In their never-ending search for a Tom DeLay scandal, the Houston Chronicle is reporting as news the retirement benefits that Tom DeLay will receive after he retires from Congress – benefits that he paid in for and which are subject to the same rules as other federal employees.

When he resigns in a few months, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay immediately will be eligible for a congressional pension of nearly $67,000 a year.
The Sugar Land Republican, who will turn 59 on Saturday, would get a total of about $1.3 million in pension payouts in the next 20 years alone. DeLay also will be eligible to participate in the health plan available to all federal retirees.

His pension would be unaffected by any conviction on the campaign finance charges he faces in Travis County or any charges rising from the congressional lobbying scandal in which two of his former aides, and former ally and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, have pleaded guilty.

DeLay has not been charged with a crime in the Washington case and denies wrongdoing there and in Texas.

Notice – the same health plan as other retirees.

And let us not that there is no reason that he should lose his pension in case of conviction -- any more tha someone should lose their Social Security check because of a conviction. after all, consider the information below. Here are the nitty-gritty details.

DeLay and other members of Congress first elected in 1984 are covered automatically under the Federal Employees Retirement System, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Congressional pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed through a combination of employee and government contributions.

Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service.

The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary.

Members of Congress get $165,200 per year. As majority leader last year, DeLay was paid at annual rate of $180,100.

In other words, no special treatment for Tom DeLay. The rules are the same for everyone. And since he paid into the system (which functions like Social Security), he is entitled to a payout upon retirement -- regardless of any (hypothetical) conviction.

But since this is Tom DeLay, it sure is easy to make it SOUND scandalous.

Posted by: Greg at 10:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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