There are so many reforms to the way our federal government operates that need to take place. For example:
1. Term Limits - Being in Congress for decades breeds corruption allowing individuals too much power. In addition, these officials lose touch with the realities faced by US citizens by spending the so much of their adult life in the DC “bubble.” Politicians would be less likely to enact self-serving legislation if they weren’t expecting to hold the office indefinitely.
2. Campaign Finance Reform - There is too much money given to politicians and National Committees by corporations and special interests. Politicians become beholding to those interests rather than the people they are supposed to be serving.
3. Greater Restrictions on Lobbying - Politicians are constantly bombarded by armies of lobbyists and are often coerced into acting in the best interest of the lobbyists clients as opposed to the American people.
3. Government Housing for Congress- Perhaps if Congressional members were provided with the use of a one bedroom apartments for their use while working in DC, some of the financial pressure they complain of would be lessened. It works for the military, it can work for Congress.
I believe our government is broken. Congressional antics have led to legislative gridlock and has become an embarrassment to this nation. Reforms are in order. Unfortunately, these reforms would have to be enacted by the very people who benefit from the status quo.
1
Until Congress decides to start doing their job, as all Americans have to, there should be zero talk of a raise. The most generous assessment of their job is that they do it on a part time basis, all the while being provided with better health care coverage than just about any American, and a retirement plan that would be the envy of most. I can't even believe that they are bringing this up. Their legislation record in the last two years plus has been abysmal. Do your job and then talk about raises.
2
Congress certainly is not doing its job and moreover contributes by its partisanship to the country's increasing division. A pay raise seems like an undeserved reward for a group that can not lead this country toward a more civil discourse and bring Americans together again.
Yet, housing, being so difficult in Washington, DC, it may be reasonable to add a housing subsidy to offset the high cost to lawmakers who must maintain two residences.
“What you’re really doing is cutting off oxygen to the government’s brain,” he added.
Since it's obvious that the "brain" doesn't do any work to benefit the citizens of the country, it hardly needs a pay increase.
3
Balance the federal budget and then you can talk about a pay raise.
3
You bozos in Congress need to get another job to supplement your Federal salary. Since you're never at work, always on recess, you should make out just fine. Maybe you'll see how others are trying to make ends meet with two, and sometimes, three jobs.
You people are just as useless as Trump.
1
I am for higher pay under a few conditions
1) No money, that's right none, from special interests for campaigns or campaign related activities once elected
2) Public financing of campaigns
3) Full financial disclosures prior to registering as a candidate for elections (including presidential candidates)
4) All records of meetings held on the public's behalf need to be made public - redacted documents related to national security have to be provided - the veil of secrecy has obviously been used to hide ugly deals that the public would generally not want to be a part of
5) Foreign policy needs to be made public and to follow existing law that applies to the homeland - every new administration seems to be happy making it up as they go. This is not right for the public nor for our friends and allies abroad.
6) There can be no wars (put a number on the number of participants in combat, say 500) without majority congressional approval. Congress cannot shirk its responsibility on this, it's too important
Everyone deserves a fair wage, holding back on this is asking for trouble. Would people be happy for paying for only one representative like, say, Putin?
Here are the salaries of a large international corporation, Amazon:
Jeffrey P. Bezos $1,681,840
Jeffrey A. Wilke $19,722,047
Andrew R. Jassy $19,732,666
Brian T. Olsavsky $6,933,349
Jeffrey M. Blackburn $10,399,662
I would expect congressmen to get roughly similar compensation.
What !, congress thinking of a pay raise ? Really, for doing what ?. This is insane. Ridiculous .
2
No cost of living increases is a great way for legislators to share the pain of those who they represent who rarely get a cost of living increase - especially those earning slave indentured servant minimum wages that only make the rich filthier rich.
Once they vote to get to $15 minimum with an obligatory cost of living increase thereafter can they then do the same for themselves. Otherwise they are just mimicking their wealthy patrons like Walmart making oodles of cash off the backs of their workers that increases every year they do not pay their workers increases cost of living amounts. The reason the Waltons are so rich is they keep healthcare costs for their workers for themselves. Same applies to the rest of the wealthy earning off not covering their employees’ healthcare. Legislators have plenty of awesome health coverage ironically not paid by the wealthy- remember, only little people pay taxes.
Here are the salaries of a large international corporation, Amazon:
Jeffrey P. Bezos $1,681,840
Jeffrey A. Wilke $19,722,047
Andrew R. Jassy $19,732,666
Brian T. Olsavsky $6,933,349
Jeffrey M. Blackburn $10,399,662
I would expect congressmen to get roughly similar compensation.
Would Trump have the option of vetoing the pay raise?
Good.
This is a choice one makes to be of service to one’s nation. We need term limits and laws against Congress men and women being able to take high paying lobbying jobs once they out of office; and a wage on par with other low paid non profit and/or teaching jobs. Get the money out of politics!
1
Minimum Wage, only. After all, if it's good enough for regular people, it's good enough for them. DO YOUR JOB, OR QUIT.
Seriously.
5
First of all, have you passed a national minimum wage to help truely needy people get a little further ahead? NO!
Secondly, have you done your job to earn a raise? NO!
To quote John Steward to congress; "Do your job"!
3
What a joke. Like everything else since Saint Reagan, Congress is a racket. Their salary should be cut in half. They should be made to go on private insurance and endure all the "This Is Not A Bill" garbage mails, and denials of coverage like the rest of us. No pension like the rest of us - let them put their money in those bogus 401ks which should be monitored by the FBI for the insider trading that is rampant in today's Congress. (ask Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican criminal leadership about THAT). No more lobbyist jobs when the voters get wise and throw them out; let them labor at hot dog stands, as Uber drivers or as Wal-Mart phony baloney "associates. Like the rest of us.
