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Not bad pay if you break the salary down to 'per hour', if one could figure out how many hours a representative or senator actually puts in at work each year. I would hazard a guess of around $500.00 per hour.
I imagine that one reason a few (all, in their hearts of hearts) in Congress desire a raise in pay is for the same reason that organized crime usually has a 'legit' business front: a way to explain their accumulating mass of wealth. Al Capone used to hand out business cards identifying himself as a 'used furniture dealer', which ended up not fooling the IRS.
Anyway, the examples are legion of a politician entering office poor, and exiting rich, despite the rather modest pay.
Of course, rules on raiding the public treasury have tightened over the years. Now many choose to simply wait to accumulate their wealth by leaving office and joining a lobby firm. I call those politicians 'the honest ones'.
Other politicians, of course, get around the rather modest pay by getting their spouses jobs in desirable industries, 'not wholly unconnected' with D.C. politics. Others make a surprising fortune in office by investing wisely in the stock market (or having their spouse do so). Perhaps having knowledge of upcoming legislation influences their purchases (or else 'buying short', as I believe the jargon is, depending on the legislation).
Such is life.
"I would hazard a guess', which isn't worth spit.
How about instead of "guessing" you do some REAL research then get back to us.
You might want to start here:
"National Journal's Alex Seitz-Wald lays out the numbers: House members work 70 hours per week on average when they're in D.C., and nearly 60 hours per week when they're not, according to a survey by the Congressional Management Foundation.
We did hold our Congressman accountable. When news broke that Alan Mollohan had all of a sudden became a millionaire on what was shaky grounds we voted him out. He took the office for granted since he had been there so long.
Because $174k isn't enough money to do nothing, apparently.
And they have been reduced to sleeping in their offices, since apartments are too expensive...
Those who voted in favor of raising the minimum wage the last time around should be allowed an increase.
Those who opposed it should take a 10% pay cut. And have their health care subsidies cancelled. And their retirement eligibility requirements raised considerably. Just to give them some much-needed perspective.
When an employer doesn't have the funds necessary to boost pay, employees see wages and benefits slashed. The bozos in congress aught be working for free, judging by the nation's ballooning debt.
Personally, I wish these criminals would go on strike. It would be a step in the right direction for this nation, and probably would restore confidence around the globe.
Go on strike? A government shut down? But.. but... but they know that the left goes crazy when that happens so they know they can't be held accountable.
"Perhaps if they meet or exceed their job requirements'
OK, I'll bite. WHAT are their "job requirements" that you DON"T think they are meeting?
Governing and doing the will of the people, not to be there for their profit.
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Congress members demand pay increase
