Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Mink successor needs
5 years to get pensionQuestion: What qualifies a congressional representative for a pension? Is there a difference for a senator and a representative? How much do they earn in retirement? What happens when an individual is elected to serve a short term, such as the remaining term of Patsy Mink?
Answer: At least five years of service is required before any member of Congress becomes vested in the federal retirement plan.
That means whoever wins the special election Nov. 30 to fill the remainder of Mink's term -- about five weeks --- would not automatically qualify for a pension. However, if that person had previous federal employment, that period of employment could be combined with elected service, said Mike Slackman, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D, Honolulu).
The Federal Employee Retirement System covers virtually all civilians working for the federal government, including members of Congress, he said. The FERS replaced the Civil Service Retirement System in 1984, although employees had the option of staying with the old system.
The National Taxpayers Union says that although the retirement plans are offered to all federal employees, "the congressional plans are calculated on a more generous formula and that the 'accrual rate' is much higher." They also are able to retire with benefits earlier (as early as 50) than other federal workers.
"Those who participate in the pension system but leave Congress prior to attaining five years of service are entitled to a refund of the relatively modest contributions they made toward the plan, plus interest," said Peter Sepp, NTU's vice president of communications.
Congress members with less than five years' service but with other federal civilian employment totaling more than five years "are generally eligible for a pension that is based on the less generous formula reserved for rank-and-file federal employees (active-duty military service can count toward eligibility for benefits but NOT for vesting)," Sepp added.
U.S. senators and representatives receive yearly salaries of $150,000, with leaders earning more -- $161,200 for the Senate's majority leader, for example, to $186,300 for the House speaker.
The NTU says that with 20-25 years of service, a Congress member could retire with up to 80 percent of his or her final salary replaced.
In fact, after a few years in retirement, when cost-of-living adjustments kick in, congressional pensions frequently can exceed a member's final salary.
Auwe
To Aloha Stadium for letting people tailgate in the walkway on the Halawa side of the stadium. After you walk over the bridge, they have all the rubbish cans right in the middle of the walkway, which I can understand, but you also have all these people, so you don't have much room to walk. -- Ann(Stadium officials are aware of the problem but, "unfortunately, have been undermanned and have to go with (monitoring) high-priority areas first," said Scott Chan, operations manager. "But we will make an effort to have someone monitor that area so the walk to Aloha Stadium is not obstructed by tailgaters in the crosswalk," he said.)
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