Rep. Nugent says legislation needed to let him forgo congressional pension

Freshman Rep. Rich Nugent (R-Fla.) wants to decline his automatic congressional pension, and introduced legislation on Wednesday that would allow him to do so.

"When I was filing all of the employment paperwork prior to being sworn in as a congressman, I was shocked to learn that I was not permitted to decline the congressional pension," Nugent said Wednesday. "After consulting with legal experts, I confirmed that the law will need to be changed to allow me to decline congressional retirement benefits, and today, I have introduced legislation that would allow me to do that."

Nugent calls his bill, H.R. 981, the "Congress Isn't a Career Act." It was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and so far has no co-sponsors.

Nugent said that under current law, a decision to contribute his own money to a retirement account automatically sets up a 5 percent match from the federal government, and that if he does not contribute his own money, the government contributes 1 percent to his retirement. He said the law does allow members of Congress to opt out of the health plan, which he has already done.

"Our goal isn't to impose our views on anybody else, I just think elected officials ought to have the right to decide for themselves," Nugent said. "That's what this bill allows us to do."