My changes for congress..

"Rank-and-file Members of Congress currently make an annual salary of $174,000 (more than double the median household income of about $80,000 for the Washington, D.C. metro area, including wealthy suburbs). This sum doesn't include taxpayer funds used for lavish pensions, health plans, and generous allowances for travel, staff, and office expenses. Especially in light of troubled economic indicators, Congress should reject an automatic pay hike that would pad an already sizeable Congressional compensation package." That raise is in the amount of $4700/yr.

I think that it is too lucretive a business being in politics.. here's my plan:

1. Every congressman/woman receives $20,000/yr salary provided they are present when congress is in session with 3 days off as personal/sick days.

For every day missed after that, the employee will forfeit $100 until $1000/mo is met.

2. You may vacation when congress is not in session. That's it.. go where you want with the money you've saved like the rest of us. Taxpayers will not pay for your vacation. We will not pay for private jets. You will have to use other than 1st class and use the same airlines as the rest of us. You may travel 12 times a year at taxpayer expense, no more, and only as necessary.

3. Phones.. the government will foot the bill up to $500/mo. /congressman. You pay the rest. These will be business related expenses- the rest will be YOUR bill for personal calls. Your bills will be monitored if necessary.

4.Office? We the people will give you $500/mo for rental space. If you need more.. take it out of your own pocket. There may need to be an office building built to house all of you. Your office space won't be large.

5.Secretary? You will be alloted 1 secretary @ $850/mo

1 computer will be provided @$2400. If you need something better, buy it yourself. Other office equipment will be provided, but the amounts spent will be Under $2000 total. Paper? 4 reams/month... Printer/fax upkeep will be $200/month and receipts will be required for reimbursement for every purchase - be careful not to be wasteful. Other office expenses will be at $150/month with the same directives using receipts for reimbursements. New equipment will be provided every 3 years. The old equipment will be given to school students.

6. Expense account? You will be alloted $300/month on a special card that will not pay for call girls or alcohol. We don't want dead beats or drunken congressmen in our employ, especially during working hours.

7.Need a car? Used cars are wonderful. You may be alloted 1 vehicle for your personal use and a log book that goes with it. You pay for your own fuel.. and upkeep.. be frugal. New cars are much too expensive. You may use your own car if you wish. Don't expect the taxpayers to pay for it's upkeep.

8.There will be NO increases in your pay until the taxpayers vote on it in general elections.

9.I would suggest that an efficiency apartment be built locally to Washington DC to accommodate our congressmen. No charge to live there.. one bed, one dresser, one table and 4 chairs and a sofa and chair to be provided, along with a small stove and refrigerator. You buy your own food. Efficiency type apartments would be perfect with one bedroom. You provide your own phone/service, and other general furnishings- ie tv, radio, toaster, and other small appliances. You supply your own dishes and flatware, pots/pans.

10. There will be a general laundry on each floor of the apartment building with 10 washers/10 dryers provided at a cost of $2/washer and $2/dryer.

You do your own laundry. The taxpayers will not pay for laundry services for you.

11. The present pension system will be neutralized and put into the Social Security account where you will put your own money like the rest of the public. You will fall under the SS system totally. You owe it to the people for creating it in the first place and then robbing the public blind.

Your pension will not be secured after serving for one year as it is now. After 2 terms, you will be retired from office and not able to be reelected.

All persons in office at the present may finish their term.

12. You will buy your own health care as we do. If we have Socialized health care as you are planning, YOU will also share in that and nothing more.

Well, that's for starters.. I just did our taxes and realized that we are living on extremely meager wages, but we are doing okay. The amounts listed here are generous.. and will clear the riff-raff from the playing field called congress. I wonder how many would really stay faced with these guidelines? I daresay, only the serious and really patriotic.

What do you think? How would you change things?