The 2020 Presidential election looming, it reminded me of something I feel really shows how the government really thinks about themselves and not the citizens.
The Democrats in this election cycle have well over two dozen major candidates vying for the nomination for 2020. Twelve of them are current members of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Pretty soon they will be crisscrossing the country in the name of securing the nomination. Guess who gets to foot some of the expenses of all the candidates, we, the taxpayers.
Once they have raised at least $5,000 dollars in at least 20 states from a minimum of 20 donors they receive matching funds from the Federal Election Commission. Presidential candidates must limit campaign spending for all primary elections combined to $10 million plus a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This national spending limit was $48.07 million in 2016. Limit campaign spending in each state to $200,000 plus COLA, or to a specified amount based on the number of voting age individuals in the state (plus COLA), whichever is greater. In 2016, state limits ranged from $961,400 in Wyoming to $23,092,100 in California. OK now that we have some of the numbers out of the way, lets continue.
In the past I have had posts regarding some of the benefits of being elected to office. Some others include, flying home on taxpayers dime. Senators can get $40 thousand dollars do furnish their home state office. They can open as many offices as they like. They get a 72% subsidy to offset healthcare costs. They make their own schedule and work roughly 140 days a year.
Before I digress too far, here is my take. These current members of Congress running for President, if they are serious, should resign from their job. If I want another job, I do it on my time, not my current job’s time. If I don’t do my job I get fired. Every job has a description of what it is, here is the basics of yours, the duties carried out by a Member of Congress are understood to include representation, legislation, and constituent service and education, as well as political and electoral activities. Tell me where it says run for President! You were elected to Congress to serve the state you came from, not to run around the country trying to be President. You are making $174,000 a year with all of those benefits and it seems to me you don’t take that job seriously enough to warrant the next step. You could miss an important vote on let’s say, border security or funding for the detention centers that need beds!!!
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