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
F you
AWWWW!!! Only makes $3000.00 a week and needs someone to buy him a second home!!!! Where is this idiot from???
I was thinking more like tenement apartments, goes along with the work they dont do
How ridiculous is this! You guys make a ton of money get all these benefits that Are 100per cent more than average person
Nope
You gotta work for what you get!
And you can buy ME a ranch of 1000 acres. With springs and a stream running through it plus stock of my choosing. This in a wooded area in my current state.
They don’t deserve what they make now
They can be given that after the last homeless person has a bed to sleep in tonight. Disgraceful beyond words!