New Bill May Cut Congress' Pay and Raise Retirement age.

Everyone knows that the U.S is going through turbulent economic times. Everyone has made sacrifices, by carpooling, cutting back on spending, or getting a second job. Unemployment rates are at unprecedented levels, and foreclosures have become routine for banks, just like rejecting loans or raising interest rates. Everyone seems worried about their pensions… except high ranking government officials. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate make about 175,000 dollars a year and their bosses make even more. They can receive their pensions earlier than most, some retiring at age fifty with a full pension. Their full pensions were about $69,012 in 2009.

Recent talks have had Congress wondering if they should raise the age required to receive a full pension. Sen. Sherrod Brown not only has argued against this, but has actually created a bill that would require all members of Congress to reach the required age before retirement. He also included that members should take a pay cut. Personally, I agree with his sentiment. Years ago, the state had limited funds to send representatives to Congress, then they had to return to be elected. Even though they are in service of the country, I do not believe that they need hundreds of thousands of dollars to do their jobs. If they all took just a ten thousand dollar pay cut, there would be an extra 4,350,000. Imagine what we could do with that money. We could create new jobs improving the infrastructure of our country. Debt relief. Help those whose lives have been ruined by recent flooding. The possibilities are nearly endless. They could choose to make scholarships or begin paying the national debt. With any luck, this bill will pass.