Monday, August 26, 2013

When lobbyists get public pensions

From the AP:

As a lobbyist in New York's statehouse, Stephen Acquario is doing pretty well. He pulls down $204,000 a year, more than the governor makes, gets a Ford Explorer as his company car and is afforded another special perk:

Even though he's not a government employee, he is entitled to a full state pension.

He's among hundreds of lobbyists in at least 20 states who get public pensions because they represent associations of counties, cities and school boards, an Associated Press review found. Legislatures granted them access decades ago on the premise that they serve governments and the public. In many cases, such access also includes state health care benefits.

But several states have started to question whether these organizations should qualify for such benefits, since they are private entities in most respects: They face no public oversight of their activities, can pay their top executives private-sector salaries and sometimes lobby for positions in conflict with taxpayers. New Jersey and Illinois are among the states considering legislation that would end their inclusion.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

CONSIDERING legislation? WHAT'S to consider?!!!! Just pass it and get rid of tax payer-funded pensions for these creeps!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Just another reason why the states have no money. As usual, the taxpayer foots the bill.

Anonymous said...

Crap! Every day we get robbed by these rectal cavities.
Thank You Queens crap I will share this.

Anonymous said...

Where is the Public Advocate? Another useless political job. We pay for that too.

Big Hairy Balls said...

Just think that people whine about teacher's salaries and pensions. Hah! Long live Queen's Crapper!Death to Assad! Save Egypt's Copts! Long live Israel!