Ohio Sen. Brown Aims Pension Bill at Lawmakers

A bill introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, would take away one of the perks of serving in Congress: early access to a federal pension. Brown’s bill requires lawmakers to reach the Social Security retirement age — currently 65 to 67 — before tapping into their taxpayer-funded retirement plans, National Journal reports.

Sherrod Brown

Right now lawmakers as young as 50 can receive their full pensions, depending on how long they have held office.

“It’s time for members of Congress to walk in the shoes of everyday Americans,” Brown said of his bill, the 2011 Shared Retirement Sacrifice Act.

“Why should members of Congress be treated differently than a steelworker, a waitress, or a nurse?” Brown added.