From the archives | How state lawmakers pump up pensions in ways you can’t

This story originally published on Sept. 12, 2011. It is being republished as part of the commemoration of USA TODAY’s 40th anniversary on Sept. 15, 2022.

At age 55, South Carolina state Sen. David Thomas began collecting a pension for his legislative service without leaving office.

Most workers must retire from their jobs before getting retirement benefits. But Thomas used a one-sentence law that he and his colleagues passed in 2002 to let legislators receive a taxpayer-funded pension instead of a salary after serving for 30 years.