Thursday, March 06, 2014

Lawmakers Agree To Change Pension Benefit For Spouses Of Deceased Governors To Benefit Millionaire Judy O'Bannon

As the surviving spouse of the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon, Judy O'Bannon was entitled to receive a pension benefit of about $30,000 annually, which is 50% of the benefit her late husband would have been entitled to receive as a retired governor had he not died of a massive stroke in his second term at the age of 73 with more than a year left in his second term. There was only one catch to the surviving spouse's pension benefit. She lost if she remarried.

Last December, the 78-year old O'Bannon married a retired Indianapolis attorney, 84-year old Donald Willsey, after drawing her state pension check for about 10 years. When her late husband died in 2003, he left behind an estate worth several million dollars. Indiana state lawmakers believe that Judy O'Bannon got a raw deal in only being allowed to collect a pension for a decade so guess what? They're changing the law just for her.

That's right. An insertion into a pension bill, HB 1075, sponsored by State Rep. Woody Burton (R-Greenwood) and Sen. Greg Walker (R-Columbus), removes those five offensive words from the Indiana Code, "unless the surviving spouse remarries," so O'Bannon can continue receiving her $30,000 a year pension, in addition to her social security check and the millions she inherited from her late husband. After all, those trips she enjoys taking throughout the world are very costly and somebody needs to pay the bills. So why not you?

According to a blog entry on WISH-TV's website by its State House reporter, Jim Shella, lawmakers never even mentioned the O'Bannon provision in the pension bill when lawmakers heard it in conference committee. When he asked them about it, they had no problem defending the change in law for her benefit:
Republican Woody Burton is the author.  “She’s moving on with her life and I don’t think you should cut her off just because of that,” he said.
“It’s an archaic law.  It shouldn’t occur,” said Senate President Pro Tem David Long.  “Frank O’Bannon earned that pension and so did Judy and she deserves it so we’re going to try and fix that.”
No one even mentioned the O’Bannon provision at the conference committee meeting.  It must still be approved by both the House and Senate.
Worth noting, Frank O’Bannon was a Democrat and it’s Republicans who are working behind the scenes to get this law changed.
Republicans helping a Democrat? Huh. More like Republicrats helping a Republicrat. It's so difficult to distinguish the political differences between most Republicans and Democrats in this state. I'm very disappointed to see that Sen. Greg Walker is sponsoring this bill. So much for that phony conservative crap he used to topple former Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton. Wasn't self-dealing benefits for State House politicos one of the big issues he used in his campaign against Garton? It didn't take him long to become a part of the problem. I can't wait until multi-millionaires Evan Bayh and Mitch Daniels start drawing their pension checks from the state. Only a year to go for Mitch.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would this law also include other widows and their estates retroactive?

Gary R. Welsh said...

It's effective immediately upon passage. O'Bannon is the only spouse of a former governor immediately impacted by the change.

Anonymous said...

I heard Evan's coming back to run for Governor.

Charles M. Navarra said...

So much for lifted spirits and [foolish] small hopes for virtually any politician doing the right thing for the taxpayers. This pension benefit change travesty rails against common sense and the Hoosier taxpayers. It is another reason grassroots voters such as myself self-select out of the currently entrenched crony political structures once we've seen the shenanigans up close and personal. The term "Republicrats" accurately describes the ruling political class which seems to look out primarily [only?] for its best interests at the publics' expense.

Gary R. Welsh said...

I should add that Frank O'Bannon would have been eligible to draw a pension check as a retired lawmaker throughout the time he served as governor. Presumably, Judy has been receiving the same pension benefit that surviving spouses of retired lawmakers are entitled to receive.

Anonymous said...

Mitch better hire a food taster.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this a violation of the Indiana Constitution ban on special legislation?

Gary R. Welsh said...

No, because it would treat any future spouses of ex-governors the same way.

Anonymous said...

That's pretty thin, Gary. We can conjure some common level of extrapolation for any law.

Anonymous said...

This doesn't sound like Judy O'Bannon's agenda, maybe new hubbies with connections. She spent $18 on her wedding ring and the two, when Frank was alive were loving, kind, generous with social outreach programs and more. Don't corrupt Judy. Hold your head up high I say to her...Go after the monies hitting this State prior to and after 9/11...There's the problem.