Let’s cut write to the chase:
Gov. Matt Bevin continued his war of words with Kentucky teachers and their union leaders, saying state lawmakers are facing a "thug mentality" from those resisting his efforts to overhaul the state's woefully funded pension system.
This was after Bevin had this to say just last week about Kentucky teachers:
The comments come on the heels of Bevin, a Republican, trying to mend fences with public school educators after calling them "selfish and short-sighted" last week for opposing the reforms.
All Bevin is doing is “reforming” the pension system for Kentucky teachers. Yeah, you know when a Republican talks about reform what they really mean is cut or destroy. The yearly COLA for retired teachers is cut from a 1.5% increase to a 1.0% increase under Bevin’s plan. Also, the traditional pension plan is jettisoned for newly hired teachers to a 401 K. And, teachers cannot use their unused sick days for their retirement checks.
Did I also mention that Kentucky teachers do NOT GET SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?
Yes, Kentucky teachers rely upon those COLA increases because they do not get Social Security benefits. And Bevin wants to cut them in order to renege on fully funding the state pension system. Kentucky has given away tons of money to large companies in the form of tax cuts, but we shouldn’t dare raise taxes to pay to fully fund the pension program.
Instead, Kentucky politicians have come up with some ingenious ways to squeeze more work out of teachers and those who want to become teachers. I’m a teacher at a private school, but I had to “volunteer” 200 hours of time in the public school system as part of the teaching certification program in Kentucky. I’m still working on that certification, and I can tell you that Kentucky has some of the most burdensome requirements for becoming a teacher.
Anyway, back to how all of Bevin’s insults is playing with his fellow Republican shitheads who run the state legislature:
State lawmakers have given the proposal little chance of passing the General Assembly, which is going into the final stretch of its 60-day session. And Bevin's remarks about teachers have hurt him among the Republican caucus.
Rep. Bart Rowland, R-Tompkinsville, said the governor's previous comments about teachers were a personal insult.
Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, said the bridge on pension reform is, "burned to the ground" and cannot be rebuilt in the last weeks of the session
Republicans in Kentucky stick together like glue produced from dead horses, so you can just imagine what the depth of feeling is when you read comments like Buford’s. This is truly inspiring because, normally, you can count on Kentucky Republicans to screw over their constituents. The fact that some are openly saying Bevin’s “Fuck You!” to teachers is in trouble means just that.
Just thought I would share some of the Tea Party Fun with the rest of the folks on Daily Kos.