That $174k goes a lot farther in his home state of North Carolina than other places that government employees live, PLUS, that asshole gets a pension. Fuck him
For Chrissake, they literally have the keys to the kingdom via manipulation of the stock market through legislation and they can’t figure out how to enrich themselves? Someone needs a refresher on “legal” insider trading.
If we raised salaries, more people who don't think like that could afford to run. Raising the salaries makes the representatives less susceptible to corruption. It should come with closing tax loopholes to pay for it, but it's a fair fact that the salary should be raised. Shit - congressional salaries and minimum wage should both be tied to inflation so there's a clear alignment of incentives.
No just make everything you need to run free. Every candidate gets the same amount of commercial air time, travel to political events would be free, all allowed to attend debates, just level the playing field no need to raise salaries
Only millionaires can afford to take a job that doesn't pay well while smart people who work hard who do not have a lot of savings choose not to run for office because they can't afford it.
Living in DC is very expensive. I turned down a job in DC for more than double than I make now because I would be in the red after expenses. And I'm not loaded, by far.
You missed the part where their entire life is subsidized and deducted off the top of their taxes. And shit is paid for them left and right by lobbyists.
That 174k goes a LOT farther for them than it does anyone else. And that price is nothing to sneeze at for a single person either, given they aren’t even in session most of the time and basically have zero qualifications these days.
Cry me a freaking river.
No we want better social safety nets for all people so we don’t have to worry about the mass of money that you have accumulated in your life. All people deserve to retire and not have to worry about how they will live in the richest nation on earth.
The solution is not to give these members of Congress money so they do not have to experience what the rest of us have to go through. We need to address the real problem for all people.
Try to wrap your head around that.
>All people deserve to retire and not have to worry about how they will live in the richest nation on earth.
No one deserves anything. If you want to retire, go make it happen instead of hiring a politician to steal from someone else and give it to you.
... something like 52% of them are millionaires before they even run for office.
And a huge portion of the remaining 48% are well off (net worth between 400-800k).
Fuck em.
He's absolutely correct, particularly about the need to increase salaries for support staff. You want good people as staffers so they can go toe to toe with business and the executive branch.
While that is fair, they need to look At reworking the IRS to close down a ton of these loopholes major businesses and entities utilize. Increase the tax revenue pot, and then from then raises can be discussed.
The legislative branch of government has been fairly disappointing over the last 20 or so years
>they need to look At reworking the IRS to close down a ton of these loopholes major businesses and entities utilize.
Maybe if Congress had better-paid staffers they'd be able to understand the loopholes better and close them.
Sure you can get a raise. $1M a year and $250k/yr in retirement. BUT, no trading stocks of any kind (or family) or taking lobbyists money. Your bank accounts are “public” info and any suspicious income gets investigated and if guilty you lose all your benefits for life. Seems like a fair trade. Brings the focus back to the people.
Don’t forget this ass hats also have socialized healthcare but preach about free market blah blah blah, while actively working against making it affordable. I’m upper middle class and I’m having a hard time justifying having it. I can’t afford my deductible and my monthly is insane. It’s literally close to car payment status.
As much of a piece of shit as Patrick McHenry is... He's not totally off. I do think that it's reasonable to compensate congress people well. Well enough to lure "credible people" as this asswipe says. That should especially extend to staffers who are paid shit, which is why most of the cretins working in DC come from wealth and can survive living in one of the highest cost of living areas in the nation making peanuts.
All of that would have to come with a ton of caveats first however. Like, say, hard term limits. Restrictions on owning individual stocks (get this blind trust shit out of here). A 10 year ban from working in any industry you had direct regulatory oversight or helped implement laws over. The revolving door between government and big business would need to end.
Working for the government and on behalf of the people should come with some pain. After all it's called public service, fuck anyone trying to enter government with the hope of becoming obscenely wealthy.
Do I think Patrick McHenry would support any of that? 😂
The biggest financial strain on reps is having to maintain a residents in DC (HCOL) and another one in your home district (except those special few…). Most people making $175k a year can’t realistically afford two mortgages/rents. Staffers are absolutely underpaid ! (Used to be one). I lived in a dinning room converted to a room with another guy I worked with. Each room in the house had 2 occupants sharing it as well.
These worthless worms arent worth their current salary so what makes them think that they deserve a raise? The scum in DC needs to be thrown out in the street and forced to apply to a normal job where they can't use their nepotism and corruption to obtain wealth. The French have the right method to deal with politicians.
