Brent Yonts

Yonts Hoping Beshear Calls Special Session on Redistricting this Fall

Kevin Willis — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:16:25 +0000

The chairman of the State Government Committee in the Kentucky House says he's not sure when Governor Beshear will call lawmakers back to Frankfort for a special session.

Muhlenberg County Democrat Brent Yonts says the governor informed him at the conclusion of this year's regular session that he wanted lawmakers to figure out a solution to legislative redistricting before January.

"I'm hoping it will not be in July or August when most of us are traveling a lot," Yonts told WKU Public Radio. "If it's going to happen, I hope it's early September or possibly in June. But he hasn't communicated to me exactly when it's going to happen."

Governor Beshear recently said he is considering a special session sometime in the fall. Kentucky's legislative boundaries have to be redrawn to reflect the most recent U.S. Census data.

Earlier this year the House passed new maps that were rejected by the Senate. Now the state is facing two lawsuits alleging lawmakers have been negligent in not getting new boundaries drawn.

Kentucky House Committees Makes Major Changes to Pension Reform Bill

Kenny Colston — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:59:33 +0000

The state pension system would not transition to a hybrid 401K-style plan in an amended version of the pension reform bill.

The amended bill also only allows plans to set up a new 11-person committee to provide direct oversight over the pension systems.

And cost of living adjustments are no longer banned under the bill, but can only be allowed if there is a surplus in the retirement systems or if lawmakers prepay for the expense.

The House State Government Committee passed the amended Senate Bill 2 on Tuesday on a party line vote. Many Republican members passing on their votes.

Yonts in Line for Key Position in Kentucky Legislature

Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:35:47 +0000

Democratic state Representative Brent Yonts of Greenville could be in line to become the next chairman of the House State Government Committee, a key post with the legislature working to find a way to restore solvency to the pension program for government retirees in Kentucky.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he intends to nominate Yonts for the position and that he considers Yonts a front runner.

Lawmakers have been trying to find a way to erase a $33 billion unfunded liability in the pension system. A legislative task force that spent months studying the issue recommended pumping in more money without saying where that money would come from.