Sen. Kerry filed more legislation yesterday on Ethics Reform

[TayTay]

This should be part of the Ethics Reform package that is currently in the Senate:

S.196 : A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to deny Federal retirement benefits to individuals convicted of certain offenses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 1/8/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

The Co-Sponsor on this bill is Sen. Salazar of Colorado

This is a re-file of a piece of legislation authored last year by Sen. Kerry and Sen. Salazar of Colorado. This was the press release for that bill

SENS. SALAZAR, KERRY MOVE TO DENY PENSIONS TO LAWBREAKING LAWMAKERS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The office of Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., issued the following press release:

Today, Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) introduced ethics reform legislation that takes direct aim at the culture of corruption in Washington by denying taxpayer-funded pension benefits to Members of Congress who break the public trust and are convicted of crimes such as bribery, conspiracy, or other serious ethics offenses.

Kerry said, "It is disgusting that hardworking taxpayers are funding the retirement of convicted criminals like Duke Cunningham. No wonder people look at Washington and know this city is broken. The American people are forced to send pension checks to criminals."

The Congressional Pension Accountability Act - or "The Duke Cunningham Act" -was authored by Senator Kerry and is co-sponsored by Senator Salazar.

Under current law, only a conviction for a crime against the United States, such as treason or espionage, causes U.S. Representatives and Senators to lose their Congressional pensions. Members of Congress convicted of white collar crimes still receive these federal retirement benefits. The Kerry-Salazar legislation will change existing law to insure that the Congress no longer rewards unethical behavior at the expense of American taxpayers.

It is the intent of the ethics reform package to stop all future payments of Congressional pensions to lawmakers convicted of these serious ethics crimes.

"The only thing crazier than giving a member of Congress convicted of a crime a federal pension is the fact that we still need a bill to prevent a convict from receiving their pension. Any member of Congress who abuses their position of authority for their personal profit deserves a prison sentence, not a government pension," said Senator Salazar.

In the largest bribery case in the Congress since the 1980s, former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) recently resigned from the House of Representatives after pleading guilty in federal court to receiving $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors and evading more than $1 million in taxes. In a plea agreement, Cunningham admitted a pattern of bribery lasting close to five years, with federal contractors giving him Persian rugs, a Rolls-Royce, antique furniture, travel and hotel expenses, use of a yacht and a lavish graduation party for his daughter. Unless the law is changed, Cunningham will be allowed to receive his Congressional pension of approximately $40,000 per year.

Under the reform proposal bill, the following offenses would cause a Member of Congress to lose his or her Congressional pension:

* Bribery of public officials and witnesses (Section 201 of Title 18);

* Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States (Section 371 of Title 18);

* Perjury committed under the statues of the United States or the District of Columbia in falsely denying the commission of bribery or conspiracy; and

* Subordination of perjury committed in connection with the false denial or false testimony of another individual.

"Most Americans don't get a $40,000 a year pension, in fact most Americans are working harder for less and less. These guys who abuse the public trust shouldn't be allowed to continue to exploit the system at taxpayer expense," Kerry added.

[wisteria]

1. CNN just did a bit on these crooks receiving pensions at our expense.

Of course I remembered that Senator Kerry had been on top of this- as usual, and had submitted something in the last congress. Of course, CNN, didn't mention any previous action on this issue in their outrage piece. Playing favorites, dumb or ignorant as usual.

[beachmom]

2. E-mail them with the bill, and when it was originally submitted.

Maybe they honestly don't know, and would appreciate the tip.