Posted on 06/22/2007 7:34:14 AM PDT by PR4MRC2007
At least 20 former members of Congress convicted of a range of criminal offenses continue to draw taxpayer-supported pensions each year, according to the National Taxpayers Union.
Congressional pensions are not public records, and the NTU says it bases its estimates on a lawmaker's time of service, eligibility, and life expectancy. The numbers are adjusted based on factors such as cost of living changes, a former member's military service and marital status.
All of the following were former members of the House of Representatives, with the exception of Durenberger, a former senator. Fauntroy was a non-voting delegate in the House representing the District of Columbia. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) - Convicted in 1996 on mail fraud charges - Pension in 1995: $96,500 - Pension in 2006: $126,000 David Durenberger (R-Minn.) - Convicted on fraud charges (1994 plea bargain) - Pension in 1995: $65,000 - Pension in 2006: $86,000 John Murphy (D-N.Y.) - Convicted on charges of conspiracy and accepting unlawful gratuity/ABSCAM scandal of 1980 - Pension in 2006: $79,000 Austin J. Murphy (D-Pa.) - Convicted in 1999 on voter fraud charges - Pension in 1995: $59,500 - Pension in 2006: $78,000 Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) - Convicted in 2005 on charges of bribery - Pension with military service: $64,000; without military service: $36,000 Carroll Hubbard (D-Ky.) - Convicted in 1994 on fraud and corruption charges - Pension in 1993: $45,500 - Pension in 2006: $61,500 Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.) - Convicted in 1988 on charges of accepting an illegal gratuity and obstruction of justice - Pension in 1989: $37,000 - Pension in 2006: $60,000 Walter Fauntroy (D-D.C.) - Convicted in 1995 on false financial disclosure charges - Pension in 2006: $55,000 (This assumes he opted to receive full, deferred pension upon turning 60. He may also have qualified for early, reduced pension under CSRS rules.) Mary Rose Oakar (D-Ohio) - Convicted in 1998 on charges relating to financial disclosure irregularities - First qualified in 2000 for pension: $46,500 - Pension in 2006: $54,000 George Hansen (R-Idaho) - Convicted in 1983 of charges of filing false financial disclosure statements - Pension in 2006: $53,000 (Conviction was vacated in 1995.) Joe Kolter (D-Pa.) - Convicted in 1996 on fraud and conspiracy charges - Pension in 1993: $34,000 - Pension in 2006: $47,000 James Traficant (D-Ohio) - Convicted in 2002 on racketeering and numerous corruption charges - Pension in 2003: $37,000 - Pension in 2006: $40,000 Larry Smith (D-Fla.) - Convicted in 1994 on tax evasion charges - First qualified for pension in 2001: $26,500 - Pension in 2006: $30,000 Frederick Richmond (D-N.Y.) - Convicted for tax evasion and drug possession in 1982 - Pension in 2006: $29,000 Bob Ney (R-Ohio) - Convicted in 2006 on charges of conspiracy and making false statements, in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. - Pension in 2016 when he turns 62: $29,000 (eligible for early retirement at age 56 in 2010, but pension would be reduced by 30 percent) Carl C. Perkins (D-Ky.) - Convicted in 1994 on charges of fraud and making false statements - Will quality for pension in 2016: $24,000 Albert Bustamante (D-Texas) - Convicted in 1993 on racketeering charges - Pension in 1997: $19,500 - Pension in 2006: $23,000 Donald E. "Buz" Lukens (R-Ohio) - Convicted in 1989 on charges of "contributing to delinquency of minor" (a misdemeanor) - convicted in 1996 on charges of conspiracy and bribery - Probably wouldn't qualify for pension because of cash-out option, but would have initially received pension of $18,000 (or less than $10,000 if not counting military service.) John Rowland (R-Conn.) - Served in Congress from 1985 to 1991 - Convicted in 2004 on corruption charges after resigning as governor of Connecticut - Will qualify in 2019 for $8,400 pension, if married Michael "Ozzie" Myers (D-Pa.) - Convicted on charges of conspiracy and accepting unlawful gratuity, in the ABSCAM scandal in 1980. - Pension in 2006: $8,000
According to the NTU, at least another six former lawmakers have been convicted on criminal charges, but do not quality for pensions because of insufficient service in Congress.
