Congressional Reform Act of 2010

(This came to me in email and I thought it worthwhile to post and perhaps to begin a discussion. The email is in italics, my comments are not). Of course, I have some other ideas to go along with this, but thought this was enough to start with)

Wouldn't this be a wonderful reality to wake up to!!!!!!!!

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

A. Two six year Senate terms

B. Six two year House terms

or

C. One six year Senate term and three two Year House terms

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

(A pension should be for someone who has made a career of the job they are working in. Under this Act, no one will serve for longer than 12 years. Perhaps a small Federal pension would be in order, as it would be for any other Federal employee.)

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.

I completely agree with this. There is an email circulating that states what a Congressman would receive under the current Congressional retirement, but it is incorrect. I believe a Congressional representative should receive no more in retirement benefits than any other Federal employee.

Why is Congress compensated differently than any other American? Have they worked harder? Have they worked longer? Is their job any more important than any other American? Are they "better" than other American? Sure, arguments can be made that they are "better", but I personally don't believe this to be true.)

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

(see #3)

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

(Most members of Congress are not hurting for money. Many are millionaires and should be working for their constitutents and not for the pay. Why not make Congress a Dollar-a-year job?)

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

(see #3)

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

(see #3)

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

I think this Act should go into effect immediately. I'm not really sure it would be "fair" to penalize someone who is a former member of Congress. I have to give this some more thought. Present and future? Yes, absolutely. I'd take it one step farther and apply this Act to the White House as well.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress should be an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.