Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
NO WAY
Put them in the nearest military barracks!
Me too, I could use another one.
you are no better than the rest of us buddy…..you get a salar
Kiss my$#%&!@* You going to pay for my housing costs
Why does john lewis owe back taxes on an town house worth over a millon dollars? How come they have to have such an expensive place. Waters has a home worth over 4 million dollars. How did she get money to pay for this. When seniors cant get a little raise for yrs why do they deserve such expensive homes. There needs to be some ansewers for this kind of thing.
I used to like this guy until he lost his mind and went to the dark side. Unbelievable. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
NO way!
They make too much now.
I don’t think so.