Posted on 06/16/2016 12:14:32 AM PDT by Olog-hai
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) says that people find it surprising that members of Congress are in “year nine without a cost of living increase” and House members who make $174,000 a year, are “deserving of being paid appropriately.” […]
“Some substantial number of members of this body are multi-millionaires, a significant number of members of this body easily qualify to be in the middle-class or the upper-class — and there are some members here who are in the lower-class in our society,” Hastings said. […]
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the median net worth of a member of Congress was $1,029,505 in 2013, with 50.8 percent of the members of Congress ranked as millionaires. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that median income for a household in the U.S. was $53,657 in 2014. …
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
They aren’t `paid appropriately,’ like Nazi Pelosi saying it is beneath their dignity to have to justify their ever-increasing, trough-slopping appetites.
It isn’t enough that in `85 they voted themselves automatic pay increases so they don’t have to vote every year for their own raises.
They further insist on their first names being “The Honorable”.
Spoken like a TRUE A$$HOLE while FEEDING at the TAXPAYER’S FEEDING TROUGH.
GPS anklet and bracelet, public tracking, body cam, and paid via debit card with statements available to the public 24/7.
I’m for putting technology to use.
He’s right. for the crap they turn out that is way way way to much.
Put them on commission. . . and pay them that, **only** when the budget has a surplus. . .
Roll congress back to a few months a year. They can live off those million dollar bribes they call ‘campaign contributions’.
Minimum wage. No Benefits.
Then quit.
It is called “public service” for a reason.
It is called “public service” for a reason.
Yes, if these mental midgets can't live on their pay, then they should get the F out of Dodge.
Hastings should be in jail.
5.56mm
Technology today should allow politicians to operate out of their home state or district. This would allow them to get rid of 1/2 their staff as well and make lobbyists have to travel for their influence.
F these prima donas.
As to keeping two houses, how about a dorm or bunk house or barracks.
The 'tips' they already get are a part of the problem.
I was going to bring that up.
Glad you did.
very good idea, and not only would it make it more difficult for the lobbyists, it would make them more responsive to the people they (say they) represent. Any time they vote against the will of their voters, the voters know where to find them and give them an attitude adjustment.
Wow absolute proof that we sure pick honest judges.
Yep, exactly
A congressional seat was not meant to be a full time job. It was designed so that citizens of a community, who were successful (not necessarily monetarily) and well respected by their community, could go to Washington for 2 or 4 years to represent the interests of their community. Then they would go back home to resume their normal life and the community would send someone else.
With the rise of political parties - and now with so-called “campaign finance reform” - the parties are more important than ever. Members of Congress are beholden to the party, depend on the party for promotion on the ticket, and rely on the resources the party can provide to help them win election and keep their seat. And as a result, they vote in lock step with the party and support the senior members’ agendas for fear of being abandoned and shut out of the gravy train. They are rarely allowed to vote their conscience without paying a political price meted out by the party bosses.
We cannot abolish political parties, the 1st amendment gives them the right to band together. But we could remove party affiliation from our ballots, and we could as citizens become more aware of how the system has been co-opted (such as with the 17th Amendment among others) and vote accordingly.
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