Pay for Federal Officials, Congress and Executives

A Resolution to Amend the U.S. Constitution Regarding Compensation of Federal Employees and Elected Officials

WHEREAS,             Individuals elected as members of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, President and Vice-President are servants of the State or the several States that elected them, and,

WHEREAS,            The members of Congress are allowed to modify their own pay, subject to a delay until after the next election, which action is contrary to the norm for an employee of companies or servants of the state, and,

WHEREAS,            The current pay level of the aforementioned elected individuals are excessively higher than the median income of the citizens they have been elected to govern, and,

WHEREAS,            The compensation of the members of Congress and the Executive Branch should be related to the overall financial well being of the country and income of the citizenry, let it be;

RESOLVED,            By two-thirds of the Legislature of the State of {state} here assembled, that the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission by the Congress, or by ratification of three-fourths of the States at a Constitutional Convention of the States, that we also hereby request.
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SECTION 1:            Congress shall not have the authority to adjust their own compensation, or the compensation of future members of Congress, nor shall they pass any legislation adjusting the compensation of the President and Vice President. Congress is authorized to execute legislation necessary to appropriate the funds needed to pay the compensation as enumerated in this article.

SECTION 2:            Congress shall ensure that the U.S. Census Bureau continues to collect income data under the American Community Survey, or other data collection practice, as needed, to produce and report a 60-month National Median Income.

SECTION 3:            The compensation to be paid to members of the House of Representatives shall be equal to 200% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, except for the duly elected Majority and Minority Party Leaders, who’s compensation shall be equal to 225% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Speaker of the House shall receive compensation equal to 275% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SECTION 4:            The compensation to be paid to members of the Senate shall be equal to 200% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, except for the duly elected Majority and Minority Party Leaders, who’s compensation shall be equal to 225% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SECTION 5:            The compensation to be paid to the Vice President of the United States shall be equal to 325% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SECTION 6:            The compensation to be paid to the President of the United States shall be equal to 500% of the most recent 60-Month National Median Income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

SECTION 7:            The members of Congress and the President and Vice President shall receive additional compensation equal to 10% of the compensation calculated in sections 3 through 6 of this amendment for any fiscal year in which the budget deficit is less than ½ of 1% of the Gross Domestic Product, as reported by the Treasury Department.

SECTION 8:            The aforementioned compensation shall become effective on the 1^st of January, the year following ratification of this amendment and shall be adjusted each year on the 1^st of January based on the most recent 60-month National Median Income.

SECTION 9:            No member of Congress or the Executive Branch shall receive funds from any State, Local, Federal of Private Pension plan while a serving in Federal Elected Office.  Government Pension payments banned by this article shall revert to the Governmental Agency issuing such payments.  Private Pension payments shall be placed in a trust fund and disbursed to the elected official once they vacate office.

SECTION 10:            Other pay rates that are dependant upon the compensation paid to the members of Congress and the Executive Branch shall also be adjusted, but shall be reduced or increased, as needed, in increments of 10% of the difference between the compensation level at the time of ratification of this amendment and the new compensation level annually on the 1^st of January each year until the compensation for those positions so affected have reached the new compensation levels as determined by the appropriate department.

SECTION 11:            Amendment XXVII to the U.S. Constitution is hereby repealed, upon ratification of this amendment.