Congressional pay increases should be voted on in national elections

When Congress decides that they deserve a pay increase, they should be forced to put it on the ballot when we hold national elections. You know, good 'ol fashioned labor bargaining. Congress should agree on the amount that they wish to recieve and put it on the ballot for a yea/nay vote.


Do you agree? If so, how would we make this so?

I don't know how we'd go about it, but it seems the height of arrogance that these bastards can take a regular pay increase without asking their employer (the people) first. Some think that's what elections are about, I say bs. Elections cover hiring the employee. Merit raises are completely separate from the hiring/firing process except in extreme cases. Why should Congress be any different?

Maybe we could hold yearly state referendums to decide whether each of our reps deserve a raise or not.

It is as though they have all of the benifits of a union contract (which coincidentally they strive to deny us) without any of the responsibilities.


I'm not sure how I feel about individualizing their pay, I tend to lean away from that idea. Some congress critters represent wealthy and/or powerful districts, while others represent impoverished districts. Wealthy districts may be more inclined to bestow lavish pay increases with more pork barrel $$ delivered to their district.

Conversely, a good congress person who works their tail off representing the needs of their impoverished constituents is going against the belt-way grain, & results of their efforts will be limited. People who are struggling finacially may be less inclined to justify pay raises to people who are already living comfortable lives, regardless of how well they are being represented.


Let it be based on merit, with the entire country having a say on the state of the State. If there are more impoverished districts struggling that will have an influence on those doing well. :)

Basing the raise on merit nationally is the better idea. A merit raise should, after all, be a percentage increase -- anything from 0-100% of the predetermined increase amount, depending on performance. I guess I'm just trying to figure a way of giving, say, only a small raise and not letting one party erroneously blame it on the other's policies!

with the minimum wage.

themselves a raise! As far as I know, it's now automatic and based on some COLA calculation, and it takes effect unless they vote NO!

I'm afraid if it were put on the ballot each time, the damn fools would end up getting MORE %% than they do already!

Atleast if they had to vote themselves a raise each time, it would be a published record!

That's why I think it's a good thing that the Dems, or at least some of them, are refusing their raise and demanding an increase in the min wage instead!

as most of their money comes under the table.

Here in the Texas Legislature, for instance, they make something silly like $8,000 a year. And yet the Capitol is chock a block with fat cats. Hrm...

the legislature for $8,000 a year. Too bad Texas doesn't actually pay then more people would be able to consider running for the offices.

they would NEVER get a pay raise if that were the law. Maybe index it to the median wage or inflation or whatever.

of 'merit pay' for other workers they should have it too!