Membership has its privileges. Members of Congress can begin collecting pensions as early as age 50, with full benefits no later than age 62. Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown plans to introduce a bill to prevent lawmakers from collecting that income until they reach mandatory Social Security retirement age.
Brown says the Republican budget proposal would force an increase in regular folks' retirement age from 66 to 69. Republicans counter with reassurances that any changes would not affect anyone currently under the age of 55.
Nonetheless, Brown is insisting that members of Congress should have to walk in the same shoes as everyone else.
"If they're going to raise the retirement age, then we shouldn't be allowed to receive any retirement until that age, either," Brown says. "That's the least we can do."
The House GOP budget proposal for 2012 is just an opening salvo. It passed through committee this week on a party-line vote. The Senate will be a much tougher sell.