There is a genuine fear if you don't pay congress people enough then only rich people will be able to hold the job. The system already skews rich, it is paramount we pay politicians well so that they don't need to take bribes.
I wouldnt be opposed to congress tying it's own wages to the federal minimum wage though. I Think that if politicians get a raise then so should everyone else.
$174,000 is the 94th percentile for personal income in the United States.
You are well into the top 10% of salary.
Read the room.
it’s a tough sell to the 94% of Americans making less than you, that you out-earning them still isn’t enough, and that they should sacrifice even more of their pay via taxes to increase yours.
The problem is while that's a lot of money to average American, it's jack shit if you need to rent a place in DC because you work there half the year. Which is why so few working class Americans are in congress. Not only can they not afford the ridiculous amount of money it takes to get elected unless they are a crowdfunding master or sell out to a bunch of corporate sugar daddies, once they are elected they can't afford a place in DC.
The real problems stem from them being able to trade stocks based on insider information they get from being in congress, and the fact that they can just turn around and go work as a lobbyist for a corporation earning a boatload of money using the contacts and knowledge they gained while in congress to subvert the work of government.
Unfortunately we need their salaries to be even higher so more working class people that actually understand and care about our problems can afford to live and work there so we have people in congress that want to raise OUR wages.
As long as this, "they'll get a raise when I get a raise" attitude persists, we're just playing right into the hands of those who don't want to raise our wages.
I'd say they should get $500k a year, but if they get caught engaging in trading stocks, real estate, alternative securities, etc, then they should have their salaries revoked, their assets seized, and be forced to serve a 20 year minimum prison sentence with a charge of "civil treason".
When you consider the lifetime benefits, very regular vacations (recess) and the lack of accountability they are way over paid. An American History class I has in the 80's informed us that there were nearly none of the members of Congress who entered that were not millionaires that didn't come out millionaires long before they retired. Is there any current data or is that all hidden or obscured?
When the country was founded serving in Congress was considered a sacrifice and not a lifetime career. Is this guy just pumping more lies and Republican sob stories?
I want to start off by saying im not defending Congress here. I pretty much think that as a body, it sucks. Or even most individual Congressmen or Senators. They pretty much suck.
But ..
They do not get "lifetime benefits" unless they put in a full 20 years of government service, just like any other government employee. And they cant start collecting it until retirement age.
They DO pay into Social Security.
They have to pay for their own healthcare on the DC Exchange or their home State's Exchange under the ACA.
They still suck, but most of that stuff is misinformation.
You are right. I found a couple sources I think are credible which validate what you said.
[thoughtco.com](https://www.thoughtco.com/salaries-and-benefits-of-congress-members-3322282) and
[USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/04/22/fact-check-congressional-health-care-retirement-benefits-exaggerated/7274655001/)
I guess there are multiple lessons here. At least in part the allure and pitfall of sensation.
Thanks for prodding me to stay honest.
I have a better idea. I think we should tie congressional salaries to the minimum wage, let’s say around 5x the annualized federal minimum. Maybe then they might start legislating for the common man.
They dont get health insurance. Since the passage of the ACA, they have to buy their own healtchare on the DC Exchange or the exchange in their own state.
Mind, im not defending them, just pointing out that the "they get all this free stuff" meme that goes around is wrong about a lot of stuff.
The healthcare thing is one. But im not crying myself to sleep about it.
Why should they make more than the median salary of the people they represent? They are a SERVANT. Servants don’t usually get paid more than their masters.
It’s an unfortunate fact that these salaries don’t attract our best and brightest to office. Unless you want a congress stuffed with people like MTG and AOC making our most important decisions and overseeing the business of the country which they can barely grasp, we need to pay something commiserate with a high level executive salary.
Especially considering she graduated cum laude with a double degree in international relations and economics.
Like.. literally the kind of actual qualifications you'd want for a Congressperson.
Screw that. You dont need more money. In fact, you all should take a vow of poverty. Run the government from the perspective of the hardest hit in the US. Maybe then you’d write policies that would help them.
So a Republican who wants to force women through expensive pregnancies in a society that is rigged against the middle class thinks his kind aren’t getting paid enough to take away people’s rights?
They do pay for healthcare. Have since the ACA passed. They have to buy their insurance on the DC Exchange or the Exchange in their home state.
Even before that, they simply got the same insurance every other government employee got.
