Posted on 12/23/2009 6:28:13 AM PST by AmericanHunter
You've probably never heard of 78-year-old Rep. Howard Coble of North Carolina. But after this story, you might never forget him. It's not so much what the Republican has done during his 25 years in Congress, but what he's not going to do - take his congressional pension, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.
"I figured taxpayers pay my salary - not a bad salary," he said. "And I figure that's sufficient. Let me fend for myself after the salary's collected."
As far as we know, only Coble and one other congressman, Texas Republican Ron Paul, have pledged to refuse their pensions - pensions funded primarily by your tax dollars.
Just 18 percent of private workers have a traditional pension, down from nearly 80 percent 25 years ago.
Today, more than 400 retired members of Congress are receiving pensions. For 2009, the bill comes to more than $26 million. Add to that $7.4 million more in taxpayer contributions to current members' future pensions every year.
Few would begrudge the hardworking member of Congress a little retirement security. What might surprise you is that those who have dishonored the office can still get their pensions - even while doing time in prison.
Specific details are kept confidential, even though your money's at stake.
So we used the congressional pension formulas to calculate estimates of what congressional convicts are getting.
Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., admitted accepting millions in bribes and is currently serving an eight-year sentence. But he is still getting more than $42,000 a year while in prison. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, also took bribes while in office. But he didn't even have to ask for the $323,425 in pension money he received while serving seven years in prison.
Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., served 15 months in prison in the mid-1990s for his role in a corruption scandal. He earned a six-figure pension the whole time. And he currently receives more than $176,000 a year, which includes a $9,000 cost of living increase this year alone.
According to public records, he owns three homes and waterfront property on San Marco Island in Florida.
All three refused to speak to CBS News.
In all, we found more than two dozen former members of Congress still eligible for federal pensions, despite being convicted of serious crimes.
"I think it's abhorrent that convicted members of Congress who are serving time or about to serve time [to receive retirement benefits]. They should not be earning a pension," said Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who oversees congressional pension funding.
In 2007, Congress passed a law to bar future congressional criminals from collecting pensions. But constitutionally, it can't apply to crimes that have already been committed.
That's great news for ex-Congressman William Jefferson, D-La., who was shown taking a bribe in 2005 in an undercover FBI video.
Sent off to prison last month, he could exit after 13 years with a roughly $674,000 nest egg.
That's more than seven times the $90,000 investigators found hidden among the Boca burgers in his freezer.
Twenty-five years ago, Coble tried to use his sharp pencil to eliminate congressional pensions altogether "to cut down on some of that wasteful spending," he said.
He didn't get much support from his colleagues.
"I was the beneficiary of some rude remarks after that first effort," he said.
Today, he said it's up to each individual member to decide - like he did - whether they'll take a pension.
"I've pledged my assurance I won't take the pension. That's between my constituents and me. As far as convicted felons, I guess that's between their constituents and themselves."
Congressional felons given gold watches that never stop ticking - courtesy of your tax dollars.
In the case of Cunningham he no coubt has forfeited his Navy pension as a retired Captain. That whole episode was a damn shame; he really let himself down as well as the nation and his family. Greed. As regards Trafficant and Rostenkowsky, that should surprise nobody.
Not only should they rot in jail, they shouldn’t receive a nickle in pension or benefits and in fact, should be heavily fined and made to pay restitution for their betrayal of the public trust and corruption. This is madness. It is like mafia dons going to prison and getting out and continuing to have the life of luxury they had prior with no serious pain to their being other than having limited access to the outside (they pretty much have most, if not all, the creature comforts inside these minimum security prisons to begin with whether at the courtesy of the taxpayer or bribed guards).
it’s not “like mafia dons....” it IS mafia dons going to prison......
True, I’m just waking up and am not yet real alert, but when I first saw the headline, and began reading the story, I thought it was saying that Rep. Coble was in prison collecting a pension!
Seriously, either the headline or the sequence of writing should be changed.
Several years ago I remember reading an article, (wish I still had it,) which told how many of our representatives had prior arrest and convictions on record. I don’t want to try to quote figures from memory, but it was astonishing!
Please make them accountable. When you kick them out of office and/or send them to jail; take away pensions and benefits such as health care and never allow them to be near government again.
Remember they are destroying you and our beloved country and think nothing of ruining you financially.
When we get our new Congress make sure the people we elect are not in there for money and their own personal agendas. Make sure they will have the same health care and benefits as we do. Make sure they go on social security.
Get rid of George Soros too.
Remember the voluntary term limit pledge taken by multiple candidates? I cannot swear to it, but I think that almost all of the ones who took this pledge and held to it were from the GOP. I can remember the scorn that was heaped upon the several office holders who reneged on their pledges for whatever reason.
In stark contrast I heard that all of the major players in this current Senate Health Care Bill debacle have been in office since the 1970s. In other words our guys quit and the opposition took advantage. Unless there is a MANDATORY TERM LIMIT on everybody, WHAT IS THE POINT?!
That infers there is money other than taxpayer money involved. Do they invest any money and therefore get dividends, etc., or is this just sloppy writing?
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