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Lawmakers see pension perks as criticism grows around system

Posted at 1:54 PM, Jun 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-19 15:54:57-04

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Nearly a fifth of the Idaho Legislature is currently receiving a monthly state pension payment while still being paid a state salary.

The public pension system says 18 of 105 lawmakers partake in the practice.

The practice is legal under state law, and also a private one. Individual pension records, including state elected lawmaker records, are exempt from the public records law. This means it can be challenging for taxpayers to find out if their representatives are collecting pension payments.

Yet reforming pension perks for Idaho lawmakers has become a hot topic over the past years. This month, a citizens committee agreed to draft a letter urging legislative leadership to address whether or not lawmakers are full-time state employees.