Beshear changes tune on pensions

Does this count as a government cut?

Gov. Steve Beshear trimmed back some of his earlier pension rhetoric yesterday while speaking in Ashland. Having said last Friday "we have taken a giant step toward placing our pension systems on a sound financial basis," Beshear shifted significantly downward to yesterday claim HB 1 "will slow down the rate of growth in the state’s unfunded pension liability, which currently stands at about $27 billion."

That is still likely a bit optimistic, but Beshear seems to be moving in the direction of a clearer picture of how little the legislative effort has actually changed.

I guess it is too much to expect Beshear to call a press conference and say "we spent $300,000 on a photo-op and to set goals for future legislatures that they will ignore. Vote for us!" But even just a little bit more honesty from Beshear on this reflects some enhanced understanding that wasn't there just a few days ago.