Pensions Paid To Guilty Officials

[flashl]

Source: Courant

(Connecticut) Five convicted state officials who left office after pleading guilty to various crimes are cumulatively collecting nearly $100,000 a year in pensions paid by state taxpayers. That total could rise in the next few years, when former Gov. John G. Rowland and former state Sen. Ernest Newton, who is now in prison, become eligible by turning 55.

This is exactly the scenario that some legislators are trying to thwart by calling for legislation to retroactively revoke pensions that are being paid to convicted officials. But therein lies the rub: Is revocation fair — is it right to change the rules of the game after it's started? And if revocation is fair, how serious must the crime be to lose your pension?

Rowland aides Peter Ellef and Lawrence Alibozek, former Rep. Jefferson B. Davis, and former Sen. Louis C. DeLuca have continued to receive their pensions after being convicted of crimes. And one of the state's largest pensions goes to Richard Straub, a longtime state employee who is serving a prison term after sexually assaulting 15 young men whom he supervised as a probation officer.

Ever since Alibozek pleaded guilty in March 2003, five years ago this week, in the corruption scandal that led to Rowland's resignation, lawmakers have repeatedly grappled with pension revocation.

But a line-up of the biggest hitters at the state Capitol say this is the year revocation will happen, because it is supported by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, the Senate Democratic leadership, Senate Republican leader John McKinney and the leaders of the committee that oversees ethics.

Courant

Read more: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-pension0314.artmar14,0,5376371.story

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Crime pays, meanwhile, inmates released from wrongful convictions wait years for same legislators to pay for pennies on the year in restitution.

[Captain Hilts]

1. In R.I. public officials' time spent in jail did count towards your retirement. nt

[classysassy]

2. Minor

crimes compared to bush/chaney,those two criminals will continue to live off of the poor and dumb citizens of this country.