Perks, attention, and prestige. Benefits of being a career politician separate them from common citizens.

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Congress: an Aristocracy
Or, Career Politicians Lose Touch with Voters

Congress, the "Peoples' House," was never intended to accommodate life-long members. The incumbent members of Congress are accustomed to their Washington life style. The public doesn't feel welcome there. Career politicians in Congress look down on the "little polyester suit people" back home.

Citizen legislators behave differently than career politicians. Citizen legislators know they will return home to work in their real jobs!
They will return home to live under the laws they pass. Not like Congress that exempts themselves from many laws.

The more years they spend in Washington,
The more money they spend every year.

The more money the princes of Congress spend,
The more powerful they become, and
The longer they want to stay.
Term limits, even if voluntary,
will help assure a Congress that represents the citizens.

Politicians:
Citizen Legislators or New Aristocrats?

What do they get? Ralph Nader has pointed out a number of benefits members of Congress get that would make them the envy of most working Americans.

Base salary of $150,000 per year (with the latest pay raise)
Fantastic pensions. (ex-speaker Tom Foley (D-WA) will receive almost $124,000 per year plus COLA, for the rest of his years.)
Free outpatient care at Bethesda and Walter Reed Hospitals
Office of the Attending Physician -- on site treatment in the Capitol complex at low cost ($275/year for House, $520/year for Senate)
Taxpayer-subsidized health insurance
House Members receive free meals and vacations from lobbyists and others
Use of Office Expense Account monies to purchase meals for members of Congress
$3,000 annual housing allowance tax deduction only for members of Congress
Free mail privilege (Franking Privilege)
House Members may use taxpayer-paid frequent flier miles for personal use
Free parking at National and Dulles airports, and at the Capitol
Use of Office Expense Account for purchase of bottled water or spring water for Congressional offices to avoid tap water
Free firewood for Senate offices
Members currently pay for their transportation to and from their district with funds from their Members' Representational Allowance.

But, that is not all. Congressional leaders earn even more. For example, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will make $181,400. And with a tax-free $125 per diem, worth perhaps $18,000 to $20,000 per year (to cover their lodging and expenses to those members living outside a 50-mile radius of the Capitol) their salary will be even more.

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Perks, attention, and prestige. Benefits of being a career politician separate them from common citizens.

Issues Research World class education Modernize our tax system Lost NAFTA jobs Special interest money Social Security? Politics of Democracy? Main Page

Congress: an Aristocracy

Politicians: Citizen Legislators or New Aristocrats?

Issues Research
World class education
Modernize our tax system
Lost NAFTA jobs
Special interest money
Social Security?
Politics of Democracy?
Main Page

Politicians:
Citizen Legislators or New Aristocrats?