Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
Taxpayer’s should take you thieving bastards second homes and apply the proceeds to American vets and taxpayers who you’ve stolen from.
When they quit lying and failing on promises, maybe we’d b e more open to providing apts, etc.
Seriously…..we should quit paying taxes until we are represented.
And I have so you should pay us for where you are
Oh really! How do you figure that?
Really$#%&!@*wipe !
We already have with all the money they stole from us!
I think they should be built an apartment building at the capital building to house them in Washington and cut any extras out of their pay.
I agree with him they should purchase the home in their own state not rent and we the people build a barracks for males and one for females on the grounds of the Congress and Senate and they also have to work a minimum of 40 hours per week year round whether in the Congress/Senate or in their respective jurisdictions and 100,000 a year sounds about right
I don’t think so