Federal legislators have cushy deals thanks to taxpayers.
About that automatic COLA for legislators' salaries. Yes, I know you've voted not to take the automatic raise in the past couple of years, though I note that prior to that your salary raises were substantial:
Between 2001 and 2009, Congressional salaries increased from $145,100 to $174,000 thanks to an automatic Cola increase. As Social Security recipients have not received a cost of living adjustment since 2008, Congressional Cola increases cost taxpayers $2.2 million and $2.5 million in 2008 and 09 respectively. In 2010, Congress voted to not accept a 2011 COLA increase. On January 7, 2011, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Az) introduced a bill to cut Congressional salaries by 5%.
While you've been getting those nice increases in salary, you've been busy kowtowing to your corporate overlords and have found all sorts of ways to let manufacturing and other business leave the country and regular Americans' median income has gone
DOWN during the same period.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: Scale legislators salaries back to the 2001 figure of $145,100. After all, it's the policies that you enacted that caused the rest of us to lose -- why should you be any different, moreover reward yourselves for jobs poorly done?Now, about your pensions. Congress (both houses) has been very, very generous to itself. They pay less into their pensions and get a sweet match from taxpayers.
They enjoy, "
pension benefits that are two to three times more generous than those offered in the private sector for similarly-salaried executives. Taxpayers directly cover at least 80 percent of this costly plan."
Not only are the pensions more generous than private sector pensions, they're more generous than even executive branch pensions and certainly regular federal employees.
For example, Members of Congress under CSRS have a generous accrual rate of 2.5 percent for all years served, while most workers in the Executive Branch get a sliding rate of between 1.5 and 2.0 percent. For FERS, Members get a 1.7 percent initial rate, versus 1.1 percent or 1.0 percent for most rank-and-file federal employees. Also, lawmakers with longer careers in Congress can generally collect pension benefits at a far earlier age than their counterparts with similar service elsewhere in the government. Plus, the Congressional benefit is protected with Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs), a feature that only about 1 in 10 private plans offer.
According to the Congressional Research Service, a lawmaker with 20 years of service under FERS could expect to receive a pension equivalent to 34.0 percent of his or her highest three years’ salary average. For other federal employees in the Executive Branch, the “replacement rate” would be just 20.0 percent. For CSRS participants, the gap between a Member of Congress and an Executive Branch employee is 50.0 percent versus 36.5 percent.
And that ain't all:
Furthermore, lawmakers enrolled in both Congressional pension plans (CSRS and FERS) can participate in the federal Thrift Savings Plan, a defined contribution arrangement that works like a 401 (k) retirement system. However, only lawmakers enrolled in the newer pension plan, FERS, can also obtain a generous government “match” of their salary contributions (up to 5 percent). This can add considerably to the total retirement package.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: Scale back legislators' pensions to more closely resemble the pensions of all other federal employees. Congresspersons and senators increase their contributions substantially so that taxpayers are contributing no more than 30% of the pensions for legislators.Legislators currently become vested in the pension system after 5 years of service. They can retire at age 62 and, if only serving 5 years at that point, are eligible for a pension based on their 3 highest salaried years. A fifty-year-old who's served 20 years can retire at age 50. They can retire at any age after serving 25 years. Add in the "Golden Goose of Congressional Pensions known as an annual guaranteed cost-of-living-adjustment" and those retirement benefits, courtesy of us, look even better!
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: You want to raise the SS age? Okay, this taxpayer suggests you make your own sacrifice. Members are vested in retirement after 8 years of service, not five. And retirement with full pension must follow the same guidelines you set out for Social Security. No more free rides at the expense of the taxpayer. You want to serve in Congress for 20 years and retire when you're 56? Fine. Your pension doesn't kick in until you hit whatever age you set for SS. No exceptions. And you get a COLA only when Social Security recipients get a COLA. No exceptions.Health insurance: taxpayers currently pay approximately 3/4 of the health insurance costs for legislators and their families.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: Increase the percentage legislators pay for their health insurance, with taxpayers paying no more than 20% of health insurance costs for legislators and legislators assuming the full cost of family members' health insurance. This seems fair since so many legislators are fine with millions of Americans having no health insurance at all.Life insurance: taxpayers currently pay approximately 1/3 of members' life insurance plans.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: Life insurance has become a luxury these days for regular Americans hit by job cutbacks, losses, high costs of most items needed for everyday living. I suggest members pay for 100% of their life insurance since American taxpayers increasingly can't afford to have it at all.Health club costs: Members currently pay a nominal fee to use the health club in the Capitol. Taxpayers pick up the rest of the cost.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICE: Pay for your own damn gym. Talk about luxuries these days! The most exercise some of your constituents are able to get is standing in lines: unemployment, food banks, and more. When your constituents are hurting so badly, why the hell are we putting one penny of tax dollars toward an exclusive gym open only to you and your staffs?SOME OTHER SUGGESTED SACRIFICES: Fly coach. You want pampering? Pay for the upgrade out of your own damn pocket. And pay for your own parking at the airport! You get free premium parking -- the rest of us have to pay big bucks for that. Tighten those franking privileges, too -- taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for what amounts to your brag-mail that's essentially campaigning on taxpayer dollars!We currently have 55 members of Congress who are worth $10 million and above. This taxpayer suggests that any Congressperson worth $10 million or more forgo his or her salary and pay $100% of their health insurance costs and that of their family's. Why the hell should we pay to enrich you more? You've likely taken some of your own money to buy your election, so do the right thing and save the taxpayers from forking over money for a salary you don't need and health insurance you can bloody well afford to pay for yourself!
SO, WHERE'S YOUR DAMNED SHARED SACRIFICE, HMMMM?
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