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:
And how many veterans are homeless with no money coming in ?
I like you Jason. This is a lousy idea. Congress hasn’t earned their last 5 raises so why would we want to give them more money so they can live even better than they are already doing? Term Limits for US Congress.com time to DRAIN THE SWAMP and put some of these millionaires into the unemployment line.
Make them live in army barracks built just for them. Feed them too. Then cut their pay by 50 percent problem solved.
NO. We got a $5 raise on Social Security and then they raised our Medicare by the same amount.
I wish I made this kind of money. I live well on only 35K a year.
What idiots
No way. You only work 3-4 months a year.
Noway
YOU GUYS DON’T DESERVE SHI*, NO ONE GETS PAID FOR DOING NOTHING.
We’re twenty trillion in debt. Veterans are dying from Inadequate medical attention. No raise for any if them