Pension Issue Could Land Kansas in Court

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas legislators in both parties and both

chambers agree that the state pension system’s long-term funding

gap is a serious problem that must be tackled this year.

But the House and Senate are taking dramatically different

approaches. That could complicate efforts to agree on solutions.

Both chambers have plans that would require the state to

increase its annual contribution to the state pension system. Both

ask public employees to make some sacrifices as well.

But the Senate’s plan follows conventional wisdom among most

officials. It says the concessions imposed on teachers and state

workers can’t be overly one-sided under Kansas law or past court

decisions.

The House plan goes against that conventional wisdom, and public

employee groups and some legislators believe its passage would land

the state in court.