WE STILL HAVE A PRIVELEGED CLASS

Originally published by Tom Butenhoff on 11/15/99

America, the land of equality! For the most part that's true. There is, however, one remaining special class among us. They have privileges and benefits beyond most of our comprehension, and it is at times like this that I choose to remind readers that they still exist.

I am talking about the "kings and queens" in the Congress of the United States. They earn many times more than the so-called average American, and they have, over the years, accumulated a shameless string of benefits, most of which still exist.

The cause for my current rant is the fact that they have concluded their work for the year. No, your calendar isn't wrong, but for Congress the work-year is over. We're not just talking about a few days for Thanksgiving, or a few days off for Christmas and New Year's; we are talking about two full months, from approximately mid-November to mid-January of next year, when they will return to Washington for more mischief-making.

In roughly the third week in January, Congress will take a week — not a day — off for President's day. They'll have a week off for Easter, and for Memorial Day, and for Independence Day, then they'll take the entire month of August off because IT'S JUST TOO HOT IN WASHINGTON IN AUGUST! They won't return until after Labor Day, and then, there's just a few weeks left of work before they have to race home for the November 7th, 2000 elections. If there's anybody reading this paper that has a vacation schedule like the aforementioned, I would certainly like to hear from you.

Earlier, I'd alluded to the fact that when they come back, they will just make mischief. And, whenever I get off on a rant like this, invariably, someone will call or write and say, "But Tom, don't you get it? The more time they're out of Washington, the less damage they can do." To some extent, I suppose that is correct, but I find it a very hollow line of reasoning. The fact is that when they're there, they create foolish laws and red tape designed mostly to complicate our lives. There are important things that Congress ought to be doing, and they rarely, if ever, get around to it. Probably because of all the vacation time that interferes with their work.

Having gotten this rant off my chest, I am now going to thoroughly confuse most of you with a related story and a seemingly contradictory opinion. Earlier this year, with little debate, Congress voted themselves a $4,600 pay increase. Starting next year, their salaries will be $141,300. Not bad for a bunch of privileged folks with all that vacation time, who rarely have to take any money out of their own pockets because so many other people are busy doing them favors. At the same time, they voted to double the President's salary from the current $200,000 to $400,000.

I have to concede that given their deplorable track record, especially considering the current occupant of the White House, the salaries, on the surface, seem outrageous. However, looking past the above complaints, it has long been my contention that salaries for this president-and any president-and senators and congressmen, should be much higher. Not because this flock deserves it, but by way of getting better people to go into government service.

I honestly believe that if you paid the president of the United States a million dollars, and congressional members $500,000 each, you would attract more qualified and competent people to the job. You would attract people who weren't constantly trying to solicit favors from various lobbying groups. I would pay them handsomely, and hope that what I would get is independent, hard-working people.

What do you think? I'd really like to hear your opinion on this one. Just drop me a note, to:

I won't print your name if you don't want me to, but I will share interesting excerpts from readers in a column sometime in the not-too-distant future.

(Tom Butenhoff is a First Vice President with J. E. Liss & Company in Milwaukee. The views are his and not necessarily those of Liss Financial Services or the Job Connection/Hiring Network.)

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