Top 10 Federal Budget Savings Ideas
by Maggie Van Ostrand
You don't like
the President's Budget proposal? Try theTop 10 from the People, who kept it simple so members of Congress can understand it.
First a
few reminders: Salary for a House member is $174,000, not counting perks, one
of which is called their "allowance." This is a euphemism for lots of
extra taxpayer money ($900,000, commonly called "almost a million") given to them for office supplies and salaries for almost 20
loyal underlings. They get about $250,000 (commonly called "a quarter of a
million dollars more") for office expenses (what, that wasn't covered in
their "allowance"?), including travel (we'll bet they don't go
Economy and we also bet these might include golf trips). You don't even
have to be alive to get this money, as evidenced by the late Robert Byrd's
continuing salary of $193,000 even after he's been in the ground since last
June.
We the
People aren't crazy about learning that Senators get even a bigger allowance
for their office expenses ... more than $3.3 million. Each senator is given
$500,000 to hire up to three legislative assistants. If they'd only learn to
type for themselves, that taxpayer money could support ten taxpayer families.
Let us now get
to our simple Top 10 Items, to wit:
10. Take
away free healthcare for members of Congress and see how they like it.
9. Take
away non-profit (no taxes) status from churches. This is real separation of
Church and State. God would likely appreciate that money going to the people.
8. Take
away taxpayer-paid security and benefits from retired Congressional members. If
they're honest with the people, they won't need security. This should also
discourage so many crooks from running for office.
7. Remind
Congressional members they are already in the top 5% of American wage earners.
What, you mean to say they themselvesare
the ones they want to continue giving all those tax breaks to? Really???
6. Take
away diplomatic immunity for foreign diplomats and make them pay for their parking
like the rest of us.
5. Charge
each member of Congress $1,000 every time they address someone they loathe as
"My esteemed colleague across the aisle ... "
4. Take
away the mansions Congressional members live in and give them a small apartment
in D.C. Don't forget, they have another mansionin
their home state. Right now, they are entitled to almost 9,000 sq. ft and as
many offices as they want in their home state ... not to mention$40,000
for furnishings. Use their empty mansions for the next Super Bowl.
3. Take
away Congress' $3,000 in tax deductions for expenses outside their home
district. Are you kidding? Is that over and above the taxpapermoney
given them for expenses? And you want to take away our deduction for mortgage
interest? What???
2. Take
away Congressional members' free franking privileges. Having taxpapers pay for
postage soliciting more funds from the taxpaper is insulting to us.
1. Take
away the make-up and hair people who service members of Congress, especially
the person who tapes open Nancy Pelosi's eyelids.
Sincerely,
We the People
|
