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This is a proposal that is long overdue. This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please share it with your friends.
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 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.
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 “.
COUNT ME IN!!!
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Snopes is your friend: http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
It’s mostly false.
Congress does pay into Social Security, just like everyone else.
Congresspersons cannot retire on full pay after one term. Their pension is determined by a number of factors, most notably length of service, but also age at retirement, when they started in Congress and their salary. And, by law, their pension cannot be more than 80% of their salary.
Congress also made themselves subject to most laws that they pass in 1995.
Likewise, Congress is not exempted from HCR. The new law mandates that you must get insurance. If you have it from your employer, then you’re covered. Congresspersons, being federal employees, have health insurance through their jobs, just like millions of other people.
The Wolf
Heh. I didn’t read the Snopes article carefully enough.
The final version of the bill specifically states that members of Congress and their staffs will only have access to plans created by the bill or offered through the exchanges created by the bill.
The Wolf
Also, logically, the proposed amendment is ridiculous. There are plenty of laws for Congresspersons that don’t apply to ordinary citizens for good reasons. Just to take a silly example, the law permits a congressperson to hire a staff funded by public monies. If your amendment were to pass, then you and I and every citizen could also hire staffs funded by public monies. I don’t think that that’s what you want, is it?
The Wolf
Or, two more quick examples:
The salary of a Congressperson is set by law. In short, the law states that a Congressperson receives a yearly salary of $X. If all laws that apply to Senators/Representatives must apply to all the people, does that mean that everyone is entitled to that same salary.
And lets not even mention the fact that the size of the House is a matter determined by law, not the Constitution. I don’t think you want to limit the number of people in the country to 435, do you? 🙂
The Wolf
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t want to put words in squeak’s mouth. My interpretation is that members of Congress (State and House) should be subject to the laws and bills they pass that we must follow.
Mayan,
I didn’t have a problem with the first part (that Congress should be subject to the laws of the people). I had a problem with the second part (that the laws of Congress should apply to the people).
And, as established, with regard to HCR, Congress does have to participate in the plan.
The Wolf
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