Metro

Rep. Nita Lowey collects an extra $10G pension on top of her salary

NICE JOB:
Nita Lowey makes $174,000 in Congress — plus pension. (
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Rep. Nita Lowey is the wealthiest member of New York’s congressional delegation and one of the richest members of Congress.

She’s also a double dipper.

The Westchester Democrat, who is worth at least $14.3 million, collects a $10,302 annual state pension on top of her $174,000 congressional salary.

Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin, a Republican running against Lowey, slammed her for collecting a taxpayer-funded salary and pension at the same time. Carvin, a businessman, has declined to collect the $17,000 salary that comes with his elected position.

“Public-pension abuses are perfectly legal, but they’re killing New York taxpayers. Ms. Lowey may be allowed to take a pension on top of her $174,000 salary, but that doesn’t make it appropriate,” Carvin said.

“And federal pensions for members of Congress need to be eliminated. Serving one’s neighbors in Washington was intended to be a duty, not a lucrative career.”

Under a quirk in state law, 15 members of the state Legislature are double dipping.

After they turn 65, a loophole allows them to officially “retire” to collect a pension while remaining in elective office.

One of the beneficiaries is embattled Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who just stepped down as Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman amid a sex-harassment scandal.

Other double dippers in the sate’s congressional delegation include:

* Rep. Peter King, who served three terms as Nassau County comptroller and collects a $39,000 government pension.

* Reps. Jose Serrano of The Bronx and Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan, former New York Assembly members who also collect state pension checks.

But Lowey’s pension sticks out like a sore thumb. Her financial statement shows she has joint assets with her husband totaling between $14.3 million and $65 million.

Lowey’s husband, Stephen, a partner in the Westchester law firm Lowey, Dannenberg, Cohen & Hart, holds most of the couple’s assets. The Loweys invested at least $1.5 million in Arbiter Partners, a business-risk consulting firm, and have more than $1 million in assets in Lowey Family Investment LLC. They reported more than $600,000 in capital gains last year and no liabilities.

Lowey served in state government from 1975 through 1987 before she was elected to Congress — including a stint as assistant secretary of state under former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Lowey’s campaign, asked to comment on the double dip, skirted the issue and instead attacked her opponent, Carvin.

“Since he described [GOP vice presidential candidate and Wisconsin Rep.] Paul Ryan as his ‘hero,’ it’s no surprise that Joe Carvin is focused on eliminating pensions rather than creating jobs and getting our economy back on track,” said Lowey spokesman Matt Dennis.

But a fiscal watchdog group said the Lowey double dip was an outrage, given New York’s runaway pension costs and the state’s 9 percent unemployment rate.

“It’s extremely discouraging to see members of Congress like Nita Lowey — who clearly don’t need the money — double dipping at the public trough,” said Carla Kerr, director of New Yorkers for Growth.

“Sure, it’s legal. But it shouldn’t be. One can only wonder why Ms. Lowey has never worked to address this loophole.”