government corruption not just a party issue

Margaret MooneyMatt Fleury

Government CorruptionNot Just A Party Issue

House of Representatives• 1 term = 2 years• Elected just in time to campaign for next term• Many don’t like to vote either way on issues

so that they can receive as many votes as they possibly can from their constituents

House of Representatives• $174,000 salary for each representative• $223,500 for the Speaker • $193,400 for their party leaders• A cost of living adjustment(COLA) occurs each

year unless they vote against it.− For obvious reasons, the vote against this rarely

happens

House of Representatives• Members of Congress are permitted to deduct

up to $3,000 of living expenses per year incurred while living away from their district or home state.

• Members of Congress may retire with full benefits at age 62 after five years of service, at age 50 after twenty years of service, and at any age after twenty-five years of service.− Full benefits

Senate• 1 term = 6 years. With staggered voting, one-

third of the seats are available every two years• Elected by primaries or caucuses

− Primary: Poles, line, stand in a box, done.− Caucus: People have gathering and they

physically take the side of the room for the candidate of their choice. Then debate, change sides, and final counting.

− Those are a whole different injustice

Senate• $174,000 each senator• $193,400 for the president pro tempore • In June 2003, at least 40 of the then-senators

were millionaires• Along with earning salaries, senators receive

retirement and health benefits that are identical to other federal employees, and are fully vested after five years of service.

• On average, a retired senator receives $60,972

Sounds pretty good huh?

Well because of these incredible benefits, congress is subject to many corruptions

Lets take a look at some of the voted members of congress…

Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)• pleaded guilty to one

felony fraud count for using $750,000 of campaign money to buy items like stuffed animals, elk heads and fur capes.

• His wife, Sandi Jackson, who is a Chicago Alderman, pleaded guilty to filing false income tax statements at the same time

Laura Richardson (D-CA)• Found guilty on

seven counts of improperly pressuring her staff to campaign for her, destroying evidence and tampering with witness testimony. • The Committee

ordered Richardson to pay a fine of $10,000

John Ensign (R-NV)• Resigned his

Senate seat on May 3, 2011, before the Senate Ethics Committee could examine possible fiscal violations in connection with his extramarital affair with Cynthia Hampton.

• The John Ensign scandal reached a plea deal with prosecutors, the details of which have not yet been released

Tom DeLay (R-TX)• On November 24,

2010, a Texas jury convicted DeLay of money laundering connected to the Jack Abramoff scandal.

• On January 10, 2011, he was sentenced to three years in prison in Texas

Not only are there those largely exposed corruptions, not many people will vote on bills so they can keep the votes from their constituents.

This leaves the “not so important” bills to be pushed aside.

The reality is, those issues could greatly impact the “important” issues that those congressmen are more concerned about.

The Real Issue• The Penny• www.weebly.com/abolishthepenny

There’s no more compromising

This is NOT just a PARTY issue

This is an American Issue

YOU decide

Educate yourself before you vote

Because they are running your country