It’s a pretty bullet-proof position to take in the wake of the recent Albany scandals: a push to stop ex-politicians like Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos from collecting their taxpayer-funded pensions after they are convicted of abusing their offices and booted from their positions.
But a recent mailing by state Sen. William Larkin Jr. that touted his support for denying corrupt politicians their nest eggs backfired in a way, because it gave Democrats an opening to raise a different pension issue. In a press release on Friday, Orange County Democratic Chairman Brett Broge laced into Larkin for claiming he was “protecting taxpayers” while taking advantage of a state loophole that has allowed him to collect his own salary and pension at the same time since 2011. His combined compensation this year is $163,000.
“It’s offensive that Bill Larkin is using taxpayer money to send out a glossy mailer claiming that he is ‘protecting taxpayers,'” Broge wrote.
Brian Maher, a spokesman for the Cornwall-on-Hudson Republican, said in response: “The fact of the matter is Senator Larkin is working to strip the pension of any lawmaker convicted of a felony. The Assembly has failed to act and should join us without delay. Senator Larkin believes it is important to engage his constituents.”