Who saids crime doesn't pay?
By KissThis
@KissThis (3003)
United States
May 21, 2007 1:44pm CST
Did you know that congressmen that commit crimes still get their tax-funded retirement? I was reading an article that explained that congressmen such as Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to corruption charges in November of 2005 for taking bribes while in office. As he sits in jail he is recieveing a Congressional pension of as much as $64,00. Dan Rostenkowski served 15 months in prison for corruption. He had phantom employees on his payroll. Yet hs recieves a pension that is estimated at $126,000 a year.
Its sad that we have to pay a retirement for crooks like this but what is even worse is that lawmakers aren't doing anything about it. I believe that public officials that commit such crimes should be striped of their pensions. If you agree with me please go to congress.org to send an e-mail to your representatives. Tell them it is time that a law was passed to prevent such scandelous behavior.
5 people like this
8 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
22 May 07
This got completely by me.
I guess that is the price for assuming that a conviction would terminate any pension.
If it were a real job it would.
Even if they were to pass something to stop this now, which I highly doubt, you just know it wouldn't be retroactive.
3 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
21 May 07
Just another little thing that proves the people are the ones getting screwed. Something has got to give, and keeping the same type of people running things in our government isn't going to get it. This little fact you presented (thank you, btw) is just one more reason for people to wake up and pay attention to something outside their personal schedules. While they keep us busy working, working, working to make sure our kids have more than we did, laws like these get passed.
2008 election is going to make or break what's left of this country. Thanks for showing the people another reason to sit up and pay attention.
2 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
21 May 07
You are so right. We all need to do our part to help make people aware of the things that aren't common knowledge, but are having a huge effect on the public well being.
2 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 May 07
Unfortunately it's been like this for a long time.. before the present congress.. etc.. I don't think 2008 will make any difference in it whatsoever.. But who knows, maybe I'm wrong..
:))
2 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 May 07
..phantom workers? bribes? Yes, we'd be in the clink for a lot longer than that.. and yes, imagine still getting paid by the tax payers til the day they die.. Also! If congress had to retire on social security.. they'd fix it soon enough.
2 people like this
@Phlamingho (7825)
• Denmark
21 May 07
LOL that's really insane, makes me want to be a US congressman :-D
2 people like this
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
How nice! They must have been enjoying life to the fullest. They have got money from bribery and now they got their pension. What else can you ask for? And not to mention that they only served comparatively short sentences compared to those who robs a convenient store for a piece of bread...
2 people like this
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
23 May 07
Well, I guess this shouldn't be shocking for anyone. I mean politicians have to make sure that they take care of one another right? Even if congress was to pass a law now do you really think that the senate would go along with it as well? Or vice versa? Each will blame it on the other as to why they couldn't resolve an issue correctly. Its the way politics work. They should say that crime doesn't pay for the little person.
2 people like this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
24 May 07
Wow, really? They really should do something about that.
In our country, once any public official has been proven guilty of committing a crime, they are striped of all their privileges.
I thought this was the same in the US since my country basically just copies off your laws.
Hmmm, I guess the Congressman won't do anything about it, I mean, this would undoubtedly benefit them in the long run.
1 person likes this
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
25 May 07
I didn't know anything about this till I read the article. I doubt that it could be fixed now because then they would be hurting themselves. I mean they might lose all their fringe benefits and we know that they couldn't afford that with them living in poverty and all.
1 person likes this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
25 May 07
Well, once in your power, you can never let it go. Maybe that's how it is with them.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
23 May 07
I agree with you...it is absolutely ridiculous that we are continuing to pay pensions to convicted criminals because they were voted into office at one time in their lives and they chose to take advantage of their position ..... and they are continuing to do so...it makes me sick when I think about it.....I will be sending an email to my representatives...thanks for the link...
1 person likes this
