Take Away Congress Pay and Perks If Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised

Now that the GOP has gone from promising total financial default by not raising the debt ceiling to “partial” default by picking and choosing what checks are written, they may have forgotten that the President’s Treasury Department gets to decide what bills get paid and which ones are put on ice. And since we are technically in default right now, there is not a moment to lose to suggest to the President and Secretary Geitner which bills we can start to ignore. Hint: Let’s begin with the more than $30,000,000 PER DAY it takes just to keep the doors of Capitol Hill open and in session.

You’re probably thinking that’s not possible to spend that much money on a Congress that is less popular than root canal and cockroaches according to a recent poll. However, you’d be wrong. It’s entirely possible when you consider the salary and “perks” they receive for being in session an estimated 126 days a year. Here are the raw numbers:

• The “You Look Marvelous” Appropriation – Ever wonder why senators looks so well coiffed as they pound the podium and rail at wasteful spending? That’s because as late as 2010 they had access to something called the “Senate Hair Care Revolving Fund” for their hair care needs, which has been funded by almost $300,000 in taxpayer dollars.

So Mr. President and Mr. Treasury Secretary, the ball is your court. As you continue to write checks to meet our obligations, make sure that our seniors and service members get their checks. Pay the people who trusted that we meet our financial obligations, but put Congress at the bottom of your list. If we’re going to default on anyone, default on them, because they certainly seem to be determined to default on the rest of us.