The Lemon Law: Can We Apply It to Congress?
By: Pat Freeman
August 4, 2009
There are national Lemon Laws, and there are state Lemon Laws. It doesn't matter which law you invoke because they all have a similar purpose - to protect citizens from being stuck with defective products.
Shouldn't we apply the same remedy to our elected legislators if they don't protect our rights, interests and investment? They are House members or Senators because we, the people, selected them by our vote; and we pay dearly for their service with our federal taxes.
Congress: How Dearly Do We Pay?
According to the CRS (Congressional Research Service) Report for Congress: Congressional Salaries and Allowances, US Senators and Representatives earn $174,000 (2009). Reasonable, you ask? Probably, provided they perform as we require them to do.
Now, let's tally the dollars that aren't obvious to the electorate. Some would call them perks, others refer to them as necessary operating expenses. Regardless, they add up to big money.
The CRS reports that "each Chamber has a different system of allowances that enable lawmakers to hire staff and maintain offices in Washington and in their home states."
In the House, a single Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) covers personnel, official office expenses and official mail. In 2008, these allowances ranged from $1.3 million to $1.6 million.
On the Senate side of the Chamber, the National Taxpayers Union estimates that "combined Senate allowances range from $2 million to under $4 million per office." Senators also receive a considerable amount of additional dollars for their committee work. And, in January of this year during a recession, the Democrat-led Congress also gave each lawmaker an extra $93,000 in petty cash to spend - just in case.
Our Generosity Abounds
Average, overtaxed American workers pay above and beyond the stated salaries ($174,000) and expenditure allowances ($2,318,000) for our members of Congress. We are also responsible for their retirement benefits, health care, and domestic and foreign travel expenses.
Retirement: The Civil Service Retirement System reports that the 2008 average annual, taxpayer-paid pension for Representatives and Senators was $63,696. And, congressional retirees are guaranteed yearly cost-of-living increases that, over the years, could advance their pensions well beyond the actual salary we paid them while they served.
Health Care: Congress's gold-plated insurance coverage is out of reach for most Americans. However, taxpayers are obligated to pay lavishly for our elected Representatives to enjoy the benefits of a plan that they can customize from a menu of 280 options. The government Office of Personnel Management reports that a high-level, HMO family plan is available for $15,000. Taxpayers (some of whom cannot afford health care for themselves) pay 75% of the premium.
But, the benefits do not end here. We kick in another $2 million per year so that members of Congress can enjoy their own in-house pharmacy, visit an on-site team of doctors, technicians and nurses, and get a physical exam, an X-ray or EKG without ever leaving work. Nice!
Domestic Travel: Congressional members are afforded (thank you, taxpayer) $6,200 per year to travel from the District to their home state.
Foreign Travel: Unfortunately, there is no standard allowance for overseas travel for our elected representatives and their aides. The current protocol simply requires them to complete a travel request form, hop on a plane, and hand in an expense report at the end of their jaunt. Then the unwitting taxpayer pays the tab.
According to a Wall Street Journal report on July 9th, "hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago."
The Average Joe
A 2008 Pew poll determined that "nine out of 10 Americans saw themselves as middle class (53 percent said they were middle class, 19 percent described themselves as being "upper-middle class," and another 19 percent described themselves as lower-middle class). Just 2 percent of respondents considered themselves upper class, while 6 percent said lower class."
Forbes.com used this study to compile 2008 salary averages for 90% of Americans, the self-proclaimed middle classes-blue and white collar, alike.
|
$50K-$75K Lower middle class |
Bottom Line: Congress
The following dollars amounts are averages of the House and Senate, and the highs and lows of each category-taxpayer provided.
Salary |
$174,000 |
Allowance |
$2,225,000 |
Petty Cash |
$93,000 |
Retirement Package |
$63,700 |
Health Care |
$11,300 |
Bonus Care |
$3,700 |
Domestic Travel |
$6,200 |
Foreign Travel |
$24,300 |
Total Salary and Benefits |
$2,601,200 |
Bottom Line-Middle-Class Taxpayer
The total averaged salary for the lower-, mid-, and upper-middle class is $117,000. This figure can vary upward depending on company-paid benefits, but not all American workers receive health insurance and/or retirement packages.
Are We Getting What We Pay For?
Is anyone astounded to learn that average, middle-class American taxpayers, earning $117,000, are carrying the $2.6 million burden of each and every member of Congress - all 535 elected Representatives and Senators?
$1.4 billion!
Are they worth it? IF we get the service that we're paying for, IF our elected officials act for the betterment of their constituents, and IF they behave honorably, then we can somehow manage to tighten our belts and pay the compulsory big bucks. But why in the world would we continue to employ officials who fail in their sworn duty to faithfully discharge the duties of the office...?
The onus is on each and every taxpayer to keep our representatives honest and remind them that they answer to us. By standing up for our rights we prove to government that deeds (or misdeeds) have consequences, and they will be held responsible. Our remedy is the ballot box - every two years.
The Lemon Law: Apply it!