Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Politicians leading by example? Don’t hold your breath

I am tired of listening to our elected officials tell us that we must share responsibility for cutting our national debt, legislating cuts to benefits that many rely on to survive. Ironically — hypocritically? — members of Congress are not subject to the same scrutiny and burdens.

I suppose $3,269.23 weekly ($170,000 yearly in congressional salary) is hardship enough for them. Some skirt the law and live in their offices, essentially receiving a benefit without declaring it as IRS regulations require. I guess a three- to four-day work week and 90-plus days off a year is a sufficient sacrifice.

They talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits because the system is “unsustainable.” Interesting how members who participate in the congressional pension system are vested after only five years of service. (A full pension is available to members 62 years of age with only 5 years of service; 50 years or older with 20 years of service; or 25 years of service at any age.) Yet they want to push the retirement age up for the rest of us.

Somehow we cannot afford to provide basic assistance for people who worked their entire adult lives. I wonder what the annual cost is for congressional retirement and medical benefits?

Our representatives need to lead by example. I’d like to see at least one proponent of the proposed cuts to the social safety net introduce legislation to reduce their pay and benefits.

Yeah, right!

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