Yes that’s the main benefit but there are other reasons to do it.
@juliusgoat.bsky.social Well, you know, if you read what the Founders wrote in letters between each other, many things are clear. One is that they felt that no politician should get paid to serve by the federal government. If states want to pay their senators, fine. But serving in the House or Senate was unpaid.
Using your position to make money is, of course, criminal corruption, and would land you in prison or worse.
That's all forgotten today. Corruption reigns from town councils to the top of government.
@bjn @juliusgoat.bsky.social It's an interesting idea but it doesn't work. One of the problems, which you mention, they didn't see as a problem. There was discussion of only letting citizens that own land vote. (Can't vote wisely unless you have skin in the game.) But they realized that would never work. Some Founders thought it a good idea to place that same requirement (being a "landed" person) on elected representatives.
On the other hand I think the idea of making the states pay their own representatives has merit.
@shuttersparks @juliusgoat.bsky.social
The Constitution of the United States has, from the beginning, included this:
"The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States."
And also this:
"The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected"
@shuttersparks @juliusgoat.bsky.social
The Constitution also includes the emoluments clause and other anti-corruption provisions; which have been extensively elaborated on since.
It remains way past time to actually enforce those rules.
@michael_w_busch @juliusgoat.bsky.social Yes it does. As mentioned, I was mainly referring to opinions and arguments expressed in personal correspondence (letters) between the founders in the years leading up to creation of The Constitution.
@shuttersparks @juliusgoat.bsky.social Not paying elected representatives is a bad idea, not in the least because it means only people lots with money will be able to do the job. Or worse, people being paid by people with lots of money, which is even more of an incentive for corruption.