Gov. Matt Bevin calls teachers 'selfish and short-sighted' for protesting pension bill

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin slammed teachers for being "selfish and short-sighted" for protesting policies in the pension reform bill.

"If they get what they wish for they will not have a pension system for the younger people who are still working, and that to me is remarkably selfish and short-sighted," Bevin said on a Campbellsville radio program on Wednesday.

Bevin's comments come as hope for the governor's pension plan dwindle. Senate President Robert Stivers told Courier Journal that he "didn't see a lot of hope" for the bill.

Just this week, hundreds of teachers and educators flocked to Frankfort to protest the pension reform bill, particularly an unpopular provision — a reduction of the annual cost-of-living increase in benefits of retired teachers from 1.5 percent to 1.0 percent.

"It's about just straight up wanting more than your fair share," Bevin said. "This is a group of people just throwing a temper tantrum."

Brent McKim, the president of the Jefferson County Teacher's Association, said in a statement that he was "shocked" by Bevin's comments.

"We ask our Governor to remember he is a role model for Kentucky students too, so he should not be modeling name-calling or the disparaging of any group of our Commonwealth’s citizens," McKim said in a statement. "We teach more by what we do than what we say."

A Bevin spokesman did not immediately respond to an email and phone call seeking comment Wednesday night.

The governor said on the radio program that Kentucky teachers are paid much higher than neighboring states. He also criticized teachers for getting pay raises during retirement saying that state Troopers "who get shot at" don't get raises.

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"It's about just straight up wanting more than your fair share," Bevin said on the radio. "This is a group of people just throwing a temper tantrum."

The version of the bill sent to committee on Friday would make many changes intended to put Kentucky on a course of paying off retirement system liabilities of more than $43 billion.

Bevin said that legislators need to save people from their own "mis-informed opinions" and said they need to pass the pension bill "whether the people want it or not."

In addition to the cut to teacher's retirement benefits, opponents object to other provisions that trim benefits and that would move all future teachers and public employees into what is called a “hybrid cash balance” plan rather than in the traditional pension plan.

"I truly am confused by people who are protesting the idea that we should save the pension system," Bevin said. "They don't want to make any changes, it's the most bizarre thing I've ever experienced."

Tom Loftus contributed to this report.Thomas Novelly: 502-582-4465; tnovelly@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @TomNovelly. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tomn.