Guest Commentary: Money for me, but not for thee
Historically, Congress has always ranked very low in public opinion polls on the issue of trust. If memory serves, it is somewhere below the proverbial used car salesmen… although, after the antics of Democrats in Congress recently, I feel we should apologize to used car salesmen for comparing them to Congressmen.
Democrats in the U.S. Senate have just proven they’re happy to let families suffer as long as it means a victory in their quest for power.
The House Democrat Whip, Katherine Clark, recently told the truth accidentally when she slipped-up, admitting that letting American families suffer would give the Democrats political “leverage.”
Not even trying to hide it anymore, the Democrat Whip actually said: “I mean, shutdowns are terrible, and of course, there will be families that are going to suffer… But it is one of the few leverage times we have,”
That means families of military members, federal law enforcement officers, families in need of food assistance, small business owners who could lose their businesses, and infants in need of diapers and baby food… can all go “pound sand” while you’re being used as pawns in a political game, according the House Democrat Whip.
And why are you being made to suffer?
Let me quote Speaker of the House Mike Johnson: So that Democrats can win the battle to give “free” healthcare benefits to illegal aliens, paid for with your taxes.
That takes some nerve.
At least a used car salesman sells you the car, not the oil spot.
But what I really find nervy is that while Congress plays games with the American people’s paychecks, Congressmen merrily continue on collecting their paychecks and Cadillac-level taxpayer funded healthcare.
Rules for thee, but not for me. Money for me, but not for thee.
To me, the solution is simple: Members of Congress should not receive a paycheck or health insurance during any government shutdown. If Congress was forced to abide by the same rules that apply to the rest of us, I have no doubt government shutdowns would suddenly come to a screeching halt.
But the problem is bigger than with just the shutdown.
Managing our money is Congress’ primary responsibility. And yet, if we managed our personal money as poorly as Congress manages our tax money, we’d be viewing the world through the bars of a jail cell.
Congress hasn’t passed a budget in ages. When it blows through spending each year with a shortfall… no problem, it just passes a “continuing resolution” to keep spending more. Income doesn’t cover expenses? No problem, just go further in debt and print more money. (Actually, it’s so bad, Treasury doesn’t even bother anymore to print money for debt, it just hypothesizes “digital” debt. Remember the imaginary money you used as a child to pay for purchases? Sort of like that, but “digital.” But the inflation we suffer as a result of the debt is very real, unfortunately.)
So, I have an even better idea: No Member of Congress should be paid in any year there is an unbalanced budget to until they pass a budget.
No more collecting paychecks while passing “continuing resolutions” instead of a budget. And hopefully, that budget needs to be balanced in most years. If you aren’t doing your job, you shouldn’t expect to be paid.
It’s time we change the rules for Congress so “what’s good for thee” also applies to “we.”
— Jim Oberweis is an announced candidate for Congress, seeking to represent District 19.