N.Y. voters could strip corrupt lawmakers of their pensions

Albany, N.Y. — For years, New York lawmakers convicted of abusing their power and sent off to prison had at least one thing to look forward to: a generous state pension.

That practice could come to an end in November when voters will be asked whether to change the state constitution to authorize judges to strip pensions from corrupt politicians.

Top lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo have argued the change will act as a powerful deterrent in a state where 30 state lawmakers have left office since 2000 because of criminal charges or allegations of ethical misconduct.

Some good-government advocates question whether the loss of a pension will be enough to keep errant lawmakers honest. But in the face of decades of legislative inaction on ethics, even the critics say something is better than nothing.

“It’s in the chicken soup category — it can’t hurt,” said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “Will it make much of a difference in Albany? No.”

This is not the first such measure aimed at pensions. A 2011 law allowed judges to revoke or reduce pensions of crooked lawmakers, but it didn’t apply to sitting lawmakers at the time. A constitutional amendment is needed to cover all lawmakers, no matter when they were elected. This year’s ballot question, if approved, will close that loophole.

There has been no opposition to the measure by any public official. The new rules, if approved by voters, would apply to all lawmakers going forward — though not to lawmakers already sentenced for previous crimes.

“I believe 100 percent we should revoke the pension of any elected official who is found guilty of official corruption. I’m outraged as a taxpaying citizen,” Cuomo said when lawmakers first voted to place the amendment on the ballot.