FRANKFORT — A group of state retirees gathered at the Capitol on Thursday to urge lawmakers to add a “13th check” to their pension payments.
Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman both spoke at the event. Beshear’s budget proposal included $100 million for the 13th check — a one-time additional payment for retirees of the Kentucky Employees Retirement System and State Police Retirement System.
But that measure was not included in the House budget bills that passed last week, meaning the additional payment would have to be added when the budget is considered in the state Senate or when representatives from the two chambers meet to finalize the budget.
“I can assure you, we have the money, we oughta get you that 13th check,” Beshear said to the assembled retirees. He said the $3.7 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund could easily cover the cost.
Beshear said that state retirees have not received a cost-of-living adjustment since the 2012 fiscal year.
House Republicans have defended their budget as fiscally conservative.