This just in… There goes the pension
Thursday, Dec 8, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller * 3:40 pm - Attorney General Lisa Madigan has just issued an official opinion that Rod Blagojevich has “forfeited his pension benefits” because “all 18 of his felony convictions clearly arose out of and in connection with his service as Governor of the State of Illinois.” This is no surprise, but I thought you’d like to know. Read AG Madigan’s opinion by clicking here.
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- Shock & Awww(e) - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:46 pm:
I despise the corruption Rod represents. Even so, I feel sorry for him and his family, moreso than I was expecting.
What a mess.
- Clarification Please - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
Okay, trying to recall…Did Ryan keep the pension benefits he earned as a legislator and Lt. Gov.?
On the other hand, I don’t think Blagojevich would have been vested in the GA system after two terms. Did he have any other Government employment.
- PPHS - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:50 pm:
Would Mrs. Blag gain anything financially if she divorced him? I know he isn’t old enough for Soc. Sec.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:52 pm:
That serves as a deterrent as well.
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:53 pm:
According to the opinion, he had “ten years and one month of service credit with the system.” So, yes, he is vested (besides being governor, he was also a state rep).
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:56 pm:
I read that his Congressional pension won’t be effected. Is that the case? He was convicted of federal crimes, after all.
- Katiedid - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 3:57 pm:
Clarification Please - No, Ryan didn’t get to keep any of the pension benefits, even from time in another office. He did file a lawsuit using that argument (that the forfeiture should only apply to his service while Governor), but it was shot down by the state Supreme Court.
- Katiedid - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
wordslinger - it wouldn’t affect his congressional pension. The two systems are unrelated and his felony conviction, while under federal law, was only applicable to his time as a state officeholder.
I think this was why the federal legislation was introduced to stop pensions from any congressional representative who was convicted of a job-related felony for work in public service, or something along those lines. I don’t remember the specifics of the bill and how they worded it, but it was aimed squarely at Blago’s congressional pension.
- amalia - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:01 pm:
“There goes the pension” could be a headline for lots of stories these days. the new grand jury over in Fed land could be filled with interesting bits of staff and elected actions.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:04 pm:
I’m pretty sure GHR cashed out his pension.
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
The opinion also notes that the Pension Code allows Blago to get his contributions refunded, without interest.
- mokenavince - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:16 pm:
If he would of just played it straight he would serve 2 terms, got a great pension sat on a gizzilion boards,become a front at some law firm.
Still had time to become an Elvis Tribute Artist.
What a dope blew it all for what!Sorry he got what he diserves.
- Shore - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:20 pm:
Kirk went after federal pensions pre blago a few years ago in 05 after a congressman named duke cunningham was convicted on some federal corruption charges. I don’t think it went anywhere because shockingly congressmen don’t want to take away their own pensions even if they break the law.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:40 pm:
That will help the SERS shortfall by about 0.0000083% …
- bored now - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 4:44 pm:
YAH! at least she gets it (still don’t understand why the judge gave a lighter sentence than expected)…
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 5:38 pm:
I’m betting he’s wishing he had a 401k-type plan that he could’ve shifted to the Caymans as soon as he was arrested. I guess there’s something to be said for defined contribution plans over defined benefit ones if you plan to get into any public service trouble.
- wishbone - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 6:07 pm:
Blago’s brother was just on TV decrying the “draconian” nature of the sentence. No one in the family has any sense of shame. They resemble George Ryan’s family in that regard.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 7:08 pm:
The George Ryan pension issue went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court (where Jim Thompson argued and lost to the AG’s office). He argued that he should get to keep the portion of his pension attributable to his time in the legislature and lieutenant governor, because the criminal conduct occurred later. He did get a lumo sum refund of his contributions, which gets too.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 7:09 pm:
lump sum which Blago gets too sorry.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 11 @ 7:34 pm:
With all the scandals related to pensions uncovered by the Tribune,I hope more of these guys lose theirs.