Hevesi’s Pension(s)
Liz Benjamin says, “They do it Differently in Massachusetts“.
The Boston Globe reports that former House Speaker Thomas Finneran’s guilty plea today in federal court to obstruction of justice charges will result in â€the almost certain loss†of his $30,000 annual pension.
Massachusetts law bars public employees from receiving their pesions if convicted of “a criminal offense involving violation of laws application†to their offices or positions.
New York State, of course, has no such law, which is why former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi will continue to receive the bulk of his pension despite the recent guilty felony plea in connection with “Chauffeurgate.â€
She goes on to clarify that, even if New York had a similar rule, it wouldn’t apply in Hevesi’s particular case because he never paid into or earned credits in the pension system while state comptroller.
A state pension is a constitutionally guaranteed benefit (protected, that is, by the New York State Constitution).
In the mid-1990s, former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall proposed a pension forfeiture statute in the state Legislature, saying that ending the benefits for those convicted of work-related felonies would “send a strong message that the abuse of public trust will not be tolerated.â€
It went nowhere.
This is the kind of thing that assails people’s trust in the system. Massachusetts is tougher on politicians who misbehave?
hank kaczmarek Says:January 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Mr. McCall is a rarity in politics these days—Honest, Ethical, and wants his colleagues to be too.
When you see how the law treats pols who break the law, one must remember who writes those laws. It’s like hiring an arsonist to wholesale Gasoline.
Bridgette Says:January 8th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Is it any surprise that a bill denying a state pension to a felon would fail in the legislature? It doesn’t take any great leap of logic to conclude that many of our esteemed elected officials have misbehaved. They will cling onto their taxpayer funded goody bags with every muscle in their lobbyist fed corrupt bodies. I love NY.
Bullsh*t Detector (aka Keyboard Warrior & Buffalo Hater) Says:January 9th, 2007 at 4:31 am
You Buffaloons deserve what you get.
Ted B. aka Crisco Kid Says:January 9th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
The Boston Globe reports that former House Speaker Thomas Finneran’s guilty plea today in federal court to obstruction of justice charges will result in â€the almost certain loss†of his $30,000 annual pension.
Must not be a friend of the Kennedy’s, wrong ‘Clan’ no doubt.