Remember: Congress works for us

ABSOLUTELY!!! How can we do this?

Please right wingers put some solutions in your letter. What do you propose? Term limits, recalls, compensation changes, etc.

CONCERNED, I like what you're proposing. Let's require term limits, recalls, caps on speaking engagements, book deals, and pay increases. And make congress drop their current coverage and sign up with the rest of us regarding this healthcare bill. Do that, and watch how fast they drop this ugly baby! How's that for some solutions?

I have said over and over I prefer congress not get the plan. They will bloat it and make it too expensive. I have come to accept the fact that members of Congress are going to get perks they make the rules. However, I don't want them writing a plan for themselves and 47 million. The cost for that 47 million would be astronomical because members would give it every bell and whistle possible.

I remember congress works for us, Unfortunately, it appears Congress has forgotten that fact. Time to vote ALL the crooks out! IF YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED,YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!

Southernguy08-In fact, lets not stop there. Let's do away with their franking priveleges, ONLY pay for their travel to their homes, make them accountable to us for their actions and decisions, limit their pay to whatever the average pay for all Americans is, require them to pay for their own staff, in fact since they work for us, allow us to vote on how much they should make and what allowances they should get. I think that would pretty much stop all of this gravy train.

ROESCHEN, what office are you running for? I want to help you campaign. Great post! And CONCERNED, if congress doesn't want to be involved with this healthcare bill themselves, what does that tell you? "THE BABY IS UGLY!" Serving in congress should be considered a priviledge...not a vehicle for priviledge!

If Congress was serious about giving us GOOD healthcare reform they would write bill that specifically states what the costs will be, how much additional tax each of us will pay, and what procedures ALL of us can have regardless of age, other health conditions, etc. They would also include in the law that we would be entitiled to all future procedures that become available through research or technological advances. They would make it simple and easily understood. That is not what is happening. They have written over 1000 pages of gibberish which no one has read, no one understands, and which gives some government panel of bureaucrats the "on the fly" power to determine what healthcare we can have based on the budget. Sorry Congress, I reject that kind of governmental power. They could have healthcare reform if they were open and up front with their bill. Instead they want all of the power to do with us as they wish and give or take away benefits at any given time and based on whatever actuary table works to keep the budget in line that year. KEEP PROTESTING FOLKS. GET VIOLENT IF YOU HAVE TO WHEN OBAMA"S SEIU UNION BROWN SHIRTS SHOW TO TRY TO KEEP YOU QUIET.

w00t! I like where all this is leading.....keep 'em coming!

The idea of taking away health care from our representatives is an easy rallying call, but maybe it doesn't make so much sense. These people have all of our national secrets in their heads. They make our laws and set up frameworks for how things will work in our country. The benefits they recieve are a small price to pay for their loyalty. I'm not saying they are all virtuous, but what we offer them is expected to show the good faith of the republic. You can take it all away, if you like, but before you do take an eyeball to the government corruption of some of our third-world counterparts.

Please tell us how we're going to pay to insure the 47million so-called un-insured (including illegals) with less drs, how we're going to get better care and how this prezbhocare plan is going to cost the US citizens less? That's some 'fishy' math their working with. Must be the math that tax cheat geithner uses. BE CONCERNED -- Be VERY concerned!!!

Thanks for a great letter Mr. Lewandowski. For jrbfromga and concerned native, here are some solutions. Proposed Constitutional Amendments:

1. Members of Congress shall be limited to a TOTAL of twelve years of service. (or maybe 18yrs).

2. Members of Congress shall not exempt themselves from any law they enact for the people, nor shall they set up for themselves special benefits and privileges not available to the people that extend beyond their term of service.

Each of these amendments would need the additional paragraphs stating that the amendments would go into effect IMMEDIATELY upon ratification by three-fourths of the states and that they apply to all sitting members of Congress at that time, as well as future members.

The second of these amendments would do away with Congressional full pay retirement, free staff, and medical care for life.

Here's the kicker. Obviously, Congress is not going to propose such amendments. Therefore, two-thirds of the states will have to request a constitutional convention to propose them.

Edward you are an uninformed Rush Limbaugh robot, programmed to say only what elrushbo tells you is a fact. Well the facts are congress falls under the Federal Employee Retirement system just like Civil Service Employees. They pay into it and can draw a pension at age 62 if they have a total of 5 years service. They can retire earlier depending on their years of service, but regardless of their years in office , they cannot retire with more than 80 percent of their salary. Next time do a little research befire you spout off what Rush tells you to.

Congress has never completely worked for us. Since the beginning of time some politicians have been corrupted. That is just the way it goes. All we can hope for is to get a majority of them in office which are not corrupted, but I still believe that would involve independents. They do not have the money to get noticed however. Money talks.

Lewandowski's letter is full of the lies and misleading statements that fly around the internet for years and won't go away. You can check this out and learn the truth at urbanlegends.com or truthorfiction.com. First of all, Congress does pay Social Security, and they DO NOT GET FULL PAY FOR LIFE! The average retired Congressman and Senator gets about $55,000-$60,000 a year in retirement, but none of them get full pay. As for their health care, I'm a retired Federal employee and I have the same insurance that they can buy - and we both pay part of the costs. The fact that the Chronicle either is ignorant of these facts or chooses to ignore them and print this garbage shows what a disreputable rag the paper is.