The ''Duke Cunningham Act"

[SHRED]

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Another good Bill the Repukes are bound to vote down.

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Kerry bill to target legislators convicted of misconduct

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | February 9, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Senator John F. Kerry said he plans to file a bill today that would strip government pensions from lawmakers who are convicted of official misconduct, adding a new element to congressional efforts to overhaul ethics and lobbying laws.

Kerry's bill would halt pensions for senators and House members who are found guilty of bribery, perjury, or conspiracy to defraud the government. Kerry is nicknaming the bill the ''Duke Cunningham Act," after the Republican House member from California who resigned his seat last year after pleading guilty to accepting bribes.

Cunningham is entitled to a pension of about $40,000 a year under current law, which denies pensions only to former lawmakers who are convicted of crimes against the United States, such as treason and espionage.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/02/09/kerry_bill_to_target_legislators_convicted_of_misconduct/

[TayTay]

1. I'd like to see them vote it down. That's good for the Dems

There was an article in BGlobe today about how Boehner has slowed down the urgency for House Rethugs in enacting reform legislation. (Like Boehner really wants to reform a system that employs most of his family. Yeah, right.)

The more the Rethugs imply that this is nothing, the better for the Dems, IMHO. It will be much easier to use this against them in the fall.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. The trick for GOP is how to vote against it

without voters noticing. My guess is poison pill amendments that force Democrats to oppose it, or just getting a DINO or two to vote no so they can claim "Democrats opposed it too".

[wisteria]

3. I would think coming up with this gave Kerry some pleasure. n/t

[Sydnie]

4. I got pleasure from him coming up with it myself

I hope they don't amend it to death so it isn't recognizeable with acceptions by the time it comes to an actual vote.

Thanks to Kerry for doing the right thing, just because it's the right thing to do.

edited to add - now if it could just be expanded to blivet** and Duck Cheney too, that would be great.

[ruggerson]

5. Great idea

let those fuckers try to kill this one