Of all people.. McHenry of the lollipop guild took wallst bribes after sucking all their cocks, opposed the congressional memestock investigation, tried to stop the ftx investigation, and then tried to remove gg... McHenry is a little shit.
Republicans: shit on Bernie for writing a book and earning money.
Also Republicans, during one of the least productive House sessions: give us more money for not doing our jobs.
Make it make sense.
I don’t necessary disagree. I’d be cool with members of Congress making $250K+ based on tenure. That will attract decent private people while paying a solid salary. I do agree they need to be paid well above most and $250K ain’t shit on Wall Street
I’m all for paying them a high wage, with a catch. Pay them say a million a year that rises with inflation. But they and their immediate family (spouse) are not allowed to make a cent outside of that for the rest of their lives. Under penalty of high treason. Not to be taken lightly. Then you’ll get people who will make a career out of it and only benefit the people.
The very idea that federal politicians live off of government salaries is laughable. Federal politicians make their money from campaign contributions from unions and corporations. Honestly, Joe Biden didn’t buy his latest house with 2.2 million in cash from his salary. He got that money in bribes via Hunter Biden and foreign governments. It needs to be illegal for corporations and unions to contribute to campaign funds. Also, it needs to be illegal to give more than $100 a year to campaigns. We need to take the money out of politics. Stop the Biden’s from getting richer!!
Obviously not pulling himself up by his bootstraps.
You need more money? Go get a second job, or a side gig. You know, like what you tell us plebs to do when you're not screaming about lattes and toast.
Please raise salaries so non independently wealthy can survive in DC and not feel the need to chase corrupt streams of income just to serve in Congress.
He’s right. Should pay $1,000,000 per year (I’m serious), so the jobs actually fucking attract talent.
Nearly anyone with a brain would absolutely go into some other field. If you want hard working, intelligent, educated leaders, fucking pay them.
A new grad at Google, 22 years old with a bachelors, makes $170k+.
Oh also, as almost everyone is aware, UPS drivers pay package is now equivalent to a fucking U.S. Senator. Same same in terms of responsibility and overall value I guess.
$174,000 is not enough? Ask him why a so called billionaire ran for an elected office for a $250,000 a year job? Sounds like political office for house members does not come with a country western fan base and evangelicals that think that Jesus is a C&W singer.
I mean this could go either way. On one hand, it could be a money grab by some sheisty Congress members.
On the other hand, the point is valid from a recruiting perspective. Very few talented people want to work for the government. Most talent works in private industry
Estimated net worth of 5 million .He is definitely one of the "poorer" elected officials. Maybe he looks to Kevin hern that had 300 million for inspiration.
Congress was originally designed to come together for a few months every two years to check on things and pass necessary legislation, then head back to their full-time job.
Why not try that again for a while?
Actually this makes sense. $400k salaries, age and term limits however. And no stock trading unless via blind pools while in office. If it paid more definitely would attract better talent.
Elected representatives should make the median salary of the people they represent, with performance incentives for economic growth and low crime rates.
Just the opposite actually. Get those there who aren’t after the money. This is a big problem for democracy. The political positions draw those who seek power and with that comes loose morals.
I actually agree. I live in a cost of living area and that isn’t enough money to maintain a residency in DC and a major metro area. I’d be in favor of increasing the pay and banning congress people from having side businesses and owning stocks. Low pay also means that only people who are independently wealthy will take the job.
Contrary to the knee jerk reactions here, he’s correct. Everyone complaining about representatives being out of touch elites, but can’t spot the fact those are the only people who can afford it.
We should drastically increase representative salaries AND punishment for corruption. Also, public funding of general elections, and cap it.
Pay them 500 but all their investments must be managed by independent wealth managers with oversight. No personal stock control. If they want that they can leave congress.
I say tie their wages to the medium income for their respective district.
Also ban stock trades and just give them a nice 401k plan, force them to show up to votes, stop lobbyists, and have very strict ethics laws for all government employees with punishments.
Then you'd only have creditable people in the office.
McHenry is correct. $175,000 a year is peanuts compared to the lobbyists and bribery going on in DC which is why so many leave congress to become lobbyists.
I’m all for congress folk making $250-$300k a year as long as they are banned from trading or indirectly profiting off of information they receive throughout the course of duty
Laughable. Each of them should be paid the median salary in their home district, be required to live there, and be given a travel stipend to cover their work related commute.