3
Pay raise? Pay raise? For what? You should have to work to be paid.
4
No pay raises for people who will not pass legislation that protects our republic/democracy from corruption. No work, no pay, no perks - just like us commoners. Our pay is tied to our successful achievement of objectives for the organization as a whole, not for self serving conduct. Poor attitude - we’re fired, too sick, too often - we’re fired, not selling to meet company goals - we’re fired!!! Teachers have to buy their supplies with their personal income, for example.
Congress is full of corruption: conflicts of interests, a lack of any ethics among many, self-serving behavior, greed (most likely insider trading since they can privately invest in what they are supposed to regulate and as a result have unaccountable riches after holding office for decades) and absolute power in the case of Senator McConnell.
The ability of Congress to vote themselves a pay raise is in itself pure government corruption.
No pay raises without true representation. No more elected politicians living like they control duchies in old England, no more presidents as kings. If any of my fellow Americans want to act like the colonial royalists of the American Revolution and support this President and his enablers and any congressperson’s continued obstruction of legislation helpful to the common people just out of partisan spite or loyalty, you must move to another country. This war was already fought and won and your side lost.
11
If anything they should have their pay linked to actual results. If we have all these crisis in this country like poor wage growth, opioid addiction related to general despair and low opportunity, housing crisis, student debt and low employment opportunities for graduates except in STEM related fields, endless wars with no actual national plan of action, homelessness all over the place, income inequality of historic proportions; one could go on and on, but suffice to say where is congress??
Instead we have circus Maximus. As S would say "much ado about nothing".
1
Wow for a divided congress Hoyer and McCarthy sure reached a consensus fast.
1
Raise the FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE and then I’m ok with the Congressional discussion later. SIMPLE. People need to be talking about that insight. Work! Signed, an Indepemdent in the workforce who understands the real costs of the average voter nationally. $8/hr = $320/wk = $16,640/annual taxes - rent, health care deductibles if you even have health insurance, food, utilities, etc. Wake up, GOP! All conservatives reading, stand up and answer me or remain cowardly. Your taxes are also paying welfare benefits to those strangled with this wage.
4
The kick backs once they get out of office will be enough. It's a privilege to serve and they usually come out smelling like roses and set for life, that is, when they leave at all. I say cut their pay to $52k so they can see how the rest of the country lives. Get rid of the pension. Get rid of the benefits once they leave office. Graft will always be there whether they are paid $178k or 1 million dollars.
3
Aren't these the same people who have been maintaining that the COL increases have been very low. I can tell you that I would be near ecstatic to be making $174,000 a year plus all of the other perks that they get including gold plated medical care and pensions for life. I could easily live just off of their lobbyist gifts.
When congress actually starts to produce some results other than tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations, maybe we little people might consider a COLA in their pay.
7
I’m sure public school teachers nationwide would like automatic cost of living raises, but especially those in states that pay the least. Until teachers make $174,000 per year, then congress doesn’t need a pay raise.
4
Congress can get a raise only when the minimum wage is increased to reflect the current true cost of living. The minimum wage should also be adjusted for metropolitan area.
Like Congressional salaries the minimum wage has not been adjusted for 10 years. If Congress wants a raise the most needy should get a raise first. The last time the minimum wage was increased was on July 24, 2009 when it was increased to $7.25. All of the states that have there minimum wages tied to the federal rate are all Red States.
2
Impeach Trump.
Win 2020.
Then give self a raise.
8
Oh come on...pay raise. They should be giving money back. Two day work week, on average two weeks a month, bribes-err contributions, all expenses paid vacations.
10
None of them has accomplished anything for years. Hence, they don't deserve a pay raise.
3
Why not tie the payraise to job performance. In the private sector, if very little work gets accomplished, you get fired.
As to Cortez Acoscio, she went from bar tending to congress.
That is a huge pay increase. She is not happy with $174,000 a year? Instead of focusing on the money, she shuold be focused on the honor to serve the country.
3
Well, Congress, welcome to our world---and multiply your agony to 30 years.
Not fun, is it?
5
The average wage has been flatlined in terms of buying power since 1970. Congress ignores this year after year but wants a raise for themselves?
16
Sorry, but this is an outrage. Wages in the private sector have stagnated for decades. When ALL Americans get a cost of living increase, then these government employees living on our tax money can ask us for a raise.
6
I would support a pay raise in exchange for Congress getting their health care through the Affordable Care Act system.
4
I do not think so Cry me a river
a six figure salary plus free health care insurance, travel stipends paid office staff and they need a raise? if they can not make ends meet then they can find another job
people in this country are working sometimes two jobs
4
Pay RAISE? for this pack of losers? $179K is far too much -- far far too much -- should by LAW be no more than the US median family income (*plus a small stipend to offset DC housing costs and travel expenses).
Let's START by cutting their wages by 25% and keep going until they earn what we earn and have to live like "regular folks"!!!!
4
NO! Republicans with the Trump Tax Cuts raised the national deficit! NO pay raise.
5
The only people with a lower standing than Trump want a raise, for what?
3
Good optics would look like raising the Federal minimum wage to $15 from the slave wage of $7-something an hour that everyone knows is an embarrassing bare minimum that can’t support anyone in the 21st Century.
3
When SSI/SSDI and minimum wage keep up with inflation, I'll support Congress getting cost of living increases to keep up with inflation.
