It is time we reformed Congress to get back to the citizen Congress that our founders envisioned. Our Congress has become a political class with such a cushy job that they will do everything and anything to protect it. The job has become so lucrative that many aspire to do that and only that. Granted there are some in Congress who made it in the private sector and now want to give back, but too many are there to perpetuate their position and power.
Congressmen and women make a base salary of $174,000.00. In the 112th Congress they worked approx 170 days. Even with four weeks vacation most of us work 240 days. They only have to work 5 years to qualify for a full pension. They have access to a full time physician for $500/year. They are allotted $900,000 for staff (House) (Senators get $3.3 Million) They get an additional $250,000 for office expenses and travel (not counting the actual office which is a federal building) and $40,000 per year for home offices.
Given this largesse and their intransigence in doing something productive like pass a budget I think we should fire em all and start over. Start with paying them $1.00 per year. Give them an office at the Capital and one staff assistant. They should work 9-5 Monday through Friday and once a quarter they can take Friday or Monday off to go home to their home districts for Town Hall Meetings.
Qualifications for Congress should be that they worked in the private sector for at least 10 years and NOT as an attorney. They should have had to operate a business under the oppressive laws they continue to promulgate. Once in Congress they should be required to have any personal assets in a blind trust controlled by an independent third party with no connection to the member or his family.
Any law passed by the Congress must be adhered to by the Congress. No more exemptions from the very laws they pass and any increases in pay or benefits must be approved by an independent pay and benefit commission appointed by representatives from each branch of government.
Our government is no longer transparent and the entrenched special interests both inside and outside the government have to be stopped. This would be my start.
Congressmen and women make a base salary of $174,000.00. In the 112th Congress they worked approx 170 days. Even with four weeks vacation most of us work 240 days. They only have to work 5 years to qualify for a full pension. They have access to a full time physician for $500/year. They are allotted $900,000 for staff (House) (Senators get $3.3 Million) They get an additional $250,000 for office expenses and travel (not counting the actual office which is a federal building) and $40,000 per year for home offices.
Given this largesse and their intransigence in doing something productive like pass a budget I think we should fire em all and start over. Start with paying them $1.00 per year. Give them an office at the Capital and one staff assistant. They should work 9-5 Monday through Friday and once a quarter they can take Friday or Monday off to go home to their home districts for Town Hall Meetings.
Qualifications for Congress should be that they worked in the private sector for at least 10 years and NOT as an attorney. They should have had to operate a business under the oppressive laws they continue to promulgate. Once in Congress they should be required to have any personal assets in a blind trust controlled by an independent third party with no connection to the member or his family.
Any law passed by the Congress must be adhered to by the Congress. No more exemptions from the very laws they pass and any increases in pay or benefits must be approved by an independent pay and benefit commission appointed by representatives from each branch of government.
Our government is no longer transparent and the entrenched special interests both inside and outside the government have to be stopped. This would be my start.
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