They are Mel Reynolds (D-Ill.), sexual misconduct and campaign finance fraud, 1995; Walter Tucker (D-Calif.), extortion for actions taken while serving as mayor of Compton, Calif, 1995; Wes Cooley (R-Ore.), lying in an official voter pamphlet, in 1997; Jay Kim (R-Calif.), campaign finance violations, 1998;Bill Janklow (R-S.D.), manslaughter, 2003; and Frank Ballance (D-N.C.), fraud, 2005.
Its good to be a King.
I agree.
That one caught my eye. Lying in an election? Must have been one heck of a lie to go to prison for it.
All of the following were former members of the House of Representatives, with the exception of Durenberger, a former senator. Fauntroy was a non-voting delegate in the House representing the District of Columbia.
Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) - Convicted in 1996 on mail fraud charges - Pension in 1995: $96,500 - Pension in 2006: $126,000
David Durenberger (R-Minn.) - Convicted on fraud charges (1994 plea bargain) - Pension in 1995: $65,000 - Pension in 2006: $86,000
John Murphy (D-N.Y.) - Convicted on charges of conspiracy and accepting unlawful gratuity/ABSCAM scandal of 1980 - Pension in 2006: $79,000
Austin J. Murphy (D-Pa.) - Convicted in 1999 on voter fraud charges - Pension in 1995: $59,500 - Pension in 2006: $78,000
Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) - Convicted in 2005 on charges of bribery - Pension with military service: $64,000; without military service: $36,000
Carroll Hubbard (D-Ky.) - Convicted in 1994 on fraud and corruption charges - Pension in 1993: $45,500 - Pension in 2006: $61,500
Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.) - Convicted in 1988 on charges of accepting an illegal gratuity and obstruction of justice - Pension in 1989: $37,000 - Pension in 2006: $60,000
Walter Fauntroy (D-D.C.) - Convicted in 1995 on false financial disclosure charges - Pension in 2006: $55,000 (This assumes he opted to receive full, deferred pension upon turning 60. He may also have qualified for early, reduced pension under CSRS rules.)
Mary Rose Oakar (D-Ohio) - Convicted in 1998 on charges relating to financial disclosure irregularities - First qualified in 2000 for pension: $46,500 - Pension in 2006: $54,000
George Hansen (R-Idaho) - Convicted in 1983 of charges of filing false financial disclosure statements - Pension in 2006: $53,000 (Conviction was vacated in 1995.)
Joe Kolter (D-Pa.) - Convicted in 1996 on fraud and conspiracy charges - Pension in 1993: $34,000 - Pension in 2006: $47,000
James Traficant (D-Ohio) - Convicted in 2002 on racketeering and numerous corruption charges - Pension in 2003: $37,000 - Pension in 2006: $40,000
Larry Smith (D-Fla.) - Convicted in 1994 on tax evasion charges - First qualified for pension in 2001: $26,500 - Pension in 2006: $30,000
Frederick Richmond (D-N.Y.) - Convicted for tax evasion and drug possession in 1982 - Pension in 2006: $29,000
Bob Ney (R-Ohio) - Convicted in 2006 on charges of conspiracy and making false statements, in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. - Pension in 2016 when he turns 62: $29,000 (eligible for early retirement at age 56 in 2010, but pension would be reduced by 30 percent)
Carl C. Perkins (D-Ky.) - Convicted in 1994 on charges of fraud and making false statements - Will quality for pension in 2016: $24,000
Albert Bustamante (D-Texas) - Convicted in 1993 on racketeering charges - Pension in 1997: $19,500 - Pension in 2006: $23,000
Donald E. "Buz" Lukens (R-Ohio) - Convicted in 1989 on charges of "contributing to delinquency of minor" (a misdemeanor) - convicted in 1996 on charges of conspiracy and bribery - Probably wouldn't qualify for pension because of cash-out option, but would have initially received pension of $18,000 (or less than $10,000 if not counting military service.)
John Rowland (R-Conn.) - Served in Congress from 1985 to 1991 - Convicted in 2004 on corruption charges after resigning as governor of Connecticut - Will qualify in 2019 for $8,400 pension, if married
Michael "Ozzie" Myers (D-Pa.) - Convicted on charges of conspiracy and accepting unlawful gratuity, in the ABSCAM scandal in 1980. - Pension in 2006: $8,000
14 Dems, 6 Pubs
Me three.
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