Legislators Shouldn’t Collect Their Pensions Until They’re 66

Betcha didn’t know that members of Congress can start collecting their retirement pensions when they’re fifty.  I didn’t know it until this morning.  But it figures.  These are the same sheltered pampered VIPs who receive every taxpayer-funded (i.e. Socialist) benefit imaginable, while shouting “Bootstraps!” to the rest of us.

So it makes perfect sense — from their cozy little world of fundraisers and limousines — for them to start drawing their own retirement benefits at fifty while simultaneously trying to raise the retirement age for everybody else.

Senator Sherrod Brown (D—Ohio) has introduced the Shared Retirement Sacrifice Act of 2011.  This would require lawmakers to wait until they’re sixty-six (instead of the current fifty) before they can collect their pensions.  Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Sherrod Brown said:

“…I hear lots of members of Congress, especially, particularly conservative members of Congress, say we should raise the retirement age for Social Security…So, my thought there was that members of Congress should not be able to get their pension…until any earlier than a Social Security beneficiary should get theirs.”

Even if this bill doesn’t pass, it’ll be entertaining to hear the rightwads trying to rationalize why they should be able to retire with full benefits at fifty, while the retirement age for everybody else should be raised to 67.  Or 70.  Or 72...or 77...85...