Huntsville, AL – It's reported that Gov. Bob Riley's administration put a retired state employee to work in 2007 at nearly $60,000 a year while still drawing a state pension of more than $30,000. The Huntsville Times says the retiree, Sandra Porter, was hired under a contract with Auburn University Montgomery, avoiding the legislature's contract review committee.
The newspaper also says the retiree later began work for Paragon Source, a computer firm that got a no-bid $6 million contract with Riley's finance department. Riley has defended the unbid contract and recently increased it to $13 million.
Former assistant state Finance Director Andy Hornsby said Monday that Porter was brought out of retirement to help with a budget initiative. He said the head of Paragon Source later asked that Porter be put on its payroll.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)