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:
Should be paid by the hour with limited benefits
No!
N F W
its nice that everyone gets a raise…..everyone on SS……we deserve more than a $5.00 year increase….
No more money.
They should not be able to give themselves a pay period. It should be to the people. Who was stupid enough to give them the authority to give themselves a raise and why should they get a raise when they won’t give the elderly a cost of living increase.
Congress deserves a flogging * get real
Why should they get a raise when they won’t give the people on social security a cost of living increase. Who in the hell gave them authority to give themselves a raise in the first place. The people should be the ones who decide if they get a raise or not.
What have they done to deserve a paycheck let alone a raise. I as a taxpayer and their boss, suggest a pay cut. Minimum wage and no benefits. They clock in and out and live like we do.
They should not be able to give themselves a pay raise period. It should be to the people. Who was stupid enough to give them the authority to give themselves a raise and why should they get a raise when they won’t give the elderly a cost of living increase.