THE PUBLIC MIND: READER HAS SUGGESTION ON ADDRESSING NATIONAL DEBT

To the Editor:

The recent congressional pay hikes have angered the people of the country, and the increase in taxes with failure to balance the budget have made many of us mad.

What we need is an amendment to the Constitution. The amendment that Madison and Jefferson overlooked: An Incentive Amendment.

Under the Constitution:

"Article I, Section 7 Revenue Bills. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills."

Therefore be it proposed that by Constitutional Amendment:

THE INCENTIVE AMENDMENT

"The members of the House shall receive an annual salary of $75,000 per year (Senators $85,000) with a year-end cumulative bonus of one percent for each one percent reduction in the outstanding National Debt, and a two percent bonus for each one percent reduction in the annual tax rate. However, an inverse negative bonus shall apply. Representatives shall be limited to 12 years in office and Senators 12 years. On retirement each member shall receive an annual pension of two-thirds of hi~s highest annual salary. Salaries shall be on hold during wartime."

Such an amendment will serve to focus the priorities of the Congress. Note that when the debt is reduced to zero the representatives will be making a minimum of $150,000 and Senators $170,000.

Have faith in the legislators: in a few years the country could be out of debt, and we might even be freed of the income tax. The legislators would be some of the highest paid men in Washington and deservedly so.

It would take threats and ca~jolery to get it through Congress and ratification by the state legislatures, but it could be done. The country needs such an amendment to curtail the "special" interests, and the give-away programs.

Dr. Burchard S. Pruett

St. Louis