In an effort to increase accountability among elected officials, Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), has co-sponsored the Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act.
The legislation expands the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which was passed by Congress in 2007 and forces Members of Congress convicted of corruption offenses to forfeit the pensions earned during their congressional service. Brown’s bill would include 20 new corruption offenses that are grounds for loss of pension.
The new offenses that would be covered by the bill include:
- Bribery of public officials and witnesses
- Making false or fictitious claims to a government agency
- Offering or accepting expenditures to influence voting
- Promise of appointment by a candidate for office
- Solicitation of political contribution from other office or employee of the U.S.
- Intimidation to secure political contributions
- Solicitation in a federal building
- Embezzlement and theft of public money, property, or records
- Mail and wire fraud
- Witness or jury tampering
- Money laundering
- Perjury
- Obstruction of justice
“Members of Congress who are convicted of corruption offenses should lose their taxpayer-funded pensions; it’s that simple,” said Sen. Brown. “The American people deserve the highest levels of ethical standards from their elected officials, and this commonsense legislation ensures that officials who betray the public trust will not continue to profit off the taxpayer.”
