“The sentencing of Dean Skelos is another example of why lawmakers convicted of a felony must be stripped of their taxpayer-financed pensions. Skelos violated the public trust and contributed to the cloud of corruption continually above Albany and all the work the Legislature handles. No one who abuses their office should be receiving a luxurious state pension in the neighborhood of $90,000. The refusal to get this done is a wholesale endorsement of the Albany status quo. Preet Bharara and the legal system can only do so much to ‘send a message.’ We must move the necessary legislation and do so immediately.”

Assemblyman DiPietro is the sponsor of Assembly Bill 4659, which would strip lawmakers convicted of a felony from receiving their taxpayer-financed pension.