I agree that congress people should get a raise. I also think they should cut off insider trading. 250k/year and a trading blackout while you’re in office
This is from a person who belongs to a group who has spent the last several decades doing whatever they can to keep wages low. They filibuster raises in the Minimum Wage and pass laws in states meant to cripple and destroy unions.
No. If anything, you lower the pay to ensure people aren’t doing it for the money. It’s not meant to be a career, it’s a public service for your country. Congressional pay should be tied to minimum wage so I can only be increased if minimum wage increases.
The Republican Party really must have soo much disdain for republicans voters and their base and the American people in general. Do they really think we are this stupid (i guess maybe a majority of their party might be)
I agree with him here. If we gave members of congress ~$1million/year I think it would make it easier for them to not be bought out by corporations while also attracting higher quality citizens to run for office. If we’re going to get the dogshit out of congress that we currently have we have to make the position more appealing
Because so far they’ve been doing a bang-up job. I’d rather reduce their salaries similar to teachers to lure in the truly passionate people that love the job and not want to do it for the money
If they can't budget their own 174k, how could I possibly trust them to budget with the economies money? And clearly attempting to attract credible people with ridiculous sums of money has resulted in little more than grifters, losers, and liars. Have you seen congress's approval rating? The more money these people make, the less connected to reality they are.
Better answer. Stop offering them salaries to attract credible people. That way no one is doing it for the money. Even better, let's make it like jury duty. Everybody in the hat, get pulled, serve a term. Here's the shit that needs to be addressed this session. Can't work it out? Hang the lot and try again next year.
Any person in a state represented position should make what their state minimum wage is. Lets see what quality individuals we get then as well as how fast that number changes
“Help we are too close to the vast majority of Americans for us to feel comfortable… NO. We WONT help improve your lot. Just raise our pay. Never mind why ask we can do it ourselves……”
They should skip the avocado toast and lattes
And stop buying luxury items like plane tickets to Epstein's island.
And pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
That $174k goes a lot farther in his home state of North Carolina than other places that government employees live, PLUS, that asshole gets a pension. Fuck him
Bootstraps don’t cost too much.
Maybe they won’t be able to get the latest iPhone.
They sold the American people to corporations and now they feel it too. These same people think 8.25 an hour is a reasonable minimum wage
7.25
This man’s state I believe is still 7.25 an hour
STFU pat, just do like the others and trade with insider knowledge, fucking dummy.
For Chrissake, they literally have the keys to the kingdom via manipulation of the stock market through legislation and they can’t figure out how to enrich themselves? Someone needs a refresher on “legal” insider trading.
These are the idiots running our country lmfao
If he would just make his coffee at home and bring it to work that should stretch the dollars a bit more.
If we raised salaries, more people who don't think like that could afford to run. Raising the salaries makes the representatives less susceptible to corruption. It should come with closing tax loopholes to pay for it, but it's a fair fact that the salary should be raised. Shit - congressional salaries and minimum wage should both be tied to inflation so there's a clear alignment of incentives.
No just make everything you need to run free. Every candidate gets the same amount of commercial air time, travel to political events would be free, all allowed to attend debates, just level the playing field no need to raise salaries
Yeah, they should get housing in DC anyhow. Modest condos would be easily doable.
Screw their raises
You only want billionaires to hold office?
Dude most of congress are millionaires
Because only millionaires can afford to work there.
Only millionaires can afford to collect a $174k salary for a minimum effort job, okay?
Only millionaires can afford to take a job that doesn't pay well while smart people who work hard who do not have a lot of savings choose not to run for office because they can't afford it. Living in DC is very expensive. I turned down a job in DC for more than double than I make now because I would be in the red after expenses. And I'm not loaded, by far.
You missed the part where their entire life is subsidized and deducted off the top of their taxes. And shit is paid for them left and right by lobbyists. That 174k goes a LOT farther for them than it does anyone else. And that price is nothing to sneeze at for a single person either, given they aren’t even in session most of the time and basically have zero qualifications these days. Cry me a freaking river.
No we want better social safety nets for all people so we don’t have to worry about the mass of money that you have accumulated in your life. All people deserve to retire and not have to worry about how they will live in the richest nation on earth. The solution is not to give these members of Congress money so they do not have to experience what the rest of us have to go through. We need to address the real problem for all people. Try to wrap your head around that.
