Friday, July 10, 2009

You Vote for It; You Use It

Often the US Congress has voted for laws that apply to the taxpayers, but not to the law makers. Despite occasional protests from the more savvy voters, this practice has continued for decades.

The primary example is social security. Members of Congress do not participate; they have a different retirement program. And while every election cycle brings ominous predictions that social security will soon be bankrupt, there is no such concern for their retirement program.

Yesterday Rep. John Fleming (R LA), introduced a resolution calling for Congressional Clowns who vote for health care reform to sign up for it themselves and their families and to forego participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. If it’s good enough for the people, it should be good enough for the people who impose the law upon them.

Representatives Wilson (SC), Burton (IN), Bartlett (MD), Linder (GA), Garrett (NJ), Blunt (MO), Scalise (LA), and Alexander (LA) joined him in co-sponoring the resolution. I believe that fed up voters should inundate offices on Capitol Hill with demands for passage of the bill AND we need to call for an amendment to make it apply to all past and future laws passed by Congress.

I, for one, am tired of Public Monarchs instead of Public Servants!

1 comment:

Laura said...

Bravo to the brave politicians who supported this resolution. Maybe "brave politician" is not ALWAYS an oxymoron.