Jason Chaffetz thinks federal lawmakers need a massive monthly stipend added to their $174,000 annual salary in order to cover housing. Unsurprisingly, he’s making this call just days before he exits Congress.
The timing is no accident. Politicians tend to speak with more honesty when they’re lame ducks — and they honestly believe that they deserve more money.
Part of the desire for more cash is ego, but part of it makes a bit of sense. Being a member of Congress is expensive, considering that members are expected to live in the state the represent while they work in Washington D.C. This requires either two mortgages or a rental or two just to work. It’s not uncommon to hear about many representatives sleeping in their offices to avoid the added expense their job requires.
But that doesn’t alleviate the fact that Americans are in no mood to hear them ask for more money when they already make so much — particularly while their approval ratings are so low and so many Americans are trying desperately to find good paying work.
Jason Chaffetz is on the way out, though, so he doesn’t mind the optics.
See how much more money he thinks his fellow lawmakers need on the next page:
Your overpaid already do your job. Live on our wages and pay our insurance premiums .
Get some work done; lazy people.
UM…NO…..
Let them vote online and they won’t have to fly in
Well said William
BS
no freaking way, they make enough money to pay for their$#%&!@*..I don’t think so
No more raises!! Take care of the people that you work for which is us
B******t. If congress was doing something they would barely deserve to be paid. They are not doing one damn thing meaningful or productive. Tgey sure as hell don’t need a raise.
Buhbye Chaffetz