Several congress members unhappy with pay

[Sly]

So quit.

I like this freshman complaining to his constituents that $174,000 isn't enough money after you count "all the hours" put in. Ha!

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Everyone complains about their job now and then, and members of Congress are no exception.

A few lawmakers have suggested in recent months that despite a $174,000 annual salary, generous health care and pensions, and perks for things like travel and mail, being one of the elite 435 ain't always what it's cracked up to be. And when you calculate the hours they put in, the pay isn't stellar either, they say.

The Florida Capital News reported last week on a speech Steve Southerland, a Republican representative, gave to a retirement community in Tallahassee in which he complained about some of the parts of his new job:

"He said his $174,000 salary is not so much, considering the hours a member of the House puts in, and that he had to sever ties with his family business in Panama City. Southerland also said there are no instant pensions or free health insurance, as some of his constituents often ask him about in Congress.

"'And by the way, did I mention? They're shooting at us. There is law-enforcement security in this room right now, and why is that?" Southerland told about 125 people in an auditorium at the Westminster Oaks retirement community. "If you think this job pays too much, with those kinds of risks and cutting me off from my family business, I'll just tell you: This job don't mean that much to me. I had a good life in Panama City.'
"...He added that 'if you took the hours that I work and divided it into my pay,' the $174,000 salary would not seem so high."

Southerland, a freshman, ran a family funeral home business in Panama City and earned about $90,000 before joining Congress in January.

His sentiments were not unlike those expressed by Sean Duffy, a Republican representative from Wisconsin, when he said in March it was a "struggle" to pay his mortgage and student loans with his congressional salary. "At this point, I'm not living high on the hog," Duffy, a father of six, said. (Compared to his colleagues, Duffy is one of the least wealthy members of Congress.)

At the height of the debate over a possible government shutdown last spring, Linda Sánchez, a Democratic representative from California, said during an MSNBC interview that she was living "paycheck to paycheck" on her congressional salary. And she wasn't the only one. Renee Ellmers, a Republican representative from North Carolina, was asked if she would forgo her pay in the case of a shutdown. Ellmers declined, saying, "I need my paycheck."

Are times really so tough that even members of Congress are struggling to get by? The numbers suggest otherwise. A recent analysis of congressional pay found that members of Congress earn about 3.4 times the salary of the average American worker. Using that standard, members of Congress are among the highest paid legislators in the developed world.

This talk probably won't help Congress' approval rating. The federal government is the worst-rated industry in the country, viewed favorably by only 17 percent of Americans, according to a new Gallup survey.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/m...165641960.html

[GatorB]

I suspect Steve Southerland won't have to worry about his low pay for being a Congressman after Jan 3 2013.

[Redrob]

Send them to Flint, Michigan for a couple of weeks of burger flippin' and, suddenly, being a Congressman doesn't look too bad.

After all, I don't see a rush to the door.

[woj]

I always thought that most of their income comes from under the table deals... so probably the newb hasn't worked out how to play the game yet....

[PornMD]

Originally Posted by woj

I always thought that most of their income comes from under the table deals... so probably the newb hasn't worked out how to play the game yet....

That's precisely what I was thinking.

[gleem]

Originally Posted by Sly

Linda Sánchez, a Democratic representative from California, said during an MSNBC interview that she was living "paycheck to paycheck" on her congressional salary. And she wasn't the only one. Renee Ellmers, a Republican representative from North Carolina, was asked if she would forgo her pay in the case of a shutdown. Ellmers declined, saying, "I need my paycheck."

Are times really so tough that even members of Congress are struggling to get by? The numbers suggest otherwise. A recent analysis of congressional pay found that members of Congress earn about 3.4 times the salary of the average American worker. Using that standard, members of Congress are among the highest paid legislators in the developed world.

Big suprise, you give them a ton of taxpayer cash and they spend it all and then some... whaddya expect? They run the country the same way.

[epitome]

You go into Congress so that you can become a very well paid lobbyist after you're out.

They need to STFU. Their big payday is coming once they go on corporate payroll and not the federal payroll.

[BloodFart]

"Several congress members unhappy with pay"
Yeah, I'm somewhat unhappy they are getting paid too.

[Chosen]

Originally Posted by BloodFart

"Several congress members unhappy with pay"
Yeah, I'm somewhat unhappy they are getting paid too.

[Mutt]

Originally Posted by woj

I always thought that most of their income comes from under the table deals... so probably the newb hasn't worked out how to play the game yet....

this is true

[My Pimp]

They should get more. Double. They make such great laws.

[kane]

Originally Posted by woj

I always thought that most of their income comes from under the table deals... so probably the newb hasn't worked out how to play the game yet....

Most of it comes either after they leave office or in other legal ways like "consulting" fees. For example a congressmen could be in offer a few terms, build up some good contacts then when get a job working for a lobbying firm that pays them millions.

They are pretty limited to how they can legally get paid while they are in office, but once they are out they cash in. Look at Bill Clinton. When he left the white house he was broke. He had spent every dollar they had on legal bills. Within a few years he was worth $50 million and now he is worth well over $100 million.

[pornguy]

What an idiot.

[MaDalton]

if they cant live from $174k a year how do you expect them to come up with successful spending cuts for the US budget?

[Hank_Heartland]

I find it funny most of the complainers were republicans and tea party folks

Only in DC can you NOT live nicely on $174,000

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Hank_Heartland

I find it funny most of the complainers were republicans and tea party folks

Only in DC can you NOT live nicely on $174,000

I found that disturbing and laughable as well.