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Regardless of their pay, a congressperson will be tempted to align their incentives with service to causes other than their electorate. Plus, people who just wa
by TimTheTinker 5y ago
Regardless of their pay, a congressperson will be tempted to align their incentives with service to causes other than their electorate. Plus, people who just want to make a lot of money (instead of serve their country) would be tempted to run for congress to receive "football coach level pay".
It makes sense to pay them a high enough wage so (lack of) money doesn't become a worry in their life, but incentives get borked beyond that.
What worries me more is the fact that they are guaranteed that same wage for the rest of their life after serving in Congress.
- ISL 5y agoCongressional pensions: https://foxx.house.gov/legislation/fact-or-fiction-members-and-pensions.htm https://foxx.house.gov/legislation/fact-or-fiction-members-a... Looks like one must serve at least 5 yr to get them (so House members aren't automatically in, but Senators are).
- kup0 5y agoHell, maybe even it would be okay to have lack of money become a worry in their life- potentially would help them understand a significant portion of their electorate better. So many of them are out of touch as it is in regards to financial security, the prices we pay for things, etc.