Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fl) is going after Congressional pensions. He want to end them and that is why he introduced H.R. 584, the End Pensions in Congress (EPIC) Act. It is a generic name but gets right to the point and I am sure it has some members of Congress worried.
The proposed legislation would end pensions for all future Members of Congress as well as those currently serving who are not yet taking advantage of the congressional retirement plan. DeSantis had declined his pension when he was taking office and also believes it should be discontinued for everyone.DeSantis said:
The Founding Fathers envisioned elected officials as part of a servant class, yet Washington, DC has evolved into a ruling class culture . . . Pensions for members of Congress represent an inappropriate use of taxpayer money, especially when the idea of a pension in the private sector is fast becoming a relic from bygone era. How can Congress make private-sector employees pony up taxes to fund pensions for members of Congress when few of these taxpayers enjoy such benefits?
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As a little history on Congressional pensions: they were originally created back in 1942 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was President. No shocker there. Due to public outcry Congress repealed the pensions two months later. When World War II ended, in 1946 the Congressional pension bill was passed again. Congress justified their actions by saying they wanted younger members in Congress with fresh ideas and by having the pension plan in place it would encourage older Members to retire. Well that did not work because today there are Congress members still in office in their 70’s and even 80’s.
Representative DeSantis said it best:
Our political system was designed for Americans to be served by citizen legislators, not career politicians.
