With AG's Help, 'Retired' NJ Tourism Cop Hits Pension Jackpot

For Immediate Release:

'RETIRED' ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM COP HITS NJ PENSION JACKPOT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL FRIENDS

Tom Gilbert never really retired, but he collects a $93,380-a-year state pension.
The commander of the Atlantic City Tourism District "retired" last year, though only on paper. He remains on duty – and on the Attorney General's payroll with an $80,620 state salary.  

Instead of one state check, Gilbert now gets two – a jackpot totaling nearly $174,000 a year – thanks to the Attorney General's office, which has a history of turning its retired employees into double-dippers.

A New Jersey Watchdog investigation found 24 "retired and rehired" investigators working for the Attorney General.  They collect $3.95 million a year — $1.66 million a year in pension pay plus $2.29 million in state salaries. On average, they each pocket $164,570 a year — $95,575 in salary and nearly $68,995 from pension.

The revolving door of retired and rehired state employees is a controversial practice that drains money from the retirement system, already underfunded by $36 billion according to the State Treasury.

For the complete story, click here or visit www.njwatchdog.org.

Blagojevich makes appointment to Obama Senate seat

By Kevin Bogardus
Leading the News- the Hill

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to appoint former state Attorney General Roland Burris to the Senate seat of President-elect Obama, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The announcement could provoke a fight with Senate Democratic leaders, who have warned they would seat no one to the Senate appointed by Blagojevich.

An official announcement is expected at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday. Burris, 71 and African-American, is a former state comptroller and attorney general of Illinois. He also was Blagojevich’s Democratic primary opponent in the 2002 governor’s race.

Burris was not on the list of preferred candidates that Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s White House chief of staff, sent over to Blagojevich’s staff. However, Obama endorsed Burris in his primary battle with Blagojevich.

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