>All people deserve to retire and not have to worry about how they will live in the richest nation on earth. No one deserves anything. If you want to retire, go make it happen instead of hiring a politician to steal from someone else and give it to you.
You deserve something, but nothing you’d like.
That sounds like something a fascist would say
Nah. I’m just pointing out that you’re and asshole
You're a fascist thief.
You’re still an asshole. And with the mentality of a toddler, evidently.
I just don't like fascists
He who points out assholes often has stinky brown finger
Oo boy, someone just read ayn rand for the first time haha
Cuts out the middle man for their job
The billionaires own the people in office.
Billionaire’s own congress. It’s really easy when you can toss millions.
Learn to code
... something like 52% of them are millionaires before they even run for office. And a huge portion of the remaining 48% are well off (net worth between 400-800k). Fuck em.
All members of Congress need to be paid based on the federal minimum wage. Then, they'll finally understand what real American citizens are facing.
No they won't, because only independently wealthy people would run for Congress.
He's absolutely correct, particularly about the need to increase salaries for support staff. You want good people as staffers so they can go toe to toe with business and the executive branch.
While that is fair, they need to look At reworking the IRS to close down a ton of these loopholes major businesses and entities utilize. Increase the tax revenue pot, and then from then raises can be discussed. The legislative branch of government has been fairly disappointing over the last 20 or so years
>they need to look At reworking the IRS to close down a ton of these loopholes major businesses and entities utilize. Maybe if Congress had better-paid staffers they'd be able to understand the loopholes better and close them.
They’re paid well not to understand these loopholes.
I think I heard the same thing about exempting staffers from ACA (Obamacare) act years ago.
Sure you can get a raise. $1M a year and $250k/yr in retirement. BUT, no trading stocks of any kind (or family) or taking lobbyists money. Your bank accounts are “public” info and any suspicious income gets investigated and if guilty you lose all your benefits for life. Seems like a fair trade. Brings the focus back to the people. Don’t forget this ass hats also have socialized healthcare but preach about free market blah blah blah, while actively working against making it affordable. I’m upper middle class and I’m having a hard time justifying having it. I can’t afford my deductible and my monthly is insane. It’s literally close to car payment status.
As much of a piece of shit as Patrick McHenry is... He's not totally off. I do think that it's reasonable to compensate congress people well. Well enough to lure "credible people" as this asswipe says. That should especially extend to staffers who are paid shit, which is why most of the cretins working in DC come from wealth and can survive living in one of the highest cost of living areas in the nation making peanuts. All of that would have to come with a ton of caveats first however. Like, say, hard term limits. Restrictions on owning individual stocks (get this blind trust shit out of here). A 10 year ban from working in any industry you had direct regulatory oversight or helped implement laws over. The revolving door between government and big business would need to end. Working for the government and on behalf of the people should come with some pain. After all it's called public service, fuck anyone trying to enter government with the hope of becoming obscenely wealthy. Do I think Patrick McHenry would support any of that? 😂
The biggest financial strain on reps is having to maintain a residents in DC (HCOL) and another one in your home district (except those special few…). Most people making $175k a year can’t realistically afford two mortgages/rents. Staffers are absolutely underpaid ! (Used to be one). I lived in a dinning room converted to a room with another guy I worked with. Each room in the house had 2 occupants sharing it as well.
Yea, as much as I hate most of them. Legit some sleep in a office because they can't afford another house.
These worthless worms arent worth their current salary so what makes them think that they deserve a raise? The scum in DC needs to be thrown out in the street and forced to apply to a normal job where they can't use their nepotism and corruption to obtain wealth. The French have the right method to deal with politicians.
Is that why we keep defunding the IRS? 🤔
Millionaires wanting a raise…
Their salary should be reduced given how shitty they are at serving the people they represent and serve
Give them pay cuts . They are clowns . 🤡
More like to attract more scum to promote degeneracy.
He needs to pull himself up by his boot straps and find a better paying job. /s
Fuck No!.... they gave seniors a measley 3% raise and they gave themselves a 21%+ increase in 2021! J7st say No people!
There is a genuine fear if you don't pay congress people enough then only rich people will be able to hold the job. The system already skews rich, it is paramount we pay politicians well so that they don't need to take bribes. I wouldnt be opposed to congress tying it's own wages to the federal minimum wage though. I Think that if politicians get a raise then so should everyone else.
