Lower federal politian salaries to between $40,000-$50,000 per year, make it required for other houses to OK a pay rise.

In a time when the US is buried in debt, our politians are constantly, out of self-service, giving THEMSELVES pay raises with the people's money meant to improve the debt and economy. I propose politicians should have their pay cut to that of an average TEACHER'S SALARY and make it required for a pay raise in one house to be approved by the other houses--not the house looking for a raise--as a system of checks and balances. I suspect this salary is well enough to live comfortably on (as many of the people who mentor our children do everyday), while not requiring the politician to need another well-off source of income with plenty of time to take on political power, as many elitist government are set up this way.