Comments on: AG widens probe on “double dipping” http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:50:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: syk http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32523 syk Fri, 16 May 2008 17:21:39 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32523 Cuomo said the arrangements were a type of "political patronage" in which local government officials hired attorneys, who also happened to be politically active locally, and made them eligible for pension benefits by classifying them as employees. Many levels of government, regulations that were misused, politics -- you put those factors together, and that's the stew that we're dealing with," Cuomo said http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421441242 Cuomo said the arrangements were a type of “political patronage” in which local government officials hired attorneys, who also happened to be politically active locally, and made them eligible for pension benefits by classifying them as employees.

Many levels of government, regulations that were misused, politics—you put those factors together, and that’s the stew that we’re dealing with,” Cuomo said

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421441242

]]> By: Mike J. http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32522 Mike J. Fri, 16 May 2008 17:15:09 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32522 Given how well compensated part-time legislators are, I am not sure why this merits a probe anyway. Firefighters and police officers risk their lives and they get a little extra at the end, so be it. Most blue-collar workers can't even afford to live in Westchester County anymore. Given how well compensated part-time legislators are, I am not sure why this merits a probe anyway. Firefighters and police officers risk their lives and they get a little extra at the end, so be it. Most blue-collar workers can’t even afford to live in Westchester County anymore.

]]> By: Mike J. http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32520 Mike J. Fri, 16 May 2008 17:07:34 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32520 Unless I am incorrect, there is nothing illegal about a co-worker telling another co-worker take my hours. The only thing going forward is the county can try and negotiate a more favorable pension system with incoming workers or cap the amount of overtime. Unless I am incorrect, there is nothing illegal about a co-worker telling another co-worker take my hours. The only thing going forward is the county can try and negotiate a more favorable pension system with incoming workers or cap the amount of overtime.

]]> By: the consultant http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32513 the consultant Fri, 16 May 2008 13:38:35 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32513 they are entitled to their pensions...they are not entitles to jimmy rig their last three years salaries...the public needs to put pressure on their legislators to make it clear that the practice is unacceptable...Frankly Andrew Cuomo should be bringing an injunction lawsuit to prevent that kind of abuse of the system..ie the lawsuit should prevent the transfer of overtime from a younger person to an older person and should cap the amount of salary that can be made in the last three years to a percentage of that made previously..... they are entitled to their pensions…they are not entitles
to jimmy rig their last three years salaries…the public
needs to put pressure on their legislators to make it
clear that the practice is unacceptable…Frankly Andrew
Cuomo should be bringing an injunction lawsuit to prevent
that kind of abuse of the system..ie the lawsuit should
prevent the transfer of overtime from a younger person to
an older person and should cap the amount of salary that
can be made in the last three years to a percentage
of that made previously…..

]]> By: Ian http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32510 Ian Fri, 16 May 2008 12:30:51 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32510 The problem is what do you do about it. Do you question everyone in a back room? Or do cap the amount of overtime for all firemen and cops? The only thing that can be done is to eliminate the ridiculous pension plan but that would probably lead to a strike. The problem is what do you do about it. Do you question everyone in a back room? Or do cap the amount of overtime for all firemen and cops? The only thing that can be done is to eliminate the ridiculous pension plan but that would probably lead to a strike.

]]> By: ed http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32505 ed Fri, 16 May 2008 03:29:53 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32505 This, and dozens of other "legal scams" have been well-known for at least 40 years, probably more, and no action, or even comment, has been made by any incumbent politician so far as I remember. This, and dozens of other “legal scams” have been well-known for at least 40 years, probably more, and no action, or even comment, has been made by any incumbent politician so far as I remember.

]]> By: the consultant http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32492 the consultant Thu, 15 May 2008 22:32:15 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/15/ag-widens-probe-on-double-dipping/#comment-32492 there is a much larger issue involving municipal employee pensions..one that I doubt a democratic ag who wants to be governor would be willing to tackle..that is the practice of younger police and fire fighters giving their overtime to older workers three years out from retirement... the effect is to boost their last three years salary far and above what it would have been had they simply gotten their paygrade with some overtime...the result is inflated pensions that cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and create a windfall where none was intended..the practice is the same as stealing..although legal it does indirectly what cannot be done directly there is a much larger issue involving municipal employee
pensions..one that I doubt a democratic ag who wants to
be governor would be willing to tackle..that is the
practice of younger police and fire fighters giving their
overtime to older workers three years out from retirement…
the effect is to boost their last three years salary far
and above what it would have been had they simply gotten their paygrade with some overtime…the result is inflated
pensions that cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars
and create a windfall where none was intended..the practice
is the same as stealing..although legal it does indirectly
what cannot be done directly

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