Rep. Schmotzer Aims to Ban 'Pension Double Dipping'
The Whitehall man hopes to prevent public employees from collecting more than one state or local government pension.
Martin Michael Schmotzer, a Democrat from Whitehall Borough who represents the 22nd House District of Pennsylvania, including parts of Whitehall and all of Baldwin Township, plans to introduce a bill in the state House of Representatives that would ban public employees from collecting more than one state or local government pension, which Schmotzer labels "pension double dipping."
"Public-sector retirees have the option to return to work at another level of government and continue to receive a pension," Schmotzer said in a news release. "Although the pension benefits of state and public school return-to-service retirees must be frozen while collecting a state paycheck, this is not the case for retirees collecting pensions from various levels of government.
"If these employees so choose, they may accept an additional pension upon meeting all requirements set forth by the designated retirement system. Though this is legal, I find it to be very troublesome.
"Under my proposal, people eligible to receive more than one state or local government pension would have to notify the appropriate pension system of their withdrawal and request a return of their individual contributions paid to the pension fund in addition to the interest accumulated. This would include state, county, city, municipal and school district employees.
"In a time when our state and local government pension systems are underfunded, we face unparalleled budget deficits and our citizens are begging for tax relief, we must explore all cost-saving measures, including pension reform.
"While I understand that pension benefits are a major incentive of public-sector employment, 'pension double dipping' creates additional expenses for the state and local governments, which results in an additional burden for taxpayers."
Thoughts on Schmotzer's bill? Share them in the comments section.
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In This article
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Borough of Whitehall Municipal Complex (Administrative Offices and Outdoor Recreation)
100 Borough Park Dr, Pittsburgh, PA -
Baldwin Township Municipal Building (Administrative Offices)
10 Community Park Dr, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunflower
11:00 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
You mess with one pension plan and it opens the door for other pensions to be reneged upon. Accept that someone was asleep at the wheel when this was set up and make sure it never happens again.
JustMe
8:11 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Why shouldn't someone be able to collect 2 pensions. If they worked 20 years at one place and retire they can collect a pension. If they work at another place that they worked 20 years at they most certainly should be able to get a pension from that place.
How do they expect people to live in their senior years.
Gimme A Break
5:07 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Schmotzer might just be ticked that he will NOT get any type of state benefits after being stupidly voted into this for this short term. I think there are other important issues for him to work on for the short term he has. If someone has earned more than one pension, they certainly should get it. Typical democrat.
joan etzel
1:25 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
I agree with him wholeheartedly on this issue.
JustMe
8:20 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
I was forced to retire from one job and wasn't of age to collect my pension. I am now working on my second one and I should be able to collect both of them, as I pay into both of them beside the County. I don't want the money they take from my pay handed back at the end. If this was the case, why did they start to take money from my pay to begin with. I could of taken this money and invested it myself.
bd
7:10 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
ML - Let's say a local government public works employee has spent 10 years or so on the job in their local community. Their service vests them in their local government provided and bargaining unit negotiated pension plan. This person then gets a job working for some state agency and qualifies after time for a state pension. You are saying that Schmotzer's proposal would not allow this person from collecting the 2 pensions amounts for which he/she legally qualifies? If so, this "bill" is going nowhere but in some state committee dumpster. Let's see what Marty Schmotzer offers next week to get his face in the Patch again.
JustMe
10:48 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
bd that is what schmotzer is pushing and giving you back the money that you invested with a little bit of interest. Bunch of crap.
Gimme A Break
5:10 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
As I said, he is very full of himself. He will say anything to get his picture or story out there. And no one cares about him. Those of us who know him and know what he is all about want him to just fade away and sell overpriced windows and scalp sports tickets.
JustMe
10:55 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
after 1 term a senator is entitled to a pension, if he serves 1 term in the house he is able to get a pension, I can see these jokers losing their pensions but not the people that put 20-40 years in for them, they worked their whole lives for these pensions. The people in the Military would be hurt the most, as they do their 20 years in serving this country, most retire at 38-40. Then work another 20 years in a government job. They should be able to get both pensions as they worked hard for them.
NB resident
11:15 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I agree if you have worked for it you should be able to collect whatever you earned.
bd
12:46 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
You would think a Republican would push something like this and not a big Liberal like Marty Schomotzer. This is all smoke and mirrors folks. This is less than serious and only announced because the Schmotzer camp probably issued a press release and the Patch picked it up as "newsworthy." I think the Democratic Party would be hard-pressed to back a numbskull plan like this since it would against military veterans, retired state police, etc. Best of all, does anyoune believe a state legislator is going to prevent him/herself from pension double-dipping? No freaking way. I can't wait for next week's Marty Schmotzer article. It is like the Patch has a comics section..
Gimme A Break
5:14 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Patch should have a "ticker" clock to count down how many days this narcicist (sp) has left. God, let's not let him get his hands on anything while he is in that office. I heard one of the talk show hosts on KD say that Marty will NOT be eligible for any benefits because he is not serving a full term ... that they have to serve two consecutive terms to be eligible for the goodies that we the taxpayers provide to them. Anyone know if that is really true. It better be.
And I agree, the Patch should call anything that Marty puts out there the "laugh for today" section. But they won't.
JustMe
7:06 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
bd i had to crack up with your comment of "big Liberal like Mary Schomotzer.", he actually reminds me of Scrooge every time I see him or his picture. Thanks for the good laugh today, I needed it.
Gimme A Break
5:16 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
"Scrooge" is good but there are some other names I could give him. Unfortunately, I know how he operates and how he treats people. I still scratch my head and wonder who in the hell voted for him.
JustMe
1:31 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Gimme A Break I have no clue who voted for him for this position, To bad someone didn't ask for a recount of votes. They might of mixed up the votes when they counted them