3
Leave it to the newly elected to take action against the raise in pay for Congress. They certainly know the temper of the times. Such an increase in the pay checks of Congress would be stabbing the voters in the eyes, their voters to whom a salary of one hundred fourteen thousand a year would seem like winning the lottery, a salary that they could only dream of but never achieve. There is absolutely no way of justifying such a paycheck, especially when daily the public express their anger that these paychecks need to be lowered rather than increased. In these times, Congress should be concentrating on how to insure that the people they represent get a minimum wage that is enough to keep a roof over their heads!
2
Ms. Rivera, actually the article states that $174,000 is the minimum pay for journeymen reps, $60,000 more than stated. Peace be with you, I know this hurts.
Double the pay for these clowns, and make it illegal for them to accept any other payments or contributions from lobbyists and/or any other businesses. If their job is their only source of income, and exceeds their need to cover everything they need, perhaps they start doing their job, and represent the people whom pay their salaries.
2
I find it hard to have any sympathy for them It's been 10 years since thousands of hard working tax payers lost their homes and/or their jobs. Many still have not recovered and will not. Maybe it will be good for Congress to see what it means to have to cut back and live with a daily worry of how the bills will be paid. They certainly don't seem to understand that when they do the budget
Given the recent job reviews I would say most should be worried about keeping their jobs not a raise
10
You get what you pay for. Only two kinds of people can serve in the US Congress: those who believe $178,000 is a lot of money and those who don't need $178,000. I don't want either group over-represented in Congress. Elected officials should not seek wealth from public office. But they should not be required to take a vow of poverty either. Remember, it was the action of public officials that pulled the economy out of the ditch after the "Captains of Industry and Finance" drove it off the road in '06, '07, and '08. You may disagree with what they did but most economists agree that without the bail-out, the economic downturn could have been absolutely devastating to world financial markets.
It's a bit disheartening to see many of the comments re: inflation-tracking salaries. The pay goes to the POSITION, not the OCCUPANT of the position. Failing to keep salaries in line with inflation erodes the institution's ability to attract good candidates. Let's not further erode the efficacy of one of our most cherished institutions.
3
Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. If it had kept pace with inflation it would be nearly $12, and with productivity, nearly $20.
Working men and women have had to suffer with a Congress who does nothing for them and instead gives their employers tax breaks. It's workers who deserve a damn raise and a minimum wage that keeps pace with inflation. As soon as that happens, Congress can ask for one.
15
Until the Senators go back to work (they haven't done their job properly in a decade), I certainly do not support them getting a raise. Instead, no work, no pay. My husband, who works hard, hasn't had any raises in over five years. Many Americans haven't seen raises, why should Congress be privileged?
17
NO pay raise for any of these knuckleheads. Not until every American is earning a living wage. No health insurance either, until every person in this country can get quality, affordable heath care. Screw 'em. They should have to live with the same conditions, and rules, as the rest of us. (Oh, and let's get rid of Steny Hoyer. 39 years is enough.)
16
When American workers have to beg for a living wage , it’s not appropriate for congress ( who campaigned to get the job ) to complain about their salary and then give themselves a raise.
These New Democrats get it.
10
@Bill. No, they just want to keep their seats. AOC was on tv begging for a raise.
1
When and where can the rest of us Americans sign up to be paid like members of Congress?
When and where can the rest of us Americans sign up to get health and medical care and pension benefits like members of Congress?
Corporations should not be treated like people. Money should not be treated like speech. People are people. The love of money is the root of all evil. Pride is the deadliest of sins.
13
Maybe we could pro-rate their pay, based on performance... or better yet, exchange their salaries for a piecework plan.
If we paid Congress per piece of legislation passed, the Pelosi House would be doing okay - at least for bills forwarded to the Senate, but McConnell & Co. would need to start moonlighting at Walmart or Taco Bell.
And of course it goes without saying, no health care for part-time workers.
7
@Joe S. It takes nothing to pass bills in the HOuse.
Republicans did it day after day when Harry Reid ran the Senate.
Those bills ended up on the floor as well.
Proving..what's your point?
1
@Erica Smythe
My point is, the Democrats are taking the job seriously, the Republicans are not. They haven't taken governance seriously for a decade or more, and the country has suffered greatly as a result...
Maybe people who don't believe in government shouldn't run for office.
The republicans Congress during the Obama years did nothing but oppose everything Obama proposed and gave “do nothing Congress” real meaning. What I don’t get is why they have left it to the Democrats to give themselves a raise. Part of me says they should suffer stagnant wage growth like most of their constituents. Besides campaigning for re-election how much work do they really do? Let them all prove they’ve read all 400 pages of the Mueller report before they get a raise.
10
AOC the leader of the new progressives says they need to raise the pay or they will be vulnerable to shady money.
She seems to have no problem spending tax payers money on Trillion dollar "Green deals" while at the same time costing her district 5000 jobs from Amazon.
3
I would much prefer we grossly over pay our representatives than allowing them to profit from serving in Congress. The sad truth is we have a lot of representatives who can't afford to maintain 2 residences. We also have a lot of representatives who have served for decades who have become fabulously wealthy. Many who leave go to work for corporations and lobby Congress for millions of dollars.
Tighten the ethics rules and raise the salaries. Without ethics I suspect many of our representatives would look at their jobs as a stepping stone to wealth beyond their childhood dreams.
6
@HL Paul Ryan slept in his office, as do many Republican House Members. Others buddy up with 3 other members to share a condo.
Why does AOC need a De-Luxe Apartment in the sky at Watergate...complete with golf range, swimming pool and this new invention called a garbage disposal?
