Still Governor, Perry Collects ‘Retirement’ Pay [View all]

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3:15 p.m. | Updated Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has been beating the drum about cutting the pay of Congress in half — or by 75 percent under one plan — a proposal that has become a cornerstone of his presidential campaign platform.

But he boosted his own taxpayer-financed compensation by about 60 percent this year, Jay Root at The Texas Tribune reports.

Mr. Perry — who isn’t stepping down as governor — nevertheless was able to officially “retire” this year for benefits purposes, a move that gives him about $90,000 more in annual retirement compensation on top of his $150,000 salary as governor.

The move may open him up to criticism from rivals, who can point to Mr. Perry’s recent suggestions that the retirement age for Social Security and the age eligibility for Medicare be raised — two government programs that many older Americans depend on to make ends meet.



http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/perry-collects-retirement-pay-paper-reports/