My last posting took issue with the so-called “Congressional Reform Act of 2010.”
Dumb idea.
OK. So it’s a dumb idea. Got a better one?
You betcha.
How about this as an amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Members of Congress shall be compensated only during their term of office and only in a static amount to be determined after each decennial census by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Governors of the several states."
“Members of Congress” includes members of both the House and the Senate.
“Shall be compensated” includes all salary, benefits and perquisites.
“Only during their term of office” eliminates the possibility that any form of compensation, such as a pension, would be paid after leaving office.
“Only in a static amount” bans an escalating salary based on the Consumer Price Index or any other changing standard or definition. It puts the Congress on the side of keeping United States currency as a stable and reliable medium of exchange.
“To be determined after each decennial census” allows for adjustment every ten years, to reflect long term changed conditions.
“By the President” assures that the decision is made by someone who is politically responsible to the people of the United States.
“With the advice and consent of a majority of the Governors of the several states” assures that the decision is approved by officials who are politically responsible to the people, but not as part of the federal government establishment.
I have no illusion that what I have offered here is either the best or the only way to deal with the problem of Congressional goodie-grabbing.
But I submit that it is an attempt to do something that can in fact be done, and that most probably would have a beneficial effect.
I invite all who read these words to weigh in.
How would you do it? What words would you use?
That is what an Article V Convention empowers the American people to do; come together and reason together. Kick it around. Find the best solution.
It’s the American way.
I would prefer simply amending the current compensation law to comply with the 27th Amendment. Also, getting rid of pensions would mean more corruption as more members curry favor with future employers.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, it would be better to increase the pension and revoke lifetime floor priviledges instead.