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I got this e-mail from a friend and my jaw hit the floor. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Politicians convicted/pleaded guilty can still collect their pensions. Thirty grand a year for pension is more than what many folks I know make from working full-time. This is outrageous!
Dear JOHN,
You may have heard that Congressman Bob Ney faces up to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to corruption charges earlier today. What you may not know is that Ney gets to keep his taxpayer-funded Congressional pension! Unfortunately, Ney isn't the exception. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Jim Traficant, Dan Rostenkowski -- and more than 20 others -- have all been able to keep their lavish pensions despite being felons. Since the early 1960s, only Members of Congress convicted of a serious crime, such as treason or espionage, can lose their pensions. That's outrageous! Congress needs to know that you won't pay retirement benefits to convicted criminals. Please sign the petition below and then let your friends and neighbors know that Congressional felons don't deserve taxpayer-funded retirements.
Sincerely,
John Berthoud
President
National Taxpayers Union
Sign this petition :
--- A PETITION TO ---
THE HONORABLE J. DENNIS HASTERT, SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE HONORABLE JOHN BOEHNER, MAJORITY LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM FRIST, MAJORITY LEADER, U.S. SENATE
Whereas,
Congress has constituted a retirement system for itself that includes pension and 401(k)-style plans, whose payments are far more generous than what similarly-paid workers in the private sector typically receive;
Whereas,
American taxpayers directly subsidize retired lawmakers' benefit payouts at rates of between 50 and 80 percent, without even including the "contributions" Members of Congress make from the salaries we pay them;
Whereas,
Since the early 1960s, only a conviction of a crime such as treason or espionage has constituted grounds for forfeiture of a Congressional pension, leaving more than 20 lawmakers who have committed other serious offenses to continue drawing benefits;
Whereas,
The most recent example of this insult to taxpaying Americans involves Representative Robert Ney, who could qualify for a full deferred pension of roughly $29,000 during his first eligible year of retirement, along with substantial investment assets;
Now Therefore I urge you to immediately enact legislation that will, henceforth, automatically deny taxpayer-funded retirement benefits to a Representative or Senator convicted of any felony, during or after Congressional service, including those who plead guilty to or are convicted of crimes in the remaining days of this Congress.
Tell-A-Friend:
Think that your friends know that they are funding the retirement checks that Congressional felons receive? Forward this petition to them and get them involved today!
What's At Stake:
Since amending the so-called "Hiss Act" over 40 years ago, only conviction of a crime such as espionage or treason can automatically deprive a Member of Congress of his or her pension. As a result, more than 20 lawmakers who have done time for bribery, extortion, tax evasion, and other offenses during the past two decades have collected retirement benefits without penalty.
Ethics reform legislation that is currently stuck in Congress would narrow, but not completely close, this loophole. Only lawmakers convicted of a few crimes like bribery or conspiracy would be stripped of their pensions (and even this provision would likely not survive the conference process). Such a mild measure probably won't sit well with taxpayers, who underwrite up to 80 percent of the typical lifetime Congressional pension payout (Senators' and Representatives' salary deductions cover the rest).
Despite limited progress in changing the law, it appears that when Members of Congress are brought to justice in the future, taxpayers still won't be guaranteed the fiscal justice they too deserve unless you speak out today. Sign the accompanying petition and lend your voice to the cry: "No pensions for felons!"
Campaign Expiration Date:
December 31, 2006
-----------------------------------------------------
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NTU's Taxpayer Action Center.
If you would like to unsubscribe from NTU's Taxpayer Action Center, or update your account settings, please click here or respond to this email with "REMOVE" as the subject line. National Taxpayers Union 108 N. Alfred St. Alexandria, VA 22314
Dear JOHN,
You may have heard that Congressman Bob Ney faces up to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to corruption charges earlier today. What you may not know is that Ney gets to keep his taxpayer-funded Congressional pension! Unfortunately, Ney isn't the exception. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Jim Traficant, Dan Rostenkowski -- and more than 20 others -- have all been able to keep their lavish pensions despite being felons. Since the early 1960s, only Members of Congress convicted of a serious crime, such as treason or espionage, can lose their pensions. That's outrageous! Congress needs to know that you won't pay retirement benefits to convicted criminals. Please sign the petition below and then let your friends and neighbors know that Congressional felons don't deserve taxpayer-funded retirements.
Sincerely,
John Berthoud
President
National Taxpayers Union
Sign this petition :
--- A PETITION TO ---
THE HONORABLE J. DENNIS HASTERT, SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE HONORABLE JOHN BOEHNER, MAJORITY LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM FRIST, MAJORITY LEADER, U.S. SENATE
Whereas,
Congress has constituted a retirement system for itself that includes pension and 401(k)-style plans, whose payments are far more generous than what similarly-paid workers in the private sector typically receive;
Whereas,
American taxpayers directly subsidize retired lawmakers' benefit payouts at rates of between 50 and 80 percent, without even including the "contributions" Members of Congress make from the salaries we pay them;
Whereas,
Since the early 1960s, only a conviction of a crime such as treason or espionage has constituted grounds for forfeiture of a Congressional pension, leaving more than 20 lawmakers who have committed other serious offenses to continue drawing benefits;
Whereas,
The most recent example of this insult to taxpaying Americans involves Representative Robert Ney, who could qualify for a full deferred pension of roughly $29,000 during his first eligible year of retirement, along with substantial investment assets;
Now Therefore I urge you to immediately enact legislation that will, henceforth, automatically deny taxpayer-funded retirement benefits to a Representative or Senator convicted of any felony, during or after Congressional service, including those who plead guilty to or are convicted of crimes in the remaining days of this Congress.
Tell-A-Friend:
Think that your friends know that they are funding the retirement checks that Congressional felons receive? Forward this petition to them and get them involved today!
What's At Stake:
Since amending the so-called "Hiss Act" over 40 years ago, only conviction of a crime such as espionage or treason can automatically deprive a Member of Congress of his or her pension. As a result, more than 20 lawmakers who have done time for bribery, extortion, tax evasion, and other offenses during the past two decades have collected retirement benefits without penalty.
Ethics reform legislation that is currently stuck in Congress would narrow, but not completely close, this loophole. Only lawmakers convicted of a few crimes like bribery or conspiracy would be stripped of their pensions (and even this provision would likely not survive the conference process). Such a mild measure probably won't sit well with taxpayers, who underwrite up to 80 percent of the typical lifetime Congressional pension payout (Senators' and Representatives' salary deductions cover the rest).
Despite limited progress in changing the law, it appears that when Members of Congress are brought to justice in the future, taxpayers still won't be guaranteed the fiscal justice they too deserve unless you speak out today. Sign the accompanying petition and lend your voice to the cry: "No pensions for felons!"
Campaign Expiration Date:
December 31, 2006
-----------------------------------------------------
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NTU's Taxpayer Action Center.
If you would like to unsubscribe from NTU's Taxpayer Action Center, or update your account settings, please click here or respond to this email with "REMOVE" as the subject line. National Taxpayers Union 108 N. Alfred St. Alexandria, VA 22314
