Compensation for Services

Article I, Section 6 says that members of both Houses of Congress “shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.”

Benjamin Franklin suggested that elected officials serve without pay, but others in the Constitutional Convention decided otherwise. Could it be that Franklin imagined the motive for “service” being corrupted by the love of money?

Consider this: Between 1789 and 1855, members of Congress received a daily payment or “per diem” of $6.00 while in session. (From December 1815 to March 1817 this was changed to $1,500 per year.) In 1855, Congress members began receiving an annual salary of $3,000 per year.

Currently the “rank and file” members of Congress receive $174,000 per year. The Speaker of the House receives $223,500 and other House and Senate leaders $193,400. This does not include retirement, health care, and other “perks,” such as limousines, choice spots at Washington airports, travel to states and districts as well as other destinations (including overseas), private banking, health spas, fine office furnishings, office staff to perform “constituent services” including doling out pork-barrel spending, and what insulates them from the rest of us, exemptions and immunities from tax, pension, and other laws that burden private citizens.

More insidious is the nebulous “franking privilege” which gives each of these “lawmakers” millions of our tax dollars to create a favorable public image, thus giving the incumbent an unfair advantage during elections. In fact, it seems that “re-election” has become the most important “duty” of House and Senate members. This is yet another reason why our nation must return to the values upon which the Constitution was originally founded. Public service should be about service, not gaining wealth and power.

“Abuse of power isn't limited to bad guys in other nations. It happens in our own country if we’re not vigilant.” --Clint Eastwood