Bill would give U.S. Rep. Cramer $111,000 Alabama pension

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill that would allow retiring U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer to qualify for state pension benefits exceeding $111,000 annually when he reaches age 70.

The 60-year-old Huntsville Democrat, who also will get a federal pension in the range of $50,000 a year when he turns 62, is a former district attorney who just missed qualifying for state retirement compensation when he left for Congress in 1990.

The bill, which would also make at least a few other DA’s eligible for state compensation, now goes to Republican Gov. Bob Riley for his signature, veto or recommendation for changes when the lawmakers end the 2008 session Monday.

Riley said Tuesday he is reviewing the bill, sponsored by Rep. John Robinson, D-Scottsboro, and hasn’t made a decision.

“I want to see how many people it is going to effect, Riley said.

The bill would make it possible for Cramer and a few other public officials to qualify as supernumerary district attorneys and receive the equivalent of a state pension since district attorneys don’t participate in the state retirement program for public employees.

Robinson, former trial coordinator for the Jackson County district attorney, got the House to pass his bill, 80-15, in March. The Senate approved it 18-10 on Thursday. Most of the support came from Democrats and most of the opposition from Republicans.

House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said he likes Cramer and his vote against the bill had nothing to do with the congressman. Hubbard said he doesn’t like the supernumerary system because it is totally state funded and district attorneys don’t pay a portion of their salary into it.

“We’ve got a system that’s flawed and needs to go away,” he said.

The Legislature regularly passes bills to help state workers who are short of the time necessary to qualify for retirement, but the bills require them to purchase the retirement credit rather than having it given to them.

Cramer, a Democrat, announced in March that he wouldn’t seek re-election. Robinson began trying to pass the bill last year, but it took two years to get it through the Legislature.

“This retirement would not take effect until I am 70, which will be 10 years after my service in Congress has ended,” Cramer said in a statement Tuesday.