Romney: Strip Pensions for Ethics Lapses

URBANDALE, Iowa — Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, decrying ethical lapses in Washington and singling out fellow Republicans, yesterday called for stripping the federal pensions from those convicted of using their office to abuse the public trust.

Campaigning in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor said his proposal wasn't aimed at a specific individual but rather was a response to the deteriorating ethical climate in the nation's capital. "Frankly, I'm particularly disappointed in our own," Mr. Romney said. "Maybe you expect it of Democrats. You shouldn't, I'm just kidding a little bit. I certainly don't expect it of Republicans."

Washington has been reeling from a series of scandals, from those involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff to the conviction of Vice President Cheney's aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for lying and obstructing justice in a probe of the leak of a CIA operative's identity to the latest inquiry of Senator Stevens, a Republican of Alaska. Federal investigators are looking into Mr. Stevens's dealings with a wealthy oil field services contractor.

"I expect more of people in my own party. We speak about high ethical standards and we should be an example of those high ethical standards," Mr. Romney said. "In my view, those people who abuse the public trust while serving in government by virtue of committing a felony, should be stripped of their federal pensions," he said. Mr. Romney said his proposal would apply to both elected officials and those who are appointed to serve in government. In opening his latest trip to the first caucus state, Mr. Romney also took a swipe at cities that have declared themselves sanctuaries from enforcement of immigration laws. As punishment, he suggested cutting federal funding.

"We're telling immigrants to come here and we won't follow the law," Mr. Romney said. "We send hundreds of millions of dollars to these cities, even billions. We ought to stop doing that."

Mr. Romney said he would examine what sort of funds could be halted. "It wouldn't be police funds or something of that nature," he said. "I'll look at the kind of money we're going to cut off."

He mentioned New York City, home to one of his rivals for the nomination, Mayor Giuliani. The city, however, has never officially declared itself a "sanctuary city."