If this article in today’s Harrisburg Patriot-News (“Departing Pa. lawmakers to reap pension benefits; Piccola receives $211K lump sum, $83K yearly”) doesn’t make you fighting mad or want to throw up, we’re in really bad shape. Remember these porkers are the same ones who want to “have pension reform” for other state workers and teachers.

BY Jan Murphy, The Patriot-News

“Two midstate lawmakers are among those who left office last month who have applied to cash in on the pension benefits that accrued from their legislative service.

“Former Dauphin County Sen. Jeffrey Piccola especially will find retirement to be more profitable.

“He will receive an annual pension of $83,846, which is more than the $82,206 salary that rank and file lawmakers were paid over the past year. In addition, he took a $211,855 lump sum payout for his 36 years of legislative service in the House and Senate, based on money he put toward his pension over the years.

“Former Harrisburg Rep. Ronald Buxton will receive an annual pension of $66,603 — which was close to the annual salary lawmakers received in 2004 — for his 20 years of legislative service, plus 5 additional years of service.

“Neither Piccola or Buxton could be reached for comment this morning.

“The information was obtained through a Right-to-Know request to the State Employees’ Retirement System made by The Patriot-News and a separate Right-to-Know request filed by Rock the Capital, a government reform advocacy group.

“About the pensions being paid to the two former lawmakers who represented the debt-ridden capital city, Rock the Capital co-founder Eric Epstein said, ‘The math  doesn’t add up: The city is broke, the pension system is broken, but one guy is retiring with more than his salary and the other guy is being paid more than a middle-class family earns in a year to play golf.’

“U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York, who left his state House seat to run for Congress, is eligible for state pension benefits but has not applied from them for his five years of credited state service, pension records show.

“Rock the Capital also sought pension payout information for two other long-time legislators who were defeated in this year’s elections.

“Former Blair County Rep. Richard Geist will receive an annual pension of $64,742, in addition to a $3,381 lump sum payment, for his 34 years of service in the House.” To read this Harrisburg Patriot-News article in its entirety, click here.

Still haven’t thrown up? Then read this article from the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Fighting mad now?