Where Do I Sign Up?

When  a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen are  they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers need to find ways  to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as  well. Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this  type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big  bonus.



I  feel our government should not be immune from similar risks. I therefore am  recommending the following cuts to be implemented by the next president  elect.



Reduce  the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members and  Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State). Also reduce remaining staff by  25%. Accomplish this over the next 8 years. (two steps / two elections) and of  course this would require some redistricting.



Some  yearly monetary gains include:



$44,108,400  for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay / member  / yr.)

$97,175,000  for elimination of the above people's staff. (estimate $1.3 Mil in staff per  each member of the House, and $3 Mil in staff per each member of the Senate  every year)

$240,294  for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.



$7,500,000,000  reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members who's jobs are  gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion  / yr)

The  remaining representatives would need to work smarter and would need to improve  efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for  the good of our country?

We  may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient  resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what  your representative is doing.

Congress  has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the  current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers , cell  phones to name a few)



Note:  Congress did not hesitate to jump on a train for home this week when it was a  holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we  have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months  (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These  facts alone support a reduction in senators  & congress.



Summary  of opportunity:

$  44,108,400 reduction of congress members.

$282,100,000  for elimination of the reduced house member staff.

$150,000,000  for elimination of reduced senate member staff.

$  59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house  members.

$  37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate  members.

$  7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress  members.



$  8,073,383,400 per year, estimated total savings.



Big  business does these types of cuts all the time.



IF  you are happy with how our government is right now, just delete this message.

IF  you are not happy, I assume you know what to do.