Voters want Congress to stop spending money. Especially on itself.
Rasmussen has the tale of the tightening purse strings:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely Voters nationwide want Congress to cut its own pay until the federal budget is balanced.
Only 16% disagree with that approach and nine percent (9%) are not sure.
Not surprisingly, there is a huge gap between Mainstream voters and the Political Class on this topic. Eighty-five percent (85%) of those in the Mainstream want Congress to cut its own pay while 74% of those in the Political Class do not (see more on the Political Class—Mainstream classification.)
Overall, 78% say that any pay raises for Congress should be submitted first to voters before the legislators can receive the extra income.
“Political Class” is an oxymoron. Like “Senate Intelligence Committee”.
Source: Rasmussen
This post was last modified on September 4, 2010
View Comments (24)
its not the pay, its the ruling class, the power, the control of the population, these are slime mold at best and nothing short of treasonous demigods at worst. The founding fathers envisioned citizen politicians, people of good moral and superior character that would leave their jobs for a determined period of time, perform their public service (senate etc) leave and return to their former job. No life time full play retirement for one term, no perks, no corruption! what we got is about 554 individuals that are liars, thief's, power mad low life's that are drunk on the power they voted to themselves. You can not be in politics unless you are devoid of morality, personal honor, and ethics. Term limits, No retirement, no perks, and they pay into Social Security like everyone else
I think the concept of Cincinattus should not have been for the revolutionary war veterans, but also for the federal politicians -- one term, and RETIRE, DAMN YOU, RETIRE.
Originally the Congress rotated membershep evry so many years, a third of the whole each time. The Congress ammended that after the War Between the States to ensure abolitionist control of government,
Why do they care? The "salary" is peanuts. It is the kickbacks, "contributions", limitless and uncontrolled expense accounts, per diems, tax payer paid prostitutes, etc, etc, etc, etc. Duh, why would one spend 10's of millions, often supposedly of their own money, (ie Dayton in MN, et al) for a job that supposedly pays about $175K.
I agree, but that doesn't keep them from passing themselves a payraise whenever they choose. They absolutely don't need both!
Perhaps a plan like the legislature in Texas would be much better for Washington...$600 a month salary and they only meet 140 days every two years. Plotiticians (yes--spelled this way on purpose) can do far less damage that way...and we pay the clowns in D.C. way too much for doing the damage that they do to us DAILY. Let's get back to a strict interpretation of the 10th Amendment, even if it means states invoking NULLIFICATION of ALL federal mandates that are not 10th Amendment Constitutional. What would they do to us if a majority of states all stood together?
Great idea, but it would only fly in the Red states. The Blue "welfare" state voters are permanently attached to the government teat.
sick Eric Holder and his band of minority vigilantes on us ....
mv
Gee, and here I thought America was supposed to be a classless society. But then again, there is no class in Congress.
You forgot the Mother of All Oxymorons...the "Senate Ethics Committee".
Here's a question since holding public office allows for a lot of benefits power, traveling around the country, and sometimes to foreign countries. Why the hell do we pay them so much that they can afford fancy yachts and whatever in the first place?
Kerry is independently wealthy. He's of the Forbes family. (His middle name is even "Forbes"-- his parents apparently wanted to make it very clear to everyone that he was a Forbes, lest his doofus personality make you forget for even a moment that He Is Important.) Admittedly, he does not act cultured enough for people to think that he comes from money.
Beyond that, his wife, Theresa Heinz, is a billionaire (very complicated how she came into that money, so it's better to google that for details if you are interested).
The couple have something like 5 or 6 houses, all multi-million dollar mansions. No idea who paid for the yacht, but I don't think he could have had enough cash without Theresa's help.
The dishonorable John Kerry "So all I have to do is park my yacht outside of Taxachuetts, and I save how much....?
The sad part there is that Massachusetts, or any other state for that matter, has taxes so high that people would have to choose other places to park their stuff, regardless of what it is.
Yep, this is getting serious and the fools want pay raises.... its complete lunacy
All pay increases in the future should be tied into performance. Just like a real job. Congress must individually present their accomplishments from the previous year. They also must present their goals and objectives for the following year. This would be done in a clear and concise manner. No "gray" areas are allowed. This will be presented to a board of "ordinary" Americans who will look at each applicant and determine how much of a raise they can have, if any, where improvement is needed, and whether or not they feel the applicant should remain in their current position. Also, cut out the pension plan to only those in congress who have served at least 4 consecutive terms. Put in a 2 term limit for all. Health benefits will be paid for by the members out of their own pockets.
@Bruce - my congressmen are proactive - everytime I send an email on *anything* to Levin, Stabenow or Dingelol, I get a "thanks for writing. In the past ___, I have been fighting for you and I've _____ ....". Boasting seems to be one of their few talents -- that and mis-representing us.
In other words, an automated response to their constituents that pay their salary. And in the great state of Michigan, it's unfortunate that so many people vote that *do not* pay taxes or their salary - yet they seem to get all of these dork's attention.
Bet if my note came from the email of a prominent union leader, I'd get a personal reply!
I cannot wait for Nov 2012!
mv
Ain't it the truth MV. I got the same form letters every time I wrote to mine as well. As far as writing to the officials in my union expressing displeasure in their politics, I actually received phone calls that were if not mildly threatening, at the very least hostile.
Hmmm. Ben Nelson has not used a form letter any time I've written. I think he's worried about something. As he should be. Over 90% of the emails were against health care, even with his idiotic kickback. I simply cannot wait until November, 2012.
we should pay them twice as much for doing such a great job! Obamacare, TARP, the Bailout, The Credit Crunch, High Unemployment, more people than EVER on welfare, Iran has gone nuclear, two more liberals on the Supreme Court with the ability to make up laws ... and on and on - they've done a fantastic job and exactly what we hired them to do!
And as a bonus, one of the special research projects they funded has produced little pigs that grow wings.
I like the sound of little pig wings, they likely taste great as well... A large order of volcano hot piglet wings for my friends and I, please. Care to join us?
A salute to you, sir. In awe I hold your writings. Your style is magnificent.
YUM, YUM !!
C U Nov. 3rd. I'll bring a large order of fricassee'd lame duck. ;-)
Like Johnie Lennon said " We all help out where we can."
and the seas have receded......