Peters Took His Politician Pension Early
Former City Attorney Says “Scott Peters could have declined his pension.”
San Diego – Even though Congressman Scott Peters is personally worth more than $100 million, records from the city pension system released today by the DeMaio campaign reveal that he opted to take his government pension early.
On top of that, a former Chief Deputy City Attorney is calling out Congressman Scott Peters for falsely claiming to the media that he could not decline his politician pension while on City Council.
Since deciding to take his pension early, Scott Peters has received over $100,000 in taxpayer-funded pension payouts despite the fact that the City of San Diego pension system is mired in billions in debt. Peters is “Double Dipping” by taking a Congressional salary and government pension simultaneously.
In April, Scott Peters told the UT San Diego that he “tried to decline the pension” but could not “because of the law.”
“Congressman Scott Peters could have declined his pension,” according to local San Diego attorney Ken Lounsbery, a former Chief Deputy San Diego City Attorney and currently a partner at Lounsbery, Ferguson, Altona & Peak. Lounsbery is also a recognized expert in pension reform law.
“As a matter of fact, Carl DeMaio is proof that you can decline the elected official pension in San Diego because he did that on day one of his service on the City Council,” Lounsbery pointed out. In addition to DeMaio, two other city elected officials (Mayor Faulconer and Councilmember Zapf) have used this simple, legal process to decline the pension.
Further undermining his claim that he was legally obliged to take a pension when he did, city records show that Scott Peters voluntarily opted to take his pension early at the absurdly young age of 50 versus the standard retirement age of 55 for elected officials.
Peters also claims that he donates his pension to charity – but fails to point out that he only started doing this after a 2010 report issued by Carl DeMaio calling him out for taking an early pension.
“By spiking his government pension and then taking it early, Scott Peters, who is worth over $100 million, shows he takes extra privileges at our expense,” noted campaign spokesperson Dave McCulloch. “How can a guy worth over $100 million like Scott Peters justify boosting his own government pension and then taking it early?” asked McCulloch.
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Comments 3
Thanks for calling out Scott Peters. Scott is a perfect example of the hypocrisy of the Democrats. While bad-mouthing successful people, they line their own pockets. But then again, he has good examples in Obama, Pelosi, and Feinstein.
As the first City Council President, under the Strong Mayor form of government, Scott Peters amped up the La Jolla Children’s Pool seal controversy, and accrued over $2 million of legal fee debts,
http://lajollafriendsoftheseals.org/controversy.html
Timeline:
* 2005 to December 5, 2008 City Council President Scott Peters refused to docket any issues related to Children’s Pool and the seal rookery on the City Council’s docket or Closed Session Docket resulting in a purposeful giveaway of over $2 million of taxpayer money to private La Jolla attorney Paul Kennerson and legal fees. Sand on the beach is considered illegal. Massive multi-million taxpayer-funded Dredging program to clean up seal poo is required by courts. Accumulated sand is declared illegal. Swimming Pool configuration by dredging is mandated.
http://www.lajollalight.com/2009/09/09/seal-costs-top-2m-attorney-city-costs-add-up/
* December 8, 2008, Tony Young becomes second City Council President. Former City Council President Scott Peters is no longer an impediment to City solutions. This change in leadership allows the City Council to ask then State Assembly Member Christine Kehoe to create legislation to allow sand on the public beach through a Change to the 1931 Public Tidelands Trust.
* January 26, 2009 In Closed Session CS-2 the City Council asked State Senator Christine Kehoe to Amend the State Trust.
http://docs.sandiego.gov/councildockets/dkt2009/dkt20090126-cs.pdf
* April 17, 2009 State Senate approved legislation SB-428 amending the 1931 Public Tidelands Trust with the City of San Diego to include Marine Mammal Park as an acceptable use.
July 10, 2009 State Assembly approves SB-428.
July 20, 2009 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB-428 into State law.
August 14, 2014. Justice. Finally. Potential for peace in La Jolla, through the unanimous California Coastal Commission vote, including County Supervisor Greg Cox.
Cost: new $10 chain for bottom of stairs during the pupping season + $0 for existing rope barrier.
La Playa,
Under costs, you forgot to include the ire of most La Jolla residents who want the beach open year round for people. In other words, Peters’ actions, or lack thereof, were exactly what the majority of his constituents wanted him to do.