Budget & debtProposed solution
starterFreeze automatic cost-of-living raises for members of Congress until the budget is balanced
Problem
Federal deficits have run every year in the sample period, and lawmakers' own pay is unaffected by the outcome.
The fix
Suspend the automatic annual pay adjustment for members until a balanced budget passes both chambers.
Trade-off
Savings are symbolic (about $4 million a year in this example) and could discourage candidates without personal wealth.
Source
Example Budget Office brief, 2026 · starter
Blind vote. The affiliation breakdown stays hidden until you vote, so the tally does not pull your choice.
Results hidden
Vote to reveal the split
After you choose, you'll see support among Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, and Other. A smaller group inside Other gets its own bar once it reaches about 50 votes.
Same issue