How Billy Long Should Really Fight Congressional Salaries: Be a Real Citizen Legislator

Billy Long went to Congress noting the framers of the Constitution. He said our founding fathers never intended on career politicians serving in Congress. What they envisioned was someone who would go off for a few years to represent the people of their district and then come back to the district and resume a normal life.

Of course, that's not what we see in Washington today, and I have my doubts that this is what Billy Long wants for himself. What we really have now is legislators who go there looking for a career ready to enjoy all the perks of the Congressional salary, benefits, and retirements.

I bring this up because on Facebook yesterday, Billy Long posted he is fighting a war against rising Congressional salaries.

Yesterday I supported legislation to block President Obama’s executive order giving Congress a pay raise. The House passed H.R. 6726 in a 287-129 vote.

I got to thinking back to Billy's 2010 campaign, where he stood in front of Southwest Missouri voters sharing this vision of citizen legislator which the founders created and how much he wanted to be a part of that tradition. I am puzzled once again by Billy Long. If Long really believes in this idea of citizen legislator and wishes to fight a war against Congressional salaries, then why doesn't he go back to the original vision of the founders that he expressed during his campaign.

Let me explain. If Billy Long wants to live out the founders vision of citizen legislators and fight the career politicians, then why does he stop at HR 6726. Why doesn't he sponsor legislation that is truly in the tradition of the founders that would rid Washington for the career politician scum that litters George's city?

Our founders didn't create an annual salary and all these retirement benefits for members of Congress.

From 1789 to 1855, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session, except for a period from December 1815 to March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1855, when they were paid $3,000 per year.

If Long is serious about congressional salaries beyond this rhetoric, noting that Billy Long and any member of Congress, can volunteer a reduction in pay and turn down pay increases (which Billy doesn't), then perhaps he should take a page out of American history and reconsider Congressional salaries all together.