Liberal chain letter received. Good point made, not too keen on the cure.

[Scuba]

In my email. I personally have higher priorities for Constitutional Ammendments....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x956954

<snip>

No one has been able to explain to me why young men and women serve in the U.S.
Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50%
of their pay. While Politicians hold their political positions in the safe
confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full
pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense.
>>
>>
>>
>>Monday on Fox news they learned that the staffers of Congress family members are
>>exempt from having to pay back student loans. This will get national attention
>>if other news networks will broadcast it. When you add this to the below, just
>>where will all of it stop?
>>
>>35 States file lawsuit against the Federal Government
>>
>>Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for
>>imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to
>>convene a Constitutional Convention.
>>
>>This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it
>>on.
>>
>>This is an idea that we should address.
>>
>>For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many
>>citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay
>>after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the
>>laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for
>>sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The
>>latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform... in all of its
>>forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above
>>the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or
>>whatever. The self-serving must stop.
>>
>>If each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three
>>days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.. This
>>is one proposal that really should be passed around.
>>
>>Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make
>>no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply
>>equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law
>>that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally
>>to the citizens of the United States ."
>>
>>You are one of my 20+
>>


<end snip>

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Politicians do NOT get full retirement after one term

Snopes - always check Snopes when you get these emails.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Senators sure do. Full benefits at 5 years of service

One Senate terms is 6 years. In the House, it takes two and one half terms, again 5 years is the mark. The lowest number of years to vesting I have heard of other than Congress is 10 years, double what they have to do.
And yes, a Senator gets pension after one term. Serve longer, get more money. But serve 5 years, you get a pension. The end.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. That's not what Snopes says

I just looked it up last week when I got this email.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/socialsecurity/pensions.asp

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Here's from the Congressional Research Service

5 years service makes them eligible at age 62. http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30631.pdf

[Bluenorthwest]

12. The snopes correctly refutes many wild claims but it does not

refute the 5 year mark, as that is in fact the rule. 5 years, less than one term for Senators.

[rfranklin]

2. Iwas wondering this morning why Dems don't send around these emails...

It seems the right wing nuts have a new (or recycled) one every day which often get forwarded to me by morans who broadcast them to everyone who every sent them an email. Well, here we are. I suspect however since it mentions Fox News it must be another right wing nut email that got here by mistake.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Because they are almost always false

[Poboy]

3. See this thread on DU-

Wanna make a million? 5.7 years in the Senate makes you one. Ka-Ching!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x956944

[LiberalEsto]

4. I thought we abolished royalty back in 1776

but I guess my history teachers were wrong.

The part about student loans makes me furious. We are going broke trying to pay our kids' student loans.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. It's false

Members of Congress don't get a break on student loans.

[cleanhippie]

6. the law has changed, its only 40% of base pay for 20 years now.

But the medical benefit is priceless. Dont know how my family and i could afford regular insurance.

[AndyTiedye]

7. We DO NOT Want a Constitutional Convention

A Constitutional convention would be hijacked by the Teabaggers and the Fundies.