AP and staff reports

Lawmakers reeling from public consternation over increases in their retirement benefits are unsure if the controversy will be resolved in a special session.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has ordered legislators back into session next Thursday to consider repealing the new law that gives legislators double the retirement benefits of state employees and teachers. Legislators approved the law in the regular session earlier this year.

Leaders would not predict what will happen in the $30,000-a-day special session on the issue.

Rep. Robert Clark, the No. 2 House officer, said lawmakers deserve the extra compensation and should not reverse themselves. ”It would look worse, like we were flip-flopping. I think it would set a bad precedent,” said Clark, D-Ebeneezer. ”We’re not supposed to be a leaf on a tree in the March wind. That little leaf just dances, goes whatever way the strongest wind goes.”

State Rep. Andrew Ketchings, R-Natchez, wants the bill repealed. &uot;The money’s not there in the first place,&uot; he said. &uot;I don’t think the Legislature should have different retirement benefits than other state employees.&uot;

Ketchings also said he wishes Musgrove had solved the problem by vetoing the bill. Musgrove had let the bill become law without his signature late last month. As the former lieutenant governor, Musgrove could benefit from the increases.

&uot;But I understand why he didn’t (veto the bill),&uot; Ketchings said. &uot;It had some good provisions for state employees.&uot;

And Ketchings understands the public’s criticism of the bill, which many lawmakers, including Ketchings, said they passed without realizing it included the retirement provisions.

&uot;I&160;honestly had no idea that was in there,&uot; Ketchings said. &uot;We passed that bill twice (in the House). They did not say they had slipped something new in it. A number of people did not know (the benefits) were in there.&uot;

State Rep. Phillip West, D-Natchez, said he does not plan to vote against the retirement benefits bill. And while he also said he understands the criticism of the bill, he said he does not believe

&uot;I don’t think the Legislative body should be designed economically so that only attorneys … and people of independent means would be able to serve,&uot; West said. &uot;I don’t think a legislator should be asked to retire in poverty.&uot;

West also said be believes all state employees deserve better benefits. &uot;I think all state and public employees ought to be upgraded in terms of benefits,&uot; he said.

Criticism of the retirement benefits, which will cost about $600,000 a year, has been heightened because money woes kept lawmakers from giving teachers and state employees raises this year.

Brenda Scott, president of the 3,000-member Mississippi Alliance of State Employees, said lawmakers should be ”man and woman enough to come forth and say ‘maybe the timing was wrong.”’

”It’ll calm the anger, put the fire out a little bit,” she said.

Before the House or Senate could vote on a change, committees would have to agree.

House Speaker Tim Ford, D-Baldwyn, said any retirement bill would be referred to the Appropriations Committee and ”I cannot predict what will happen.”

Musgrove scheduled the special session for two days before the law takes effect on July 1.

”It would be my desire and hope that the Legislature will act quickly and repeal the decision and put the law back the way it was,” Musgrove said Wednesday, one day after calling the special session.

Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, said Musgrove had shared equally in public criticism over the pension law and should try to convince legislators to overturn it.

”He’s trying to take the heat off of lawmakers and himself by calling this special session. This is a face-saving move on his part, too. It could be very embarrassing if nothing happens. It could be another $30,000 that the public has to fork over,” said Frazier, who voted against the bill and supports repealing it.

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck had urged Musgrove to let legislators consider changing the law. She also said it would be difficult to predict the outcome but that the Senate Finance Committee will vote on a reversal.

Tuck, and some other lawmakers, said they did not realize that the bill improved their retirement benefits. The state contribution for lawmakers’ retirement plans would nearly triple.

Ford said this week that he thought many lawmakers were aware of the change.

The retirement bill had been revised in a closed door conference committee meeting to include the perks for lawmakers.

”Out of this special session something needs to happen that this type of tactic will never happen again,” said Scott.

Scott said conference committee meetings held to iron out differences between the House and Senate should be open to the public.

Meanwhile, a similar controversy has flared in Kentucky, where lawmakers passed a proposal that could nearly double their pensions. Many Kentucky lawmakers said they were unaware that the bill raised their pensions retroactively dating back to 1982.