Cut Congress First
By Ralph Nader
Speaker Gingrich and the House Republicans have talked their talk about cutting the federal
government. But they sure don't like to walk their walk. Follow this one.
The Federal government is up to its eyeballs in debt -- about $4.8 trillion. Gingrich and his
cohorts are behind schedule and scrambling to find the $200 billion in budget cuts they promised.
These are going to be big cuts. They're going to hurt ordinary Americans. A lot.
But what about the Republicans' own tub of lard: Congressional pay, pensions and perks?
Speaker Gingrich wrote in December that "elected officials have become so entrenched that they
are unresponsive to the public they were elected to serve."
That's a good description of the way he himself is acting now, regarding Congressional pay. Four
out of five Americans support a pay cut for Congress. But whenever this subject comes up,
Gingrich and the House Republicans hide under their oversized desks -- despite their calls for
fiscal responsibility.
I say to Newt Gingrich: before you cut one more dime from anything else, cut Congressional pay,
pensions and perks first. If the people have to suffer, their leaders should endure some leadership
by example.
Any real leader knows that, but Gingrich is behaving like the old Communist party bosses who
dined on delicacies while the Russian people stood in line for potatoes. Here's a list of some pay
and perks enjoyed by the typical member of Congress. Judge for yourself.
* Base salary of $133,600 per year (As Speaker, Gingrich makes $171,500, and still whines on Nightline about his poverty.)
* Fantastic pensions. (ex-speaker Foley will get about $124,000 per year plus COLA, for the rest of his years.)
* Free outpatient medical care at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
* A special $3,000 tax deduction a year enjoyed only by members of Congress.
* Keep the frequent-flier miles that taxpayers paid for.
* Free meals and vacations from lobbyists and business groups.
* Taxpayer subsidized life and health insurance.
* Speaker Gingrich gets a special $25,000 "expense account." He never has to disclose where he
spends the money, and it is considered income for tax purposes.
If our members of Congress can't muster the self-discipline to cut their own luxurious salaries
and overgenerous benefits, how can they expect to receive the support of the people for budget
cuts that affect them directly. The U.S. Congress has got to stop pocketing benefits like a 15 year
old with free use of mother's credit card.
So when the House Republicans announce their proposed budget cuts, check the fine print.
Make sure that House Speaker Gingrich and his regal Congress cuts each of these items. And if
they don't, then you've got to give them an earful until they live up to their own call for fiscal
responsibility.