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:
You don’t do your job now,I’d take your job and work the 250 work days and be glad to have it,but just go ahead and give yourselves a raise and see what tha American people give you
I don’t think soooo! Try living on SS
b******t .the poor people need a raise before u guys
Yeah he can say it now because if he was looking to get reelected after saying this he wouldn’t. Congress never tells us they are giving themselves a raise until after they do it.
Congress needs to work some 40 hour weeks. With one 3 week vacation like the rest of American workers.
They on vacation half the time!
Why don’t they ever bring up that they have a $1.5 million a year expense account for housing, cars, food , security etc.
We feel for you but we haven’t had raised for a long time. If Congress would actually do the work you were elected to do it might be different. Congress wastes enough taxpayer money to give all of us a raise. Try acting like adults and solve the problems instead of being the problem. We are tired of the constant bickering.
Why don’t they work full time like the rest of us do then?
You’ve got to be kidding Jason Chaffetz!