DeLay can get pension as soon as he resigns

[Judi Lynn]

April 6, 2006, 1:52AM
DeLay can get pension as soon as he resigns
He is eligible for $67,000 a year, which would be unaffected by state convictions

By SAMANTHA LEVINE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - When he resigns in a few months, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay immediately will be eligible for a congressional pension of nearly $67,000 a year.

The Sugar Land Republican, who will turn 59 on Saturday, would get a total of about $1.3 million in pension payouts in the next 20 years alone. DeLay also will be eligible to participate in the health plan available to all federal retirees.

His pension would be unaffected by any conviction on the campaign finance charges he faces in Travis County or any charges rising from the congressional lobbying scandal in which two of his former aides, and former ally and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, have pleaded guilty.

DeLay has not been charged with a crime in the Washington case and denies wrongdoing there and in Texas.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3774753.html

http://www.gamerevolution.com.nyud.net:8090/oldsite/chatter/mailbag/roachman.jpg

[Tiggeroshii]

1. ugh.

n/t

[NYC]

2. Crime pays.

[file83]

3. Wow, life's rough for rich white men....

ain't it? It urks me that I'll be helping contribute to this bastards retirement fund. Yuck.

[acmavm]

4. My brother worked for decades for the railroad. Got busted smoking

pot. No pension now.

It should be the same for DeLay.

[saigon68]

5. That's Chump Change for this FUCKTARD

He will be going on the Fundy Church Circuit Speaking Tour at $50.000 a pop, to trash out Gay men, Tramps who need abortions and poor Black Women for being Welfare Queens.

TAKE IT TO THE BANK.

[0007]

6. Argh!

Some animals criminals are more equal than other criminals, 'eh?

[no_hypocrisy]

7. In a perfect world, I'd line-item veto my taxes to being applied to such

a subsidy.

[DemoTex]

8. MY pension at US Airways was terminated on 3/31/2003.

By a CEO (Dave Siegel) who later that year walked away with over $10-million in severance pay. Tom Delay's Republican Congress has refused (several times) to consider legislation to protect workers' pensions and separate measures to shore up the ailing PBGC. They want the PBGC to go belly up! Fuck him and the roach he rode in on.

[rodeodance]

9. Justice! oh my gawd!

[wordpix]

10. even if he's found guilty?

[DUHandle]

11. I've wondered for a while

how long someone has to serve before getting a pension?

Russ Feingold mentioned during the health care proposals that came up during Clinton's first term that the Senate's health care benefits were second to none.

[Solly Mack]

12. That is so fucking corrupt

His crimes are directly related to his position as a member of Congress - so he should forfeit the privileges that come along with the office - such as pensions and health benefits.

[FrankLee]

13. Congress has really fixed it for themselves, haven't they?

Is there ANY crime they could commit that would result in termination of their pension? If a lawmaker goes to Washington and BREAKS the laws, why the fuck do they still get a pension? It's a total violation of the public trust, and yet they get to continue to feed at the public trough.

They should pass a new law that says that any legislator convicted of any crime, felony or misdemeanor, LOSES THEIR PENSION! It might go a long way to keeping these jackasses clean.

[babylonsister]

14. Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act

I don't know if this will grow some legs, but how could anyone with a conscience in the Congress shoot this down?
Yeah, pipe dreams.


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:1:./temp/~c109eVp3Zl::

Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)

HR 4535 IH

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4535

To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that if a Member of Congress is convicted of a felony , such Member shall not be eligible for retirement benefits based on that individual's service as a Member, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 14, 2005

//snip//

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that if a Member of Congress is convicted of a felony , such Member shall not be eligible for retirement benefits based on that individual's service as a Member, and for other purposes.

more...

[catmandu57]

15. Well that's not right

This needs fixed just as soon as possible, he shouldn't get a dime.