Posted on 06/30/2017 5:14:36 PM PDT by digger48
Now former Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Jason Chaffetz shocked many when he abruptly announced he’d be quitting Congress before the end of his term.
In a recent interview, Chaffetz insisted his decision was personal, that he was disappointed by the state of politics, and that he and his wife made the decision together for personal reasons. Chaffetz alluded to living on a tight budget, but only this week did he confirm money played a role in the decision-making process.
Congressmen make $170,000 a year. Chaffetz called it a “handsome salary” but not enough to maintain two separate households, not when one is in the most expensive city in the country.
Part of the ‘Couch Caucus’, Chaffetz was one of many Congressional members who slept on cots or couches in their offices rather than spring for separate housing.
Chaffetz told Fox News Wednesday night:
“I mean, look, we’re paid a very handsome salary, but our home is in Utah. I didn’t move to Washington, D.C. I sleep in a cot in my office,” Chaffetz, R-Utah, said on Fox News Wednesday night.
“And faced with another 100 to 200 nights a year where my wife’s by herself in Utah and I’m in a cot in Washington, D.C. – as nice as the salary is — I can’t afford to have two places and have a quality of life I’d like to have at this point,” he said, adding that serving in Congress is a “rich man’s game.”
Before his departure, Chaffetz called for a $2,500 legislature stipend to assist those who could not afford two households. From The Hill:
Just days before he resigns from Congress, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said Monday that House and Senate lawmakers should receive a $2,500 per month housing allowance — something he explained would help ease housing costs for members who can’t afford two mortgages or rents.
“I really do believe Congress would be much better served if there was a housing allowance for members of Congress,” Chaffetz told The Hill in an interview in his Capitol office, where he sleeps whenever he’s in Washington. “In today’s climate, nobody’s going to suggest or vote for a pay raise. But you shouldn’t have to be among the wealthiest of Americans to serve properly in Congress.”
Wednesday, Chaffetz announced he’s signed a contract with Fox News where he’ll be working as a contributor:
Fox News Channel (FNC) has signed soon-to-be former Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) to a contributor role.
He will offer political analysis across FNC and Fox Business Network’s (FBN) daytime and primetime programming, starting on July 1st.
Prior to joining FNC, Chaffetz represented Utah’s Third Congressional District beginning in November 2008. In May, he announced that he would resign from Congress effective June 30th.
During his time as congressman, he served as the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and was a member of the House Judiciary Committee. He also served on the Homeland Security Committee.
Chaffetz had an integral role in many government investigations, including the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal, the Benghazi terrorist attack, the IRS targeting scandal and the Secret Service investigation.
Prior to running for Congress in 2008, Chaffetz worked as campaign manager and chief of staff to former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. (R).
Before his political career, Chaffetz worked in the local business community for 16 years, specializing in corporate communications work and later owning his own communications firm, Maxtera Utah Inc.
They don’t need a stipend. If Congress confined itself to legitimate Federal powers they could get all their business done in 3-4 weeks a year. And keep in mind that Washington is only an expensive place to live because Congress has turned it into a place where every special interest group has a bunch of paid whores living there.
I’d be okay with that stipend as long as all congress critters had to have the same healthcare plan opportunities as the people they represent. If they want something above and beyond that; they have to pay extra. That means no dental or optometry.
Not to mention having a linguini spine!
He has received money from many other sources. This is BS IMHO.
I doubt he made that at all......Heck Kelly Anne and others working with the President are at $179,000 or there about so he’s not going to come close to that.
You cannot live in Washington without a handsome salary....even if your wife works. You aren’t going to be saving much living there....so it’s actually cheaper the way he was doing it...and a lot of them do just that.
You basically give up much of a “normal” life....I was close enough to those who run that track and it’s no picnic.
;)
Hey I can’t spite the man for wanting a fuller life than living in a Capital Hill office throughout the week..and just weekends at home.
It takes a special breed of men to be gone all week and wives that understand that. It gets old after awhile.
My most favorite Democrat,one Harry S Truman said it properly.
Of course todays Libs would be still trying to arrest and convict HST for ‘DA BOMB’.
HST
‘If you want to hire Harry Truman, I will be thrilled that you considered me.
If you want to hire Harry Truman, former VP & Prez, you don’t want ME, you want the name and title...’
(THAT was NOT a direct quote, just the gist of it, BUT it takes a man of INTEGRITY to think like that)
Another Mammon-worshiping fake conservative who wants to be treated like an over-priced whore.
In this day and age there is no reason for Congress people to maintain two households. All can be done video conferencing! They can all work in their home districts and get in lots less trouble and be among constituents! They can vote remote, too! And lobbyists won’t be able to corner them as easily. Why, except for ceremonial occasions, even travel to Washington D.C.?
Then the question becomes, why run for Congress at all, if you know you can’t get by on the paycheck, and that you are giving up a “normal” life???
If he can’t hack it, then by all means he should leave. Just saying, did he not know the impact that going to Washington would have on his family and his life????
Why did Fox hire him. His place is in the HOR. His contract with his voters. Why would ANYONE hire him.
Good question. And if he’s not making $180K or more a year you have to wonder what’s up because he said the Congressional salary isn’t enough, then you would hope his new gig has a bigger paycheck.
.He and his wife are Mormons so we know then where a lot of their money does go....however ...Some think he’s prepping for a run for governor in 2020 against Mitt Romney’s son. So if that’s true then he’d want some distance from Congress for awhile I would think. At any rate his gig at Fox would still keep him in the public eye.
Why do they have to live there? With all of the technology, they should all live in their districts. A virtual presence should suffice.And, they should be required to do their job, not supporting lobbyists etc. You don’t show up for work, you get your pay docked. Miss enough sessions and you are fired.
Well he’s been at for what...5years when you consider his political stints too? At 50 yrs. old that’s about when people do make significant changes if they’re going to do that.
I don’t think he had any problem ‘hacking it’.....ore just the tie to roll things up and move along. Frankly he made his ark in Washington when you look at what he accomplished and did...leaving on a high note is far better than a low.
Maybe Mormon Mafia told him to get out to make way for McMuffin.
The whole thing is bizarre.
Who knows for sure.....no matter what he says why he left the news will spin whatever anyway. But I admit I enjoyed seeing him operate in Congress....(BTW Death threats enough to where you have to hire security for your wife and conceal carry yourself is plenty reason to consider)
Well these people we elect are not supposed to be full time
employees. They are not supposed to be professional politicians, but we have them. How have they been able to hang-in-there for 20, 30, 40 years and retire on a great salary.
So then why do people spend multiple millions to win a House seat in order to make such a meager wage?
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