Should Congress get lifetime health care, more? SC lawmaker aims to end ‘perks’

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of Rock Hill and another legislator are looking to end lifetime health care and other benefits for themselves and hundreds of other members of Congress.

Norman and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna have introduced the Stop Congressional Retirees’ Accessing Perks – or SCRAP – Act. The bill would end some lifetime benefits to members of Congress, from health care to legislative access.

Norman is a S.C. Republican, represending the 5th District. Khanna is a California Democrat. Both were elected to first terms since last summer.

“Members of Congress are elected to serve their constituents, not to reap numerous perks for the rest of their lives once they leave office,” Norman said in a statement. “Most Americans do not have similar lifetime benefits when they leave their job.”

The issue isn’t just the cost, according to Norman.

“Retired members still have the same amount of access throughout the Capitol complex, and over 430 former members of Congress are now lobbyists, representing special interest groups — giving them special, direct contact to sitting members writing legislation,” he said.

“Lifetime access to this exclusive circle keeps them in that circle, and distances former members from the experiences of everyday Americans.”

Khanna released a statement calling out the “luxuries” granted to former legislators.

“Former members of Congress should play by the same rules as every day Americans who work for a living before retiring,” he said. “It is time to end the luxuries that former members of Congress still receive after they leave office at the expense of Americans’ tax dollars.”

Khanna, too, expressed concern about former legislators impacting current work.

“These lifetime perks have to go, in order to clean up a Congress under the influence of special interests,” he said. “By ending the access currently allowed to current members, like access to the House and Senate floors and member gyms and dining rooms, we can build a stronger democracy for and by the people, not former electeds.”

Their legislation was introduced in the House on Thursday.

It was referred to committees on House administration, rules and oversight and government reform.

The new rules would have to pass House and Senate votes, then get a signature from the president, to become law.

A cost — or savings — estimate for the bill hadn’t been determined by the Congressional Budget Office as of Friday.

This story was originally published February 9, 2018 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Should Congress get lifetime health care, more? SC lawmaker aims to end ‘perks’."