Can you imagine the nerve of these elected officials collecting the additional income during these tough economic times? The taxpayers in New York State are already seeing the worst affect from diminished manufacturing, rising healthcare costs, energy supplier price gouging and an increase in local property taxes. 
Now we are to remain calm as our Albany representatives are double dipping the system? Today's Freeman Editorial on the collection of pensions while still serving, has the region in a tither. They are referring to a New York Times article where they name the Assembly and Senate members who had retired moments before serving their next term. Then collecting tens of thousands in pension payments.John McEneny [pictured] is featured in the piece. Hey, it's legal!
What people don't know, is that it doesn't stop at the pension level or at the State Capital.There are more than enough examples of Executives and County Legislators who are collecting not just pensions, but health insurance buyouts. You'd be amazed at how much the county taxpayers actually subsidize the purchasing of retirement homes in Florida and upstate. Pretty sad actually.
If you ask any of the 45 Million people without health coverage what they think of such people, you'd have to censor the responses we'd get. Those buyouts affect the budgets of the local municipalities as well. Especially if the job you retired from was with a town or city. That town has to budget your extra playmoney, while cutting jobs and services to the greater public. Not cool.
Think about the 10 or 20 years that someone tapped the system and then wonder why we have rough streets, collapsing storm drains or even outdated office equipment. Your tax dollars are padding plenty of retirements out there.
12 comments:
Let me say this, we simple people, who go to work each day, support our families and respect our laws, would like to think that those who lead us, abide by the same dictates that they offer us. Yet, we discover, almost daily, that our leaders are driven by a different desire other than the hunger to serve the public.
Shame on them.
National, State and Local politicians are in for a great awakening this and next November.
Frank Dart takes the insurance buyout for his part time job as legislator. The City of Kingston pays his health insurance from retiring from the fire department.
Double dipping Frank. In comparison Janette Provenzono doesn't take the buy out.
Many City employees retire from the City only to come back and work for the City after they retire from the City.
These jobs should go to City residents that really need them.
This has been going on for some time. If you remember, some years back there was some noise made about a judge who retired for a day so he could begin collecting his pension and then returned to the bench and also drew a salary as judge. There was some talk about changing the laws then, but I don't know if anything was done.
Also remeber, State Comptroller Hevesi, who left in shame after being re-elected right in the midst of a scandal was drawing at least two pensions, maybe three. Part of his deal when he finally agreed to step down was that he would be able to keep his pensions. Are any of us surprised that we continue to learn that some of his staff at the state comptroller's office were even more corrupt then we suspected. As a taxpayer and a voter, the embarrassing part was that we had the opportunity to vote him out even after we began to learn about his abuse of the system in regards to limo services for his wife and we failed to do so.
6:47 You must be kidding. The people in power have the public's welfare in mind at all times. Think about it, who would fund their retirement if they didn't keep the sheep happy.
Hinchey, Sottile, Larkin; they'll all get back in again. Who are we to say otherwise? Oh...that's right, were the voters.
If you think having the right to vote is enough, you're wrong. You've actually got to get out there and exercise it. Nothing changes.
Forget voting - stop paying your taxes - let the scoundrels fight over reduced income like private citizens do.
I get frustrated with Albany, they think they are a cut above, they are a bunch of crooks and it's our fault for re-electing them, we do the same thing Nationally, we re-elect proven failures all the time and then we wonder wwhy we are in the mess we are in. On a local note, i read a new blog, http://ulsterisyourtowntoo.blogspot.com/
It has budget figures for the Town over Nick's tenure. They are quite alarming, if this is the way this kid is spending our money what is the future gonna look like?
1 vote for Mike.
Provenzano still collects a state pension like Dart. She is also on Medicare at 70+ years old. You can bet she would be taking the insurance if she did not have Medicare. 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other. At least we know Madsen won't be double dipping.
Dart is an ignorant asshole, Provenzano is up Heins butt. Madsen will be his own man. 1 vote for Madsen and none for them.
1 vote for Mike.
Triple dippers abound when they hire family and friends using Public money.
I see the Public waterfront will again be closed for the private party on Labor Day.
1 Vote for Madsen. Do it!
Provenzano excused herself from the committee for health insurance reform in Kingston. Seems she is getting free health insurance in addition to Medicare.
This is costing City residents thousands of dollars and is not needed.
9:43- one vote for Dart and one vote for Provenzano. Assholes like you who insinuate having Medicare benefits after working for 60 years is a crime shows what stupid crazies Mike Madson has supporting him,. those that retire with Medicare benefits have paid in the system all their working days and deserve it. It's called Social Security. Mike Madson who gave us the parking meters fee of 25 cents per 1/2 hr. he doesn't support small businesses in Kingston either. He is not a working man's candidate like dart and provenznao are. Mike if your going to allow this bullshit to be posted you better post this.
Post a Comment