Your link is broken (missing a : ); I got ya covered tho
It’s not stupid when it’s intentional, just evil.
LePage is at it again. If the Maine legislature doesn’t pass the budget HE wants, he’ll delay signing it as long as possible and shut the government down.
Can’t they impeach him for gross incompetence, or malignant malfeasance?
From your link:
“LePage’s plan, put forward by House Republican leaders last week, would give hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax breaks to the wealthiest two percent of Mainers.”
…So, Stephen King and his wife? How many people are there in Maine, anyway? 30? 35?
The governor of Kentucky is a hedge fund manager, and he has put the state’s pension fund into hedge funds, with 27 percent higher costs and 15 percent lower long-term returns than comparable states’ funds.
Sen. Inhofe (R, OK) on health bill: “I’m not sure what it does. I just know it’s better than Obamacare.” Asked HOW it’s better, says “it just is” then runs into elevator
This is the same nincompoop who brought the snowball to the floor of the Senate.
The reason is that it doesn’t have Obama’s name on it. Duh.
At this point, I’d like to see Senate Democrats take the ACA, let a few college students rewrite the thing by just substituting synonyms where available, and present it under the name Trumpcare.
ETA: and make sure to mention Trump a lot. He likes that.
Hell, might as well go all the way and write a single-payer bill with paeans to the Orange One every other paragraph.
Jason Chaffetz wants a $2500/month housing stipend for Congress.
Gee, maybe they could afford their own housing if they learned to make do without that new iPhone…
I’m not sure if this is such a bad idea. Congressfolks generally (and reasonably) have two homes – one in DC and one back home. We shouldn’t want just wealthy folks to be able to run for Congress – without such a stipend, folks who aren’t already pretty wealthy might be dissuaded from running.
Well, if they want to live in public housing, I’m sure there are lots of options in DC. I’m just concerned that many would not pass the stringent “no drugs” requirements to be a resident.
Maybe just build a dorm they can live in. No charge as long as they live there.
The question is, who would room with Ted Cruz?
Upper $100s is quite enough for anyone to have two homes. I could sort of see this if you were a Representative from a marginal district with a large family. But if you’re a Senator, $110K + after taxes is plenty enough for any family to live on and put the rest into their house. Then, if you don’t get another term, you’ll have a fully-paid off house in DC after 6 years.
Plus I wonder if this isn’t trying to do an end run around the 27th Amendment.
Pay for a congressman is $174,000.
If a Democrat proposed this, the Republicans would have a field day.
Tents are a great idea!
Yes, I’m sure Congressional pay is enough for them to survive relatively comfortably, but is it enough incentive to attract the best and brightest? I’m not so sure. I think it’s reasonable to consider this – we want people to want to be Congressperson, which perhaps should include a financial incentive that takes into account the greater personal expense (and sacrifice) of being a Congressperson. It further might depower the kind of “personal gifts” and trips lobbying, at least a little bit.
On the other hand, people motivated by money might be more susceptible to various forms of bribery.
I don’t think the pay has anything at all to do with ‘attracting the best and brightest’. The work environment (politics, corruption, backbiting, character assassination) are more than enough to keep away all but the most fervent narcissists and power seekers.
It’s not the salary, it’s the benefits!
Hey, what if the Federal Government bought a couple of apartment buildings? Certainly that would better than making their mortgage payments for them.