Un-Benefit Congress

Members of Congress enjoy Federal Employee Status with full benefits including life-long health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), for which taxpayer dollars pay more than 70% of premiums. Members of Congress who serve more than 5 years also receive a generous pension plan based on number of years served, which is available to former Members as early as 50 years of age and continues, with annual cost of living adjustments, for the rest of their lives. Their tax-deferred savings plan is matched nearly dollar-for-dollar by taxpayers. The total cost to taxpayers for Congressional benefits (not including salary & pensions) in fiscal 2010 was an estimated $4.66 Billion.