Mandate that politicians earn a mean "American" salary...

[APynckel]

Help me out here..

http://wh.gov/UT24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dave2]

I'm of two minds on this... On the one hand, I have no problem paying our leaders well. On the other hand, I kinda agree with your reasoning.

I've heard this suggested before. Someone had what I considered at the time to be a good reason not to do it, but I can't remember what it was.

[Teamless]

I would rather they had to feel the wrath of every law they (and their predecessors) passed
Social Security
Medicare
Obama-Care
Etc
Etc
Etc
If the minions need to do it, they need to do it.
And this extends to what we cannot do, ie: if we cant have guns, they (and their security) cant

[SewTexas]

well, one reason they should earn a better than average salary is that they need to keep two homes. One in their home state with their family in it, and another in the DC area. Now, their ideal is that their family should be able to visit them so the home in DC should be able to house their family also, personally, I don't care if they have an apartment and room with someone from Rhode Island! Also, if we don't want them dining on the lobbiests' dimes, we need to understand that their lifestyle is one that results in eating out alot and they need to be paid as such. And we do have to realize that the DC area is very expensive. This being said....if the average Congress Critter is being paid $174,000 before this pay raise....that's not really that much given some of the pay rates I've seen in say Silicon Valley management...Biden doesn't need to be paid so much, his house is provided
My problem with the raise is that it was an Executive Order!

[mr surveyor]

I never thought that these guys were ever to be expected by the "Founders" to be career legislators that lived their entire adult lives on the public dole. I seem to remember from my younger years in school the term "citizen legislators" and always thought that was folks from different walks of life and "real world professions" that were willing to give of themselves (not in the current liberal sense of the term) to promote the cause of freedom and security of the nation. I guess that didn't last very long.

Term Limits for ALL elected officials (and possibly SCOTUS)
Strict Definition of the term "Commerce Clause"

Most problems solved in 10 years, or less

[Vol Texan]

I would rather they had to feel the wrath of every law they (and their predecessors) passed
Social Security
Medicare
Obama-Care
Etc
Etc
Etc
If the minions need to do it, they need to do it.
And this extends to what we cannot do, ie: if we cant have guns, they (and their security) cant

While the following has never been proposed (there are only false Internet rumors about it), this would make an excellent 28th Amendment to the US Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

[SewTexas]

hmmmmm, I think I like this ^^^^^^

[MeMelYup]

I would rather they had to feel the wrath of every law they (and their predecessors) passed
Social Security
Medicare
Obama-Care
Etc
Etc
Etc
If the minions need to do it, they need to do it.
And this extends to what we cannot do, ie: if we cant have guns, they (and their security) cant

While the following has never been proposed (there are only false Internet rumors about it), this would make an excellent 28th Amendment to the US Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

No branch of the Federal Government shall initiate a law that has not been passed by the House and Senate.

[smtimelevi]

I would rather they had to feel the wrath of every law they (and their predecessors) passed
Social Security
Medicare
Obama-Care
Etc
Etc
Etc
If the minions need to do it, they need to do it.
And this extends to what we cannot do, ie: if we cant have guns, they (and their security) cant

While the following has never been proposed (there are only false Internet rumors about it), this would make an excellent 28th Amendment to the US Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

This^

I think it is high time our government stops making and passing new laws that deem them to be royalty. Its time for change in this country, not Obama change either. Changing the way our government is run would be a nice start.

[APynckel]

I would rather they had to feel the wrath of every law they (and their predecessors) passed
Social Security
Medicare
Obama-Care
Etc
Etc
Etc
If the minions need to do it, they need to do it.
And this extends to what we cannot do, ie: if we cant have guns, they (and their security) cant

While the following has never been proposed (there are only false Internet rumors about it), this would make an excellent 28th Amendment to the US Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

This^

I think it is high time our government stops making and passing new laws that deem them to be royalty. Its time for change in this country, not Obama change either. Changing the way our government is run would be a nice start.

Make a petition, I'll sign it.

[Texas Sheepdog]

well, one reason they should earn a better than average salary is that they need to keep two homes. One in their home state with their family in it, and another in the DC area. Now, their ideal is that their family should be able to visit them so the home in DC should be able to house their family also, personally, I don't care if they have an apartment and room with someone from Rhode Island! Also, if we don't want them dining on the lobbiests' dimes, we need to understand that their lifestyle is one that results in eating out alot and they need to be paid as such. And we do have to realize that the DC area is very expensive. This being said....if the average Congress Critter is being paid $174,000 before this pay raise....that's not really that much given some of the pay rates I've seen in say Silicon Valley management...Biden doesn't need to be paid so much, his house is provided
My problem with the raise is that it was an Executive Order!

