Sherrod Brown proposal: Congress should get retirement benefits at same age as the rest of us

[cal04]

A modest proposal: Congress should get retirement benefits at same age as the rest of us
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/a-modest-proposal-congress-should-get-retirement-benefits-at-same-age-as-the-rest-of-us/2011/03/03/gIQAVEFvAI_blog.html

Senator Sherrod Brown has an idea. If we are going to talk about raising people’s eligibility age for retirement benefits, then members of Congress should not have access to their own retirement benefits any earlier than the rest of us.

Brown is introducing a proposal today in Congress that would enshrine this into law: It would amend the Federal retirement system to make the Social Security retirement age the point at which current and future members of Congress get access to their own Federal retirement benefits.

You might dismiss this proposal as merely designed to send a message, and indeed the proposal that may not even come up for a vote. But Brown is hoping that the very fact that it’s a long shot will force some members of Congress — and the President — to rethink the notion that it’s acceptable to raise the retirement age on hard working Americans.

“The people who cavalierly say we can raise the retirement age probably don’t know people who work in a diner or in construction or in manufacturing or in retail and had their knees go out in their 40s or 50s,” Brown told me in an interview. “People who are doing physical work always have back problems and joint problems.”

[hifiguy]

1. Sherrod Brown seems like one of the genuine good guys

Wouldn't mind seeing him run for Prez in 2016.

[thecrow]

7. How about sooner?

Like 2012

[hifiguy]

8. I was thinking that.

Quite loudly, in fact. But I didn't want to attract a firestorm given the way things have been around here lately. ;)

[CTyankee]

11. Me too. I like the guy and I like his wife, the columnist, too! Good duo!

I think they are both terrific. Either one would make a great president...

[peace13]

2. A truly compassionate man! n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. The more I see Sherrod Brown, the better I like him.

This is a great idea.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

4. Very sensible and fair

Nice to know there are a few adults up there who can think, at least.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Good for him.

[Zenlitened]

6. Hearty K&R. - n/t

[safeinOhio]

9. Wonderful wife too.

[provis99]

10. Sen. Brown is one of the few decent ones in the Senate.

90% of the Senate is shitheads.

[gristy]

12. Bad idea, as this would give them ammo for cutting retirement benefits.

They'd say "I'm not asking you for any sacrafice that I'm not also making".
The fact is they don't need their friggin retirement benefits.
They've got all the money they need from payback masquerading as post-service consulting fees.

[robinlynne]

13. When do they get retirement now? Their salaries AND retirement should be the first things on

the chopping block, well right after the BUsh tax cuts.

[Kat45]

14. It might not matter to them because a lot of them retire quite late themselves

They have the kind of job they can keep doing into old age. They don't necessarily do it well, but they still do it. (Remember Strom Thurmond, 90+.) And they are all so rich that they aren't dependent on their retirement benefits, not that they don't want them anyway.

[MH1]

15. it seems like a no-brrainer.

it should be voted on and it should pass.

[Cowpunk]

16. Brown's been pushing this measure since April

So nice of the MSM to finally notice.