To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Get Congress Real
Rein In Congressional Perks
1. An honor, not a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s) and then go home. All contracts past and present that Congress made with itself are immediately void.
2. No pension.
A congressman collects a salary only while in office – he or she receives no pay once out of office.
3. Social Security for Congress.
Congresspeople past, present and future will participate in the Social Security system, just like the rest of us. The congressional retirement fund will immediately move to the Social Security system.
4. Common health care.
The current congressional health care system will vanish. Congresspeople will participate in the same health care system as the rest of us.
5. A common retirement plan.
Congresspeople will have to purchase their own retirement plans, just like the rest of us.
6. Uniform compliance.
Congress must equally abide by all laws applicable to the rest of us.
7. Realistic pay.
Congress will no longer vote itself salary raises. Congressional pay will rise in proportion to the CPI.
Why is this important?
It's time to rein in congressional perks. Senators and representatives don’t run to serve their constituents, they run to get a seat on the gravy train that congressional perks have created. The Constitution envisioned legislative service as an honor – not a path to entitlement. This proposal would renew that charter. It would deter the most mercenary Congressional aspirants and should help refocus sitting members.