She should be sleeping in her office and heading to the House gym at 4:00 a.m. like her GOP compadres. Shower and get dressed there.
In other words...do your job..and stop complaining that you're making $150k more than you were just 6 months ago.
2
@Erica Smythe-Paul Ryan's net worth increased by roughly 10 million dollars in the last 10 years.
He's been bankrolled by Northwest Mutual, Black Rock, the Blackstone group and the Koch Brothers.
Ryan has over 10 million on hand in campaign donations that were never spent.
1
Congressional pay, staff pay and retirement credits should be docked for every
Piece of legislation that is not voted on.
Let’s see how many are for obstruction when that happens
3
I know people who work a lot harder than Congress members, and they don't earn $ 174,000 a year. Congress doesn't need a raise; it needs a cut.
7
One way to improve the "political optics" would be to have the cost-of-living adjustment apply to both the members of congress and also the minimum wage.
4
Come Election Day
Constituents
May consider a
Discontinuance
To prevent the
Influence
Of those of
Affluence
1
Talk about tone-deaf. Are Speaker Pelosi and her Democrat majority really part of the re-elect Donald Trump Campaign? Congress has found one group that it can help with the problem of wage stagnation -- Congress. The millions of Americans who have dealt with this for decades do not have the luxury of giving themselves a raise. For the average American $174,000 plus a ton of perks looks pretty good. Somebody who went from Bartender to Congress in leap and has spent her time being a celebrity instead of a legislator sure does not seem like a sympathetic character to me. I watched the 9/11 first responders begging for funds and then read the Congressional whine about difficult it is for them to have homes in Washington and their district. Just who is suffering and who is not doing their job?
8
If Congress was paid based on performance pay then they’d be in big trouble. How about they actually do something? The problem is Mitch McConnell and his obstructing of any votes in the Senate. We have a serious problem in our government when one person who is not President can obstruct so much legislation. Especially considering he’s from a tiny state with a small population that is not indicative of the rest of the country. Our government is broken and needs to be fixed. Then they can have a pay raise.
23
@Mike L. And what does that have to do with the House? And of course you remember Harry Reid with 400 pieces of legislation on his desk.
You are hopefully not supporting a congressional pay raise and are emailing your senators and representative now. They don't deserve it. Years of shutdowns, years of impasse. Safe seats. And freezing the minimum wage for the least among us. Vote against any elected official if he or she votes for your a pay raise.
14
@Greg smith
Low congressional pay means only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress. This ensures that only the interests of the wealthy are represented. If we want more middle-class citizens to serve, we need to pay them well enough to maintain two residences and work in public service for a few years. The alternative is having only those who live off of inherited wealth and stock options serving in congress.
3
@Jason $174K, private planes and assured health insurance is now "low pay" in my book.
1
@Jason
$174,000 is hardly low pay. It's damn good pay! And when Congress starts to do something for the poor and the disappearing middle class, then and only then can they vote themselves even more money.
1
Maybe if members of congress adjusted their salary to the average annual us salary and were restricted from accepting pac and lobbyists’ money would we see a return to representation of the people as envisioned by our founders of democracy.
17
Oh, poor congresspeople, they need a pay raise. We should increase pay for folks who don't even work the whole year, have the most generous health care benefits, paid vacation, paid for office and staff etc. Well I could go on. But I think instead these congressmen and woman should continue to forgo any and all raises until the seniors who were deprived of annual increases for three years in a row catch up on the compounded loss of that, and the loss of purchasing power. Not to mention the fourth year with no increase due to jacked up health insurance fee, and the year the increase was $7 per month. No increases until that is made right.
13
@gmt
I get your frustration, however low congressional pay means only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress. This ensures that only the interests of the wealthy are represented. If we want more middle-class citizens to serve, we need to pay them well enough to maintain two residences and work in public service for a few years. The alternative is having only those who live off of inherited wealth and stock options serving in congress.
@Jason Dude, we have people STARVING and DYING in this country and these entitled people who are living nice lives off of our tax money deserve raises?!? Nope.
1
My redefinition of elected official compensation.
1. Most of their compensation (174K) deferred til out of office and they and their immediate families/ partners must live on average wage of American family .
2. Must pay for average health care benefits and receive same while in office. These dropped when out of office
3. No guaranteed retirement, only optional IRA if they choose to which they contribute only while in office.
4. No personal car provided for any reason.
5. Business travel expenses must be accounted and reported. Anything excessive should be deducted from salary.
6. Items 1-5 above apply to all those elected. If an electee has private wealth, such wealth cannot be used for 1-5 while in office.
Readers, please feel free to make additions to this list.
12
@Sand Nas
Don't exempt the appointed like the Cabinet and the Justices.
2
Congress is not a place to get rich; it has been a place where the rich go to preserve their advantage. If we want a diverse legislature then we need to have solid pay for congresspeople. Having a reasonable level of pay for middle-class legislators--people who look like more of the electorate than the majority of senators--who have to maintain two residences and incur all manner of additional expenses is a good thing. It is reasonable to allow for a cost-of-living adjustment to be in place.
There is also an argument to be made that well paid legislators will be less tempted to engage in self-serving and corrupt politics, however I'm not sure I buy it. No salary will be high enough for those who enter politics with corrupt and cynical intent or for those who are easily tempted by fame and fortune. Looking at those on both sides of the aisle who have engaged in pay-for-play at all levels of government (think Illinois governors), they will never have enough money, so a pay raise is unlikely to calm their urges to steal and engage in corruption. There are ways to attack that issue but the first step will be electing a more economically diverse Congress, which can only be done if we pay legislators well enough to allow middle class citizens to serve.
