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:
I’m on Social Security and I too need an increase to pay for housing.
No
B******T…NOT NOW.
How about the elderly get a living wage instead of just enough to pay for all the insurance that trash like you do not have to pay for.
What , these politicians deserve’s a Raise, they deserve to be
Unemployed politician ,
No way in hell. Maybe it is good you quit Chaffetz because you are completely out of touch with the people. We already pay these clowns too much to sit up there and do nothing but waste taxpayer money on their political agendas. Not another cent. Matter of fact, dock their pay for all the money they have stolen from us to enrich themselves.
No you don’t, we need to save money so WE THE PEOPLE want cuts in your pay and your medical insurance revoked!
For what you do , you’re overpaid
No way, they hardly work at all
How about seniors need a raise so they can pay for food AND medicine!