Bill Overview
Title: 27th Amendment Enforcement Act
Description: This bill increases the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress by applying cost-of-living adjustments.
Sponsors: Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals directly impacted are members of legislative bodies worldwide
Estimated Size: 535
- Members of Congress are directly benefited by this bill with an increase in their annual salary.
- The families of members of Congress might be indirectly impacted due to the possible increase in household income.
- Taxpayers could be indirectly impacted as government expenditures might increase to cover the raised salaries.
- The bill ensures Members of Congress' salaries are adjusted for inflation, potentially maintaining purchasing power.
Reasoning
- The direct beneficiaries of this policy are the 535 members of Congress who will receive cost-of-living adjustments to their salaries.
- Indirectly, their families might experience financial benefits from the increased household income.
- Taxpayers could perceive an increase in government expenditures, but this might not impact them directly on a daily basis.
- Given the total number of Congress members, the policy's budget appears to cater primarily to direct salary adjustments, rather than broader social impacts.
- Impact on the population, excluding Congress members, could be negligible considering the budget allocation.
Simulated Interviews
United States Senator (Washington D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adjustment helps me keep up with the cost of living in D.C., which is essential for balancing personal finances and work obligations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Tax Lawyer (New York City)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I anticipate increased workload due to handling adjustments in clients' financial plans. This could mean more business, but also more stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a taxpayer, I see no significant personal impact from this bill. Members earning more won't affect my day-to-day life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Congresswoman (Houston, TX)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An increase in my salary is greatly appreciated, as it aligns with inflation and helps cover unexpected personal expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's interesting to see Congress go through similar adjustments as retirees relying on cost-of-living adjustments. My concern is maintaining the balance in public spending.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my relative stands to gain, I see no direct change in my situation. It’s more of a topic at family gatherings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Public School Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish similar considerations were given to educators. Public sector adjustments should be balanced across sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Lobbyist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There might be fewer financial arguments from Congress members, potentially easing negotiations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tech Startup CEO (Seattle, WA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Minor adjustments like these show the need for larger fiscal responsibility, but don’t affect my immediate concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Healthcare Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring fairness in wages is key, but I feel left behind as focus shifts elsewhere. Direct community support is needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2602500 (Low: $2500000, High: $2700000)
Year 2: $2677500 (Low: $2575000, High: $2770000)
Year 3: $2757500 (Low: $2645000, High: $2880000)
Year 5: $2927500 (Low: $2805000, High: $3050000)
Year 10: $3277500 (Low: $3135000, High: $3420000)
Year 100: $7025000 (Low: $6710000, High: $7340000)
Key Considerations
- How adjustments align with inflation rates over the years.
- The scale of the increase in comparison to the existing federal budget and expenditures.
- Potential public perception regarding increased government spending for congressional salaries.
- Any legislative caps or constraints on future COLAs should inflation exceed historical patterns.