Fixing Congress

I got this list of suggestions on how to fix Congress via email last week and thought I would pass this on - just because it is so right on. My comments are in italics.

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:

A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

No one should be a career politician. You are there to serve the people not yourself.

2. No Tenure/No Pension - A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

There already is enough money floating around the hallowed halls of Washington. It's not like they can't find work when their terms are up. They can contribute to IRA's just like the rest of us.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

This will make them vested in the plans that they create for the rest of us. Hey, they are supposed to be like the rest of us, so there is no reason why they can't participate in our programs. If they don't like it, guess what, they can change it but only for all of us.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

See my comments above.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

I have a better idea - if an incumbent is re-elected, their constituents get to vote on a raise of the lower of CPI or 3%. If someone new is elected, then they get a fixed, scaled pay rate determined by the electorate during the presidential elections every four years.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

Maybe this will get them off the stick and create something that's worthwhile and not full of special side deals.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

If you are caught breaking the law during your term, you give up your seat. If you have been convicted of a felony (or misdemeanor in the past 10 years), you are ineligible to hold office.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

See my comment above about the electorate voting on salary scale every four years. This should extend to other contracts where members are given anything that the people have to pay for. After all, they work for us, we should be able to determine their compensation package.

If you agree with any or all of this, pass it on to whoever you think will listen.