According to Politico, there are 237 millionaires among the 535 members of Congress; 44 percent of the body, compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall.

Congressional salaries are six figures. Their benefits, including health care and pensions should be cut and limited, whether short term or long term employment.

Between 2007-2009, while Americans lost thousands of jobs, even during the Bush tax-cuts era, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., gained about $9.2 million, along with others in Congress gaining between $2.6 million and $3 million.

Their profited investments received federal bailouts, while dozens of lawmakers are invested in Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.

Those big banks are paying out millions to more than 400 lobbyists to sway our lawmakers to allow big banks to get richer.

When congressional lawmakers either retire or voted out of office, many become lobbyists. This practice should be stopped.

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It is no wonder the American people feel their voices have been quashed, while continuing to lose their homes, small businesses can’t get loans, no jobs created, while seniors worry about their Social Security and Medicare.

The jobs bill was defeated. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted to defeat jobs.

The news media asked Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, whether anything would get passed before the 2012 election. His answer was the economy will maintain a holding pattern.

How many Americans will be able to maintain their economic holding pattern?

Joan Gilbert-Croteau

Skowhegan


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