Keep the US Congress Accountable to the People

A proposal that ties their compensation to our financial success

I've been fooling with ideas on these kinds of things for some time, but this is the first I have reduced my thoughts on this particular matter to writing.  I’m sure there are details I’m missing but you should get the general gist.  If you agree, pass it on; although I think it would be difficult to get anything like this to the floor for a vote... but you never know.

This would, number one, be a different kind of federal legislation.  It gives the power and authority back to the individual states to determine what their congressional representatives are paid but sets a cap on compensation, based upon the income of the people represented.  Here’s how I envision it:

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Salaries and retirement plans for members of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate shall be funded by the states represented.  All federal tax monies previously budgeted for the compensation of Senators and Congressmen shall no longer be considered when determining rates of taxation at the federal level.  It is required that these funds remain with the individual states, and their respective tax rates be adjusted (and offset by the federal tax reduction) to fund such obligations.

Salaries for members of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate shall be determined by the legislative bodies of their respective states, within the following guidelines:

• The annual salary for members elected to the US Senate shall not exceed the annual median income of individuals in the state from which the senator was elected;
• The annual salary for members elected to the US House of Representatives shall not exceed the annual median income of individuals in the congressional district from which the representative was elected;
• The state legislatures, in both instances, may provide additional compensation to the degree necessary for the elected senator or congressman to contribute and participate in the same health care and retirement plans offered to their state’s employees;
• Eligibility requirements for retirement shall be determined by the state legislature.

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I think this might accomplish a number of positive goals.  While compensation for members of Congress is not a huge portion of the federal budget, the compensation they currently enjoy has some affect in the financial decisions being made on behalf of their constituents.  We are also, in an ideal world, less likely to attract the types to run for office who will not represent us well.  When our income improves, their income improves.  When unemployment is high, they will also take a hit in the wallet.  Promising lots of things to people who don’t work will suddenly not look like such a good idea.

Just some random thoughts.  If you like where I'm going with this, comment and pass it on.

© the stiff lizard