2
@Jason Not a place to get rich? When McConnell's net worth in 1916 was 7.5 million$, and in 2019 26 milion$, on $174,000/year salary, he's either a financial wizard or a crook. I vote for the crook title. With all the payoffs he receives from the NRA and other lobbyists for campaign funds, somehow it finds it's way into his personal pocket.
@Jason So you think giving robbers more loot will help??
Ben Franklin was right about congressional pay—should have been prohibited in the constitution as given the lust for money and power, if both are combined in the same office they will move heaven and earth to get there. They certainly do sell their souls to the devil.
It wouldn’t only mean that millionaires serve in Congress—as it is now only millionaires leave congress as all become millionaires in the job, dispute the supposedly poor pay. Retired persons, people with well-employed spouses and people taking sabbaticals to serve the people for a term or two would be able to serve as well. Instead of buying houses in DC, the states could and should provide their representatives with housing when there—DC should never become their home.
2
@KBronson
We shouldn't count on people to have "well-employed spouses" in order to serve, nor should we have a congress that is heavily tilted toward retirees (it's already skewed way older than the US population at large). I do like your notion that states should sponsor housing for their reps...something creative that might address a problem (though I'm sure it would create some other one that we haven't yet thought of).
@KBronson
In Franklin's time Members of Parliament went unpaid, so her was just imitating British practice.
@KBronson
All of your examples are those of wealthy people. You literally just showed how it would be filled by only wealthy and priviledged people.
I wouldn’t mind getting $174,000 for doing nothing. I’m speaking to Republican legislators who support Donald Trump. I think that’s all of them but maybe one.
9
"argue that the frozen pay has contributed to high turnover rates and a legislative body that does not match the people it represents."
I would think that it would also tempt them to accept bribes, but I guess nobody is going to say that out loud.
Aren’t they paid highly enough with absurd benefits packages, lavish donations, and the promise of a cushy consulting gig the very minute they leave office?
How about they are paid based on performance? Like how often they show up, how often they vote, what sort of statements they submit to justify their straight party line votes?
3
Nobody deserves a COLA. I don’t get one on my retired pay and I never got one when I worked. No staffer should be paid more than a member. If they think they are worth more let them compete in the private sector. Most of them have never done anything else. And the party doesn’t matter. Paul Ryan, that great Conservative, only worked one year in private industry. The year he spent working in the family construction company when he first ran for Congress. He always was there at the public trough.
3
These new members must not realize that Congressional pay raises are tied to the acceptance of campaign contributions from alcohol, tobacco and Big Pharm profiteers for whom they shill. Meanwhile voters' salaries are stagnant while pre-conditions and co-pays make timely healthcare unavailable to millions.
1
If pay is based on performance, then our Congress and Senate reps should be taking a pay cut...
6
Pay them by results. That would certainly get the attention of the Senate (though of course McConnell would refuse to let them vote on it).
4
How about they fix the minimum wage first and lock it to the inflation index. Then after they get an infrastructure bill done and fix our immigration laws maybe they could consider this pay increase.
6
Welcome to our world, Congress. My words to you: Stop balking and work for your pay. It seems that every time we turn around, our representatives are "on a break." Please tell me what employer would put up with so little output and too many days off. Most of us would be out on the street if our work ethic was like theirs. They worry about their aides? So do I. So give THEM a pay raise. Rewrite the rules so they are separate entities, a group unto themselves and not mere serfs. And make sure that they also have the Cadillac of health insurance policies like you folks. Finally, please forward this comment to Mitch Inc.
4
Every worker deserves at least a cost-of-living raise, and that includes members of Congress. If we make it impossible for honest hard working people to become members of Congress because they can't afford the expense, then we will have no honest hard working members of Congress, only dishonest, lobbyist and special interest allied members (Mitch Mconnell and Ted Cruz, I'm looking at you).
4
@hlampert - everything is optics. you can't give oneself a raise and have access to excellent health insurance while "better cheaper Trumpcare" doesn't exist and efforts to level the wealth gap in this country go nowhere.
3
A few months in control of the US House and the Times reports the Democrats almost voted themselves a pay raise for them. With a modicum of political sense, they would have let the GOP do without a pay rise by surviving on soy bean tofu. Nope they let themselves be associated with increased federal spending on themselves, on themselves. Democrats have an amazing ability to be outsmarted by the GOP and themselves.
Who outside the Congress has called for the D.C. crew to have a pay increase? Who outside the Congress ranks lower in the eyes of the taxpayers? Ex-congresspersons panhandling in the streets of Little Rock or Gadsden or Oklahoma City? Who do they think they are, corporate executives? No, just protectors of corporate executives who share the desire for a larger government check.
4
I'm not a fan of over regulation, but has there been any talk of Congress passing a bill that would require annual cost of living adjustments that would include all businesses and organizations, (including local, state and federal elected positions?
Seems like a logical (and is a moral) extension the the minimum wage laws.
1
The Congressional approval rating stands somewhere south of 20%.
Any American worker who only fulfilled his or her job requirements 20% of the time, or whose job performance displeased 80% of his/her employers, would be summarily fired.
Let's cut Congressional pay by 80%. That would put them at $34,800. If their spouses got a part time job, as so many of their constituents have to, they could reach the average American household income of $61,000. Taxpayers could provide dorm rooms with the savings.
Congressional representatives who live under the same economic conditions as their constituents would do a better job legislating, particularly if they were prohibited from accepting any gifts of value from lobbyists.
If they start doing a better job, we can talk about a raise.
