Kyle Hughes is reporting for NYSNYS News according to the See Through NY [dot] net database, convicted New York state lawmakers have collected $3.8 million in pensions since 2010. Just last week, the day after he convicted on charges of bribery, extortion and money laundering, former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver filed papers to collect a taxpayer-financed pension of nearly $100,000 a year. Like all state pensions, that income is tax-free. The state Constitution prohibits any reduction in pension benefits for vested retirees. Public employee unions have blocked attempts to amend the Constitution to allow the seizure of pensions, but went along with a 2011 law that permits pension forfeiture in some cases involving workers hired after that date. We the People advocacy group founder Bob Schulz said, “It is clearly wrong that they are able to do this, that they are able to continue getting their pensions after they have been convicted of abusing their power and mistreating the public." His group is pushing for a constitutional convention to take up pension reform and other issues. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.