It's time to defund the Congress critters health care benefits.

[shraby]

Anthony Weiner is advocating it to the Republican side of the aisle.
<http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/20/947495/-Lets-help-Anthony-Weiner-defund-Congressional-health-benefits>

If they can do it to everybody else, we should be able to do it to them. They need to bite the bullet too. Not only that, but the practice of living in their offices should be made to stop. I can't think of one employer who allows their employees to sleep and live out of their office..unless they manage an apartment complex and get their rent as part of their pay.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. also their pensions need to be in jeopardy along with everyone else.

[shraby]

3. They shouldn't be in congress long enough to retire from

their position and get a pension for it. That is supposed to be temporary! Very very few are worthy of staying more than two terms...and even they are iffy.
Private sector jobs don't give pensions for the most part until the person turns old enough to retire on social security. Public sector jobs usually have 30 years or 40 years service and out..young enough to get a private sector job and double dip in the end.

[Obamanaut]

6. Don't vote for incumbents. nt

[Carolina]

5. exactly

2 years in Congress and they're set for life. Plus no raises (which they vote themselves); they should be the first to take pay cuts!

[Obamanaut]

8. Reply 4 addresses such things as vesting (5 years, not 2), and retirement. nt

[bobbolink]

2. When you can figure out a way to make them be homeless, then you will be on to something.

[mmonk]

7. +1

[Obamanaut]

9. And we would inflict homelessness on another for, well, why? nt

[DCKit]

14. Just the possibility - the threat that too many of us live with every damn day.

If their situation became as precarious as the vast majority of citizens, they might actually start working for their non-corporate constituents.

[Me.]

4. And Their Pensions

Since they want to cut back on everyone else's. These guys get 60% if their salary, which, if my math is right, is over a hundred grand.

“Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.

As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.

Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

The amount of a congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.” (which works out to over a$100,000 per year)

“As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.”

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay....

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Hear! Hear! I wish I could rec this post.

[leftstreet]

10. I don't want to take anything away from them. I just want what they have

:thumbsup:

[hankthecrank]

11. They want to cut everything its time they pay for heat, light, health insurance, grass

grass cutting, snow removal, about security, parking place, no more free travel, no more free postage, who pays their staff should come out of their money also. we have so many congress critters worth in millions they need to pay for their privilege to steal our money!

[shraby]

13. It's a sad day when we realize that most of the troubles of

this great country comes from the ones who are voted in to manage it for 2-6 years, but turn into many more whether they have done a creditable job or not. Things like their pay and benefits should be put up for a national vote at the same time they are on the ballot. No one gave anyone the permission to use their offices as living accomodations. Their pay is now high enough for them to be able to afford their own places.
A couple of things should be adjusted in congress. Their pay should be set as equal to whatever the average of their constituents earn. Their living accomodations in Washington should be one large building or several buildings similar to a housing complex for low income constituents in various places in the country. That way they would have no excuse to use their offices to live in.
No reduced hair cuts, gyms, and other amenities in the government buildings that the taxpayer pays for. Use the spaces for something else that is productive. I'll allow they may need a cafeteria, but even that is iffy. There are brown bags, lunch boxes, and restaurants available.

[Cleita]

15. Yes, it's time for the millionaires club to share in

the sacrifices they are asking poor people to make.

[cutlassmama]

16. Make them live on SS payments instead of their big fat salaries