This just in… George Ryan loses pension
Friday, Feb 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 9:43 am - No pension for Ryan…
The Illinois Supreme Court today rejected a bid by imprisoned former Gov. George H. Ryan to keep part of his lucrative government pension in a 6-1 ruling. The decision will cost Ryan $70,824 per year, a benefit that would have come from his government service prior to his corrupt reign secretary of state and governor.
“As the victims of Ryan’s crimes, the taxpayers of the state of Illinois are under no obligation to now fund his retirement,” wrote Justice Bob Thomas in the court’s majority opinion.
Justice Anne Burke was the lone dissenter.
The state General Assembly Retirement System had moved to strip Ryan of the entire $197,037 pension he was drawing annually up until his 2006 conviction on corruption charges linked to his tenure as governor and secretary of state.
But last year, a state appeals court reversed that decision, saying he should get to keep pension earnings from his time as a Kankakee County official, state legislator and lieutenant governor – posts in which he was not accused of criminal wrongdoing.
The decision is here.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 9:47 am:
Where does George go from here? Have we heard the last of him until his release? Will others of his ilk learn from this and reform? Am I dreaming? Please, go away.
- The Doc - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 9:49 am:
Anne Burke the lone dissenter.
Huh.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 9:52 am:
It’s a hard fall.
- John Bambenek - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 9:54 am:
In unrelated news, the funding level of the pension systems went from 52% to 53%
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:01 am:
Break out the champaign - we got another 1%! Whooeeee!
- siriusly - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:03 am:
emotionally I feel sympathy for GR and the wife as you indicated yesterday RM
However, I agree with this ruling and think it is appropriate.
- Obamarama - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:05 am:
===Break out the champaign===
Freudian slip?
- Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:21 am:
Things like this happen to convicted felons.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:21 am:
Crime does not pay.
- Beowulf - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:28 am:
I can see both sides of the coin. And, I do feel a certain measure of sympathy for his elderly wife and family (who “no one else but George” allowed to be dragged alongside of himself through the mud). The public “tar & feathering” of George Ryan ought to be enough to cause many future “ethically challenged” public servants to “take pause and reflect “. They may now re-consider the financial merits of the fleecing of the Illinois taxpayers.
The tag team of “Lisa Madigan and Bob Thomas” has shown the other politicians that perhaps a “new day is dawning” in Illinois politics where partisan politics is going the way of the buggy whip. This recent State Supreme Court decision has been a financial “eye-opener” for the others that have been making a preactice of “gaming the system” at the Illinois taxpayer’s expense. Overall, the positives of what has just happened easily overwhelms the negatives.
- DM - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:33 am:
Why am I not surprised that Ald. Ed Burke’s wife Anne, was the lone dissenter ? Preparation for what is to come down the road regarding her husband ?
As for sympathy, mine rests with:
- the Willis family
- the communities that have to suffer from Ryan’s clearing of death row and letting the vermin back on the streets
- Levois - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:33 am:
That excerpt almost sounds like a political ruling. I do agree with it however, but it just doesn’t strike me as judicious. There should be a lesson here.
- fedup dem - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:40 am:
This just in… Felonious George gets kicked in the pocetbook by a placekicker! How appropriate!
- Bardo2 - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 10:48 am:
I think GR is paying the price for his crimes — and rightfully so.
That said, this is a sad story & I truly feel for his family…especially his wife.
- Anon - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 11:08 am:
For a man who has displayed neither contrition nor any apologetic inclination, he’s getting what he deserves.
The Willis family never got to enjoy their family and grandchildren. Why should Ryan????
- John F. - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 11:28 am:
This does not seem fair. His punishment is prison, and he is suffering there, but it shouldn’t be the pension he actually earned previous to his crimes while governor.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 11:32 am:
Obamarama,
===Break out the champaign===
===Freudian slip? ====
I wonder that myself.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 11:34 am:
Obamarama,
I could’ve said “break out the Kankakee”, instead.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 12:07 pm:
There is a punitive connotation to the losing of “all” of one’s public pension for crimes proved midway through that career. True, if one were lenient, one might favor the pensioner keeping some of the loot for the time when he was purportedly squeaky clean, before he was tainted. But the punitive aspect is meant as a deterrent for others, as well as for the individual. If this deterrent helps a few otherwise temptable public officials think twice before going the wrong way, it serves its purpose.
On a lighter note, there is always the potential for the ex-gov to win that Nobel Peace Prize that Prof. Boyle keeps on putting his name in for. Worth over $1.4 million the last time it was awarded, to one of the state’s own no less.
- Little Egypt - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 1:00 pm:
My hope is that the names of the Willis children will forever be marked on George Ryan’s heart - Ben, Joseph, Samuel, Hank, Elizabeth and Peter - but that won’t happen. George showing remorse would help, but that’s not gonna happen either. It’s a big price George is paying but one that justice has demanded.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 1:27 pm:
Anyone in corporate US would loose it all for corruption against their company. Why would a State/Gov/County/City be any different?
- He Asked for It - Friday, Feb 19, 10 @ 11:40 pm:
I agree with Third Generation Chicago.
This is very sad for his family and his wife. Let that and the financial loss be a deterent for would be ne’er-do-wells who violate the public trust.
- Curious - Saturday, Feb 20, 10 @ 7:56 am:
All the talking heads on Chicago Week in Review seem to be in favor of an early release. Weisman, Munson, McCarron are pretty out of touch with the masses
- stones - Saturday, Feb 20, 10 @ 7:59 am:
I wonder if GR would have received a portion of his pension if he had expressed some remorse following his conviction? I think he created a huge problem for his wife and family by not “owning up” after he was caught and convicted with his hand in the cookie jar.