Comments on: With 2010 Census, states expected to gain/lose seats in Electoral College and US House http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/with-2010-census-states-expected-to-gainlose-seats-in-electoral-college-and-us-house/ Covering America's third parties and independent candidates since May 2008 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:05:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ack http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/with-2010-census-states-expected-to-gainlose-seats-in-electoral-college-and-us-house/comment-page-1/#comment-129359 Ack Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:19:56 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=7912#comment-129359 The problem with that analysis is that you believe that there is a limited amount of resources from which they can spend. If we had 635 Reps then they would have to increase spending in order to provide pork to their constituents, i.e. the shares wouldn't get smaller, the pie would get larger. And the only way that happens is with higher taxes or more deficit spending. The problem with that analysis is that you believe that there is a limited amount of resources from which they can spend. If we had 635 Reps then they would have to increase spending in order to provide pork to their constituents, i.e. the shares wouldn’t get smaller, the pie would get larger. And the only way that happens is with higher taxes or more deficit spending.

]]> By: Acilius http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/with-2010-census-states-expected-to-gainlose-seats-in-electoral-college-and-us-house/comment-page-1/#comment-55689 Acilius Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:46:16 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=7912#comment-55689 @Libertarian Joseph: The salaries and benefits members of Congress collect are the smallest part of the cost they represent to the taxpayers. Each member wants more public money to be spent in his or her district, and each member forms alliances with other members to make that happen. So the question to ask is whether overall spending would be likely to go up or down if the number of representatives were increased. My guess is that it would tend to go down. If we had 635 US representatives (say) instead of 435, then junior representatives would have a significantly higher barrier to clear before they became important enough to warrant a share of the pork. @Libertarian Joseph: The salaries and benefits members of Congress collect are the smallest part of the cost they represent to the taxpayers. Each member wants more public money to be spent in his or her district, and each member forms alliances with other members to make that happen.

So the question to ask is whether overall spending would be likely to go up or down if the number of representatives were increased. My guess is that it would tend to go down. If we had 635 US representatives (say) instead of 435, then junior representatives would have a significantly higher barrier to clear before they became important enough to warrant a share of the pork.

]]> By: Nate http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/with-2010-census-states-expected-to-gainlose-seats-in-electoral-college-and-us-house/comment-page-1/#comment-54900 Nate Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:48:56 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=7912#comment-54900 The New Hampshire House of Representatives has 400 members. However as each is only paid $200 for the 2 year term, the entire salary for the NH House is only $80000 per term, less than half what a single member of the US House is payed per year. So a fourth of what the US Representative gets per term. I don't think it's the number of seats that is the problem. The New Hampshire House of Representatives has 400 members. However as each is only paid $200 for the 2 year term, the entire salary for the NH House is only $80000 per term, less than half what a single member of the US House is payed per year. So a fourth of what the US Representative gets per term.

I don’t think it’s the number of seats that is the problem.

]]> By: Libertarian Joseph http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/with-2010-census-states-expected-to-gainlose-seats-in-electoral-college-and-us-house/comment-page-1/#comment-54760 Libertarian Joseph Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:24:33 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=7912#comment-54760 I was about to say maybe we should add new seats but um yea that would mean more tax payer money for politicians. No thanks I was about to say maybe we should add new seats but um yea that would mean more tax payer money for politicians. No thanks

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