Miami Mayor vetoes lifetime pensions City Commissioners gave themselves

Mayor Francis Suarez heard enough backlash over Miami City Commissioners’ controversial decision this month to give themselves lifetime pensions.

He killed the plan in a rare veto, saying he’s “historically been opposed to a publicly funded pension system for elected officials.”

Commissioners upheld the veto.

The pensions, which Suarez calculated would net him $6.3 million through age 92, caused uproar Oct. 15, when Commissioners OK’d them by a 3-2 vote.

Miguel Gabela and Christine King sponsored the measure, which passed with support from Joe Carollo. King said she opposed asking for voter approval “because people are … mean and miserable.”

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics