Send IT ON!

[louixo]

It take less than thirty seconds to read. It makes sense. If you agree, please pass it on.

You are one of my 20.

An idea whose time has come.

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.

Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise..

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ".

 

[Turtle]

While I agree with the last paragraph, it is a little funny, and sad, that whoever wrote this wants to amend the Constitution, in order to change the current laws regarding Congress, yet they don't even know what the current laws are. (Reminds me of the Safety department of a carrier which will remain nameless, who makes decision based on the legal speed limit of a given state, yet they don't even know what those speed limits actually are.) They wrote this based on outdated information and, unfortunately, commonly believed myth. Without even looking, I guarantee you that either Snopes or FactCheck,org, or both, have pages refuting all of the above claims.

There was a time when Congress had law exempting themselves for a lot of things, but sexual harassment wasn't, and isn't currently, one of them. In 1994, when the Republicans had control of everything, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act. The CAA effectively removed any and all exemptions for Congress, including sexual harassment and civil rights exemptions, and it currently applies to the new Health Care Reform (actually, it's insurance reform, not health care reform, but I digress) law.

Members of Congress do, in fact, pay into Social Security. Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes, nor were they eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERS).

Members of Congress receive retirment and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation. Members elected since 1984 are covered by the FERS. Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.

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 retiring after one term at full pay? Not hardly. They cannot retire even after 25 years of service at full pay.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. Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

The amount of a Congressional pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.

The current salary (2010) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.

Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400

House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400

According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.