February 15, 2012
Official spent years lobbying for military credit that would boost his pension
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While serving on the state retirement board, state Administration Secretary Robert Ferguson has repeatedly pressed board members and agency administrators for a policy change that would significantly boost his pension, records show.
In February 2009, for instance, Ferguson recommended that the Consolidated Public Retirement Board make more people eligible for West Virginia's maximum five-year military service credit by giving state employees credits for six additional U.S. military actions, according to emails sent to a former retirement board member who also served as then-Gov. Joe Manchin's general counsel.
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16 Comments
Posted By: Vincent vega
Report AbuseHas he NO SHAME? I suppose the only time Ferguson says NO is when you ask him if he's had ENOUGH.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
1:41:03 am
Posted By: larabeeed
Report AbuseDoes not make any sense to me how one could get years of credit for some of these operations which lasted only days.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
4:25:36 am
Posted By: DJ88
Report AbuseThere's nothing like duty, honor, and integrity cloaked in greed. SEMPER FInance?
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
6:08:37 am
Posted By: Stick2theTruth
Report Abuse"IN COUNTRY" means a lot. many lawyers served in the Vietnam ERA stationed in Alaska and Missile silos in Nebraska, Utah, Minot ,North Dakota only to non-combat roles where they went to school to pass the Bar exam for their respective state for use on discharge. “IN COUNTRY Vietnam Veterans didn’t have that advantage more concerned with bullet holes, bungee sticks, boobie traps, landmine-fields, night and day attacks, RPG,SAM, concussion and fragmentation grenades and a lot of disease and foot rot. H*LL NO!!
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
7:08:24 am
Posted By: woodsgnome
Report AbuseHaving voted to "stick it" to state retirees with the December decision of the PEIA Finance Board to cap insurance premium subsidies, Mr. Ferguson recognizes that he'll need the additional credit if he is to be able to afford PEIA coverage when he retires.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
7:23:00 am
Posted By: fitzpjo
Report Abusesounds like another politician just insisting on taking a ride on someone else' coattail. Hellno!
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
7:39:35 am
Posted By: WVreading1
Report AbuseI should have known the newspaper commenters would start discriminating against veterans just to criticize a public official. If you think there aren't a lot of state employees boosting their retirement in shady ways, you need to look around more. But give the veterans a break before people start spitting on returning soldiers again.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
8:24:30 am
Posted By: USAFVET
Report AbuseI can't beleive that people are actually against giving this credit. I have spoken to many house and seante members about this very issue. I served during the same period as Sec. Ferguson and I also work for the State. I believe I am due the credit because these actions were just as valid as the others that get the credit. I worked in a top secret facility and did support for many operations. I suffer from PTSD and to not get this credit is a slap in the face. I support any and all efforts to make this service and all military service, eligible for credit.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
9:13:47 am
Posted By: mjsp
Report AbuseI heard some retirees received "bonuses" recently. Is that possible?
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
9:30:16 am
Posted By: rlj611
Report AbuseDisgraceful.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
11:02:12 am
Posted By: The_TRUTH
Report AbuseOther than be overly involved in this issue, has Secretary Ferguson done anything productive during his tenure with the State? What abilities and skills does he bring to his job? It would be nice if he approached other problems that the State has with the same amount of vigor and tenacity.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
11:50:22 am
Posted By: Buddysmama
Report AbuseCan you say "Conflict of Intereest"?
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
12:40:48 pm
Posted By: 71_eer
Report AbuseEric, Thanks for continuing to report on the questionable behavior of state employees. In your research for this article did you by chance see if this guy's resume included being on the WV Housing Board or employeed in the State Treasurer's office the last few years ??????
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
1:59:20 pm
Posted By: LonnieSimmons
Report AbuseThe Retirement Board consistently has denied military service credit for those veterans who are employed by the State and who served in the military from 1973 through 2001. The public and all veterans should be outraged that this mandatory benefit provided by the Legislature is being ignored by this Board. Ferguson should be commended for doing anything he can do to get this Board to follow the law.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
2:28:15 pm
Posted By: dumb hillbilly
Report AbuseThey get retirement pay for their military duty and retirement pay for their state employment so why is the the right thing to do to pay them an additional amount for their pensions?
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
6:20:29 pm
Posted By: skipper1
Report AbuseHow disgusting is it to see a State Official use his office to pad his retirement? Isn't this the same guy who spent over a Million State Tax Dollars on security improvements to the Capitol Complex which were later removed because he over stepped his authority? How is it he can ignore Freedom of Information Requests, he supposedly works for us? Is this clown even remotely qualified for his position? Why hasn't the new Governor gotten rid of this guy? Pitiful WV politics at its best and the Veterans Groups upholding this is truely shameful. This guy should resign immediately or the Governor should ask for his resignation.
Posted at:
February 16, 2012
9:03:31 pm
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