Marathon Pundit: Rep. Mark Kirk on congressmen convicted of crimes collecting pensions

The northern half of the North Shore Channel--scroll down one post--flows through the congressional district of Mark Kirk (R-IL). The canal used to collect sewage on a daily basis. Back in Washington, Kirk was looking at a different type of sewage two years ago he was interviewed by Liz Mair.

Kirk was one of the members of the House who wanted to congressmen convicted of crimes of their pensions. A weakener bill passed.

Here's a portion of that interview.

Mark Kirk: Well, we think that any Congressman convicted of a felony should not have a Congressionally-funded pension paid for by the US taxpayer. Right now, several members of Congress have already been indicted, convicted beyond a shadow of a doubt by a jury of their peers, who have lost all of their appeals, are still collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars per month from the US Treasury because this rule was not in place. For example Dan Rostenkowski, convicted of mail fraud, or Randy "Duke" Cunningham convicted of outright bribery.

That's one way to cut federal spending--cut pensions for Congressional convicts!

Kirk is said to be considering running for the tainted US Senate seat held by Roland Burris. I hope he runs.

The "Rod Blagojevich seat" in the Senate is a prime prospect for a Republican pick-up.

Let's get the sewage, starting with smelly pensions, out of Washington.

Speaking of Blagojevich, he'll be able to collect his Congressional pension when he reaches retirement age.

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