Cut all of their pay, Congress, White House members, Judges, etc. in half. This would save us 50% of what we taxpayers pay now.
http://federaldaily.com/articles/2011/03/11/salary-cut-bill-for-congress.aspx
"Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., introduced a bill on March 10 that would cut by 10 percent the annual salaries of the president, vice president and members of Congress. For President Obama, that would be a $40,000 reduction."
This is a start but I say 50% at least! The average Congress member gets a minimum of $174,000 a year (2011 levels).
From 1789 to 1815, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1815, when they were paid $1,500 per year.
In 1989, Congress passed an amendment allowing for the automatic raises, unless lawmakers specifically voted to reject it. Which Congress did, until 2000...
Since 1990, congressional pay had increased from $98,400 to $154,700 in 2003.
Also... Presidential pay history:
September 24, 1789: $25,000 (actual) $566,000 (2009)
March 3, 1873: $50,000 (actual) $865,000 (2009)
March 4, 1909: $75,000 (actual) $1,714,000 (2009)
January 19, 1949: $100,000 (actual) $906,000 (2009)
January 20, 1969: $200,000 (actual) $1,175,000 (2009)
January 20, 2001: $400,000 (actual) $487,000 (2009)
Decrease pay so that it will not be the sole factor to run for office. Notice how the dollar's value has decreased!
