From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh A pension reform bill sought by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear moved another step closer to final passage Wednesday.The House voted 98-0 for the measure, which includes a funding plan to eliminate a $26 billion deficit in current retirement programs. The bill drew strong praise from Frankfort Rep. Derrick Graham, who represents thousands of state workers."I am pleased to be able to say that House Bill One is an attempt to uphold the state’s end of the bargain. To keeping the promises made to current employees and our retirees. But House Bill One is only the beginning," Graham said.The bill now goes to the Senate, as lawmakers remain on track to end the special session on pension reform by their self-imposed deadline of Friday.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.