Skelos to receive pension

Days after his conviction for bribery and corruption, former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos filed for his state pension and sparked the first dust-up of the race to fill his seat.

Skelos, a Republican from Rockville Centre, and his son, Adam, were found guilty on Dec. 11 of eight counts of bribery and political corruption. On Dec. 22, the state comptroller’s office said, Skelos filed for his pension. According to the Empire Center for Public Policy, a nonpartisan Albany think tank, the pension is worth more than $95,000 per year.

The comptroller’s office explained that Skelos has been accruing time in the state retirement system since 1976, when he was counsel to the Assembly minority leader. His two years in the Assembly and 30 years in the Senate count toward his retirement benefits.

In New York, it is legal for legislators convicted of felonies to receive their state pensions.

“As a former federal prosecutor who spent years putting corrupt politicians behind bars, I’m appalled that Dean Skelos has the gall to line his pockets with taxpayer dollars by taking a huge pension,” Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, said late last month. “I am proud to lead the fight to close this egregious loophole. This year, I sponsored legislation to ban convicted public officials from receiving pensions, because taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for a convicted felon’s retirement.”

On Jan. 4, Kaminsky was unanimously selected by the Nassau County Democrats to run for Skelos's seat. The Republicans have yet to choose a candidate, although Assemblyman Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook) is rumored to be the frontrunner.

Many political observers say they believe the race to succeed Skelos will be a tumultuous one. Kaminsky is the first candidate to be named, although his official nomination has to wait until the special election is officially called by the Governor.

After Kaminsky released his statement, Curran took to Twitter to fire back.

“[Todd Kaminsky] eerily silent re #ShellySilver pension,” Curran wrote, referring to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was convicted of felony corruption charges just weeks before Skelos. Silver also filed for his pension and will receive nearly $100,000 a year. Curran concluded his tweet with, “Should Speaker [Kaminsky] voted for & hosted campaign event w be entitled to his pension? #NO.”