Dear Supporter,
We just wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for supporting our efforts in 2017 to protect retired teachers. Your support and voices halted unfair and poorly-crafted pension legislation that would harm the financial security of Kentucky’s teachers.
The 2018 legislative session is right around the corner, and we will be depending on you again. Thank you in advance for your work to sustain the momentum and keep pressure on lawmakers.
This year, thousands of letters, messages and calls were delivered to Kentucky legislators. They heard you loud and clear that teachers never missed a payment to the pension system, COLA freezes are illegal, and switching from pensions to 401(k)-type accounts has been an expensive failure in other states.
Next month, we’ll call on your unshaken support and advocacy to sustain progress we’ve made in protecting the pensions. Legislators cannot ignore our issues when retired teachers and supporters are demanding their voices are heard.
Please know that as the General Assembly convenes in January legislators still are considering COLA freezes and dismantling pensions. The freezes remain illegal, and getting rid of pensions will be more expensive, weaken retirement and drive teachers out of the profession or to other states.
We do not have a pension problem, we have a funding problem. Frankfort knows they owe a debt to the pension system and Kentucky retired teachers, but we still have a long way to go before that debt it paid.
Retired teachers want to be part of the solutions. But, we demand a fair solution.
Once January arrives, there will be no time to slow down. Until then, let’s take a few moments to reflect on our success, rest, and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
Again, our deepest thanks for your support, work and voices.
Happy Holidays from the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association!
Sincerely,
Tim Abrams,
KRTA Executive Director