How many part-time jobs have any perks, much less full health care benefits and a pension that qualifies after just two or four years on the job?

Yeah, it’s a rhetorical question. Not many.

In 2013, less than one in four part-time workers could participate in employer-subsidized health insurance – much fewer could participate in private pension plans.

But Tennessee’s part-time elected legislators get lavish perks, even if they are fired by their constituents.

Tennessee legislators can participate in the state health insurance plan (they do pay 20 percent of the premium) and, until last year, when the Insure Tennessee hoopla exposed the fact that legislators could get lifetime access to state’s health insurance plan, could continue participating in the plan even if voters kick them out of office.

Now, because of the uproar created by Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, another of the perks that legislators have bestowed upon themselves is being questioned.

Even if Durham, 32, is defeated in either the August or November elections, his two terms in the legislature will make him eligible for an annual pension of $4,130.88 per year when he turns 55.

The prospect of the disgraced legislator getting paid a lifetime pension benefit prompted Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, to call for Durham’s expulsion from the House after Speaker Beth Harwell’s ad hoc committee declined to recommend that action after receiving a comprehensive report from Attorney General Herbert Slatery III that detailed Durham’s sexual harassment while in office.

Stewart lit a fire under his fellow legislators, and two different petitions are making the rounds to gather enough signatures to bring the General Assembly back to the Capital Knob for a special session. One petition, backed by Republican House Caucus chairman Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, would also have legislators vote on the expulsion of Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, who faces federal tax evasion charges.

Perks and pay

Currently, Tennessee legislators are paid $20,884 a year plus $204 a day for expenses when on official legislative business. The pension benefit is calculated on the annual salary, and at age 55 legislators can receive up to 90 percent of their final salary depending on how many years they served in the General Assembly.

By law, the Tennessee legislature can meet in session for no more than 90 days over the two-year assembly term.

Tennessee is not alone in bestowing a pension on retired legislators, 40 states pay pensions. Although California legislators, who serve full time and are the highest-paid legislators, more than $100,000 a year, are not allowed to participate in the state pension plan.

And Tennessee lawmakers are not near the bottom in compensation. Legislators in our neighboring states of Georgia ($17,342 per year), South Carolina ($10,400), North Carolina ($13,951), Virginia (senators: $18,000; representatives: $17,640), Kentucky ($188.22 per day) and Mississippi ($10,000 a year) all are paid less.

Alabama pays elected lawmakers more, $42,830 a year, but it is one of the 10 states that bars legislators from the state pension plan. Our west-of-the-Mississippi neighbors also pay their legislators well. Arkansas lawmakers are paid $39,400 a year, and Missouri pays $35,915.

Metro elected officials

Perks for part timers are not exclusive to the legislature.

Just before the 2015 Metro elections, council members, paid $15,000 a year, voted to continue their lifetime access to the Metro health care plan for any council member serving two terms.

Metro paid $877,488 into the council’s medical insurance program during the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Fair compensation?

What is fair compensation for our lawmakers?

We want our representatives to come from many walks of life, and to make that possible we should pay them for the time they take away from their livelihood. A legislature, or council, of retired folks, or those rich enough not to work, is not in our best interests.

But should getting elected to office bestow entitlements?

Lifetime health insurance and pension plans are too lavish and should be eliminated.

Reach Frank Daniels III:fdanielsiii@tennessean.com, 615-881-7039, or on Twitter @fdanielsiii