2 days work, $3M in pensions

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-pension-reform-20111025,0,5364892.story

and http://reason.com/blog/2011/10/24/substitute-teach-for-one-day-q


Two union lobbyists each work 1 day as a school sub, now eligible for $millions in pension benefits.

SPRINGFIELD—

— House lawmakers attacked union pension abuses Monday in response to Tribune/WGN-TV investigations, including one that exposed how two lobbyists got public teacher pensions for a single day of substitute teaching.

The investigation found Steven Preckwinkle, the Illinois Federation of Teachers' political director, and fellow lobbyist David Piccioli had used a now-closed loophole that allowed them to count their years in the teacher union toward a state teacher pension. The two lobbyists had no prior teaching experience before they substituted a day, a union spokesman said.

Money for Nothing

http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1375851

Former Weymouth Mayor David Madden executed a potentially lucrative maneuver on his way out the door — stepping down as mayor and arranging for himself a brief no-show job as fire chief, retiring days later in a bid to boost his pension by $33,558, according to documents and frustrated state regulators, who lost their battle over the benefits before an appellate board and now plan to sue.

A minor win?

Judge rejects T workers effort to block benefit cuts

)December 29, 2009 02:25 PM

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

A Suffolk Superior Court judge has dealt a significant blow to MBTA employees fighting a cut in their benefits, saying in a key ruling released yesterday that a group of 22 labor unions was unlikely to win a lawsuit attempting to block Governor Patrick's transportation plan.

The unions had argued in a lawsuit filed in September that Patrick's plan to save up to $30 million a year through cuts to worker and retiree benefits illegally subverts collective bargaining rights by changing their benefits without going to the negotiating table.

They say they earned the benefits over many years and that the T's real problem is the debt that has piled up... (See story for more)

And Revere FF's, too

This guy is working full time in an auto-body shop, yet claiming a disability pension. This is one we need to follow.

Fire Lt. Working On Disability May Get Retirement

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

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John Curley

WBZ

Revere Fire Lieutenant John Curley is too sick to work as a firefighter for the city, but not too sick to clock in at this own business while collecting a full paycheck on the taxpayers' dime. "Do me a favor, contact my attorney please," Curley told the I-Team.

http://wbztv.com/local/revere.firefighter.iteam.2.1321015.html

More good news

Hack’s pension loss the final indignity

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1211009

Proposal: No pensions at all for elected officials

I've made this proposal before, but want to repeat it; elected officials should not receive any pension credit for their time in office. Term limits may not be constitutional, but I bet this would be legal, and would have the same effect- legislators who serve one or two terms, then return to their real jobs. The alternative is career politicians, who accumulate power, and as the saying goes, all-too-often then become corrupted.

Halleluja

Retirement board suspends DiMasi pension

By State House News Service
Thursday, October 29, 2009 -

The state Retirement Board voted today to suspend the pension of former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, who is battling public corruption charges. But under the vote, which was taken in closed executive session, DiMasi will receive $25,000 in pension payments dating back to June, with the suspension of his pension effective on November 1.

Treasurer Tim Cahill, who oversees the retirement board, administratively suspended DiMasi’s pension on June 9, seven days after his indictment on charges that he allegedly used his office to secure contracts aimed at enriching himself and three associates.