[Jamestown1630]

'Go back to part time jobs and per diem pay for congress folks. Like way back.'

Well, somewhat a good idea, in my personal opinion. But how would that work out, given the cost of living in DC, here in modern times? You'd sort of be limiting national office to people who were rich enough to make it a short-term 'hobby'.

These weren't intended to be permanent, lifetime jobs/livelihoods. I'd prefer to see them come, do their stint with reasonable salaries; and then go back to their homes and real careers. (Serving in this way should be an honor, not a system to manipulate in order to become rich.)

I'm kind of in favor of term-limits; but ultimately, you get into the sticky position of telling individual citizens that they can't vote for the person they individually choose as the best for the job. I haven't decided how I feel about that.

[Covenantor]

....Well, somewhat a good idea, in my personal opinion. But how would that work out, given the cost of living in DC, here in modern times? You'd sort of be limiting national office to people who were rich enough to make it a short-term 'hobby'.

Both of us, being longtime DC area residents know that the hidden unidentified army of congressional staffers has grown enormously since the Kennedys came to town. That group is far larger than all the elected senators and Reps. So they would have to be reined in as well in any seasonal session changes.

In any case the DC 'residences' are chiefly for entertainment of constituents, lobbyists, big donors and such...as well as being investments.

A single large hotel, such as the Old Shoreham could be purchased from joint House & Senate for seasonal stays while Congress is in session. House representatives with their shorter terms, especially newly elected ones would welcome their reduced expenses.As proof, there are the perenial news items of new members bunking together, or staying in hotels. Make the states responsible for salaries and expenses, tax payers suddenly become eagle eyed when they're writing the checks in stead of Uncle Sugar.

As for the gray staffers, mandate public registries with listings full disclosures of prior employment, associations, finances, etc. full blast of sunshine on these manipulative ghosts that are the actual conduits of money, writers of legislation so that we never hear "we have to pass it to find out what's in it" again. Smoke. these vermin out

But...that's just my fantasy,