Forum Post: End Congressional Pensions
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 16, 2011, 1:14 p.m. EST by libertyforall05
(1)
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I signed an online petition to support Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman's bill ending the Congressional pension program. Here is the link http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/end-congressional-retirement/
A 2011 Congressional Research Service report shows 455 retired members of Congress have been receiving benefits as of October 1, 2009, the most recent date available.
The 275 who retired under the older Civil Service Retirement System were given an average annual annuity of $69,012, CRS reported. The 180 members who retired under the newer FERS, enacted in 1987, or a combination of both systems, received an average annual pension of $40,140.
Rep/ Dan Rostenkowski, D-Illinois, received a six-figure congressional pension while he was serving three years in federal prison for mail fraud. Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio also received his pension while in prison on corruption charges.
David Wu, D-Oregon, and Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who resigned due to sex-related scandals still receive their pensions as well.
Reference- Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/11/12/20111112congress-budget-cuts-pensions.html#ixzz1diIgLYxL
That sounds good on the surface but the end result would be that oinly the wealthy could afford to serve in the legislative branch. Your solution woudl only continue the problem at best if not make it worse. Perhaps there just need to be some changes made to the program that result in loss of benefits for felony convictions, or failure to complete elected terms for reasons other than health.
Current members of Congress earn $174,000 annually. Serve the term or terms, earn your pay, and move on. Also, I agree with the last part of your statement and the Pay for Performance for Congress.
How about Pay for Performance for Congress:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/link-congressional-pay-to-performance/