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ed11563


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Politicians - Pensions after a conviction?
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Letters: Pensions after a conviction?

August 14, 2015

The State Capitol Building of New York is

One couldn't find a better example of why the public holds politicians in such disdain than your Aug. 6 article "Guilt doesn't end pensions" [News].

It's truly incredible that the state constitution protects people who have abused the public's trust, in some cases allowing them to receive their pensions while serving in prison.

 

 

Arthur M. Shatz, Oakland Gardens

Thirteen convicted New York officials together receive more than $600,000 annually.

Why would our legislators not pass a law whereby, if an elected official is convicted of a crime, he or she is not only forced to step down but also is no longer eligible to collect lucrative pensions and health care benefits? Might this not be an incentive to walk a straight line?

Tom Dantonio, Northport

Public servants are elected to do just that: Serve the public.

When they are found guilty of corruption and jailed, they should not only lose their salaries but also any perks and future monetary benefits.

I guess crime does pay!

Bruce M. Resch, East Meadow

This headline could have been written 65 years ago, during the term of Mayor Bill O'Dwyer in New York City. That was the first time I learned about the curious quirk in the pension law that allows a politician to collect his pension while in jail. O'Dwyer resigned his office after rumors of connections with organized-crime figures, but he was never convicted.

Two arguments were advanced justifying this arrangement. First, the politician contributed to his pension, so he is just getting back some of his own money. Second, his family should not be punished for his crime, and withholding his pension does just that.

Talk about privilege! It is no mistake why the law was never changed. Politicians protect themselves, even the corrupt ones.

Joseph D. Policano, East Hampton

Why are elected and appointed officeholders even receiving taxpayer-funded pensions in the first place? These offices were never meant to be filled for life.

Let these officeholders provide for their own retirements.

William J. Van Sickle, Brentwood

We generally vote for people we think we can trust. With all the benefits our elected officials get, they should be held accountable.

Their oath of office should also include that if you get caught in anything illegal, you will go to jail, and there will be no pension. No excuses.

Dennis Maier, Massapequa Park

I read that the prison worker upstate who allegedly helped two convicted murderers escape will still be eligible for her pension ["Guilty of Helping escape," News, July 29]!

She also should be forced to repay millions of dollars in salaries paid to law enforcement to hunt for these two men. When is the law going to change to prevent this from happening?

Michael Hare, Levittown

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The portion they contributed should be paid to them, over time, and at a rate that SS pays vs how much people have put toward their own SS benefits. As far as the families suffering; oh too bad. By the time the politician is collecting the pension, most likely any children are now adults, and the spouse can collect the portion that their corrupt spouse paid in.

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ed11563


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These are generally people who took bribes and got rich, while misspending the taxpayers' money.

I'd like it if they were left completely penniless, and their families had to go on Welfare.

My goal would be to discourage other public officials from stealing from the public to line their own pockets.

 



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ed11563 wrote:

These are generally people who took bribes and got rich, while misspending the taxpayers' money.

I'd like it if they were left completely penniless, and their families had to go on Welfare.

My goal would be to discourage other public officials from stealing from the public to line their own pockets.

 

 I understand what you are saying and I agree to a point. But I can't support the family losing all their assets and going on welfare. It isn't the wife's fault in the scenario your described - and she may not have known what he was doing. The children should be homeless because their dad is corrupt? I can't support that. The type of person who would take bribes, etc won't be deterred from doing so by the threat of his family going broke. I DO think they should lose their pensions except for the portion they paid into themselves. They can get their own money back. But if they were found to have defrauded the state in anyway, I think that money should be used to pay back the state and the criminal can have the difference. 



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Lawyerlady


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Politicians should not get pensions. It's supposed to be a public service job, not a gravy train.

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ed11563


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Lawyerlady wrote:

Politicians should not get pensions. It's supposed to be a public service job, not a gravy train.

Around here, it seems to be a license to steal. 

$65,000 salary, $900,000 house, two $50,000 cars, vacation home in the Mountains or in Florida, country club membership, South Pacific vacations paid for by County contractors ...

Also, a pension of upwards of $120,000 per year while continuing to draw salary (after "retiring" and coming back in the same position as a "temp") and lifetime health care.



-- Edited by ed11563 on Sunday 16th of August 2015 09:30:30 PM

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