Why pay the do-nothing Congress?
To the editor:
Now that the Republican Congress has passed the 2025 Continuing Resolution for the Federal Budget demanded by President Trump, it’s time to look at a new place to save tax dollars. As President Trump has taken over the job of the Congress, who for some reason has given up their power outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution, why not dismiss the House and Senate members?
The following is from the Congressional Salaries and Allowances: in Brief on Congress.gov published June 27, 2024. The yearly compensation of a regular congressperson is $174,000. The Speaker of the House receives $223,500. Senate Pro Tempore and majority/minority leaders both House and Senate $193,400. All members receive a Member Representational Allowance or MRA, for staff, office expenses and travel, and mail services. In 2023, the MRA ranged from $1,849,149 — $2,088,459, with an average of $1,928,100.
There are 435 House of Representative members, plus six non-voting members, and 100 senators. The combined total salaries are $94,280,500. For MRA, 541 members X $1,928,100 = $1,043,102,100, or a little over $1 billion a year. The combined salaries and MRA totals $1,137,382,600. This does not count pensions, gym facilities, death gratuity payments to heirs (seriously!), health and life insurance, and so much more.
Congress needs to do its job, as outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution. I say each member post in their state and district newspapers as well as their own social media (not X) five things they did each week to prove their productivity to their constituents.
Cindy Perouty
Fort Myers