New York state contemplates stripping the law allowing corrupt politicians get full pensions

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

State Doles Out $600,000 Each Year for Corrupt Albany Politicians’ Pensions

WNY Media Network: Corrupt Politicians Get Full Pensions

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senator Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, wants the state to stop doling out taxpayers’ dollars to pay for the pensions of corrupt Albany politicians who violate the public’s trust by engaging in criminal or unethical activities. Since 1999, 20 elected officials in state government have resigned or lost elections after run-ins with the law or ethical failures – and that number may climb higher to 23 after the recent political scandals that have rocked Albany.

This year alone, the state will spend nearly $600,000 on pensions for former state politicians who have ended up behind bars or have been pushed out of office after unethical misdeeds. In total, the state has paid out $4.3 million in pension costs to 14 of the 20 Albany officials who’ve left office in disgrace since 1999.

Kennedy is pushing for new measures that would revoke state pensions for any elected official – current or former – at the state or local level who violates the duties of their office and commits acts of public corruption or violent crimes.

“These crooked politicians shouldn’t be able to pay their debt to society behind bars while simultaneously being paid by the very society they ripped off. It just doesn’t make sense,” Kennedy said. “Those who violate the public trust don’t deserve a pension regardless of when they were elected. They shouldn’t receive a dime from taxpayers, let alone the thousands and thousands of dollars that they’re receiving now. The state must approve new measures to require any state or local elected official who is convicted of a crime to forfeit their pension, so that these ‘career criminals’ no longer have an incentive to do their dirty work on the public dime.

“The $4.3 million in taxpayer money that has gone to disgraced Albany officials in the last few years could be far better spent on our schools, roads, and on creating jobs in New York,” he added. “We need to send a clear message that in New York State, public corruption will not be tolerated – and it will be punished. It’s time the state puts a stop to future pension payments to those who violate the public trust.”