(The Center Square) – U.S. Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, will retain taxpayer-funded benefits after leaving their positions in Congress.
Swalwell and Gonzales are leaving Congress amid allegations that both men sexually harassed female staffers. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., said they planned to lead a resolution to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales if they did not resign.
“There is no such thing as consent when the imbalance of power is this profound,” Leger Fernandez said. “That power can never be separated from the harm inflicted in these sexual abuse cases.”
Despite leaving Congress before completing their terms, both men can receive taxpayer-funded Congressional pensions as they meet the minimum amount of time served in the legislative body to receive a pension. Members of Congress with at least five years of service can be eligible for a pension plan at age 62 that rivals jobs of similar pay in the private sector, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
The amount of pension benefits are determined by a formula that accounts for a member’s length of service, average of the three years of highest salary and initial election to office.
On average, lawmakers receive an annual annuity of $45,276. This rate can be substantially more or less depending on the lawmaker’s time of service.
Demian Brady, vice president of research at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, estimated Swalwell’s pension would start at just over $22,000 once he turns 62 in 2042. This estimate assumes his final day is May 1 and he took all the steps possible to increase his pension amount.
Gonzales’ pension will be lower, since he was sworn into office in 2021. Brady estimated his pension would start at just over $8,900 in 2042. Despite lower rates, pensions can increase substantially year over year.
Most recently, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., drew backlash after she announced she would resign just in time to recieve a congressional pension. NTUF estimated Greene would start with a pension of $8,717 annually at age 62, which could total more than $265,000 over her lifetime.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Coretz, D-N.Y., criticized the timing of Greene’s departure at the time. She pointed to the timing of her resignation and expected pension benefits.
“She’s carefully timing her departure just 1-2 days after her pension kicks and after making millions of dollars insider trading stocks for weapons manufacturers and others while in office,” Ocasio Cortez wrote on social media.
Annual pension benefits for members of Congress cost taxpayers $38 million per year to pay out.
