Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) today reiterated his support for stripping state pension and retirement benefits from corrupt politicians. McDonough’s comments come after it was recently revealed that convicted former state lawmakers Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos are both slated to receive publicly-funded pensions of almost $100,000 per year. McDonough sponsors legislation, A.4643-a, which would strip pension and retirement benefits from public officials convicted of corruption. The Senate passed their own version of pension forfeiture last year.

“The actions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos were reprehensible and disgraceful to hard-working taxpayers across New York State,” McDonough said. “There is absolutely no reason that we should allow corrupt lawmakers to ride into the sunset on the tax dollars of those they have betrayed. By allowing them to do so, we are perpetuating the public’s distrust in government and sending the message that we do not care about cleaning up rampant corruption in Albany. Assembly Majority had a chance to pass this bill during budget night last year but it was unexpectedly ripped off the calendar for unknown reasons. Let’s pass pension forfeiture once and for all and ensure our constituents that corruption will no longer be tolerated.”