Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
Give the extra money you want and support the unwanted refugees instead of our SS fundd we’ve paid in fo years.
They need to move to a cheaper neighborhood if they can’t live on what they make
No they deserve a giant cut in pay and benefits !
No raise for any of them,until those receiving Socially Security get raises.
What ! ? Right when folks are looking at you in favor ? You dumb$#%&!@*
How about a 250% pay cut for Congress?
They don’t deserve another center. We the people should decide how much they make and if and when they deserve a raise.
Oh hell NO. As far as I’m concerned they are way over paid for the c**p they are doing or not doing.
ALL of them.
The ridiculous thing about this is it like that that make $174,000 a year and they only work what three months out of the whole year. And why do they have to send their kids to the most expensive colleges like this idiot were discussing he’s sending his daughter to Utah from Washington to Utah. They want to live a life of luxury and that’s probably why so many of them are corrupt and crooked and steal from the American taxpayers.
They don’t deserve anything. I deserve to have a raise. I got $5 a month raise and I still can pay thebills. Try and live on $160 a month after paying rent and OBAMACARE