Posted on 08/17/2009 9:58:17 PM PDT by neverdem
ALBANY — When Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg retired last year, there were no sendoffs, no cakes and no serenades.
In fact, no one even knew he had left the Capitol, because he never did. Mr. Weisenberg, 75, a Long Island Democrat, “retired” last year but continued to work as a lawmaker and remained on the payroll. As a result, he earns $101,500 in salary and collects a pension of about $72,000, according to the comptroller’s office.
Similarly, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, a 72-year-old Brooklyn Democrat, retired last year after 31 years, but continued to serve her district. She earns $104,500 and draws an annual pension of more than $71,000. And Assemblyman John J. McEneny, a 65-year-old Albany-area Democrat who retired last year but kept his seat in the Assembly chamber, now earns $94,500 and a pension of about $73,000.
All of them are beneficiaries of “double dipping,” a practice in which public servants simultaneously collect government salaries and pensions, sometimes for the same job.
Most people who have a traditional pension put in years or decades of work at a job, then retire, leave the job and begin collecting monthly pension payments. Some companies do allow double dipping, though the practice has most likely declined during the recession and federal rules impose more restrictions on corporate pension funds.
In Albany, veteran lawmakers can “retire” at 65 from their jobs and start collecting pensions, but without actually leaving their jobs, giving up their salaries or even telling their constituents. Four legislators took advantage of the rule last year.
Mr. Weisenberg was actually a chief sponsor of legislation last year aimed at cracking down on double dipping by local governments. “Double dipping?” said Mr. Weisenberg, asked about the appearance created by his notional retirement...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Want to steal and defraud, legally? Go into politics.
Amazing...
and what’s more amazing is how new yorkers look down on everybody else for being stupid
Amazing, the Slimes actually discloses their party affiliations.
Four sleazy RATS and one Republican.
What disgusting parasites. No wonder the country is going to hell in a handbasket.
Video - Rep. Massa: I will vote against the interests of my district (Massa D, NY, 29th C.D.)
Girl Fined $50 For Selling Lemonade Without Permit in NYC Park
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
IMHO, that's usually the ones who move to NY, not the native born.
It's hard to avoid these days.
Four sleazy RATS and one Republican.
IIRC, one rat donated his pension to charity, altough his wife gets a pension from the teacher's union.
NY- The Vampire State.
We need to stop electing people who don’t see anything wrong with this to office.
You know, people with something called integrity and morals.
Maybe now that this has hit the NYT, it’ll even get some liberals upset and demanding something be done.
In spite of Biden’s moronic comment about paying taxes being patriotic, I highly doubt even liberals would rather see their taxes go up to continue to support this kind of nonsense.
But then again, I’m probably over-estimating liberals.....
Thanks for the ping!
Wow! The NYT actually scooped the NYP on a NY corruption story.
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