Reluctant Panel OKs Perk Repeal

After much debate, a House committee agreed this afternoon to repeal a special exemption for state lawmakers that allows their state-funded pensions to soar if they follow long service in the Legislature with a brief stint in a high-paid, full-time state position. The most recent high-profile beneficiary of the special exemption is new Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney; after serving one four-year term as Secretary of State, his pension will balloon from the roughly $500 a month he’s due as a nine-term state lawmaker to more than $3,600 a month. That’s because the special exemption for lawmakers treats their part-time years as full-time if they later take a full-time state job/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .

Question: Would you be as reluctant as some on this panel to remove the juicy perk to remove this legislative perk?