TEACHER RALLY

• WCPO video of rally • Photos from Monday's protests • Ky. teachers cry for relief on health insurance • Teachers do the math, protest cost of health coverage • Teachers' rallies show anger throughout Ky. • Editorial: Time for Ky. legislators to focus What do you think? Will Northern Kentucky teachers who joined thousands statewide in protesting the governor's health insurance plan be successful in lowering health-care costs for state employees? E-mail us at letters@enquirer.com; fax (859) 578-5565; or send a letter to Enquirer Editorial Page, 226 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, KY 41042

The stakes are high for members of the General Assembly, which Gov. Ernie Fletcher has called into special session Oct. 5 to find a solution. They'd better have their thinking caps on, because this will be tough to solve.

Teachers were led to protest after Fletcher cut insurance benefits and raised premiums in the face of rapidly rising health care costs. The decision hit state workers hard. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Kentucky already ranked dead last among states in employee health benefits. Fletcher's hands were tied by a Legislature that couldn't agree on a state budget that could have authorized extra spending and identified revenue sources.

So the special session is crucial, but the Democratic-controlled House, led by Speaker Jody Richards, has been at loggerheads all year with the GOP-run Senate, presided over by David Williams.

Williams says the special session could last two to four weeks. That could bring a possible resolution uncomfortably close to a Oct. 27 strike date set by the 29,000-member Kentucky Education Association teachers union - not to mention the Nov. 2 election, in which all the Kentucky House seats and half the Senate seats will be in play. A legislative meltdown could stoke anti-incumbent sentiment at the polls.

But easing workers' burden may be easier said than done. Critics cite $305 million in new, unexpected state revenue flowing in, but Fletcher already has been forced to commit most of those funds in the absence of a legislative tax/spending plan. Lawmakers would have to find the money elsewhere, but cutting other programs just before an election would take considerable political courage.

Also, administration officials point out the state is already locked into contracts with health care firms. Lawmakers may not be able to change the terms even if they want to.

Some lawmakers say the special session is an ill-timed exercise in blame-shifting by Fletcher. But they, not Fletcher, have the power to enact a compromise tax-budget plan, and they ought to be able to find creative solutions that might placate voters Nov. 2.

Perhaps the most realistic scenario is one Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, outlined to the Louisville Courier-Journal: offer workers a break on health insurance next year, and appoint a special task force to craft a long-term fix.

At any rate, there's nothing like the prospect of losing your job to help focus the mind. So focus, lawmakers, focus.