Leave Congress in disgrace? Collect one million dollars (Wacky Wu scores)

Yahoo ^ | 7/28/11

[Libloather]

Leave Congress in disgrace? Collect one million dollars
The Daily Caller
Thu, Jul 28, 2011

Oregon Democratic Rep. David Wu is leaving Congress without his dignity — after donning a tiger costume and allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman — but he will have a generous congressional pension to ease the pain.

According to the National Taxpayers Union, Wu stands to benefit from nearly $1 million in pension payments. And his case is far from unique.

In fact, congressmen convicted of crimes — including former Reps. James Traficant of Ohio, William Jefferson of Louisiana and Duke Cunningham of California — can retire comfortably on the taxpayer’s dime after leaving the slammer.

Former New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner can also count on a hefty pension. He stands to collect over $1.2 million in pension payments if he retires after age 62.

[Libloather]

The National Taxpayers Union is supporting the “Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act of 2011,” sponsored by Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk and Illinois Republican Rep. Robert Dold. The bill would add to the list of crimes that can be used to revoke a former lawmaker’s pension.

Ya think?

[ClearCase_guy]

I don't have a firm feeling about the numbers, but my idea on pensions for politicians goes something like this:

Retire after your first term -- $100,000 annual pension.
Retire after your second term -- $80,000 annual pension.
Third term -- $40,000 annual pension.
Fourth term -- no pension.

And personal finances should be scrupulously audited upon retirement. Any unofficial "retirement packages" should result in jail time.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Common observation tells us that we the people exist to provide the politicians with, endless supplies of money, little boys, little girls, drugs, alcohol, expensive meals, large mansions, little or no work, feed their exaggerated feeling of self worth and of course an opportunity to express their rage if questioned.

[ken21]

that’s disgusting what wu did.

he deserves to be in jail, not the u.s. congress.

[muawiyah]

If all our Congresscritters wore halloween costumes to work we might get a much better idea of what they are really like.

Wu may have simply been ahead of his time.

[353FMG]

Congresscritters take care of each other very well, at the expense of the common folks.

Does anyone know when their self-appointed pay raise will be and how much? To them, money does grow on trees planted and watered by the citizens.