I've been saying this for some time that since Congress feels that the current Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25 per hour is "adequate", they should have to feel the pain of average Americans who cannot find anything out there other than minimum wage (or slightly above) jobs.
Congress (both the House and Senate) should have their pay tied to the Federal Minimum Wage with a maximum pay rate of three times the current Federal Minimum Wage and I've created a petition to try and force just that.
Congress has argued recently, that raising the minimum wage will further damage the economy by making goods and services cost more. Well, I counter that prices are rising anyway, CEO pay is sky-rocketing and the average worker is being paid peanuts by comparison. I would wager that, if Congress had to work for $7.25 an hour, they wouldn't find it to be a living wage either so, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Since they feel it is fine at its current level, then it should be good enough for them also.
Economic studies have shown that workers on the lower-tier of pay tend to spend the vast majority of their paychecks anyway, putting money into the economy. If that pay rate were higher, then average Americans would have the ability to purchase goods and services above the bare basics and that would drive the economy higher. More money coming in equals a more robust economy.
To that end, I have created a petition on the White House Petition site to push this very agenda. I understand that it won't be the end-all for all of our economic woes but getting the economy moving forward is never a bad thing.
Think back (or look it up on-line) to the days when the economy was booming and most everyone was doing well. Income disparity was not what it is today (and growing wider all the time). It proved the meme that all boats are lifted on a rising tide.
My thinking is that Congressional Members should be paid minimum wage until that rate is raised to a living wage and increased tied to a combination of average CEO pay and inflation. Once that part is accomplished and the economy begins to move forward more robustly, their wages can be raised to a maximum of three times the minimum wage BUT, only by a majority vote of the American people.
There are some that will see this as "simplistic" but I counter that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. Anyway, soapbox off and the link to the petition, if you feel like signing it, is below.
Sign the Congressional Minimum Wage Petition