Where Do Failed Politicians Go?

To academia, of course.

New Jersey voters may have opted to go "Florio-free in '93" but the former governor has stayed on the state payroll, and in the state pension system, thanks to a $90,947 side job at Rutgers University.

James J. Florio teaches one class each semester and sits on two advisory boards at the university, where he began teaching shortly after leaving office more than a decade ago. Florio has the designation "university professor" - a full-time title that comes complete with a generous state benefits package. But Florio, who runs a tax-lien collection company and works for a law firm, admits the gig at Rutgers is not full time.

Sheltering failed politicians is not limited to Rutgers. Columbia has taken in Al Gore and David Dinkins.

Don't worry, the adjucts don't mind a bit. They make the princely sum of $3,300 to teach a class at Rutgers, and they probably have a Ph.D.

Comments

[Chick]

I am so disgusted by this information that I can scarcely form words. I wish I didn't know this tidbit, but thanks for bringing it to light.

[Jonathan Dresner]

UNC got John Edwards, but he's on a term contract that ends in 2007.... just in time to run in 2008 if he wants. Zell Miller got a slot, too.

[Alison]

There's a nice rotating door between the Kennedy School at Harvard and the out of power party.

[Rachel Bahnsen]

I see nothing wrong with a former politician teaching IF HE/SHE HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS and are compensated according to their contribution. Of course this is assuming they haven't been convicted of wrong-doing. But for someone to receive $90,000+ to teach one class and be called "University Professor" is outrageous, even if he is on 2 advisory boards.