A House Republican on Monday introduced legislation barring lawmakers who are expelled from Congress from receiving congressional pensions.

Why it matters: It’s a direct response to the House’s expulsion last week of then-Rep. George Santos, who was accused of plundering his congressional campaign coffers to personally enrich himself.

Driving the news: Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) announced the Congressional Pension Accountability Act at a press conference on Monday morning.

• Nunn was among the more than 100 Republicans who voted to expel Santos following the release of a bombshell House Ethics Committee report.
• Among the allegations in the report was that Santos used campaign funds for personal expenses, including hotel fees, luxury goods and cosmetics.

What he’s saying: “No one should be serving in Congress, be excommunicated and removed from Congress, and still be able to draw a pension,” Nunn told reporters.

• “A pension is earned for honorable service,” Nunn continued. “When you’re removed from office … you should not be able to continue to cash in on the American taxpayer’s dime.”

Yes, but: Santos himself isn’t eligible for a congressional pension, having served less than a year in office.

• Members of Congress are generally eligible for a pension if they’ve served for five or more years, according to the Congressional Research Service.
• Still, Nunn said he wants to create a “clear road map” for future cases and noted that prior federal service can count towards a lawmaker’s eligibility.

The big picture: This isn’t the first such bill Santos has inspired.

• A group of New York Republicans who were some of Santos’ fiercest detractors in the GOP introduced a bill to prohibit members of Congress convicted of certain crimes from profiting off book deals, speeches and other common post-congressional income streams.

What we’re watching: Nunn added to a chorus of Republicans saying Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) should be next to go.

• Menendez has been federally indicted for allegedly accepting bribes and conspiring to act as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• Nunn called for a Senate Ethics Committee probe to “determine whether [Menendez] should remain in office.”
• “I think the overwhelming facts before us indicate that both of these individuals should be removed,” Nunn added.

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