Bipartisan Legislation Aims to End Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Convicted Politicians

Strategic Insights -

Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen have introduced the No Congressionally Obligated Recurring Revenue Used As Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Now (No CORRUPTION) Act, which has unanimously passed the Senate and will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bipartisan legislation aims to bar Members of Congress from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of felonies related to their official duties. The proposed law would close a loophole in federal law that allows former members of Congress to continue collecting their pensions even after exhausting their appeals. The reform is seen as a win for taxpayers, who have been footing the bill for convicted politicians' pensions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bipartisan No CORRUPTION Act would bar Members of Congress from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of felonies related to their official duties.
  • The proposed law would close a loophole in federal law that allows former members of Congress to continue collecting their pensions even after exhausting their appeals.
  • Current law requires former Members of Congress convicted of a felony to forfeit their pensions only after exhausting their appeals, allowing convicted former members to file multiple appeals while collecting their taxpayer-funded pensions.
  • The No Budget, No Pay Act, introduced by Senators Scott and Rosen earlier this year, prohibits lawmakers from getting paid if Congress fails to pass government funding legislation in time for the new Fiscal Year.
  • The proposed legislation aims to end the practice of convicted politicians continuing to receive taxpayer-funded pensions, with Senator Rick Scott stating, "If you're a Member of Congress and are convicted of a crime involving public corruption you should lose all pension benefits provided to you by taxpayers and hardworking families--period."
  • Senator Jacky Rosen emphasized the need to protect taxpayers' hard-earned dollars from abuse, saying, "Nevadans sent me to the Senate to fight for them... and protect their hard-earned dollars from abuse."
  • The National Taxpayers Union Foundation commends Senators Rosen and Scott for their leadership on this good government bill, stating, "The reform in Senators Jacky Rosen's and Rick Scott's No CORRUPTION Act is a win for taxpayers."

Statistics:

  • The proposed legislation aims to close a loophole in federal law that has allowed convicted politicians to collect taxpayer-funded pensions for years.
  • According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, the current law has enabled convicted former members of Congress to collect pensions while exhausting their appeals.
  • The bipartisan legislation has unanimously passed the Senate, with Senators Scott and Rosen working across the aisle to find a commonsense solution to prohibit corrupt officials from receiving pensions.
  • The proposed legislation would amend the law to bar Members of Congress from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of felonies related to their official duties.
  • The No Budget, No Pay Act has been introduced to prohibit lawmakers from getting paid if Congress fails to pass government funding legislation in time for the new Fiscal Year.

Sources:

  • "Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen Announce Bipartisan Legislation to End Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Convicted Politicians" (Office of Senator Rick Scott)
  • "National Taxpayers Union Foundation Commends Senators Rosen and Scott for No CORRUPTION Act" (National Taxpayers Union Foundation)