Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
Since we are being told”no increase in social security due to cost of living going DOWN” we should dock them due to the same thing. No raises for congress until they join with the president and get down what we sent Trump to do.
Needs a pay cut back down to reality 30,000.00 a year.
Sorry Jason, but you knew what it would cost you when you ran for the job.
THEY DO NOT WORK ANY WAY THEY DO NOT NEED A RAISE. THEY ARE OVER PAID AS IT IS FOR NOTHING.
You are wrong sir, you don’t deserve a raise, in fact you deserve a cut in pay and benefits until you do your job and balance our budget!
Hell no !!! When seniors on SS haven’t had an increase in 8 years they deserve NOTHING !!!!!
Congress should not be deciding their pay raises. That should be up to their employers (the taxpayers), this also includes on deciding what benefits congress should receive. Time for term limits. Serving in congress shouldnt be a career.
You FUCKERS don’t earn what your making now.
NO WAY! We seniors barely get by and you want MORE?
BS, the congress should get no increase until they do some work!