Hill Pensions for the Convicted May End

With the rhetoric of reformers bent on sweeping corruption from the Capitol, the House voted unanimously yesterday to deny federal pensions to lawmakers convicted of bribery, perjury and other related felonies.

"Corrupt politicians deserve prison sentences, not taxpayer-funded pensions," said freshman Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), chief sponsor of the bill.

But the punishment of those who betray the public trust will not be far-reaching.

The measure is similar to one approved by the Senate last week and comes in the wake of major congressional scandals last year that led to the conviction of former Republican congressmen Randy "Duke" Cunningham (Calif.) and Robert W. Ney (Ohio). The House passed the bill 431 to 0, with four members not voting.

The bills passed by the House and the Senate are not retroactive, which means that Cunningham and Ney will collect substantial pensions for the rest of their lives, courtesy of taxpayers.

LSB: “May” end? Gimme a break! They used their political office to enrich themselves at the expense of the voters. We’ve paid once – that’s enough. If you're convicted once of bribery or perjury there's no federal pension. Make it the law! Way to go, Nancy!