Well Chris.....Than new yorkers should be asking for ALL double dipping tax paid state employees to give up their pensions too. These state workers, either elected, appointed or normal hire are paid, with your tax dollars, to serve YOU!! You are also THEIR employer.

How many folks do you know that receive a pension from GE and the STATE??? How many folks do you know that receive MILITARY and STATE pensions?? I know plenty!!

I'm not sure why there's a problem with collecting more than one pension.  If I worked for GE for 20 years and they shut down, I lost my job, whatever, I still have many good years of work time ahead of me. Why not get another job (state, federal or private) and secure my retirement?  Why should I have to give up one or more pensions so that others may benefit? I worked for it dammit.

As for Tonko, same thing. He worked for the state for X years, and was eligible under the hiring guidelines for a pension because of his service. He was then hired for another job (by the taxpayers) and is collecting a salary (not another pension, yet). He's WORKING for his future (although, I can see why many disagree and say he's not really working for the people - but in that case, don't hire him year after year after year after year.)

I worked for it, it's mine.  Who are you - or anyone - to tell me I can't collect a benefit I worked for, for 40+ years?

Tonko "worked" for the State? -lol-He was a stooge in the Assembly for horrible Shelly Silver. He did absolutely nothing for his district, except to build the bridge to nowhere. What was Amsterdam like 40 years ago when Tonko started "serving the people"? Tonko also made sure the trapped public school students in Amsterdam and Schenectady could not have a charter school option.

     To hear the DEMS attack Danz, who worked in the private sector all his life, for taking care of his elderly mama is hilarious. Pot meet kettle. Anyone got an extra Taxin Tonko sign?

I have a sign and I am putting it up!  
Charter schools if for another thread.  They are ruining AlbanyCity Schools.

A Taxin Tonko Sign? If you have another one please pm me. They are going like hot latkes.

     A nationwide tidal wave for the REP/CONS candidates! Picking up 75 Congressional seats in a wave of disgust over Obamacare and tin eared DEMS. Everywhere but in back arse Schenectady County where the GOP candidate has no money and is being criticized for taking care of his elderly mama. From a candidate that never left home. You can't make this stuff up. The REP/CONS train is leaving but over there they still wait for sign of a SS Savage miracle. Keep waiting.

Quoted from 615

He would be great for the district, but Tonko will waltz his way to a victory. If people could only understand how Tonko's political career has cost them a ton of money over they the years while he is double dipping.

[/b]Senator Farley has been "triple dipping" for years --- 2 full time salaries (now pensions) from SUNY
Albany plus his  base pay and leadership pay as a State Senator ----- not to mention that Farley got 2
taxpayer funded state jobs for his son .. who is also a County Legilsator.[b]

Quoted Text

Tonko ducks local issues unless there’s a photo op

    Re Oct. 6 article, “A secret, a shock, “a big check”: Where was Rep. Paul Tonko when [former superintendent] Eric Ely ravaged the Schenectady city school system?
    I personally called Mr. Tonko’s offi ce almost daily for two months, to no avail, desperately seeking Tonko’s help and guidance in rescuing my 7-year-old son. As Mr. Tonko’s loyal constituent, concerned Schenectady parent and lifelong Democrat, I knew Mr. Tonko would help.
    I received his dual-sided full-color brochure in the mail — at quite a hefty mailing cost, I’m sure. The brochure stated that “Paul Tonko wants to hear from you ...” I was sure he meant me. Also, knowing that Tonko serves on the congressional subcommittee on education, I was sure he would help. I also voted for Tonko, along with President Obama, in the cafeteria of Blodgett Elementary School — the school that is now closed after one-and-a-half years (Ely’s final performance destroying Schenectady schools).
    Imagine my surprise when Tonko’s Schenectady offi ce staffer informed me that he would not be able to speak with me, or meet with me. The staffer stated, “The issue with the Schenectady City School District is a local issue and Congressman Tonko has no jurisdiction in this matter.”
    I knew the Ely mess, a 56 percent high school graduation rate and another school closure in Schenectady (my son’s second before third grade) was a very hot potato — but I naively expected my congressman to discuss it with me even if he couldn’t help.
    Then, I saw Tonko front-row, center at an award ceremony at a Schenectady city school! Positive spin, I suppose, but I was disgusted!
    Back in May, when I began looking for help from my local politicians, I also called Assemblyman George Amedore, Sen. Hugh Farley and state Education Commissioner David Steiner. Amedore and Steiner never called back, either. Sen. Farley called, and even sent his representative, Michael Mansion, to a Blodgett function. I admired him for showing up; it took courage.
    Seeing them all today in media coverage of the event at the school simply perpetuates the fallacy that some improvement has occurred in education or politics in Schenectady. Don’t believe the hype. It’s all part of the show, folks.

    KATHLEEN SULLIVAN
    Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00703&AppName=1

Never would have happened when Mr. McNulty represented us.

Here's where Tonko was helping close charter schools in both Schenectady and Amsterdam. Tonko is a stooge for the teacher's union. Remember in November.

Nothing wrong with closing charter schools.

Spoken like a true elitist. Tell that to Ms. Sullivan and the hundreds of City parents that have to shlep their kids to Albany charter schools because the Schenectady schools are dangerous. The SCSD has to waste over $1 MILLION to bus Schenectady kids to Albany charters. It's called options-it's called competition. Tonko is in bed with teacher union leaders. He made a fool out of himself speaking against the charters.

Benny--charter schools are tearing down public education.  Charter schools are not the answer to public education.  My school district was so poor, (IMO) that I sent all six of my children to private school in Albany.  It was amazingly expensive BUT as I see what comes out of the Mohonasen district, I would do it again.

Charter Schools are able to take dollars from our public school districts -- and yet the residents of the
public school districts have NO VOTE for the Charter School's board or budget.  I have never supported the
concept of Charter Schools because they are guilty of taxation without representation and their
existence has only served to hurt BOTH the public and parochial school systems and their performance record
is lackluster at best.

At least with a Parochial School -- they are not taking taxpayer dollars and the parents can "vote with their
pocket books and feet".    Except for 2 years - my whole education was in private Catholic schools.  My family
and I made the sacrifice to pay for that education WITHOUT taking a dime of taxpayer dollars.

I have long supported parochial schools and support efforts to raise scholarship
moneys  so that persons with lower incomes can afford sending their children to a parochial school.

Public schools are tearing themselves down. Overpaid administrators, weak tenured teachers and bloated staff. To educate a child in a charter costs half of public schools. Of course Catholic schools are the best option but every parent cannot afford it. There is also a shortage of excellent nuns that used to teach back in the day.

     There will be a charter school school in Schenectady County. I don't care what Tonko and the union stooges say-Obama wants it. It is now State law. The problem in Albany was the failure of the bored to close enough schools. Parents want this option and those opposed will be held accountable at the polls.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Nothing wrong with closing charter schools.

Only if you're a member or supporter of the education cartel.