Sen. Rick Scott & Sen. Jacky Rosen Renew Call to Pass Their Bipartisan Bill to Punish Corrupt Politicians Convicted of Felonies & Safeguard Taxpayer Dollars

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Rick Scott and Senator Jacky Rosen renewed their call for the House of Representatives to pass their bipartisan legislation to bar Members of Congress from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of felonies related to their official duties. Their No CORRUPTION (Congressionally Obligated Recurring Revenue Used As Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Now) Act would prevent Members of Congress from continuing to receive these taxpayer dollars post-conviction by dragging out the appeals process. Last year, this bill passed the Senate, and it has been awaiting action in the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, "If we are going to make Washington work for American families, we need real reforms that hold politicians accountable and protect American taxpayers. It is unthinkable that a former member of Congress could be convicted of a crime involving public corruption and still benefit off of the taxes paid by hardworking American families. I'm proud to sponsor this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to prevent criminals from getting taxpayer-funded retirement benefits and urge my colleagues in the House to pass it without delay."

Senator Jacky Rosen said, "No Member of Congress who has been convicted of corruption-related felonies during their time in office should receive a single dime from a taxpayer-funded pension. Hardworking Nevadans can't afford their tax dollars going to line the pockets of Washington politicians who have violated the public trust. Senator Scott and I are calling on the House of Representatives to pass our commonsense, bipartisan legislation to hold corrupt officials accountable."

Demian Brady, Vice President of Research at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, said, "The No CORRUPTION Act closes a loophole that allows former members of Congress to continue collecting taxpayer-funded pensions long after they've been convicted of corruption. Senators Rosen and Scott's bipartisan reform is crucial for restoring public trust in government and safeguarding taxpayer dollars."

Current law requires former members of Congress convicted of a felony to forfeit their pensions only after exhausting their appeals, which allows convicted former members to go on filing one appeal after another for years while collecting their taxpayer-funded pensions. The No CORRUPTION Act amends the law to close that loophole, so former members of Congress lose their pensions immediately following a lawful conviction of certain felonies related to their official duties. The bill would also ensure that convicted former members of Congress who are pardoned by a President of the United States will not receive pensions unless a court overturns their convictions.