The front page of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette today shows that double dipping in Arkansas continues to be a problem. The article states that since the new law that attempts to stop double dipping was passed in July of 2009, 26 state employees have found ways to continue the practice.

The double dipping referred to in the article occurs when a state employee retires, begins to draw retirement benefits from the state and then is rehired back to the original job. The practice allows the employee to collect retirement as well as salary.

Again we see Governor Mike Beebe being reactive instead of proactive in this situation. Republican nominee Jim Keet addressed this issue back in June when he unveiled his six point ethics reform proposal. The proposal was largely ignored by Beebe.

“Governor Beebe’s attitude toward government ethics was exhibited by his lack of a response to my ethics reform proposal,” said Keet. “This article again shows that ethics reform is needed in Arkansas to restore the taxpayer’s faith in government.”

The current law allows state employees to be rehired to the same position after six months of retirement. This practice is unfair to all the other former state employees who have used the state retirement system ethically.

Governor Beebe should take immediate action to make sure this questionable practice, that uses hard earned taxpayer dollars, is stopped immediately.