The median personal wealth for members of Congress was $911,510 in 2009, up from $785,515 in 2008 (Center for Responsive Politics). Nearly half of the members of Congress are millionaires. They can also vote for their own pay raises and get automatic cost-of-living annual raises. They could afford private health insurance and citizens wouldn't have to pay, which would help balance our country's budget and improve health plans for everyone because they'd lobby for better insurance options. Only since 1984 have they paid into social security. If they were exempted from the federal retirement plans (1% of pay each pay period is deposited into their TSP retirement). If they had to rely on social security (and their own investments), they might be forced to strengthen the program for all.
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