Nobody Likes a Double Dipper

Posted on 08-21-10

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2010
Contact: Lucinda Guinn
(916) 686-5244
press@beraforcongress.com
Nobody Likes a Double-Dipper
Lungren takes taxpayer-funded "cadillac" pension from Californians while also collecting taxpayer-funded salary. 
ELK GROVE, CA - While Republicans debate pension reform at the upcoming "Pension Tsunami" workshop, they should take a hard look at one of their own: Representative Dan Lungren. 
In 2009, Lungren received $55,697 in taxpayer money as part of his "cadillac" pension plan from the California Legislators Retirement System (LRS), after only eight years of service. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, Lungren receives a higher than average pension based on a 25.9% pay-raise he accepted in his final month as attorney general. This form of "pension spiking" was outlawed in 2007, but Lungren continues to benefit from the loophole, drawing a pension based on a salary he received for only one month. 
While drawing an exorbitant pension from California taxpayers, Lungren is also collecting a $174,000 taxpayer funded federal salary, after taking over $12,000 in pay raises since 2005. This figure does not include Lungren's generous, taxpayer subsidized healthcare - according to the L.A. Times tax payers pick up the tab for three quarters of Lungren's premiums and paid roughly $15 billion in 2008 to insure federal employees like Lungren.  (Legistorm.com, "Member of Congress Salaries" http://www.legistorm.com/member_of_congress_salaries.html; Los Angeles Times, 1/4/88; Los Angeles Times, 8/2/09)  
Not including perks like healthcare, Lungren's double-dipping will cost the American taxpayers over $229,000 this year alone.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2010
Contact: Lucinda Guinn
(916) 686-5244
press@beraforcongress.com

Nobody Likes a Double-Dipper
Lungren takes taxpayer-funded "cadillac" pension from Californians while also collecting taxpayer-funded salary.

ELK GROVE, CA - While Republicans debate pension reform at the upcoming "Pension Tsunami" workshop, they should take a hard look at one of their own: Representative Dan Lungren. 

In 2009, Lungren received $55,697 in taxpayer money as part of his "cadillac" pension plan from the California Legislators Retirement System (LRS), after only eight years of service. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, Lungren receives a higher pension based on a 25.9% pay-spike he accepted in his final month as attorney general. This form of "pension spiking" was outlawed in 2007, but Lungren continues to benefit from the loophole, drawing a pension based on a salary he received for only one month. Yesterday, Lungren disputed the amount of the pay-raise, but it is confirmed in this San Francisco Chronicle article.

While drawing an exorbitant pension from California taxpayers, Lungren is also collecting a $174,000 taxpayer funded federal salary, after taking nearly $12,000 in pay raises since 2005. This figure does not include Lungren's generous, taxpayer subsidized healthcare - according to the L.A. Times tax payers pick up the tab for three quarters of Lungren's premiums and paid roughly $15 billion in 2008 to insure federal employees like Lungren.  (Legistorm.com, "Member of Congress Salaries" http://www.legistorm.com/member_of_congress_salaries.htm; Los Angeles Times, 8/2/09)  

Not including perks like healthcare, Lungren's double-dipping will cost the American taxpayers over $229,000 this year alone.



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