Generous Pensions for Convicted Former Members of Congress
EmailDisgraced former Congressman Duke Cunningham is going to prison for taking huge bribes. But all the while he will still collect a generous Congressional pension.
Yesterday the House passed legislation taking pensions away from members convicted of bribery and corruption.
But the new law isn’t retroactive. So former members already convicted, like Cunningham, will keep their pensions, all at taxpayers’ expense, of course.
"He could start out with an annual retirement of $64,000 that would grow with the cost of living each year," says Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union
And Congressman Cunningham is not alone. Some 15 other disgraced former members of Congress are also collecting these pensions. Convicted Illinois representative Dan Rotstenkowski still draws over 100 thousand dollars a year.
But current members facing criminal investigation, including Tom Delay, won’t be so lucky if they end up convicted.
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The House passing legislation taking pensions away from members convicted of bribery and corruption is great, but it would have even been better if they would have made it retroactive. If they would also hold all elected officials up to the same standards as regular government employees and other agency personnel – they are not allowed to accept gratuities from bidders angling for award. Nor are contractors supposed to offer gifts, solicit insider information, or offer employment to federal procurement officials. These actions could influence the award of an order, which wouldn’t be fair to the other contractors playing it straight.
If these are violated, then the Politician should be fired just like any other Federal Employee. Then it will be up to his district to replace him.
Posted by: Mark | May 5, 2006, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
That is totally ridiculous! The new legistation should be retroactive. My tax dollars are supporting these individuals for something they knew was illegal. If it was me, I would not get my pension/retirement. (I currently work in a financial institution.)No wonder the government can not balance their books. These individuals should repay all the legal/investigation fees that were involved in their conviction. This really sets an example for our future generations.
Posted by: Debbie M. | May 5, 2006, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
What about the health benefits congressmen receive, might they lose those as well?
Posted by: margaret crane | May 5, 2006, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Shows Senators and Congressman don’t care about taxpayers, or otherwise the law would be retro.
Posted by: A BROWN | May 5, 2006, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
What a colossal error.Why should the taxpayers continue to support those crooks? Unless I’m mistaken doesn’t President Bush have to sign it before it becomes law? Why doesn’t he veto it until they make it retroactive? Talk about your wasteful spending.
Posted by: me | May 5, 2006, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
Dear Geniuses Who want the Law Retroactive;
Read your Constitution and look for the phrase “ex post facto.”
Posted by: Tom Jefferson | May 5, 2006, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
Congress is quick to take on “illegal” immigrants and pass a bill calling for 20 years in prison for each person who comes over the border to pick strawberries for minimum wage.
But illegal congressmen who destroy our public institutions, well, they get to live on public money for the rest of their lives.
What a crock!
Posted by: Joe | May 5, 2006, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
when you look in the mirror remember you are the peasant, dispensible and easily ignored. congress knows you are not sending them a limo with the statutory hooker. so if you ain’t calling from K street no one is answering the phone, in the meantime a little window dressing for the folks back home………….
Posted by: jim h | May 5, 2006, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
Is it possible for the House to vote to sanction specific former members convicted of crimes, stripping them of their pensions?
Posted by: gs | May 6, 2006, 5:56 am 5:56 am
The Cunningham pension story is just one more proof that our government, top to bottom is rotten with corruption and we need to rethink how it should BE if we ‘want’ honest government.
If it were ONLY Cunningham, but it isn’t… we’ve had two generations of wierd Kennedy’s in office too.
Where in GOD’S name does it stop?
Posted by: stella watkins | May 6, 2006, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Let’s call for a re-vote. Are we not the public whose voice should be heard and the ones paying the bill. I’m tired of these elected officals votine themselves raises, not paying social security etc. Let’s hear from “we the people”
Posted by: bjg horton | May 6, 2006, 10:02 am 10:02 am
Retroactive laws are unconstitutional. The prohibition is written directly into the Constitution in order to preserve the rule of law and the basic structure of our democracy. Does the rule sometimes create suboptimal outcomes? Sure. But this is the price you pay for living in an open society, free from the fear that your legal acts today will be grounds for your execution tomorrow.
Posted by: Jon | May 6, 2006, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
The question should not be why a convicted former member of Congress is getting a pension, but rather why any member of Congress gets a pension?
Posted by: P Orlowski | May 6, 2006, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Absolutely ridiculous!
Posted by: Nic | May 6, 2006, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
you have to be kidding! here i am, at 63 and mostly unable to work..no health insurance and waiting with bated breath to start collecting social security that accumulated while i was rearing four children.
yet, a crook, who lived off of the fat of our land will have a decent retirement and i’ll still have to work up into my 70s+. what has our nation come to?
of course, it isn’t retroactive. we still have crooks in the senate and house. why would they shoot themselves in their fat foot?
Posted by: pat allgood | May 7, 2006, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Just another example of the boys in congress taking care of their own. When do you think they will consider the taxpayer? Maybe term limit might break up the club. Think?
Posted by: T. Jackson | May 7, 2006, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Crooks take care of crooks. All 435 congressmen are crooked and should be voted out of office.
Posted by: Ralph Henson | May 7, 2006, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Congressmen are lawmakers. You cannot pass and ex post facto law, meaning, punishing someone for something done in the past. They have already been given their punishment. You cannot punish them twice, as bad as it is letting them have our tax money. A lot of poor people could eat a meal off that money.
Posted by: Richard L Largen | May 7, 2006, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Why should they not surrender their pensions as a part of their sentence…These guys make the term public servant an oxy-moron
Posted by: Mel | May 7, 2006, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
Isn’t it ironic that when your congress making laws for congress there always seems to be a loophole somewhere? Even if you’ve committed fraud in public office you still win. Do we have a wonderful government or what.
Posted by: Ed | May 7, 2006, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Have any of you ever heard of ex post facto? Read the US Constitution, article 1, section 9 (if Alberto “Einstein” Gonzales hasn’t finished shreding it yet). See if you can find this term and for extra point define it. Also, if people like you folks would quit voting for idiots, you wouldn have a lot less to complain about.
Posted by: Nowonder Bushwaselected | May 8, 2006, 1:20 am 1:20 am
I don’t understand why the taxpayers have to provide a pension for what was supposed to be a part time position. They should cancel all elected officials pensions. Who needs full time legislators with big pensions and lifetime medical benefits?
Posted by: Harry Reeves | May 8, 2006, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
finacial windfalls for those going to washington must stop now all pensions for elected persons including the president past present and future should stop now they are not royalty thats why we seperated from england all lobbyist bearing gifts should get 10 years in a fed prison general population along with those who recieve those free gifts for votes and term limits to keep them from becoming powerful senate leaders there should be no powerful leaders in our goverment for the power to govern comes the governed we the people the goverment for the people by the people senate and house members are servents of the people
Posted by: charles catalfio | November 8, 2006, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
I don’t understand why the politicians receiving the pensions when they are convicted of crimes while in office are not fined an amount equal to their pensions for whatever length of time it takes to pay their debts to society. When the debt to society is paid let the criminal petition the courts to have their pensions restored. In the case of convicted felons before they can petition the courts they must have their civil rights restored. This method would have some fairness to the taxpayers.
Posted by: ed reiss | December 9, 2006, 8:46 am 8:46 am
I used to wonder why anyone would spend millions of dollars to run for office. now I know. I guess for most of our politicians “Crime does pay” Vote them out of office!!!!!!!
Posted by: Doris | January 7, 2008, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm