grandzu
07-08-2004, 01:40 PM
Congress is full of millionaires yet the average citizen is not. Congress gives itself pay raises, yet the average citizen cannot do that. The citizen's privacy has eroded yet Congress keeps its own records secret.
In the 435-member House of Representatives, 123 elected officials earned at least one million dollars last year.
In the Senate 1 in 3 people are millionaires.
By comparison, less than one percent of Americans make seven-figure incomes
How are they able to connect and understand what the average citizen needs and wants?
They vote themselves raises covertly hidden in various bill. The fiscal year 2004 Transportation and Treasury Department Appropriations bill included Congress' 2.2 percent pay raise.
Congress during the last 15 years, has given itself pay raises totaling more than $68,000 and catapulted its members into the top 5% of wage earners in America at an annual salary of over $158,000. They passed a law in 1989 that bypass debate and scrutiny and gave themselves automatic raises EVERY YEAR.
On Jan. 1, 2004, they took a raise of $3,400.
On Jan. 1, 2003, they took a raise of $4,700.
On Jan. 1, 2002, they took a raise of $4,900.
On Jan. 1, 2001, they took a raise of $3,800.
On Jan. 1, 2000, they took a raise of $4,600.
On Jan. 1, 1998, they took a raise of $3,100.
That comes to six raises totaling $24,500 since January 1998.
These are supposed to be public servants yet get treated like kings.
They get driven around in limos, have residences the citizens pay for and give themselves raises. This is in addition to their very generous pensions, health and life insurance, housing deduction and assorted perks which they still receive EVEN IN JAIL.
It is time for the people to tell Congress we want and need changes. If you focus on your two Senators - calls, letters, and e-mails maybe it can make a dent in their assurance that they can do whatever they want.
A goverment for the people, by the people? More and more it does not look like it. Yet we just take it. Why?
In the 435-member House of Representatives, 123 elected officials earned at least one million dollars last year.
In the Senate 1 in 3 people are millionaires.
By comparison, less than one percent of Americans make seven-figure incomes
How are they able to connect and understand what the average citizen needs and wants?
They vote themselves raises covertly hidden in various bill. The fiscal year 2004 Transportation and Treasury Department Appropriations bill included Congress' 2.2 percent pay raise.
Congress during the last 15 years, has given itself pay raises totaling more than $68,000 and catapulted its members into the top 5% of wage earners in America at an annual salary of over $158,000. They passed a law in 1989 that bypass debate and scrutiny and gave themselves automatic raises EVERY YEAR.
On Jan. 1, 2004, they took a raise of $3,400.
On Jan. 1, 2003, they took a raise of $4,700.
On Jan. 1, 2002, they took a raise of $4,900.
On Jan. 1, 2001, they took a raise of $3,800.
On Jan. 1, 2000, they took a raise of $4,600.
On Jan. 1, 1998, they took a raise of $3,100.
That comes to six raises totaling $24,500 since January 1998.
These are supposed to be public servants yet get treated like kings.
They get driven around in limos, have residences the citizens pay for and give themselves raises. This is in addition to their very generous pensions, health and life insurance, housing deduction and assorted perks which they still receive EVEN IN JAIL.
It is time for the people to tell Congress we want and need changes. If you focus on your two Senators - calls, letters, and e-mails maybe it can make a dent in their assurance that they can do whatever they want.
A goverment for the people, by the people? More and more it does not look like it. Yet we just take it. Why?