In 2018, the latest year available, 617 retired members of Congress received federal pensions: 318 at an average of $75,528, under the older (CSRS) retirement program, and 299 at an average of $41,208 under the current (FERS) system.
That is an annual payout of $36.2 million per year.
Open The Books' honorary chairman, the late Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) refused his pension, though Congress changed the law so those starting service after 2003 cannot decline pension coverage.
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