For Immediate Release:
There's a 'Heck' of hypocrisy in Chris Christie's call for disability pension reform during his State of the State address.
"Our pension system is burdened by some who collect disability retirement because they claim they are 'totally and permanently' disabled, but are now working full-time," said New Jersey's governor, ignoring the problem in his own office.
Adam J. Heck, one of Christie's state lawyers, has collected a $110,000 salary plus nearly $45,000 in tax-free disability retirement checks from the state.
At age 28, Heck retired as a Middletown Township police officer in 1993. He was struck on the hand with a hockey stick while responding to a domestic dispute, according to state pension records.
Heck is one of 18 'disabled' state employees who double-dip $2.2 million a year – $1 million in tax-free accidental disability pay plus $1.2 million in salaries – named in a New Jersey Watchdog investigative report last year.
It is only the tip of what happens in a police disability pension system that pays out $200 million a year. The New Jersey Watchdog report did not encompass pensioners who have returned to work for county or local governments – or the private sector – while collecting benefits for not being able to work.
The story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/01/15/heck-of-hypocrisy/.
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