Triple-dipping?
State retirement system fatally flawed
The flames of outrage over state employees collecting both a pension and a salary - double-dipping - got fanned with recent news that 131 workers are cashing at least two retirement checks as well as a salary.
Triple-dipping.
Unbelievable.
Florida has no limit on the number of state pensions someone can get. And unlike states where it is illegal to receive a pension and return to the same public job and pay, Florida has no such law. Unlike states where it is illegal to work in the public sector in the same retirement system without giving up a pension, Florida has no such law.
And prospects for the enactment of such a law appear dim in this legislative session.
It looks like good old boys favoring good old boys.
Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, sponsored a measure that would prevent double-dipping by elected officials, but isn't hopeful.
"Apparently, there are more double-dippers in the Legislature than I thought," he said in a St. Petersburg Times report. "What a mess."
Mess indeed.
The loophole in the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program - called DROP - came about when lawmakers amended the law to help a fellow legislator - shocking, huh? - who wanted to get the retirement benefits he had earned before his election to the Legislature.
Pandora's box was opened.
There are those who argue that double-dipping actually saves the state money. By allowing someone who would be collecting a pension anyway to remain on the job, the state would not have to pay into the retirement system for that employee. Instant savings.
That reasoning alone ignores the central question here.
The practice is unethical and immoral.
DROP was instituted to encourage longtime employees to retire and make way for younger workers, allowing them to work their way up the pay scale. The loophole was enacted later.
And not surprisingly, people are taking advantage.
Our beef is with the 200 elected officials and 200 senior managers who are working the system. They should be setting a higher standard.
But those 400 top dogs have friends in high places offering protection.
A bill to ban double-dipping by police officers is advancing, winning unanimous approval last week by a Senate committee. Even the police unions are behind the bill.
Jim Spearing, a lobbyist for the Florida Police Benevolent Association, criticized double-dippers, telling the panel: "We can't stop everyone, but we want to stop our own because it's wrong, morally and ethically, to game the system that way."
Here, here.
Kudos to our police officers for stepping up and doing the right thing. There's a lesson there for legislators.
Other measures to prohibit elected officials from double-dipping have yet to be heard in committee. We hope they advance.
But again, that appears to be a daunting task - because some lawmakers benefit. Last year, Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, attempted to end the practice, but his bill to ban retired employees from returning to the same agency failed. "I didn't know how bad the problem was," he told the Times. "I'm shocked to find out how widespread this is."
We heartily agree with Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee, the chairman of the House Council on Government Efficiency: "It is obvious we have to do something. The idea that elected officials can retire, take a chunk of change and keep going is just appalling."
Appalling indeed.
Lawmakers should be ashamed if they do not end this unethical practice. And voters should take note come election time.
We urge our own legislators - Sen. Mike Bennett and Reps. Ron Reagan, Bill Galvano and newly elected Darryl Rouson - to stand up and help close this unprincipled loophole. Voters are demanding accountability.
Talk back
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