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Happy birthday Paige Yurko!

What’s Up, NEPA/Senior News

<p>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) &#8212; A former leader of Pennsylvania&#8217;s Senate who served prison time for corruption is seeking to have his $20,000-a-month pension restored.</p><p>The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the State Employees&#8217; Retirement System board is voting on the appeal by Robert Mellow. The 74-year-old Scranton-area legislator lost the retirement benefit when he pleaded guilty in May 2012.</p><p>After his decades of service, Mellow was entitled to $246,000 a year.</p><p>It&#8217;s not clear when the board will decide, but the next meeting is June 14.</p><p>Mellow was charged with tapping Senate staff for political fundraising and campaign work.</p><p>His lawyers argue Mellow&#8217;s crime wasn&#8217;t comparable to any of the state crimes listed in the pension forfeiture law, because he was convicted in federal court.</p><p>Mellow was sentenced to 16 months in prison; he was released in March 2014.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Ex-Scranton-area lawmaker Mellow wants pension restored despite conviction