Please do not spread propaganda

[EverCurious452]

I just noticed in the Politics section that there is a post on the proposed 28th amendment that requires congress members to be subject to all laws that they passes (paraphrasing).  Whether or not you think this would be a good idea, there is a great deal of false information in the email chains that are going around on this issue and few seem to bother to check them before passing it on, or requesting that others do so.  For example, these posts claim:

 

Congress members, their staff, and their family members to do have to pay back student loans.

This is false.  There IS a program that allows government employees but not their family members and not members of Congress, to receive up to $10,000 per year for a total of (in most cases) of $60,000.  

https://www.factcheck.org/2011/01/congress-not-exempt-from-student-loans/

 

Members of congress are exempt from healthcare reform.

On the contrary.  Included in the ACA was a provision that all members of Congress and their senior staff had to get their insurance from the DC health care exchange instead of the FEHBP (federal employee health benefit program which operates much like insurance offered from large private sector employers).

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/members-congress-health-care/

 

Members of Congress can retire at full pay after only one term

Again this is false.  Congress DOES have a defined benefit retirement plan where as virtually all of the private sector has switched to 401K type plans, but you do not get your full pay after one term.  You can never get more than 80% of the average of your highest 3 salary years and that only after serving around 20 years.  

https://www.factcheck.org/2015/01/congressional-pensions-update/

 

One can debate whether or not these programs are appropriate but any discussion should always start with the facts, at least as best as we can determine them.