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Griffo-sponsored law enacted to prevent state pension abuse

Posted 7/25/11

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is praising a bill sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joseph Griffo that will improve the comptroller’s ability to be an …

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Griffo-sponsored law enacted to prevent state pension abuse

Posted

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is praising a bill sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joseph Griffo that will improve the comptroller’s ability to be an effective watchdog for pension abuse.

The law allows the comptroller to have access to the state Department of Taxation and Finance's wage reporting system to identify retirees working for local governments who exceed limitations on post-retirement earnings while receiving a state pension.

“Abuse of the pension system by what is known as double dipping is an abuse that must be curtailed as part of our efforts to reform state government,” Griffo said.

Griffo, a Republican from Rome, represents the 47th Senate District, which includes much of eastern St. Lawrence County.

“The problem in this case was that the curtain of bureaucratic red tape could not be parted to allow the Comptroller’s Office to check wage records to determine if state retirees are collecting their pensions and earning salaries above the maximum set by law. My legislation opens up the system to scrutiny, which will help the Comptroller’s Office ferret out abuses of the system. I thank Governor Cuomo for supporting this legislation, which will help strengthen the culture of reform in Albany and bring a new era of better government to all of New York’s citizens”

“This law sends a message to anyone looking to game the retirement system -- you will be found,” Comptroller DiNapoli said.