Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Gov. Bill Richardson’s proposal to put an end to double-dipping by government employees in New Mexico — but exempt those who are currently doing it – is “inadequate,” state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said in a news release.
“New Mexicans are rightly fed up with the corruption, scandals and insider dealings that have come to be the face of New Mexico government, and I’m afraid that Gov. Richardson just doesn’t seem to get it,” Ortiz y Pino said in a news release.
“Simply put, we need to prevent state government retirees from receiving any retirement benefits if they return to state government jobs,” he said. “The hundreds who are now double dipping into state funds need to choose: Are they state workers or are they retirees? They can then be paid accordingly.”
Earlier this year, the Legislature approved a plan to end double-dipping – the practice of retiring and then returning to work for state, county or local government to collect a salary and pension at the same time – but Richardson vetoed it. This week, Richardson unveiled his own plan to end double-dipping, with the exemption for people who are currently doing it.
Fully ending double-dipping could save the state $7 million a year, analysts say.
Ortiz y Pino isn’t alone in criticizing the governor’s proposal to exempt current double-dippers. State Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela, D-Santa Fe and the sponsor of the bill the governor vetoed earlier this year, was quoted by The Santa Fe New Mexican as saying that the governor’s new proposal shows that Richardson “apparently wants to protect his colleagues and friends there who are working for state government.”
Lawmakers could still override Richardson’s veto.
“If they don’t think his bill goes far enough,” Varela was quoted by The New Mexican as saying, “we’ll take a poll in the Legislature and go from there.”
Ortiz y Pino said the state’s financial woes make clear what needs to be done.
“At a time of growing, massive unemployment, it is immoral to have one person drawing two checks when two people could each be drawing one,” he said. “The solution must address county, municipal and educational employees, as well as those who work directly for state government. There are now hundreds of state retirees in this position. We need to balance the state budget, and this is a clear first step.”