Stumbo: Hunting Amendment Should Pass, No Bonds for Pensions

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Credit LRC Public Information

Greg Stumbo

House Speaker Greg Stumbo is predicting a wide margin of victory for the only constitutional amendment on the ballot.

The amendment was proposed by Stumbo and sailed through the General Assembly easily in 2011. It would put the right to hunt and fish as a permanent right in Kentucky’'s Constitution. Stumbo told WHAS radio host Mandy Connell that Tennessee passed the bill by an overwhelming margin and predicts Kentucky to do the same.

“ "Tennessee passed by about 90 percent, and we’'re a lot like Tennessee when it comes to that issue," said Stumbo, a Democrat.

No groups are actively opposing the amendment.

Stumbo also said lawmakers will definitely be addressing the state’s pension problems during the next legislative session.

A task force of lawmakers is currently looking at ways to shore up billions of dollars of unfunded liabilities in the system.

Stumbo said he doesn'’t believe issuing state bonds would be a good idea to shore up the system, joining the GOP in effectively ending that proposal.

But the speaker said the pension system must be dealt with immediately.

“"If there’'s one thing that is positive about this recession it’s that all states recognize that pensions have to be looked at,”" Stumbo said.

Other suggestions include going to a hybrid system of a 401K style and the current pensions and finding ways to put more money into the systems.