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President Bush Signs Boyda Ethics Reform Proposal Into Law
09/14/07FEDERAL LAW NOW STRIPS PENSIONS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONVICTED OF ABUSING THEIR OFFICES
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Bush today signed into law the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, the most significant ethics reform package to pass Congress in decades. Among the new law's sweeping provisions is language authored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) to strip the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes related to their official duties.
Prior federal law only stripped the pensions of Members of Congress in cases of treason and certain espionage-related offenses. In January, Rep. Boyda introduced the Pensions Forfeiture Act to revoke the pensions of Members convicted of numerous other crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy, and perjury. The language of the Pensions Forfeiture Act was later incorporated into the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, which passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support before being signed into law today.
Boyda said, "For decades, taxpayers have funded Congressional pensions for former representatives who criminally abused their offices. The typical payout is $47,000 a year – greater than the average American's household income."
She added, "By revoking the pensions of politicians who misuse their powers, Congress is taking a strong stand for honesty and accountability in government. I hope that, by passing this bill into law, Congress has started to earn back Americans' trust and rebuild faith in the legislative process."
In addition to Boyda's provisions, the Honest Leadership. Open Government Act also limits the so-called "revolving door" of lawmakers entering the lobbying industry, and it imposes extensive financial disclosure requirements on lobbyists. Taken together, these changes represent the most significant ethics overhaul to pass Congress in decades.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Bush today signed into law the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, the most significant ethics reform package to pass Congress in decades. Among the new law's sweeping provisions is language authored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) to strip the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes related to their official duties.
Prior federal law only stripped the pensions of Members of Congress in cases of treason and certain espionage-related offenses. In January, Rep. Boyda introduced the Pensions Forfeiture Act to revoke the pensions of Members convicted of numerous other crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy, and perjury. The language of the Pensions Forfeiture Act was later incorporated into the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, which passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support before being signed into law today.
Boyda said, "For decades, taxpayers have funded Congressional pensions for former representatives who criminally abused their offices. The typical payout is $47,000 a year – greater than the average American's household income."
She added, "By revoking the pensions of politicians who misuse their powers, Congress is taking a strong stand for honesty and accountability in government. I hope that, by passing this bill into law, Congress has started to earn back Americans' trust and rebuild faith in the legislative process."
In addition to Boyda's provisions, the Honest Leadership. Open Government Act also limits the so-called "revolving door" of lawmakers entering the lobbying industry, and it imposes extensive financial disclosure requirements on lobbyists. Taken together, these changes represent the most significant ethics overhaul to pass Congress in decades.