Carvin Campaign Challenges "Double Dipper" Lowey to Return State Pension Money

CARVIN CAMPAIGN CHALLENGES 'DOUBLE-DIPPER' NITA LOWEY TO  RETURN  STATE PENSION MONEY TO NEW YORK COFFERS 
 
"Westchester and Rockland municipalities are cutting everything from classroom programs to health services to meet 
the crushing cost of state pension promises." 
 
Rockland-Westchester--Sept. 18...Nita Lowey, the wealthiest member of Congress from New York and the subject of a New York Post investigative report this week revealing that she is engaged in the controversial practice of "double-dipping", should donate the state pension dollars she has received while serving in Congress -- and earning a $174,000 federal salary -- back to the massively underfunded New York State pension system, the campaign of Rye Town Supervisor and congressional candidate Joe Carvin (R-NY-17) today said. 

Double dipping is the practice of accepting one government pension while on the payroll for another government job. Ms. Lowey receives more than $10,000 every year from the State of New York, for which she once worked, while also accepting her House salary and benefits.  She will receive a generous congressional pension on top of her state pension when she leaves office. 

Rockland and Westchester County have been forced to cut millions of dollars from their social safety net systems to meet runaway state pension costs. 
"Double dipping politicians are eroding our faith in elected leaders, especially when those engaged in the practice objectively don't need the money," said Carvin spokesman Bill O'Reilly. "Ms. Lowey may be legally entitled to that money, but that doesn't make accepting it appropriate while counties are buckling under the weight of pension costs. We suggest that Ms. Lowey donate that money back to the state pension fund until she is formally retired." 

Mr. Carvin has refused to accept his $17,000 salary as Rye Town Supervisor every year he has served (2008- ). He has declined to join New York State's retirement system to which he is entitled as an elected official and he has eliminated free health care for part-time elected officials, saving taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars every year. 

"Westchester and Rockland municipalities are cutting everything from classroom programs to health services to meet the crushing cost of state pension promises," Mr. O'Reilly continued. "Ms. Lowey should do the right thing here.  She should be setting an example rather than adding to the problem."