Amateur Night

This has to be one of the dumbest political moves I seen lately. What was Jim Newberry thinking? Who told him this was a good idea?

If you are going try to do this sort of thing then you better have a majority of the Council behind you and the police and firefighters should at least be neutral to the idea.

You are never going to get our elected representatives to step out in front of an issue like this unless you have all the other ducks lined up.

Jim, I sorry Bud, but this was a dumb idea and makes you look like a political amateur.

Members of the Fayette County legislative delegation on Monday appeared opposed to Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry's proposal for the city to take control of the retirement benefits for police officers and firefighters hired after July 1.

Before a packed room of more than 110 current and retired Lexington police officers and firefighters, the lawmakers questioned the effect such a change would have on current employees and retirees, whether the Urban County Council supported the measure and whether police officers and firefighters were involved in the decision.

Legislators were most critical about the timing of the proposal -- brought to them with just eight days left in the session -- and the opposition of both the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Fire Fighters.