More than a few people have commented on the huge pay increase Pennsylvania's legislators recently voted to pocket. Just about the only people who think the increases are a good idea are the politicians who got the money.
One arrogant legislator said that the pay raises will help attract better candidates for public office. While constituents have noted these good candidates do not include the legislators themselves.
For those of us who have never had the good fortune to be a paid politician, most pay increases are tied to performance. If we work hard and do a good job, our pay goes up. If we don't do very well, we don't get a raise.
When I'm elected to U.S. Congress, I will propose that congressional pay be directly tied to the performance of the politicians. Rather than simply passing a bill that increases their pay, as they do now, congressional salaries will be determined by their job on the federal budget.
For example: if Congress reduces the budget deficit by 50%, their pay, for that year, will be increased by 50%. Conversely, if the deficit increases by 50% then their pay will be cut by 50%.
Presently rank-and-file members of Congress make about $160,000 a year. To keep these members from claiming poverty when they do a poor job on the deficit, we would cap the bottom rate at $100,000. This would be more than enough for any politician to live comfortably, yet would still provide enough negative incentive for them to do a much better job than they are doing now.
On the other end of the scale, we would cap the rate at $220,000 a year. With the possibility of making an extra $60,000 for good performance, I would expect that the budget deficit would be solved within one or two years after enacting my proposal.