Dayton Daily News...
Bill would ban “double dipping” for public employees 
December 4, 2011 

State Rep. Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont, announced Thursday that he has introduced legislation to ban “double dipping” for Ohio government workers, the practice that allows them to collect retirement benefits if they return to public employment after retiring. 

House Bill 388 would suspend retirement benefits of a public retirement system retiree who returns to public employment. 

Damschroder said the future benefits for the employee would continue to build while he or she returned to work. 

“It’s just not right,” Damschroder said of “double dipping.” 

He also said that double dipping means that fewer jobs are available for new public employees. 

“Retire means to stop working,” said Damschroder. “That’s what a pension is for.” 

He said that he has heard and rejected arguments in favor of the practice such as that school systems or local governments can’t find qualified people for jobs or that it is cheaper to hire a retiree than a new employee. 

Damschroder said that he doesn’t fault employees who legally use the system now. 

“It’s the lawmakers’ fault for not addressing the problem earlier,” he said. 

House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, had no immediate reaction to the proposal or to is prospects in the GOP-controlled House, Shannon Boston, Batchelder’s spokeswoman, said in an email. 

“… the Speaker will not be offering any comments on House Bill 388 at this time until he has had a chance to review the legislation with the caucus and with Representative Damschroder,” Boston said. 

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