Federal Officials From Illinois Raking in Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Taxpayer-Funded Pension Payments

Illinois may be facing its own state pension crisis, and many federal elected and appointed officials from Illinois are also facing giant national pension payouts, some through tax-payer subsidized payments.

The Better Government Association examined the pensions of some of these officials.

Retired U.S. House Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-Ill.)

That top pension amount goes to retired U.S. House Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-Ill.), who started his career in Washington in 1949 as a congressional staffer, then served in Congress for 38 years, representing the Peoria area until 1995. Michel is 91 and lives in Washington, D.C.

Congressional Officer and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

Ray LaHood, a former congressional staffer, congressman and U.S. transportation secretary under President Obama, is drawing the next biggest federal pension from Illinois, at an estimated $126,000 a year.

See the rest of the officials the BGA found are still collecting federal pensions at Reboot Illinois.

Speaking of national politicians in Illinois and money, Politico this week examined the spending of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, a Republican from Peoria. The congressman already faced media scrutiny earlier in the month for his newly decorated Downton Abbey-themed office and racially charged remarks made on social media by his communications director. Find out at Reboot Illinois on what Schock has spent his millions of dollars in political fundraising money (besides a personal photographer and private jet trips).

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