I propose a Constitutional Amendment to adjust the salaries of

[ashling]

members of Congress:

1. The base salary for each member of Congress shall be, as adjusted by the term for which the member was elected or appointed, the median wage earned by persons in that member's home district, to which shall be added a cost of living allowance based upon the difference of the member's district and Washington, D.C.

2. Additionally, members whose districts are outside of commuting distance of Washington, D.C., shall have their travel paid for to and from their districts by the most feasible means of public transport available, up to one visit per week. Said members shall also be paid a housing allowance commensurate with that paid to military personnel within the same pay grade.

Am I crazy, or do I just look like I am crazy?

:shrug:

[SlicerDicer-]

1. No way it would work...

There is not enough words... LOL!! It would have to be 600 pages of convoluted shit to make it work.

[ashling]

6. I think something like this could work

Of Course, what I put here is just a starting point of discussion. Anyway, "600 pages of convoluted shit" is par for the course.

The point is to tie their salaries to their districts and to the wages of average Ameicans in general. Cover necessary exingencies of being in Wash. - but on the same basis as average Americans recieve any such expenses.

As for health care, instead of all this talk about giving us the same health care that they recieve, why not give them the same health care that we recieve?

[FirstLight]

2. This isn't a half baked idea...

There should also be something in there for those who represent districts that the median income would be over a certain amt. The adjustment should take into consideration that the median income of a district can be differen for different reasons on the high end of the scale, but the reason for low income is usually bad working conditions, bad work opportunities, etc...

I would also like to see some sort of cap on all executive pay scales, for EVERY industry, from media to manufacturing...at least until there is a proven track record of fairnes, eco-consciousness, and altruism.

I think its okay for us to vision a world where the corporations are not the ruling class, and that humanity will be responsible in creating a new way of doing all this - that Economics, Environment, and Human Needs are inextricably linked to every one of us making responsible choices - not just playing for one's own interests...

but who am i? just a crazy hippie with ideals about utopia...

[Libertyfirst]

3. YES,

[notesdev]

4. My counterproposal

They get paid only for days that they're not in Washington DC screwing things up.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. .

:evilgrin:

[merh]

5. Great idea

and maybe you can add some language about how they can get an increase once they start showing fiscal responsibility, the savings to the nation will be rewarded. Cutting the deficit, balancing the budget, governing within their means.

If they expect unions to take cuts, if they expect labor to pay for the misdeeds of mismanagement and the failing economy that they helped create, then they should be willing to pay in a similar fashion.

[ashling]

8. Maybe they'd get to work

on making sure the Average American receives a decent wage.

[stillcool]

7. Maybe the CEO's can pass the hat....

after all that's who the government works for.

[1]

9. how about minimum wage...

then we'll see how long it takes them to get off their asses about a living wage...

[SammyWinstonJack]

34. And they pay for their own health care insurance! No more socialized' health care plans for them!

Or their family members!

[Golden Raisin]

10. And they must get benefits commensurate

with the majority of their constituents, not the top-of-the-line, gold-plated Congressional ("We take care of our own.") version.

[ashling]

15. Right

see post #6

[huskerlaw]

11. Then they'd just get more pork-barrel projects to raise the median income in their districts...

and it would be inherently unfair to Congresspeople in states that have, say, an agriculture-based economy vs. those that come from, say, Orange County, California. A district's median income doesn't really have anything to do with how good/bad the political representation is, and it would encourage all sorts of corruption in attempts to raise the median income. Sorry...hate to be a downer.

[ashling]

16. No you don't (LOL)

Sorry...hate to be a downer. (BTW, I'm just kidding)

You are right, there are inequities (like in real life?) but my idea was to open discussion on a plan to tie members of Congress to the real America. A full disussion of the concept is called for.

I admit that there needs to be some sort of equalizer. At first my thought was to tie it to the Average American wage. That might be better.

