Freeloader

[karl]

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin probably should be paying taxpayers for his remarkable fitness as a top long-distance runner, given his years of strenuous work as a firefighter.

Instead, as The Post's Carl Campanile reported yesterday, the 55-year-old "Iron Man" triathlete is collecting an $86,000 disability pension from taxpayers.

No wonder New Yorkers are increasingly fed up with public employees, as a fascinating poll last week found.

Since retiring in 2001, McLaughlin has run numerous marathons and other races, often finishing near the top -- and first or second in his age group.

He's "an incredibly fast runner," a fellow athlete says. "He runs like the wind."

Well, fast enough to get to the bank. McLaughlin managed to work a diagnosis as -- get this -- an asthma victim with reduced lung capacity, qualifying him for an $86,000-a-year disability pension.

For life.

Free of state and local taxes.

Not that his diagnosis was particularly unique: Some 80 percent of firefighters and chiefs who retired last year -- four out of every five -- did so on disability.

Who knew the job was so debilitating?

McLaughlin "is a poster child for what's wrong with the pension system," says Carol Kellerman, head of the Citizens Budget Commission.

[Woody]

Firefighters are required to spend a large amount of time just sitting in the fire station waiting for a call. This inactivity contributes to a decreased lung capacity.

Long distance running helps return the lungs to normal. It's good therapy.

I wish him well. Perhaps if he gets well enough ... he will be able to stop having the tax payer support his adventures.

[phkrause]

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin probably should be paying taxpayers for his remarkable fitness as a top long-distance runner, given his years of strenuous work as a firefighter.

Instead, as The Post's Carl Campanile reported yesterday, the 55-year-old "Iron Man" triathlete is collecting an $86,000 disability pension from taxpayers.

No wonder New Yorkers are increasingly fed up with public employees, as a fascinating poll last week found.

Since retiring in 2001, McLaughlin has run numerous marathons and other races, often finishing near the top -- and first or second in his age group.

He's "an incredibly fast runner," a fellow athlete says. "He runs like the wind."

Well, fast enough to get to the bank. McLaughlin managed to work a diagnosis as -- get this -- an asthma victim with reduced lung capacity, qualifying him for an $86,000-a-year disability pension.

For life.

Free of state and local taxes.

Not that his diagnosis was particularly unique: Some 80 percent of firefighters and chiefs who retired last year -- four out of every five -- did so on disability.

Who knew the job was so debilitating?

McLaughlin "is a poster child for what's wrong with the pension system," says Carol Kellerman, head of the Citizens Budget Commission.

Isn't this the same guy that entered body building contests?

ps: No its not. The guy I was thinking of was someone else.

[karl]

Quote:

"Government is the enemy, until you need a friend".

Bill Cohen

Hmmm - what would Bill want this gummint friend to do for him? Pick other people's pockets?

[Gary K]

Firefighters are required to spend a large amount of time just sitting in the fire station waiting for a call. This inactivity contributes to a decreased lung capacity.

Long distance running helps return the lungs to normal. It's good therapy.

I wish him well. Perhaps if he gets well enough ... he will be able to stop having the tax payer support his adventures.

Woody,

If you have a lung capacity that is diminished enough to keep you from doing your job, you will not be able to even begin to run marathons. You can rebuild some of that lung capacity, but to be a top marathon runner requires exceptional lung capacity. That anyone can go from seriously diminished lung capacity to being within the top 1% of lung capacity is not something that is very likely to happen.

This also means he isn't disabled anymore. He is thus committing fraud by continuing to recieve disability payments. He should be back at work, not collecting more than twice the national average income.

That any Christian would find this acceptable, and laudable, behavior is not a good thing.