President Reagan, with the strong, silent support of the members of Congress, created a commission to consider raises for our nationally elected officials. The commission`s recommendation: a 50 percent increase in congressional salaries.
What about a 20 percent cut in salaries for elected officials, whether they be local, state or federal, until they restrict their spending sprees so that a balanced budget is the rule and not the exception?
Rep. Dan Rostenkowski proposed a huge increase in the gasoline tax. According to newspaper reports, Rep. Rostenkowski personally wanted a $1 surtax on each gallon of gasoline. Why? To pay for the past wild, uncontrolled spending by members of Congress.
As we all know, history has shown us that increasing the salaries of our elected officials has not produced better, fiscally sound politicians.
Maybe changing the law to ensure that our elected officials, local, state, or national, balance their budgets before they receive a salary increase, will be the only way we taxpayers will be certain that our tax dollars are being spent wisely.
