a far superior option for them to be paid through adequate funding of employer contribution rates than through future cuts to other programs or tax increases.”
Now, I’m a retired state employee and a taxpayer so this issue really gets my knickers twisted into a wad a couple of ways.
First, Fletcher is abdicating his responsibity to provide a fiscally sound budget to all taxpayers and particularly to all state retirees.
Second, he’s pretty sure he can get away with it because previous, yes I’m sorry to say, Democratic Governors have done the same and because the General Assembly is populated by a bunch of wimps, most of whom, don’t even read the budgets they vote on.
Third and finally, I hope Bill Hanes is right and my retirement and health benefits are guaranteed by law.
But I keep thinking of Judge Gideon J. Tucker’s comment.
“No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)