Hagan bill: Felons would lose public pensions

YOUNGSTOWN —  State Rep. Robert F. Hagan wants all public employees and officials in Ohio to lose their pension benefits if convicted of a felony.

Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said the timing is perfect to introduce the bill, which is similar but more far-reaching than a proposal he sponsored in 2001 that didn’t even get a committee hearing.

The bill will be introduced in the Ohio House sometime this week, he said.

The bill introduction comes on the heels of:

• The sentencing of ex-U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, a Heath Republican, to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a congressional bribery scandal.

•  Congress moving ahead on a bill denying government pensions to federal lawmakers convicted of certain crimes.

•  New Gov. Ted Strickland enacting tougher ethics standards in his administration.