George Ryan Pension

In the newspaper today was an article about former IL governor James Thompson, who is seeking to gain pension for a client in prison. The client is also a former governor, George Ryan, currently serving a jail sentence for corruption. Thompson, who is Ryan's attorney, is seeking to recover the pension that the disgraced governor would have been entitled to, had he not been corrupt. It appears that Ryan's need for the pension comes at a time when his wife and himself don't have money. Currently, Ryan is entitled to none of the pension. Thompson is fighting for the pension that would have accrued during Ryan's earlier tenure in state office, prior to becoming Secretary of State and Governor.

Personally, i don't think Ryan is deserving of any of the pension. I don't think you can simply remove the corruption from his "body of work" as a state official. Clearly, he had aspirations for being governor and motives for abusing the state's highest position. Even though he and his wife are old and in need of the money, it should not come from the state. Illinois has a huge budget deficit and cannot dig a deeper hole for its self by paying corrupt officials. If the Ryan's need money so badly, it should come privately from some means, but not through the state.

Click on this link to read the article:Ryan article