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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former Pennsylvania lawmaker who served prison time for corruption has won his appeal to get his $20,000-a-month pension restored.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported Tuesday the State Employees’ Retirement System board voted 6-5 to return former Democratic State Sen. Robert Mellow’s pension.
Mellow lost the retirement benefit when he pleaded guilty in May 2012 to allegations that he used taxpayer-funded staff to work on political campaigns. After serving for 40 years, the Scranton-area legislator was entitled to $246,000 a year.
His lawyers argued his crime didn’t compare to the state crimes listed under the pension forfeiture law.
A board spokeswoman says they struggled with the decision. All 11 members declined comment or were unable to be reached.
Mellow’s lawyer says he is “pleased that the law was followed.”
Wolf pushes bill on pension forfeiture
Gov. Tom Wolf has urged the General Assembly to send him House Bill 939, which would hold state, county or municipal government officials and public employees accountable for crimes related to their official duties.
The bill would require forfeiture of their government pension and pay appropriate restitution when they plead guilty or no contest to any crime related to their official government position or any felony offense related to their office or employment.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks County), also includes federal crimes that are classified as felonies or are punishable by a term of at least five years imprisonment.
“Providing pensions to those who have committed crimes related to their elected office is a betrayal of the public’s trust,” Wolf said in an emailed statement. “I am endorsing Rep. Petri’s legislation that will strengthen Pennsylvania’s pension forfeiture laws. We have taken important steps to reform our pension system. but as long as these loopholes exist, our pension system is vulnerable to malfeasance. Public officials should be held to the highest possible standard and we should expect more out of them and our government.”
House Bill 939 passed the House in May with strong bipartisan support.