Senators Plan to Close Pension Loophole

A couple of Republican Senators have announced plans to close a pension loophole that came to light after a colleague was appointed to a lucrative position in state government. Governor Holden appointed Senator Ken Jacob of Columbia chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission after Jacob lost the Lt. Governor’s race in the Democratic primary. Senator Matt Bartle of Lee’s Summit says the appointment will boost Jacob’s state pension to $47,000 a year whether he serves one day or ten years. The position pays $94,000 annually. Bartle is a Republican. Jacob was the top Democrat in the State Senate, who often had high-profile clashes with Republicans in the chamber. Still, Bartle says this isn’t a slap at Jacob, noting that Jacob does have experience in the area. Bartle says his intent is simply to end the practice of allowing such appointments to qualify immediately for lucrative pensions.