Mark Foley Given $33,000 Pension/Benefits by Ethics Committee Today - STOP HIM!

Dems Will Win

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Dec-08-06 10:25 PM
Original message

Mark Foley Given $33,000 Pension/Benefits by Ethics Committee Today - STOP HIM!

Edited on Fri Dec-08-06 10:32 PM by Dems Will Win

We must vociferously protest to Nancy Pelosi and the incoming Dems on this one. Foley and the people who protected a child predator and let him free to prey upon the pages FOR YEARS FOR BASE POLITICAL REASONS, have been let off the hook.

They have been excused specifically of NOT impugning the "credibility" of the office!

This is legalese for letting Foley and the whole Predator Protection Racket OFF THE HOOK!!

FROM AMERICA BLOG:

House Ethics report says there's nothing they can do about Foley because he's already left Congress - and oh yeah, he still gets his big fat pension
by John in DC - 12/08/2006 04:07:00 PM

Yes, there's nothing they can do since Foley has already resigned. Nothing they can do except give him (and Cong. Kolbe, who allegedly obstructed justice) their big fat congressional pensions, paid for by you and me.

Did you know that regular-guy convicts lose their right to vote, but congressional convicts still get their pensions? And there's nothing we can do about that because, well, congress doesn't want to do anything about that.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/12/house-ethics-report-says-theres.html

---------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release Nov 30, 2006
For Further Information, Contact:
Peter J. Sepp, Sam Batkins, (703) 683-5700

Nearly Two Dozen Citizen Groups Tell Pelosi and Reid: No Tax-Funded Pensions for Congressional Criminals

(Alexandria, VA) -- As Congressional Democratic leaders pondered their promise to "drain the swamp" in Washington, a diverse coalition of 23 citizen groups has suggested a first step: end the slimy practice of allowing convicted lawmakers to draw taxpayer-subsidized retirement benefits. The organizations, led by the 350,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), delivered their reform message this week in a letter to House Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader-Elect Harry Reid.

"While the desire to 'close ranks' in support of perks may be strong, giving Congressional pensions to felons does not pass the 'smell test' with most citizens outside the Beltway," the joint statement asserted.

Besides NTU, signatories of the statement include Ralph Nader's Congressional Accountability Project, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the Republican Liberty Caucus, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and the Family Research Council.

Currently, no Member of Congress is required to forfeit a pension unless convicted of crimes related to treason and espionage. As a result, over the past 25 years at least 20 lawmakers guilty of other serious offenses have enjoyed Congressional retirement payments.

For example, NTU calculates that former Congressman "Duke" Cunningham was eligible for an initial annual payout of as much as $64,000. Regular cost of living adjustments boost these benefits; for example, convicted Representative Dan Rostenkowski qualified for a $96,000 pension in 1995 that would have since swelled to nearly $125,000 this year.

Congressional pension benefits are two to three times more generous than those normally offered to similarly paid private-sector workers, and even exceed the standard for most federal executives. There is also a lucrative, supplemental 401(k)-style plan.

The House's version of this year's (stalled) ethics legislation contained a pension-forfeiture provision that applied only to convictions for bribery, acting as an agent of a foreign principal, or related conspiracy for these two offenses committed after the 109th Congress. The coalition seeks a simpler, broader approach that more fully meets public expectations.

"Lawmakers should overhaul the entire Congressional pension system to bring it in line with economic and fiscal reality," the signatories concluded. "Until that time, we hope you will lend your support as Leaders to immediately enact legislation that will automatically deny taxpayer-funded retirement benefits to a Representative or Senator convicted of any felony, during or after Congressional service."

Ed. Note: For the full text of the letter, and more background on the Congressional pension issue, visit the National Taxpayers Union's website at www.ntu.org.

http://www.ntu.org/main/press_release_printable.php?PressID=896&org_name=NTU

(MODS - Reprinted in full - This is a press release Call To Action)

Foley would get about $33,000 in pension and health benes for his years of sexual harassment and abuse. Even if he is convicted of a sex crime, Foley's $33k a year cannot be taken away from him -- unless Pelosi acts and wins.

Do you think it's important that Pelosi do something, say something immediately? Why?? Or why should she just STFU and let Hastings and Berman get away with yet another whitewash??

If letting Mark Foley and his enablers off the hook is OK with you, DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS POST.