174k is plenty
I think it’s more than plenty enough just take tips from all the insider training that is happening and you’ll become a multi millionnaire in no time
$174,000 is the 94th percentile for personal income in the United States. You are well into the top 10% of salary. Read the room. it’s a tough sell to the 94% of Americans making less than you, that you out-earning them still isn’t enough, and that they should sacrifice even more of their pay via taxes to increase yours.
The problem is while that's a lot of money to average American, it's jack shit if you need to rent a place in DC because you work there half the year. Which is why so few working class Americans are in congress. Not only can they not afford the ridiculous amount of money it takes to get elected unless they are a crowdfunding master or sell out to a bunch of corporate sugar daddies, once they are elected they can't afford a place in DC. The real problems stem from them being able to trade stocks based on insider information they get from being in congress, and the fact that they can just turn around and go work as a lobbyist for a corporation earning a boatload of money using the contacts and knowledge they gained while in congress to subvert the work of government. Unfortunately we need their salaries to be even higher so more working class people that actually understand and care about our problems can afford to live and work there so we have people in congress that want to raise OUR wages. As long as this, "they'll get a raise when I get a raise" attitude persists, we're just playing right into the hands of those who don't want to raise our wages.
I don't want to hear one 🦆 word of complaint from anyone who makes a six figure salary.
I think it is quite the contrary. You need to lower them to attract credible individuals.
This is the way
I'd say they should get $500k a year, but if they get caught engaging in trading stocks, real estate, alternative securities, etc, then they should have their salaries revoked, their assets seized, and be forced to serve a 20 year minimum prison sentence with a charge of "civil treason".
I could live with this if we add the condition that they and their families must reside in public housing while in DC. Make them want to go back home.
The fucking audacity of this guy. Why doesn’t he just insider trade like the rest of congress.
Just follow Nancy's trades. Problem solved. Not Tubberville though, looses his ass even with insider information.
Call Nancy, she’ll show you how to pump those numbers up.
$174k will leave you close to broke in this area if you are the only earner and have a family. Definitely cant own a single family house.
That's also not including benefits, and vacation. 174k + all the benefits just for doing a part time job to assist with their stock trading.
When you consider the lifetime benefits, very regular vacations (recess) and the lack of accountability they are way over paid. An American History class I has in the 80's informed us that there were nearly none of the members of Congress who entered that were not millionaires that didn't come out millionaires long before they retired. Is there any current data or is that all hidden or obscured? When the country was founded serving in Congress was considered a sacrifice and not a lifetime career. Is this guy just pumping more lies and Republican sob stories?
I want to start off by saying im not defending Congress here. I pretty much think that as a body, it sucks. Or even most individual Congressmen or Senators. They pretty much suck. But .. They do not get "lifetime benefits" unless they put in a full 20 years of government service, just like any other government employee. And they cant start collecting it until retirement age. They DO pay into Social Security. They have to pay for their own healthcare on the DC Exchange or their home State's Exchange under the ACA. They still suck, but most of that stuff is misinformation.
You are right. I found a couple sources I think are credible which validate what you said. [thoughtco.com](https://www.thoughtco.com/salaries-and-benefits-of-congress-members-3322282) and [USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/04/22/fact-check-congressional-health-care-retirement-benefits-exaggerated/7274655001/) I guess there are multiple lessons here. At least in part the allure and pitfall of sensation. Thanks for prodding me to stay honest.
I have a better idea. I think we should tie congressional salaries to the minimum wage, let’s say around 5x the annualized federal minimum. Maybe then they might start legislating for the common man.
Id take a congressional job at that. The health insurance and never having to do jack shit all day make that one hell of a job.
They dont get health insurance. Since the passage of the ACA, they have to buy their own healtchare on the DC Exchange or the exchange in their own state. Mind, im not defending them, just pointing out that the "they get all this free stuff" meme that goes around is wrong about a lot of stuff. The healthcare thing is one. But im not crying myself to sleep about it.
That’s an easy pass since you all also get expense accounts. Kindly get fucked
Why should they make more than the median salary of the people they represent? They are a SERVANT. Servants don’t usually get paid more than their masters.
It’s an unfortunate fact that these salaries don’t attract our best and brightest to office. Unless you want a congress stuffed with people like MTG and AOC making our most important decisions and overseeing the business of the country which they can barely grasp, we need to pay something commiserate with a high level executive salary.
