Myself, I’d be willing to cut them a raise…if they could actually be shown to do something to earn one. Not surprised though…its what government types do best.
Those who seek an elected office should make the minimum wage. The achievement of the power they sought is good enough; there’s no reason for them to pull down six-figure incomes as well.
Realistically though, $3100 a year is what, about a $1.50/hour (presuming a 40 hour work week) raise? Sounds like a fairly reasonable cost of living wage increase for a metro area… except for the fact that they already make five times what most of us are getting by on.
If our elected officials were worth a shit right now, I’d agree with you. This batch? That’s way too much money to pay people that sit around calling each other names.
I assume everyone is aware that the 27th Amendment mandates that no Congressional pay raise can take effect until after another election is held. So anyone who is really offended by the pay raise will have the opportunity to make sure their representative doesn’t collect it.
Yeah, but you never read, “He used to be a member of Congress, but now he’s a heroin addict.”
Congresscritters get all kinds of “benefits” that CEOs don’t get. There’s lifetime health care, pension, executive franking, free “advertising” (i.e. the gov’t picks up the tab for them to make news conferences and other videos, which are designed specifically so the critter can be featured on the local news in their home district), secret service protection, free background checks on anyone they want, and the list goes on and on.
I disagree. I feel that our congresspeople and other elected officials should be well-paid. As with anything else, you get what you pay for with wages. I think it’s tragic that a bright mind suited to public office might prefer to go into the private sector because they can’t afford to serve their country.
You don’t go into politics a brand-new person, after all. There are outstanding bills like mortgages and car loans from your “old life.” Minimum wage won’t cover those.
Nobility is all well and good, and I salute the man who says that service to his country is its own reward, but there are practicalities to be considered for people who have families. It’s a high-stress, high-responsibility job, an should be paid comenserate with the private sector.
Yes, I’m sure some go into it for the power, but I think we’d all agree that your average junior-grade congressperson isn’t all that powerful in the first place.