Officials: Ex-Manchin aide tapped for Byrd seat

[ProSense]

Source: Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Democratic officials say West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has tapped his former chief lawyer to fill the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd's Senate seat.

Three officials familiar with Manchin's decision says he has picked 36-year-old Carte Goodwin. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment ahead of an official announcement.

Manchin is scheduled to present his appointee at a Friday afternoon press conference at the Capitol.

Goodwin served as Manchin's general counsel from 2005 until early 2009.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100716/ap_on_el_se/us_byrd_seat_3

[WI_DEM]

1. and the clearest indication yet that the Governor will run himself, now get him in so that

Unemployment benefits can be passed.

[underpants]

3. Watch for the NRA money to come pouring into WV

the NRA is considered to own WV Tenn and Arkansas that is why in presidential elections especially the Dems don't put up much of a fight in those states.

[alsame]

5. And yet, they have 2 Dem Senators and a Dem Gov. That has

always surprised me.

[Tanuki]

6. West Virginia has traditionally had a strong union presence,

which is one of the reasons for the strength of the Democratic party there. Unfortunately, the "guns, God and gays" wedge issues have had an impact in recent years.

[alsame]

8. That's a good explanation. It gives me hope that a Democrat

can retain the Senate seat since there is obviously no knee-jerk negative reaction to anyone with a D after their name.

[Hosnon]

2. Press conferences are nice and all but our nation's unemployed are waiting.

Move it along, folks!

[spartan61]

4. I have a dumb question:

I am assuming that Manchin's selection to fill Robert Byrd's seat is a placeholder until the election in Nov. when Manchin plans to run for this seat. Because this place holder will only be in office for several months prior to the election, is he eligible for healthcare and pension for the rest of his life based on the months he was a US Senator?

[Tanuki]

7. Not a dumb question

The short answer is "no".

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

"Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation."


and


"As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.

Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

The amount of a congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary."

[spartan61]

9. Thank you for your very informative answer.

I do have another question for you. Why are the Congress Critters eligible for Social Security? As a retired teacher from CT, I was not eligible for SS because I have a pension, which I paid 7% into. There are 15 states where teachers are not eligible for SS and if they did have other jobs where they paid in their 40 quarters, their SS is reduced 60% because of the offset. Your final sentences seem to be the same formula for CT teachers' pensions, except the 80% is 75% for us, or 35 1/2 years of teaching. Thanks again for your answer to me.

[Tanuki]

10. They are eligible for SS because they pay into it, in addition to their pension deductions.

That does not seem to be the case with CT teachers:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0547.htm