I propose that we start a petition calling on Congress to pass a law (I know, I know) that if there is not a balanced budget -- they are not allowed , by law, to vote themselves a pay raise. I say that just for starters...
Let's send a real message in the next election-- if there is an (I) incumbent next to the name -- vote for the other person. Maybe we can get this back to being a public servant (well-paid one at that) that takes this position in this esteemed office as a calling. You are worried about the experience vacuum that will result -- Really? I mean they are so effective now; I am amazed they can decide on which side of the aisle to sit on.
We continue to hear on a daily basis the bickering and non-action going on in Congress. I think enough is enough! Do you think we can write our congressperson and get results? Interestingly enough about half the congress-folk are millionaires. Do you think out of appreciation they have answered the call to serve the country, or could it be some other motive? I'll let you decide.
The following are excerpts from http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm
The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.
- Members are free to turn down .pay increase and some choose to do so.
- In a complex system of calculations, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries for federal judges and other senior government executives.
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400
House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400
A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.
This one should be a real no brainer, no balanced budget = no pay raise!
In fairness -- much like Fox News -- I must point out that Congress has voted NOT to give themselves pay-raises in the last two years. According to factcheck.org -- There will be no House or Senate raise for 2011 either. Congress passed, and the President signed, H.R. 5146, which eliminates the automatic adjustment in pay for Members of Congress that would have taken place in 2011.
More of the Facts...
Benefits Paid to Members of Congress
You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, that's a myth.
Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, they were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986.
Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation.
I think this is where some of the confusion comes from -- I have heard some folks say that congress gets full retirement benefits after one-term, or 5 years when in actuality -- they are vested after five-years.
Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.
As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.
Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.
The amount of a congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.
According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.
Also See:
Congress Votes Itself a Pay Raise
- Presidential Pay and
- According to factcheck.org congress has voted to NOT give themselves the annual pay raise. There will be no House or Senate raise for 2011 either. Congress passed, and the President signed, H.R. 5146, which eliminates the automatic adjustment in pay for Members of Congress that would have taken place in 2011.According to factcheck.org congress has voted to NOT give themselves the annual pay raise. There will be no House or Senate raise for 2011 either. Congress passed, and the President signed, H.R. 5146, which eliminates the automatic adjustment in pay for Members of Congress that would have taken place in 2011.According to factcheck.org congress has voted to NOT give themselves the annual pay raise. There will be no House or Senate raise for 2011 either. Congress passed, and the President signed, H.R. 5146, which eliminates the automatic adjustment in pay for Members of Congress that would have taken place in 2011.Benefits
Suggested Reading
How to Write Letters to Congress
More interesting info from About.com / Government Info
The 10 Wealthiest Members of Congress
Overall, members of Congress saw their personal wealth grow by more than 16 percent during the worst economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression, according to financial disclosures submitted by lawmakers.
See more: Even in Recession, Congress Pay Grew
The median personal wealth for members of Congress grew to $911,510 in 2009, up from $785,515 in 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Nearly half of the members of Congress are millionaires.
Do you see something just slightly wrong with the above info? I mean President Obama comes out with this Jobs Bill to try to put folks back to work, but instead of Congress making it happen, they bicker!! Yet, in the meantime, they continue to make money and increase their net worth as described above.
