I often talk about Republican Congressman Leo Berman around here.  He’s an idiot.  He’s probably a slut and a prostitute, too, but I haven’t gotten permission to use Rush’s trademark language, so I won’t say that.

I do not want you to confuse Congressman Leo Berman to Democratic State Representative Lon Burman.  Lon Burman is an honorable man, which in Austin is akin to changing water into wine.

Lon Burman was informed that he had become eligible to receive money from that little secret fund we only discovered when Rick Perry had to disclose it on his financial forms when he ran for President.   Remember that?  That was a damn hoot.  Until then, only about 8 people in the whole state even knew about it.

Lon Burman: Bad ties, good heart

There is a gem hidden in Austin that allows elected officials to receive both their salary and their retirement while they are still serving in office.  Rick Perry, who became a millionaire on the public dole, jumped on it like Chris Christy on a milkshake, saying that he “would be foolish not to take a pension benefit he has earned and is entitled to collect now.”

I guess that through the Republican greed glasses, Lon Burman is foolish.  He refused to take it.

Even though he is eligible to retire immediately, Burnam said he has no plans to pocket the pension money. He is exploring options that would allow him to redirect the monthly annuity toward a worthy cause, such as public education.

“I’m not going to collect it for my own benefit because I don’t think it’s right,” Burnam said. “If the governor wants to do it and it’s legal, I guess he’s gonna get away with it, but I don’t think it passes the smell test.”

And that’s another reason why I’m proud to be a Democrat.