At any rate, instead of them giving each other pay raise, or giving the administration pay raise, there should be some way to tie the salaries of all of these top government officials to the real economy.

[Dragonfli]

12. A perfectly reasonable proposal - Unfortunately Congress is seldom reasonable.

Because they are hypocrites the ones who would react the most vehemently to such a proposal would be those that propose cutting the wages of non Congressional citizens.
I would love to see such an idea make it to the public debate even if only to make such hypocrisy apparent.
Any ideas on how to introduce the idea beyond this venue to a place more visible to the public?

[ashling]

18. Public "academic" debate may be as far

as this idea could, or indeed, should get. But the concept is valid.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. I say they are FORCED to vote for everything, regardless of where they are at the moment..... nt

[Greyhound]

33. What!?! Requiring the parasite class to actually do their jobs? Unthinkable!

:sarcasm:(just in case)

[tularetom]

14. The critters from poor districts like ours would be more tempted to steal

than those elected from affluent areas like CT, NJ and the DC suburbs. Our reps base pay would be something like $25,000 per year.

But the idea is intriguing and the travel allowance part is feasible right now.

[Tumbulu]

17. Excellent! I am proud to recommend! (nt)

[ashling]

19. Thank you

[Lyric]

20. I think we should adjust Congressional salaries to bring them more in line

with what foreign democratic countries pay THEIR representatives. Add the average salary for each nation together, then divide by the number of nations, and pay Congress THAT.

It's what they want to do to our American autoworkers, after all--compensate them based on what foreign companies pay. Seems only fair that Congresspeople suffer too.

[Donnachaidh]

21. I would also like to see the lifetime health benefits CUT from their

*parachutes*. They can only have lifetime healthcare IF they serve 30 years or more in the House or Senate. And jumping from one section to another causes the clock to kick back to ZERO, which would mean they would have to accrue time again if they ran for a different area.

Why the hell should we be paying health care to these people at ALL? I'd say most of the old fart Senators who are trying to bust the unions wouldn't be ABLE to get insurance, as most of them probably have pre-existing conditions.

[tabbycat31]

22. at the very least

take away the pensions and healthcare from anyone who had to a) step down from their seat as a result of a scandal and/or b) has been convicted of a felony while holiding office.

[Skip Intro]

23. You're not crazy, and it doesn't look like you're crazy. Let them feel the real economy.

And block their acceptance of any other compensation - "donations" or gifts - while they are representing THE PEOPLE.

K&R!

[Joe Fields]

24. You are not crazy to bring forth this idea. I APPROVE!!!

:toast:

[book_worm]

25. Good idea, now what are you going to do to pass it beyond the tiny world of DU?

[ashling]

27. Based on the support I have seen here, soon, I hope

As I have said throughout the thread, I would like to get some good discussion going. I am sure that there are contingencies/consequences/incentives that need to pass through the cleansing tide of critical thinking and constructive criticism.

Also, right now I am finishing up papers for grad. school, after which I have more papers and reading to do throughout the holiday. It never ends! I thought I would give it some more thought and run it by my con. law professor and mentor. Then maybe letters to the editor and some emails around. Then maybe a petition?

If anyone is interested in helping me with this, IM me.

Thanks for your support.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. K&R

[struggle4progress]

28. If Congressional salaries are too low to enable Senators/Representatives to live in the DC area,

then only independently wealthy persons will be able to serve in Congress

Of course, it is true now that it is much easier for the wealthy to get elected. That's an undesireable state of affairs, but there's no reason to institutionalize it or to make it harder to change: what's needed is remedial policy-making following careful and accurate analysis

[ashling]

30. That is the purpose of the second part

Lots of people live in Washington DC who make a whole lot less.

Anyway, this is really more for discussion ... the proposition for discussion is that members of Congress need to be more in touch with the real economy.

[LWolf]

29. Define "earned." nt

[Greyhound]

32. How about tying to 10X minimum wage? n/t