This country needs a brave senator who world introduce a bill, and call it something like “The Congressional Reform Act of 2010” or similar. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators serving their term(s), then going home and back to work.
Here’s a summary of what the proposed bill should include:
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two six-year Senate terms
B. Six two-year House terms
C. One six-year Senate term and three two-year House terms;
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system. Congress participates along with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current “Cadillac” health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/2011.
