Higdon: Pension reform’s best chances are in the 2018 General Assembly

By SEN. JIMMY HIGDON
14th District State Senator

SEN. JIMMY HIGDON

Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 — I would like to start this article by wishing each of you a Merry Christmas and thanking you for allowing me to serve as your State Senator. This year has flown by starting with a productive 2017 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, followed by a busy Interim break, new Senate Leadership elections, and talks of pension reform. Many of you have offered constructive feedback and opinions that I have taken to heart as we begin to craft legislation for the 2018 Budget Session.

I also heard from many constituents regarding a possible special session to address pension reform. There has been much discussion on the topic among my colleagues after hearing feedback from our communities. I believe the best path forward for pension reform lies in the 2018 Session.

I want to thank all of you for your input on the pension reform. I know it is a sensitive and serious issue for many of my constituents. We in the General Assembly take pension reform very seriously as it is the single-largest financial issue facing our Commonwealth.

The upcoming 2018 Session will be difficult and sacrifices will have to be made to ensure the fiscal health of our state. I want to give you opportunities to share your thoughts with me at my upcoming legislative coffees:

— December 13: Meeting at the Jeffersontown Community Center at 7:30 a.m., hosted by the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce

— January 8: Meeting at the Nelson County Old Courthouse – 8 a.m. with Rep. Chad McCoy

— January 15: Meeting at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce at Center Square – 8 a.m. with Rep. Reed

— January 29: Meeting at the Casey County City Hall – 8 a.m. with Rep. Elliott

— February 5: Legislative Coffee at the Spencer County-Taylorsville Chamber of Commerce – 8 a.m. with Rep. Tipton

Additionally, the 16th Annual Josephine “Mama Jo” Nuckols’ Prayer Breakfast will be held on Jan. 6 at 8 a.m. at the Lebanon United Methodist Church located at 235 North Spalding Avenue. This breakfast is a great way to kick off the New Year with members of our community, and I hope to see you all there.

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181, on my home phone at 270-692-6945, or email me at Jimmy.Higdon@LRC.ky.gov. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.

Note: Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) represents the 14th District including Casey, Marion, Nelson and Spencer counties, as well as part of Jefferson County. He serves as the Senate President Pro-Tem Designee and previously served as the Senate Majority Whip. Senator Higdon also serves as a member on the Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee; the Education Committee; the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee; the Transportation Committee; the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee; the Public Pension Oversight Board; The Special Subcommittee on Energy; the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation, the Committee on Committees; the Rules Committee; and the Legislative Research Commission.

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