To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate

Congressional Spending Cuts

It is the express intent of this petition to have all members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives pay for their health care benefits and maintain their own pension accounts with absolutely no assistance from taxpayers. If budget cuts have to be painful, then so be it. Congress must also suffer along with all the rest of us. If Social Security, Medicare and Medicaide are to be "on the table" during budget cut negotiations, then so should all benefits received by Congressional members.

Why is this important?

As senior citizens, we do not think it fair that Congress wants to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits in order to prevent budget cuts to the Defense Department, protect oil company subsidies and the wealthiest 2%. If they want the whole country to suffer through the budget cuts, then they, too, must be included. Make members of the Senate and House pay for their health insurance and take away all pension benefits.