THIS reaction is not surprising

Remember yesterday's article on socialism for rich Long Islanders? Turns out there are a lot of Long Islanders who are NOT rich and are NOT happy about this. Newsday follows up with more.

"It's outrageous," said Harold Berkowitz, 83, a retired insurance salesman in Plainview. "It's a legal way to steal from my pocket. "

He was among dozens of furious Long Island residents who contacted Newsday yesterday by phone and e-mail.

Nassau Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) said she was unaware of the practice of giving benefits to members of the county's Board of Assessors, Assessment Review Commission and Civil Service Commission. She planned to review it.

"Such a costly benefit should not be used, in my estimation, as a perk for those serving on various boards," Jacobs said.

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman urged the legislature to review its policy on how long a person must work in the county before being entitled to lifetime benefits, which he estimates cost taxpayers $500,000 per employee. Currently, an employee needs five years in the state system to be eligible for lifetime health benefits. Only one of the five years has to be in Nassau. He recommended the policy be changed in 2003, but said no action has been taken.

"It is unconscionable that taxpayers may be paying for lifetime health benefits for individuals who have worked for as a little as one year for Nassau County," he said.

Sounds like this practice of giving part-time board members free health care for life has been something of a well-kept secret. Or maybe people weren't paying attention. Either way, Jacobs et al. should really jump right on this because it's a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.

It's telling that one of the people keeping mum about this matter is Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi--Elliott Spitzer's rival for last year's Dem nomination for governor. In retrospect, I'm glad Suozzi's campaign fizzled out--as it inevitably would.

Maybe the state government could weigh in on this. Governor Spitzer, you there?

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