Court nixes pension law that prompted teacher protests
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a law that made changes to one of the country’s worst-funded public pension systems, a victory for teachers who closed schools across the state in protest earlier this year.
Thousands of teachers filled the state capitol in the spring, chanting and carrying signs as they sought to pressure lawmakers to reject a proposal that would have cut their benefits.
Lawmakers passed a bill anyway. But the final version had little effect on current teachers and public workers. Still, teachers were outraged because lawmakers used a legislative manoeuvr to pass the bill so quickly it was not available for the public to read it until the day after the vote. Thursday, the state’s highest court ruled that manoeuvr was unconstitutional, making the law invalid.
“I do feel vindicated. I’m proud of what we did,” said Jessica Page, an art teacher at Kathryn Winn Primary in Carrolton, Kentucky. “I also do respect the governor and respect the fact that we do need some type of pension reform. I think it needs to be fair and I think it needs to be out in the open.”