We must cut spending -starting with salaries and pensions for congress

[stray cat]

In my job I don't ask emplyees to sacrifice more than myself or to do anything I would not do - if the GOP want to cut spending they can start with themselves

[TBF]

1. Finally you and I agree on something - their benefits ought to go too. nt

[notadmblnd]

2. In tough times, everyone should sacrifice

When they settle for 40k a year, then I'll work for 15k a year.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. Not enough millionaires in it already?

Because if it's staffed by self-funding volunteers, that's what you'll get even more of.

[Hannah Bell]

10. I think we should means-test it. If they're millionaires already, they can volunteer. For can-

didates who aren't millionaires, double their salaries.

Maybe that will bring in some fresh blood.

[madmax]

4. +10 nt

[toddwv]

5. There are plenty of places to shave the Congressional budget.

1st) No pensions and lifetime health policies for felons.
2nd) F*** that. No pensions or lifetime health policies for anyone in Congress. The last thing we should do is encourage them to stay in office until they die.
3rd) Congressional allowances range between $700,000 - $1.6 million PER MEMBER. That seems like an excellent place.

Just some things off the top of my head.

[Davis_X_Machina]

12. The entire legislative branch...

...including the Library of Congress, and the Architect of the Capitol, costs about $5.2 billion a year.

The slice of that that goes to compensating members of Congress is minuscule.

The federal budget for 2011 is about $3.8 trillion.

That's about 1.4% of the total. For the entire legislative branch.

Pure symbolic politics. Showboating. Gestures.

We complain when the GOP does it. It's not any more serious when done on the left.

[Donnachaidh]

6. personally, I don't think ANY Congresscritter should get a pension for 2 years in office

Let's put limits on those pensions and health benefits they walk away with. Pensions should START only after 25 years service. And they should have to deal with Cobra as soon as they leave office.

[tammywammy]

7. They don't get a pension after only serving two years. n/t

[former9thward]

8. Members of Congress have to serve 5 years for a pension.

[Donnachaidh]

9. they still should NOT get a pension before 25 years service

And forget the health benefits too.

[former9thward]

11. The federal ERISA law says pension plans have to offer a

pension after 5 years. This includes all pensions private or public. If the change you want were made in the law then someone who works at a factory could be fired after 24 years and not receive any pension. I don't think that would go over too well.

[Donnachaidh]

13. hogwash -- the law could be written specifically NOT to give pensions to Congress

What -- you don't think there wouldn't be anyone willing to re-write that law, specifically to pensions to Congress, and take them out of the equation until they've worked for 25 years?

[former9thward]

15. Since Congress would be the ones to re-write the law

then No, I don't think anyone would be willing to write themselves out of a pension. But good luck with that.

[Enthusiast]

14. Their pensions should be

in line with that of their constituents. That means they would get no pensions or health care at all. Now that would be a law that a majority of Americans could get behind.