John J. Flanagan > STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JOHN FLANAGAN REGARDING THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD'S DISABILITY AND PENSION ISSUE

Sunday, November 23, 2008

New York State Senator
John J. Flanagan	2nd Senate District

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STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JOHN FLANAGAN REGARDING THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD'S DISABILITY AND PENSION ISSUE

The unfolding Long Island Railroad disability pension scandal is an apparent abuse that could have and should have been avoided by the leadership of the MTA and the LIRR. The fact that such a high number of railroad retirees – including white-collar workers – are automatically getting disability payments is undermining a system that should be in place to help those who are legitimately injured and unable to work.

This is another example of government workers "gaming the system" at taxpayer expense and must not be tolerated. Now, we need to work together to prevent this type of abuse from occurring into the future while maintaining a disability system that fairly serves those in need.

I applaud the Governor, the Attorney General and Congressman Israel for moving to investigate this situation and, as member of the MTA Capital Program Review Board and the Chairman of the Senate committee that oversees the MTA, I am prepared to work with them on making any changes necessary to prevent this type of abuse in the future.

Senator John Flanagan serves as the Chairman of the New York State Senate Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee and is lone suburban member of the four-member Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Capital Program Review Board.

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