27
@Shar
So you are now requiring that representatives be married. I missed that in the Constitution...
Yes, people are unhappy with Congress, but few reps have a poor approval rating from their districts (they win the elections after all).
The notion that paying people poorly will give them empathy for their constituents is backward. Paying poorly ensures that only the already-wealthy can take on what then becomes a hobby or status role. Since Trump, McConnell (through family), Gore, and countless others entered public service with money it matters not what their salary from Congress is--they still are rich and have no connection to their constituents. Having good pay allows middle class legislators to serve. Our best chance of reforming lobbying and other corrupt (or easily corruptible) systems is by having an economically diverse group of legislators.
@Jason By no means do they have to be married. They'll have fewer expenses if they are single. The average individual income in 2016 was $31,100, so with inflation they'd be right at the average. With such a generous housing subsidy and benefits, they'd still be above average.
And they could always get a second job in the gig economy they're so happy to point the rest of us to.
There is no reason that our representatives should be paid so much more than the people they are supposed to represent. I recall one representative who forced herself to live on minimum wage for a single month and how astonished she was at the hardships.
They should be requited to live on that salary until and unless they as a body manage to improve their approval ratings to at least 50%. It would force some level of cooperation, focus on the national good and consensus.
Let 'em eat cake. No sympathy at all here.
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@Shar-Many of those workers were replaced by robotics. Perhaps AI will allow us to replace our representatives.
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I feel like legislators should be paid well, regardless of their effectiveness. We don’t want them to be in a position where they are tempted by outside money.
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LOL!
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@DH: One hundred ans 174K per year is no chump change. If they can't make ends meet on that salary they should resign and let someone else take the job. And you can bet your last dollar that the lines would be long with takers.
@DH: with incomes of $179K minimum .... more for those on important committees (which is most of them)....they STILL TAKE bribes and are influenced by any lobbyist that hands them a free pen!!!! let alone a free trip or other handout!!!!
Paying them this has not resulted in better candidates or more accountability or ethics!
CUT THEIR PAY BY 25% IMMEDIATELY!
Abigail Spanberger is right. Many of us don't believe legislators are working with our best interests at heart. In fact, some of us don't believe they are working much at all. And they make good money and have benefits the rest of America can only dream of.
Before Congress starts trying to adjust pay scales for those at the top of the income bracket, maybe they should first think about adjusting the minimum wage to a living wage and adjust that for inflation. Social Security, too -- my mother's social security was under $300 a month -- and start deducting more from the top income earners to pay for it.
Put that together with a package to increase the pay of legislators and they might have something their constituencies could support.
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@avrds: $300? that had to have been an awfully long ago! when things were cheaper.
My grandma got $99 a month, but that was around 1970, almost 50 years ago.
The MINIMUM SS payment today is about $680 a month -- and that is probably not enough, even for the most marginal lifestyle -- but it is NOT $300.
@Concerned Citizen
It wasn't that long ago -- she died in 2002. Maybe she got an increase to a whopping $680 by the end of her life. That I don't know.
When you think about working full time at today's minimum wage, and your benefits are tied to what you make, I can't see you making too much more. And I don't see you stashing away all that extra cash in retirement funds.
But to the point, even $680 per month sounds pretty awful in comparison to the $174,000 per year lawmakers say is not enough to live on. Maybe they should tie their wages to what social security beneficiaries get.
Ahh, to be a grifter in the US Congress, with no accountability... makes me wanna be elected.
At the annual salary of 174K, I don’t believe they have any worries. Or, do they?
Can they pay their rent?
Can they endure life with intermittent electricity?
Can they fix their 10 year old cars?
Do they take opiates to endure the daily pain of living?
Do they drink alcohol to numb the truth?
Do they get docked for missing work?
There’s not a one of them struggling with their minimum wage.
“Oh, Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?”
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@-tkf
“Do they drink alcohol to numb the truth?”
This, yes. The truth about what they have sold out to in order to hang onto power, prestige, and money.
@-tkf:
"Elected" (thanks, Alice Cooper!)
I'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choice
I wanna be elected
I'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce
I wanna be elected
Kids want a savior, don't need a fake
I wanna be elected
We're gonna rock to the rules that I make
I wanna be elected, elected, elected
I never lied to you, I've always been cool
I wanna be elected
I gotta get the vote, and I told you about school
I wanna be elected, elected, elected
Hallelujah, I wanna be elected
Everyone in the United States of America
We're gonna win this one, take the country by storm
We're gonna be elected
You and me together, young and strong
We're gonna be elected, elected, elected
Respected, selected, call collected
I wanna be elected, elected
Many if not most of the people I know believe Congress should be paid minimum wage. If they have to drive for Uber or Lyft in the gig economy or take a clerk's job at a convenience store to make ends meet, that seems fair because so many ordinary citizens have to do that to make their own ends meet.
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@Stephen Beard At minimum wage, people who know what it means to struggle would never be able to afford to serve. Only the independently wealthy would be able to hold seats. The wage is fair. The perks (free healthcare and retirement for life) are out of touch with reality and ought to be scaled back. People with conflicts of interest, such as lucrative stock holdings in companies they will be tasked with regulating, should be barred from serving altogether.
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They do not get free healthcare.
I think they should all be paid the federal min wage so they can see how many of the people they are supposed ti be working for are living.
Oh and let’s give them health care with large deductibles and high out of pocket costs.
Yes, and they only get paid when they actually work. And pay raises based on performance.
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Let them eat cake. And they do, at fancy restaurants, at taxpayer expense. That base salary doesn't include the expense accounts, the health care benefits, and all the perks of being a congressperson. Let them feel extreme pain. Maybe Mitch McConnell will leave.
