Do you know how much WE THE PEOPLE pay to our Congressmen and US Senators each year? Per member it's $174,000, which seems reasonable on its head. However, when you multiply that by all 535 members of Congress, both Houses, WE THE PEOPLE dish out $93.1 million per year to Congressmen, and Senators who rarely listen to us.
Absolutely unacceptable.
So what do we do about it?
Some suggest paying Congressmen and US Senators about $40,000 per year, which is equal to the average pay of private sector employment. Other folks recommend about $24,000 per year, which is roughly equal to the average pay of enlisted men in the Armed Services. Neither are practical, nor are fitting for a member of Congress.
So what do we do about it?
First. Since the Congressman is a representative of the people, his congressional pay should, and must be directly tied to the success of private sector growth. Thus, I propose that Congressmen, regardless of their district, should receive an annual paycheck that is twice the amount of what a private sector employee earns per year.
$80,000 per year is more than enough for a Congressman.
Second. Senators are of higher stature than Congressmen for a wide variety of reasons, but I'm not in the mood to describe them, only what they should mean. The travel is more, the work is harder, and the prestige is undeniable. Which is why Senatorial pay should be tied to 33% more than what Congressmen earn on a yearly basis.
$106,400 per year is also more than enough for a Senator.
So what would be the result of my proposals?
In the House......
Current system: 435 Representatives times $174,000 equals $75.7 million.
My Pay Proposal: 435 Representatives times $80,000 equals $34.8 million.
The End Result: The taxpayers would save $40.9 million dollars per year.
In the Senate......
Current system: 100 Senators times $174,000 equals $17.4 million.
My Pay Proposal: 100 Senators times $106,400 equals $10.6 million.
The End Result: The taxpayers would save $6.8 million dollars per year.
Overall.......
Current System: $93.1 million dollars per year.
My Pay Proposal: $45.4 million dollars per year.
The End Result: The taxpayers would save $47.7 million dollars per year.
Any thoughts?
IF CONGRESSPEOPLE DO NOT MAKE ENOUGH THEY MAY HAVE TO RESORT TO CANNIBALISM!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm more upset about their perks.
ReplyDeleteThey should not have special health care plans that the average citizen can not join. Also, they should have to pay for at least some of it.
They should also have to contribute to their own pensions and they sould stop receiving pension benefits once they are ousted. A congress critter who does not get re-elected is really being fired and someone who is fired doesn't deserve pensions for life. The fact that they were able to (even if they really didn't) serve their country should be enough of a benefit.
And keep their staff at a minimal. Why don't they have a better intern program - something like a 'life credit' whereby college students interested in politics gets to work for a congress critter and instead of pay gets college credits.
And put a cap on how much can be spent when campaigning. BO's $650m or whatever it was, was obscene. And no federal/state unions should be allowed to contribute. Individuals within the unions may, but not the unions itself.
I'm sure there are more suggestions out there, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Actually, I take the opposite view. After all, I want a balanced budget. How about we change the law so that if there is indeed a budget balance, that the extra money is distributed to the congressmen and senators that voted for the bill? The prospect of having Congressmen falling all over eachother to CUT the budget rather than EXPAND the budget would be great to watch. Just imagine if it was in Congress' best interest to do so? While tossing $10B to split amoung crooked congressmen might seem a little unsavory, the country benefits greatly by the reduced government footprint.
ReplyDeleteWhile there would have to be some strong protections and all sorts of reform first (i.e. Social Security not able to be a Ponzi scheme like it is now), this plan seems like a better chance of success than anything else I have seen proposed.
I'm planning to write about Congressional staffs as well. Chuck Schumer's cost the Taxpayers over three million dollars last year, and I'm sure most of the other Senators also have huge congressional staffs as well. DC needs to start cutting with their own, before moving on to big issues. They need to lead by example.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article, Mr. K
ReplyDelete