Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) voted for a version of pension forfeiture legislation that would strip taxpayer-funded pensions from elected officials convicted of felonies related to their official duties. Blankenbush said that, although the legislation could have been stronger, it is a first step.

“Convicted elected officials or government employees who break corruption laws or misappropriate public dollars have no right to collect a taxpayer-funded pension,” said Blankenbush. “Serving the public is not about lining one’s pocket with public funds or taking advantage of one’s position. It should always be about serving the people of New York. We passed the Majority’s version of the pension forfeiture measure, but we still have more work to do in the way of ethics.”

Blankenbush said the stronger bill that was discussed during budget negotiations should be adopted.