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@moderate af Mitch won't leave, he likes the power he has in the Senate. And, as far as money, Mitch, and his wife, have received from $25M to $50M from her parents shipping company with both of them providing avenues for the shipping company to profit from. But, I like your thinking.
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@moderate af
McConnell won't leave. He's got his in-laws to support him.
If you want to attract capable people to the House you have to pay them a competitive wage. perhaps one of the main reasons for the dysfunctional state of Congress is that capable people, especially from urban areas, are not going to take that job for that money. Sorry, but $174K is not a lot of money if you live in Miami or Atlanta or Chicago. Consequently, we get many future lobbyist yahoos and millionaire yahoos who don't belong there. Can you imagine Google or Microsoft offering management positions on the premise that there would not even be a cost of living raise? You get what you pay for.
Also, then wages for other important federal jobs are tied to the pay of representatives. For example, federal judges, United States Attorneys, Federal Public Defenders and their assistants are limited by the pay of representatives. A first year associate at a large firm is likely to be paid more than $174K. That greatly limits those who would serve.
Maybe this is one area where government should adopt the corporate mentality of offering a competitive wage for an important position.
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Paying a competitive wage is as effective as the trickle down lie. That's exactly how CEO salaries came to be hundreds of millions a year...the only people the compete with are their millionaire friends. We need to stop re-electing all incumbents, impose term limits and make them accountable to the peoples' needs instead of corporate interests.
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We have no shortage of qualified people vying for these jobs. Once in the jobs, they rarely leave in mid-career unless booted out. From a compensation point, we obviously hit the sweet spot. If the elected holders want to pay staff more, they should treat the raise as a separate subject. Many business owners pay the hired help more than the owners receive in salary. If the people in Congress hold their staff’s salaries hostage to justify the Congresspersons’ raises, that is a good indication of their level of managerial expertise.
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@RFP I don't disagree. Sean Duffy (R-WI) has 8 kids at home and a house to maintain back in WI while living in DC. All on $174,000 a year.
His pal Paul Ryan slept in his office to make his budget work, as do many other members of the House.
Fact is, we ought to take that land that was earmarked for the Eisenhower Memorial and instead turn it into the Eisenhower Congressional Dormitories.
4 bedroom suites with a common area where we can mix R's and D's, men and women, Muslims and Jews, Bubba's and Yankees...and if you're a member of the Congress and you OPT OUT of these living arrangements, you get no allowances for meals/per diems..and you get shamed on national television every week.
I don't think anyone wants our members of Congress to sleep in their office and shower at the gym to make ends meet. If we want better people in Congress, we should remove this barrier for them.
It's a non-partisan idea and it will remove much of the partisanship in Washington if we force political enemies to live with one another.
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I don’t mind paying for value, but I don’t see much value that Congress adds. The members seem to represent everyone (corporations, lobbyists, special interest group, etc.) but their constituents. Nor does Congress do anything but engage in partisan bickering. No major legislation gets passed, and they happily cede their authority to the executive branch and agencies so they don’t have to take a position on anything. When Congress starts doing its job, I’ll support a pay raise.
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@J.S. - Hear, hear!!!
The story brings up how members of Congress have not gotten a cost-of-living increase in 10 years.
Considering how long some members are serving, maybe they should be getting an ‘I’m-still-living’ increase.
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@Very Confused
Or how about an ‘I’m-living-it-up-on-the-taxpayers-dime’ increase?
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Take away every single perk they receive, then consider a pay raise. See how fast they would agree to that. Also, no lobby jobs ever, not ever, after leaving office.
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@Elena Marcusi
Don't stop there.
These people were elected to Congress, not lobbying jobs, nepotism platforms, fundraising channels with funds used at their discretion, including leftovers.
Give the new members a raise? Sure, why not. And housing allowance (but only for housing outside the District where real people live, commute and are subject to the indignities of Metro, the power utilities that don't and crumbling infrastructure) to make the transition under these new rules.
The others? If they forswear and abide.
A cheapish shot maybe, but McCarthy, Scalise and Hoyer don't look deprived and the "aides" with Hoyer don't look desperate to raid a dumpster.
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@Elena Marcusi: they earn plenty.
Let them buy their OWN health insurance on the exchanges, with the same lousy subsidies that WE GET -- not with 80% of their costs born by the taxpayers who GET NOTHING!!!
Let's see how fast they reform health care THEN!!!!
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make them live on social security as their pension, plus a retirement plan they fund. Medicare when they get of age. No lifetime healthcare or salary.
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Good for the freshman Congress. Congress doesn't deserve a raise and the freshman Congress needs to hold their feet to the fire. Congress hasn't been working for the American people for many years. I'd also like to see Congress' retirement package, including healthcare, reduced to fall in line with what most Americans receive when they retire. Just look what Paul Ryan is getting next year when he turns 50. Paul Ryan will get almost $85K, plus entitles him to Social Security, and, the Thrift Savings Plan (i.e. a 401K plan). These are the same people who say Social Security and Medicare are crippling America.
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American public has a right to know the complete details of the pay package, perks, health insurance and other facilities and amenities offered to both the members of Congress and the Senate. We also need to know how many days a year they actually work.
May be we start with Donald Trump's schedule including his private executive time, watching Fox News and golf games.
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@HCJ Yes, Trump makes a big deal about how he "doesn't take a salary" for being president but he is costing the American people far, far more than $400K a year, just with his weekly Florida trips alone.
