Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
No. What you guys only work 3 days a week
Drain the swamp…they make plenty already
he sleeps on a cot in his office….
I don’t think so
Then why are so many of you millionaires when you leave office?
YOU DON’T DESERVE A Raise. The American people do. We pay your salary. So no. NO RAISE for ya”ll.
You pigs deserve a pay cut what the$#%&!@*have you done
How about a raise for seniors on social security?
Sorry no more. Money till you allDo your damn jobs
NOT until we, the senior citizens who have actually WORKED ALL our lives, get a living benefit from our own money called Social Security!!!!!!! Not even getting minimum wage, let alone $15 an hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worked 52 YEARS of my life and I can’t live on my Social Security without my husband’s too!!!!