I think there should be an "integrity in office " Act regarding The House and Senate. Base pay should be $1million for the house and $1.3 million per year. Each term won should also see a pay bump. They will no longer be able to vote themselves a raise, or get paid if there is a government shut down. Term limits should be equal in terms of time served ( a max of 12 years for any congressman). That would mean 6 terms for a congressman, 2 for a senator.
Only Natural Americans without a criminal record will be eligible for that office.
The integrity part comes from the mandatory IRS real time auditing of all accounts and properties each congressman has or acquires. If they suddenly have a $90 million portfolio while earning $174K per year, their accounts are seized while they undergo investigation. Any found wrong doing would require a suspension from their congressional authority or privileges while they stand trial. If they are found guilty, they are permanently banned from federal office and endure the punishment of the criminal justice system. Non felonious infractions will come with a permanent and significant dock in pay, and force that individual to see a probationary (appointed ) judge who can terminate their position and, of course, a disqualification from running again if their term limit is not expiring. (Likely the law breaker would resign)
No previously convicted felon down to class B misdemeanors are eligible to serve
After they are out of office , for a period of 10 years, their accounts will continued to be monitored by the IRS to prevent being paid later for illegal deeds done while in office. Substantial jail time consequences will await those who try .
and once out of office, until retirement age, they will receive an immediately revokable (for bad behavior) $174 K stipend and medical care provided they had a clean record while in congress and each year after leaving office. Nothing is automatic,
3 terms for house members and 2 for Senators must have been served, in good standing, before qualifying for the stipend
The higher pay would possibly attract the best and brightest, and the constant overwatch, penalties, and good behavior bonuses should keep the bad guys away.