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Congress makes more money per year than the average taxpayer; they have taxpayer-funded health care; taxpayer -funded retirement; taxpayer-funded staff; taxpayer-funded spending accounts and they still want more even though they only work 110 days a year and all they do is divide the country more and more. In the meantime, many in Congress have family members with nice jobs that the members of Congress got for them through lobbyists, i.e. Mitch McConnell and his wife, the Secretary of Transportation. Forget the pay raise that we taxpayers have to fund. Seriously, no taxation without representation.
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@kmgh
Most lawyers and executives make more than the average taxpayer.
We need people ABOVE average in congress. To people living outside major urban areas $1740,000 sounds like a kings ransom. It is barely middle class in DC, NY, Philly, Atlanta, and would leave you homeless in San Francisco or Seattle.
IF congress agreed to reforms to ensure that we do not end up with cretins like Matt Gaetz, Keving McCarthy, or Louie Gohmert in office just because of their political affiliation a significant pay increase would be warranted.
Pay congress well enough that talented people want the job, and will not be as tempted to corruption (looking at you mitch McConnell) to pad their too low salaries
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WRONG! Congress should get the AMERICAN WORKER EXPERIENCE.
-No pay raise
- Cancel healthcare due to budget cuts
- No free parking
- Rent out half their offices to WORKWEEK INC, outsource their aids to an 800- call line in India
Any attempt at organizing results in immediate dismissal
BTW, no paid vacation, no summer recess, employees will be docked for work not done on time.
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@Donald
Apart from what they earn in wages, they probably earn ten-fold in "donations from lobbyists.
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@Donald: replace all of them with H1Bs from Pakistan and China, then force them to TRAIN their own REPLACEMENTS.
That'll fix 'em.
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Cry me a river.
Poor, poor little lawmakers, making only 174 grand per year.
Oh the horror!
It is difficult to feel sorry for these representatives having to maintain two residences, while countless Americans do not have the ability to maintain even one home because of one catastrophic illness, low wages, etc.
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@maggie we also should have a list of congressmen and women who are NOT millionaire after two years of being in congress on 174K salary. Duh!
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@HCJ
Let's start with a list of those who aren't a millionaire when they enter congress. Low congressional pay means only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress. This ensures that only the interests of the wealthy are represented. If we want more middle-class citizens to serve, we need to pay them well enough to maintain two residences and work in public service for a few years. The alternative is having only those who live off of inherited wealth and stock options serving in congress.
(Oh, and I get that $174k isn't low pay, however it is not so much when considering that one has to maintain two residences, one of which is in DC)
@Jason Hey, Ryan slept in his office.
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Perhaps if they actually worked more than 110 days a year?
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“Members of Congress, retail workers — everybody should get a cost of living increase to accommodate for the changes in our economy.”
AOC's conflation of retail workers minimum wage pay and members of Congress $174K salary is patently absurd.
I do not believe AOC has a clue as to who is to be paying for all of what she is proposing, e.g., free college, free HC for all, etc. Modern Monetary Theory apparently says Spend it All today for tomorrow may never come.
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@GTM
Sure, let's make it easy and give all the money to the .01% now... in fact, let's just have our paychecks signed right over to the USA (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Koch & Fox) so that they won't need to be troubled finding all those tax loopholes.
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If Congress were in the private sector they would be fired, rather than given a raise, given their abysmal approval rating. When Congress starts doing its job - passing legislation that benefits all Americans- rather than engaging in nonstop squabbles with victors and vanquished-then we can talk about a raise.
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Democrats have passed dozens of substantive bills that address real issues, and Mitch McConnell has said openly that he would never take up any of them in the Senate. It's fashionable to bash both sides, as if one party really were the same as the other, but that's not true. Don't blame the Democrats here, they're actually doing their jobs, both in producing quality legislation and in attempting oversight of our runaway president.
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@Greenfish They can be fired, via elections, but while people generally feel Congress in general is worthless, they support their individual representatives and re-elect them in droves.
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I think members of congress should be able to stay in trump's hotel for free. He is making a fortune off of us taxpayers, and we keep paying for him to vacation at his resorts, therefore the people who are supposed to be working for us should be able to crash at his hotel instead of sleeping in their offices. ;)
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@ALB Yes, but who would want to stay in Trump hotels?
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Pay Raises? If only their pay could be linked to their performance. If anything, there should be pay caps so after a set period, no more raises. Maybe we would get rid of the all too comfortable dead wood that clutters the congressional floor. Also, their health benefits should be ended and they can buy their own with the rest of us, especially after leaving office. And, their retirement packages should end and be part of a 401K and Social Security blend like the rest of us.
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Well said!
As a doctor I have to adhere to pay4perfornance, many teachers do. Why not Congress!!?
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@huh
I understand the frustration with Congress--I feel it! However, low congressional pay means only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress. This ensures that only the interests of the wealthy are represented. If we want more middle-class citizens to serve, we need to pay them well enough to maintain two residences and work in public service for a few years. The alternative is having only those who live off of inherited wealth and stock options serving in congress.
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@Jason
Can you say, "term limits'? Congress was not supposed to be a life time job. It was supposed to be public service by people who represented normal Americans. It has been perverted into todays disaster. They should receive the same health insurance that is available to the general public (not CEOs). They should not get the golden parachutes and health care that they now receive.
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You know things are bad when a body politic can't even get enough votes from their members to give themselves a raise. Kinda says a lot about where America is today.
And by the way, I agree, no raise, they make $174,000 already. Let's wait until they actually pass a decent minimum wage $15/hr or more for the workers.
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A pay raise for congress? For doing what, exactly? They have done nothing for at least a decade.
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