PRESS RELEASE Riehm AL1: Candidate to refuse Congressional retirement and excess benefits

Nov 8, 2011 by TeaPartyCheer

November 8, 2011

For Immediate Release

Candidate to refuse Congressional retirement and excess benefits

Pete Riehm, Republican challenger for the District 1 Congressional race, has announced today that he will refuse the current pension package for Congressional members. The current pension plan gives members of Congress 80% of the average of their last 3 years’ salaries after only five years of service. Members start receiving payments at age 62 and those who have served 20 years or more are eligible to begin receiving pension payments at the age of 50.

“It is ridiculous that Members of Congress receive such a lavish pension after such a short time in service. The self-serving culture in Washington DC has crippled our country and its time for the Government to get back to working for the People. I pledge to refuse this pension plan” said Pete Riehm.

Research found that it takes the average federal employee, a Border Patrol agent, for example, over 41 years of service to become vested at 80% of their highest 3 years’ salaries.

“Something is fundamentally wrong in DC when Congress gets vested at 80% after only 5 years and it takes a Border Patrol agent over 41 years of putting their lives on the line to attain that same standard. It’s just plain wrong!” added Riehm. “ In addition, should the benefits package that Congressional members receive be more than a Border Patrol agent I will opt for the same benefits plan received by the Border Patrol. Congress should not be a vehicle for earning a gold-plated pension; it should be a duty to represent the people of south Alabama!”