Opinion

How to divorce your pol

As Kanye West puts it: “We want pre-nup!” From New York pols, that is.

Rich folk insist on prenuptial agreements all the time. West’s partner, Kim Kardashian, and her ex, Kris Humphries, did. As have countless others. It’s time New Yorkers insisted on one, too — for the political marriage we enter into with the politicians we elect.

Normally, prenups list terms agreed to in advance if the marital ties fizzle. They can spell out penalties for, say, infidelity or drug use. Ours would be a penalty for political corruption: the loss of one’s pension.

That might help keep pols honest — and Lord knows, New York could sure use more of that. At the least, a meaningful corruption penalty could provide voters with recourse when lawmakers, uh . . .stray.

True, Gov. Cuomo’s 2011 ethics reform opened the door to pension forfeiture. But, in accord with the state Constitution, it restricts the loss only to those who took office after the reform took effect.

The law’s got other holes, too: It safeguards the pensions of pols who commit crimes unrelated to their duties. It makes prosecutors file separate motions to have pensions revoked — and pols can plead for mercy, citing the need for financial support for family members. So it’s no sure thing a lawmaker will suffer much even if guilty.

Nor is it clear from the law’s wording whether federal crimes, which are often what New York pols are convicted of, count toward pension loss as state crimes do. Officials we asked were divided on the question. Without clarity, courts aren’t likely to revoke anyone’s retirement cash.

Meanwhile, a bill in Albany to change New York’s Constitution by making pols who took office before 2011 subject to the penalty is stalled. Ask yourself this: Why would lawmakers oppose a change like that unless they feared conviction?

New Yorkers shouldn’t have to pay for comfortable retirements for criminal pols. So let’s demand an iron-clad “prenup”: If convicted in any court, they instantly forfeit their pensions. No ifs, ands or buts.

That would shake things up for the better. And we’d even give Kanye the credit.