Tri-City Rep To Refuse Fed Pension

Like most members of Congress, Republican Reps. Howard Coble of North Carolina and Doc Hastings of Washington state are millionaires. They also share something else: They’ll retire at the end of the year after turning down lucrative congressional pensions. Coble, 83, is surrendering a pension estimated at $130,500 a year, while Hastings, 73, is giving up roughly $53,000 a year. But if history is any indication, most departing members of Congress will conduct business as usual, cashing in on a retirement system that critics say is too generous and costs taxpayers too much/ Rob Hotakainen , McClatchy Washington Bureau, Tri-City Herald. More here.