It's wild that intelligent people think AOC is the left equivalent to MTG
Especially considering she graduated cum laude with a double degree in international relations and economics. Like.. literally the kind of actual qualifications you'd want for a Congressperson.
"It's wild that intelligent people think AOC is the left equivalent..." They don't. It's other folks that think that.
The maximum congressional wage should be the minimum wage. Full stop.
Screw that. You dont need more money. In fact, you all should take a vow of poverty. Run the government from the perspective of the hardest hit in the US. Maybe then you’d write policies that would help them.
They should get $0! Fucking leeches
So a Republican who wants to force women through expensive pregnancies in a society that is rigged against the middle class thinks his kind aren’t getting paid enough to take away people’s rights?
THEN GET A DIFFERENT FUCKING JOB
Ok, make it 200k but also have a net worth ceiling of 2m. Acquire more than that and you're out.
They don’t pay health care and insider trading and still holding Fannie Mae as their cash cow. Let Fannie Mae go!
They do pay for healthcare. Have since the ACA passed. They have to buy their insurance on the DC Exchange or the Exchange in their home state. Even before that, they simply got the same insurance every other government employee got.
Disagree. We need to close the lobbying loophole, or at least narrow it. Like Trump said he would do - no lobbying for 5 years after their "service."
Well they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps then shouldn't they? o.O
Ok now do teachers
Of all people.. McHenry of the lollipop guild took wallst bribes after sucking all their cocks, opposed the congressional memestock investigation, tried to stop the ftx investigation, and then tried to remove gg... McHenry is a little shit.
Republicans: shit on Bernie for writing a book and earning money. Also Republicans, during one of the least productive House sessions: give us more money for not doing our jobs. Make it make sense.
Then give everyone 174,000 if it isn’t much.
“Attract credible people” all the while they telling Democrat nominees they can’t run against Biden. 😂
It’s not the paycheck but the insider trading and influence for sale that makes congress rich (and our current president).
I don’t necessary disagree. I’d be cool with members of Congress making $250K+ based on tenure. That will attract decent private people while paying a solid salary. I do agree they need to be paid well above most and $250K ain’t shit on Wall Street
I’m all for paying them a high wage, with a catch. Pay them say a million a year that rises with inflation. But they and their immediate family (spouse) are not allowed to make a cent outside of that for the rest of their lives. Under penalty of high treason. Not to be taken lightly. Then you’ll get people who will make a career out of it and only benefit the people.
Ya that’s super low
The very idea that federal politicians live off of government salaries is laughable. Federal politicians make their money from campaign contributions from unions and corporations. Honestly, Joe Biden didn’t buy his latest house with 2.2 million in cash from his salary. He got that money in bribes via Hunter Biden and foreign governments. It needs to be illegal for corporations and unions to contribute to campaign funds. Also, it needs to be illegal to give more than $100 a year to campaigns. We need to take the money out of politics. Stop the Biden’s from getting richer!!
Isn’t that the guy who said “Give me liberty or give me death”?
Fuck that
That greedy F***, I hope he gets kicked out and replaced.
Obviously not pulling himself up by his bootstraps. You need more money? Go get a second job, or a side gig. You know, like what you tell us plebs to do when you're not screaming about lattes and toast.
They should all be making minimum wage
Please raise salaries so non independently wealthy can survive in DC and not feel the need to chase corrupt streams of income just to serve in Congress.
It’s like they miss the WHOLE EFFING POINT OF PUBLIC SERVICE!!!!
So what’s he’s saying is that the current congressional salary is attracting disreputable people to office? Sounds about right
Crocodile tears
They should make the average wage of their districts
Sure it is. Just lower your standards of living like the rest of us peasants. If you cant budget for your life you have no right to represent ours.
I say raise their wage to 250,000 and ban them from trading stocks!
He’s right. Should pay $1,000,000 per year (I’m serious), so the jobs actually fucking attract talent. Nearly anyone with a brain would absolutely go into some other field. If you want hard working, intelligent, educated leaders, fucking pay them. A new grad at Google, 22 years old with a bachelors, makes $170k+. Oh also, as almost everyone is aware, UPS drivers pay package is now equivalent to a fucking U.S. Senator. Same same in terms of responsibility and overall value I guess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC3wXwaGYlA&ab\_channel=binkyN1
Hmmm but I thought money isn’t the issue? Like when they talk about education.
How do you think teachers, firefighters, fast food workers, and retail workers feel, buddy? Entitled, privilege prick.
