
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990                   TAG: 9007240363
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

KEY CONGRESS' PAY TO DISTRICTS' INCOME

I PROPOSE that each member of Congress be paid equal to the median income of the people in the district he or she represents.

I believe this would be an eye-opening experience. Maybe if they had to live with the consequences of their actions, members would take more care with the taxpayers' "blood money," as the government actually has no money of its own.

Let our public servants release the golden goose and wonder about how they will make modest ends meet, how they will pay rising taxes, insurance rates, save for college, retirement and maintain a modest lifestyle. The idea of servanthood has been abandoned.

Am I willing to pay higher taxes? Yes, on the day our Congress is willing to try living like the people they are supposed to represent - with no big staff, no wonderful perks, no generous retirement benefits and on a median scale of income, as already outlined. If Congress feels further sacrifice is needed, it should very personally lead the way. Maybe then we won't have to follow. SALLY McDONALD SALEM

by CNB