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
"The Party of unLimited Government"
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!
Anyone notice how much democrats have begun fighting over money? That means that lobbying jobs are drying up, which is a good thing.
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.....
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.
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.
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.
BWA HA HA HAA HAA HAAA HA HA HA HAAA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HA~
Byebye Tommy D!
I believer there is a federal law that states companies must give a minimum of 60 days severance pay?
Good idea.
Every single fricking senator. Unanimous. Infuriating.
MM
*** 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.....
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.
Hold on to your hats...I bet the benefits part will cost at least twice the amount of the $656,480 pay part.
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.
1998 election fraud?
The last time Tommy D ran for re-election?
Fill me in. What happened?
No, there's not. Most people get nothing when they lose their job.
DUI
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