Public should decide lawmakers’ benefits

There has been much conversation in Washington on cutting entitlement benefits (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid).

I would suggest that the same politicians who are considering these cuts take a look at their retirement and health care benefits. We not only have to take care of the present members of the House and Senate but those who are retired and even the families of the retirees who have died. Ridiculous!

We, the taxpayers, have to work 40 to 50 years to get our share while members of the House and Senate are not required nearly that long to receive their full retirement benefit. Vesting is set at five years for these benefits. Ridiculous!

Is it any wonder that they do whatever they can to get elected to one of these offices? They also get to set their own raises. Ridiculous!

It is high time that the people paying the bill get to have a say in these things.

Thomas Miller

West Branch