83rd TX Lege: Ending Double-Dipping in State Employees’ Pay/Pension

State Rep. Chris Turner (D HD-101), which covers Arlington & Grand Prairie, filed HB 413 during the first week of the 83rd Legislative session.

And, it’s a bit of legislation that I’d actually like to see passed during this session, because it does save tax payer money.

The bill, if passed, would close a loop hole in the state government pension plan that allows elected state officials to retire after a certain number of years to begin collecting their pension, even if they are re-elected and continue to work. Which means they are drawing a paycheck and a pension check. Double-dipping is what they call it, I believe.

Via the Texas Tribune:

Any state representative, senator or nonjudicial state-elected official who meets the age and service requirements is entitled to some benefit under the law, at wildly varying amounts depending on the official’s highest average state salary and individual circumstances, according to the Employees Retirement System.

Now Turner has filed House Bill 413, which would undo the obscure loophole. Turner’s bill would not apply retroactively to Perry or any other lawmakers who might be doing the same thing, but Turner said that with all the talk about tight-fisted budgeting, it’s time to end the lavish pension benefit.

Now, while I think it’s a good idea, one has to wonder why a Democrat would be trying to pass a bill that saves the tax payer any money, rather than the usual bills they usually favor that spend more of our hard-earned money.

I’m guessing that it has something to do with the fact that Gov. Rick Perry had to disclose the fact that he was one of our Public Servants who were eligible for this perk during his Presidential bid. State ethics laws don’t require the disclosure of pension income, but federal laws do, so Gov. Perry revealed it.

I have a gut feeling that this bill has more to do with punishing Gov. Rick Perry than it has to do with saving tax payer money. So I called out Rep. Turner via Twitter:

@chrisgturner @keyetv In a bill clearly targeting a single person (Gov. Perry), did you determine total number of employees double-dipping?

— Robbie Cooper (@RobbieCooper) January 11, 2013

I was a bit surprised that Rep. Turner actually responded:

@robbiecooper @keyetv 1. Bill is not retroactive so it does not “target” Gov. Perry – affects elected officials going forward.

— Chris Turner (@ChrisGTurner) January 11, 2013

@robbiecooper @keyetv 2. No way to determine number of elected officials double-dipping under current law.

— Chris Turner (@ChrisGTurner) January 11, 2013

I found that second tweet rather interesting. If there is “no way to determine” how many state officials are double-dipping, than why is it a legislative priority for Rep. Turner to get this bill passed?

I asked Rep. Turner the same thing:

@chrisgturner If there is no way to determine the number of elected officials “double-dipping”, then how do you know it’s a problem?

— Robbie Cooper (@RobbieCooper) January 11, 2013

@chrisgturner If you don’t know number of double-dippers, why did you think it was an issue requiring legislation? #WastingOurTime #txlege

— Robbie Cooper (@RobbieCooper) January 11, 2013

So, as far as Rep. Turner knows, Gov. Perry might be the only state official benefiting from this (legal) perk. Which again makes me believe that it’s nothing more than a personal vendetta against a single public employee. Which is not a good reason for creating new legislation.

And I told Rep. Turner as much:

@chrisgturner Just because it’s not retroactive doesn’t mean it’s not partisan targeting of a single official (Gov. Perry). #txlege

— Robbie Cooper (@RobbieCooper) January 11, 2013

He quit replying to me at that point.

For the record, Perry spokesman Josh Havens said that Gov. Perry, first elected in 1984, was “simply accessing what he has earned” and continues to pay into the state retirement system.

I’m guessing that State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-141), who has been serving in the state house since 1972, is probably double-dipping, too. Though you’ll never hear her name mentioned even once in debate over this bill.

I’d love to see someone on the House floor ask for as show of hands to see exactly how many of their Housemates are also taking part of this practice.

The new key provision added to the existing law is this one:

A member who takes the oath of office for a position included in the elected class of membership is not eligible to retire and receive a service retirement annuity under this section that is based on service credit transferred to the employee class from the elected class under Section 813.503 until the member no longer holds that position. This provision does not prohibit a member from retiring and receiving a service retirement annuity under this section that is based on service credit earned in a position included in the employee class of membership under Section 812.003.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

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UPDATE — Over at the Trib’s site, commenter Lori Trammell nails it:

Chris turner might want to look into how many Dems are doing this as well..or whether or not he is turning it down. Folks plan their working lives around grabbing that government pension golden ring…some double and triple dipping. Preference is usually given to current or past government employment at all levels. It is a system put in place long before Perry got there and will be around after he is gone. Bet on it. The last college graduation my sister attended this was the aspiration of the large number of graduates. Blaming one person or one party won’t change this. And I think Turner is grand standing….but I’m jaded.