Assemblyman Buchwald’s Corruption Bill Bolstered By U.S. Attorney Bharara’s New Pension Policies

“The loophole in the current law that protects the pensions of convicted public officials needs to be closed in order to restore integrity and trust to our State government,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “I agree with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara that it’s time we put an end to public corruption and send a message that this type of misconduct will not be tolerated.”

The need to enact legislation that would strip public officials convicted of violating the public’s trust has become ever more important in New York. Over the past decade, dozens of state-level officials have been convicted of corruption but have been able to keep their pensions because they are protected by the State Constitution, added Assemblyman Buchwald.  

Current law only strips pension benefits of convicted officials who took office after it passed in 2011. Buchwald’s bill would amend New York State’s Constitution by strengthening the current law, applying it to any public official, regardless of when he or she first held office. Assemblyman Buchwald has been joined by 39 of his Assembly colleagues in sponsoring the proposed legislation. Senator Neil Breslin (D-Delmar) sponsors this bill’s counterpart in the State Senate.

“Public officials have been entrusted to serve the best interest of the people of the State of New York,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “Those who have been convicted of violating the public’s trust do not deserve to collect pensions that have been funded by hardworking taxpayers.”

At Tuesday’s Moreland Commission Hearing at Pace University, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was quoted from his testimony as saying “The common-sense principle is a simple one: Convicted politicians should not grow old comfortably cushioned by a pension paid for by the very people they betrayed in office.”