Ex-Rep Ackerman gives staff big farewell bonus

As ex-Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) prepared to leave office last year after three decades in Congress, he left behind a gift to staff members: bonuses so big they nearly doubled their pay of the previous quarter. That made him the most-generous member of Congress with bonuses, according to the Legistorm, which posts congressional staff salaries on its website.

Ackerman long gave generous bonuses in the final quarter of the year, records show. Small wonder that he had the longest-serving staff of nearly any member of Congress.-- Tom Brune