A congressman from Florida is leading the charge to ensure convicted child molesters lose their federal pensions.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, R-Fla., brought out the “No Pensions for Pedophiles Act.” The bill would amend the Hiss Act to ensure federal contributions to pensions would be denied to individuals who are convicted of federal crimes connected to child molestation.
Spano pointed to a case where a doctor in the federal service who is now serving time for sexually abusing children could receive up to $1.8 million through his pension.
“I was deeply disturbed to read news reports earlier this year surrounding the conviction of Stanley Patrick Weber,” Spano said. “He was a doctor at Indian Health Service hospitals who misused his position of trust and responsibility to sexually prey on vulnerable young boys. The reports highlighted his conviction for abusing two boys on a reservation in Montana, and he is now awaiting trial in a second similar case.
“I do not believe taxpayers should be forced to fund the pensions of federal employees who have been convicted of crimes related to the sexual abuse of innocent children who will carry the trauma and scars of his harmful behavior for the rest of their lives,” Spano added.
Spano rounded up sixteen House Republicans to cosponsor his bill including fellow members of the Florida delegation U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Bill Posey. The bill was sent to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday. So far, there is no companion bill over in the U.S. Senate.
First elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, Spano served three terms in the Legislature before running for state attorney general last year. When then U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., surprised the Florida political world by announcing his retirement from Congress, Spano left the attorney general’s race and ran for Congress. He is expected to be a top target for Democrats next year.