There was a proposal to make the expenses of senators and congressman the responsibility of the states they represent. Each state would have the right to decide what lifestyle and office staff they're willing to subsidize for their representation in DC and the obligation to pay for their choice.

[The Annoyed Man]

Help me out here..

http://wh.gov/UT24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fine..... I'm a democrat (for example) congressman....I'll vote for that law, as long as it has a rider raising the minimum wage to $100/hour.

See what I mean?

I like the idea of it, but there isn't a politician alive that is going to take a cut in pay which will lower his/her income to the point where it matches the national median salary. So their answer will be to raise EVERYBODY's pay so that the median equals their current congressional salary. And then of course, the price of everything goes up commensurately, and we're all right back to where we were, except that Congress now has to vote themselves a raise to restore themselves to their former glory. And so on and so forth.

[equin]

I do like the latter part of the petition's proposal seeking more transparency in a politician's financial stake. I know there are already measures in place under the ethical rules for politicians to abide by, though.

Even so, I don't mind if our leaders in Congress, the Executive and the Judicial Branch earn a decent salary. After all, CEO's and other corporate officers earn high salaries for making the tough decisions they need to make for multi-million dollar companies. I want the best, smartest, talented, dedicated and hardworking people to do the same for our country's sake.

You're not going to find that talent and drive unless they're compensated well. You'll also be able to keep them more HONEST, not less, if you compensate them well. Otherwise, you'll find those who will be more likely to abuse their authority in the form of bribery and corruption if they're not compensated well. That is how it was with Spain when it was once a global power. Mexico and many of the other Latin American countries followed Spain's model and are now suffering the consequences with rampant corruption and bribery. That is not what I want for our country.

With that said, however, I think adding a few extra provisions to the Constitution may make the politically necessary decisions more fair and transparent:

1. TERM LIMITS for all, not just the President. Congress and the Judiciary, including the lower courts, should have their service limited, but not so much that we would then suffer from inexperience. Their needs to be a balance, and the limits should be staggered.

2. RECALL members of Congress. There is no mechanism to recall or "impeach" a member of Congress by their representatives. Such a provision would have to have some protections, though, so as not to abuse the recall/impeach by political foes, such as an overwhelming majority (2/3, 3/4?) vote to do so.

[JP171]

I do like the latter part of the petition's proposal seeking more transparency in a politician's financial stake. I know there are already measures in place under the ethical rules for politicians to abide by, though.

Even so, I don't mind if our leaders in Congress, the Executive and the Judicial Branch earn a decent salary. After all, CEO's and other corporate officers earn high salaries for making the tough decisions they need to make for multi-million dollar companies. I want the best, smartest, talented, dedicated and hardworking people to do the same for our country's sake.

You're not going to find that talent and drive unless they're compensated well. You'll also be able to keep them more HONEST, not less, if you compensate them well. Otherwise, you'll find those who will be more likely to abuse their authority in the form of bribery and corruption if they're not compensated well. That is how it was with Spain when it was once a global power. Mexico and many of the other Latin American countries followed Spain's model and are now suffering the consequences with rampant corruption and bribery. That is not what I want for our country.

With that said, however, I think adding a few extra provisions to the Constitution may make the politically necessary decisions more fair and transparent:

1. TERM LIMITS for all, not just the President. Congress and the Judiciary, including the lower courts, should have their service limited, but not so much that we would then suffer from inexperience. Their needs to be a balance, and the limits should be staggered.

2. RECALL members of Congress. There is no mechanism to recall or "impeach" a member of Congress by their representatives. Such a provision would have to have some protections, though, so as not to abuse the recall/impeach by political foes, such as an overwhelming majority (2/3, 3/4?) vote to do so.

Really?? the you slight all Military Persons that died for your right to spew stuff.

Congress should be housed in barracks, fed and paid on the same schedule the Military is. there are available rooms right over the road in Quantico that would be just grand for them. the bad checks that are covered, the staff and so on and so forth should go away. there is no reason that Congress cretins get paid the ammount they get for the work they do, go back to a stipend to cover losses and get rid on the free healthcare for them and families go to the same healthcare military members get make them pay for it just like the soldiers do. as far as being honest that isn't going to happen because they know there is no accountability to anyone. oh yea they might get voted out of office, hmm so what, many congress cretins are long term people. term limit, yes 2 terms then yer gone fer good. no re-do's ever. no pension ever. judges should always be subject to recall by the people not like the supreme court, they are there till they die or quit because as we know impeachment isn't anykind of real threat look at Mr WJ Clinton, he was impeached and was guilty as sin, but yep he walked right on out without anything not even a by your leave, found not guilty even though his lie was blatant and recorded on every news network in the world. BAH!!! just get rid of all of em and start overfrom the top down

[alvins]

considering most of them probably own businesses on the side i think they make plenty of money.