The DA indicts six on conflict of interest charges for boosting pensions.

According to Dumanis, the vote enhanced the defendants retirement benefits, with:

Saathoff's monthly pension increasing by $2,530 to $9,703;

Torres' monthly pension increasing by $386 to $4,016;

Wilkinson's monthly pension increasing by $477 to $5,096.

The other three defendants are not yet old enough to retire. Assuming they retired at 55:

Lexin's monthly pension would have increased by $537 to $5,636;

Vattimo's monthly pension would increase by $703 to $7,108;

Webster's monthly pension would increase by $1,073 to $10,862.

In Oregon we have seemed to find it useful to make similar activity not a conflict of interest, by definition.

Rhode Island has a series of cases dealing with gifts direct from the legislature and the repeal of those gifts by a subsequent legislature. In each one could look to whether persons charged with the duty to represent the public actually just sit in a position to write themselves and their allies a blank check. It is a deal deal deal, honor it . . . hum?

It is the same as writing oneself a check, with a future date set on the check. It is like reaching into the till and slipping money into ones own pocket.