Washington, D.C. -  Congressman Joe Donnelly voted today to stop giving taxpayer-funded pensions to Members of Congress convicted of corruption.

“If a Member of Congress abuses the public’s trust and, as a result, is convicted of a crime, he does not deserve a cushy retirement on the taxpayer’s dime,” Donnelly said. “It’s unfortunate that this legislation wasn’t debated and passed sooner.  But, it’s better late than never—the taxpayers should never again have to subsidize the retirements of a Randy “Duke” Cunningham or a Bob Ney."

H.R. 476, entitled “The Congressional Pension Accountability Act,” is the second major piece of legislation this year aimed at cleaning up Congressional ethics. As their first act in the majority, House Democrats voted to limit Congressional interactions with lobbyists.