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Daschle staffers to get severance
Rapid City Journal.com ^ | 12/02/2004 | Denise Ross

Posted on 12/02/2004 2:14:18 PM PST by KeyLargo

Daschle staffers to get severance

By Denise Ross, Journal Staff Writer

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved two months' worth of severance pay for the employees of Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., in the wake of his Nov. 2 defeat by Republican John Thune.

As one of their last acts before they adjourned in the early morning hours of Nov. 21, senators voted to change the rules governing the chamber to provide the severance pay and benefits package, which is expected to cost taxpayers at least $656,480.

Such severance packages have not been extended to staff members of defeated senators in the past.

Daschle has about 80 employees at his South Dakota field offices, his Senate office on Capitol Hill and his Senate minority leader office in the Capitol itself.

The $656,480 estimate comes from multiplying the estimated number of employees eligible for severance by two months' worth of the average annual salary — $49,236 — of a Senate employee. The cost of benefits has not been figured in.

That average salary comes from a 2001 report released by the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in Washington, D.C.

The severance pay will begin after Thune is sworn in Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The severance package is the result of Senate Resolution No. 478, a rule change that amends earlier resolutions granting similar severance packages to employees of senators who die while in office or resign.

The resolution grants severance pay to employees of all senators defeated in an election, but this year, only Daschle fits that category.

Under the resolution, such severance pay will be granted in the future to the staff members of defeated senators.

Aides must have worked for a senator for a minimum of 183 days to get the severance package. According to The Hill newspaper, severance payments would stop after eligible staffers get new jobs.

In addition, The Hill reported that the rule change "applies the benefit to the Senate's president pro tempore emeritus, a title created for Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who gave up the office of president pro tempore to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) when Republicans regained control of the Senate. Byrd was able to maintain his chauffeur-driven Cadillac and a small staff when he assumed the emeritus post."

Contact Denise Ross at 394-8438 or denise.ross@rapidcityjournal.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: daschle
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To: KeyLargo
Thanks, Republicans, for your ever-vigilant efforts to reduce the burden on the backs of us taxpayers.

"The Party of unLimited Government"

21 posted on 12/02/2004 2:23:20 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: NoDemocrat

Thanks for helping kick him out. I'm appalled that this batch of losers gets more of OUR MONEY after we've FIRED them. Why not just good old unemployment like us commoners might have to resort to while scrambling for another job? This fries me. This is getting along with each other TOO WELL between the GOP and DNC, using the citizens' largesse....I want more battles, more blood, lower taxes, fewer laws and less pork!


22 posted on 12/02/2004 2:24:54 PM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance
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To: Yo-Yo
This should only apply after the campaign war chests of the senators is debited for the amount.

Anyone notice how much democrats have begun fighting over money? That means that lobbying jobs are drying up, which is a good thing.

23 posted on 12/02/2004 2:24:55 PM PST by blackdog (May Islam meet Tennyson's "Ninth Wave" in my lifetime.)
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To: KeyLargo

It's a bargain. Before the election, if someone had proposed $700,000 in taxpayer money for Daschle to stay home for good, anybody in their right mind would have voted yes.

I think the taxpayers got a deal here. Now, about those future staffers.....


24 posted on 12/02/2004 2:24:59 PM PST by wesdale
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To: KeyLargo
"It looks like the Daschel flunkies will get a nice Christmas present at taxpayers expense."

The idea that this is at taxpayer expense makes me grit my teeth. On the other hand, I would expect any employee who is laid off (or terminated due to lack of work) to get some sort of severance.

25 posted on 12/02/2004 2:25:36 PM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: NoDemocrat
"What a PORKFEST!"

What a porkfest, indeed. I feel like a putz for putting so much energy into getting the pubbies in control. I wish somebody besides Ron Paul would read the Constitution up there.

26 posted on 12/02/2004 2:26:09 PM PST by gorush (Exterminate the Moops!)
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To: KeyLargo

This sucks but is NOTHING compared to the rest of the BS pork that exists. This amount doesn't even show up on the radar. It is about as much as they round too.


27 posted on 12/02/2004 2:26:36 PM PST by OneTimeLurker
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To: KeyLargo

BWA HA HA HAA HAA HAAA HA HA HA HAAA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HA~
Byebye Tommy D!


28 posted on 12/02/2004 2:26:37 PM PST by RushCrush ("Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." Reagan)
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To: Cobra64
"Jeeze, most folks get two weeks."

I believer there is a federal law that states companies must give a minimum of 60 days severance pay?

29 posted on 12/02/2004 2:26:49 PM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: Sunshine Sister
A position was created for KKK Byrd? Why because he is as old as dirt? He also gets a chauffeured CADILLAC? Why? (Oh, see second question.) Have they all lost their minds? Yes! ...Don't mind me, these clowns in congress have me talking to myself.
30 posted on 12/02/2004 2:27:13 PM PST by asp1
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To: martin_fierro; MeekOneGOP; JulieRNR21
He was about this big.


31 posted on 12/02/2004 2:28:01 PM PST by floriduh voter (www,conservative-spirit.org (Mine))
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To: blackdog
"This should only apply after the campaign war chests of the senators is debited for the amount."

Good idea.

32 posted on 12/02/2004 2:28:04 PM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: iceskater
Who voted for this?

Every single fricking senator. Unanimous. Infuriating.

MM

33 posted on 12/02/2004 2:28:28 PM PST by MississippiMan (Americans should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.)
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To: Sunshine Sister

*** Oops! That should have been why can't Byrd drive his own butt around in his own vehicle? ***

For anyone else I would agree w/ you. But after seeing that old geezer stumbling around on TV it may be justified. A matter of public safety.....


34 posted on 12/02/2004 2:29:24 PM PST by fjsva
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To: Yo-Yo

In order for it to be a voice vote, it's my understanding that none of the leadership (in both parties) objects to it.

This should have been a recorded vote. I'd like to see how some of these Senators would vote then.


35 posted on 12/02/2004 2:29:28 PM PST by MplsSteve
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To: KeyLargo
The cost of benefits has not been figured in.

Hold on to your hats...I bet the benefits part will cost at least twice the amount of the $656,480 pay part.

36 posted on 12/02/2004 2:29:33 PM PST by Dr.Syn
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To: blackdog
This should only apply after the campaign war chests of the senators is debited for the amount.

I agree. Politicans used to be able to keep any left over campaign funds for their own private use after they left office, but I believe that law has been changed. I'm not sure, though, and I'm too busy (lazy) to try to find out. If anybody knows for sure, please correct me.

37 posted on 12/02/2004 2:29:34 PM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: blackdog; All

1998 election fraud?

The last time Tommy D ran for re-election?

Fill me in. What happened?


38 posted on 12/02/2004 2:31:12 PM PST by MplsSteve
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To: MEGoody
I believer there is a federal law that states companies must give a minimum of 60 days severance pay?

No, there's not. Most people get nothing when they lose their job.

39 posted on 12/02/2004 2:31:16 PM PST by pgkdan
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To: Sunshine Sister
Why can Byrd drive his own butt around?

DUI

40 posted on 12/02/2004 2:31:35 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Why can't you be like Endicott?)
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