Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
Really not there never in DC long enough always home
Bull
They are overpaid. Take away any pension and I’d think about it.
and yet they want to cut our meager Social Security. They all need to go.
Congress don’t deserve$#%&!@*till Hillary and Obama are in jail for all their illegal activities period,,then they can all get term limits and loose some pay
Shut up!
F**k you damned pos
I’m thinking that a social security increase of more than $3 ( that doesn’t cover the increase in the cost of medicare) needs to be considered before I care whether you sleep in your office!
Hell no!!!!
To start with… it’s not a raise he wants, it’s 30K a year to offset living quarters in DC while there. 174K doesn’t go far with kids in college and a mortgage. I understand.