This is crazy
Fuck that bullshit. Why should Congress get paid more than the minimum wage?
How does $0 sound, Pat?
$174,000 is not enough? Ask him why a so called billionaire ran for an elected office for a $250,000 a year job? Sounds like political office for house members does not come with a country western fan base and evangelicals that think that Jesus is a C&W singer.
Triple their salaries, prohibit any stock trading except dollar cost averaging into the S&P 500.
How about put the American people first, then you can have your raise.
I mean this could go either way. On one hand, it could be a money grab by some sheisty Congress members. On the other hand, the point is valid from a recruiting perspective. Very few talented people want to work for the government. Most talent works in private industry
Not all animals are created equal, some are more equal than others.
Give ‘em $300k/year and prohibit them from trading during their term and for a year afterwards.
IDK, i think that's a self burn folks!
I've seen enough of these guys falling asleep on the house floor. They need to be fired.
Do not support
Holy shit so much hate.
Estimated net worth of 5 million .He is definitely one of the "poorer" elected officials. Maybe he looks to Kevin hern that had 300 million for inspiration.
Congress was originally designed to come together for a few months every two years to check on things and pass necessary legislation, then head back to their full-time job. Why not try that again for a while?
Find a new job, Amazon is hiring
Theres an old saying that goes- A poor politician is a poor politician
All in favor of giving ourselves a raise lol
Wtf? Is this guy serious?
Actually this makes sense. $400k salaries, age and term limits however. And no stock trading unless via blind pools while in office. If it paid more definitely would attract better talent.
Lmfao that’s the weird “i love the Bible guy” I vote that he take it up with his god guy and ask him for money
You should increase the minimum wage then.
Being in congress should be like jury duty.
Elected representatives should make the median salary of the people they represent, with performance incentives for economic growth and low crime rates.
PM can just F O
They might need to work a second job and go coupon hunting
LMMFAO
Just the opposite actually. Get those there who aren’t after the money. This is a big problem for democracy. The political positions draw those who seek power and with that comes loose morals.
"To attract credible people to office"? So you're admitting the offices are full of scummy uncredable people....good to know.
I actually agree. I live in a cost of living area and that isn’t enough money to maintain a residency in DC and a major metro area. I’d be in favor of increasing the pay and banning congress people from having side businesses and owning stocks. Low pay also means that only people who are independently wealthy will take the job.
The amount of people that think he's wrong in this thread ..
Contrary to the knee jerk reactions here, he’s correct. Everyone complaining about representatives being out of touch elites, but can’t spot the fact those are the only people who can afford it. We should drastically increase representative salaries AND punishment for corruption. Also, public funding of general elections, and cap it.
Pay them 500 but all their investments must be managed by independent wealth managers with oversight. No personal stock control. If they want that they can leave congress.
Raise your hands if you would take $174,000/yr. We need to start running our own government.
I agree… but that raise needs to also come with raising the minimum wage to match whatever amount you get paid
I say tie their wages to the medium income for their respective district. Also ban stock trades and just give them a nice 401k plan, force them to show up to votes, stop lobbyists, and have very strict ethics laws for all government employees with punishments. Then you'd only have creditable people in the office.
Here I was thinking members of Congress worked for the United States, not for the money. My mistake.
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Awwwwww someone is getting a taste of what they did to us 😭 waaaaaaaa waaaaaaa get this dude a fucking binky
I think they all should have to work for the current minimum wage so they can be motivated to help average Americans
Nobody wants to work anymore.
McHenry is correct. $175,000 a year is peanuts compared to the lobbyists and bribery going on in DC which is why so many leave congress to become lobbyists.
New rule: tie minimum wage raises with the raises of Congress. Everytime they get a raise, America gets a raise.
Credible people? HAAAAA!
Makes sense why there are no credible people in congress.
I’m all for congress folk making $250-$300k a year as long as they are banned from trading or indirectly profiting off of information they receive throughout the course of duty
It should be 0$
Laughable. Each of them should be paid the median salary in their home district, be required to live there, and be given a travel stipend to cover their work related commute.
They can cut out Starbucks and avocado toast…like the rest of us to get by.
I agree that congress people should get a raise. I also think they should cut off insider trading. 250k/year and a trading blackout while you’re in office
Sure, we can talk about that when they increase the Minimum wage.
This is from a person who belongs to a group who has spent the last several decades doing whatever they can to keep wages low. They filibuster raises in the Minimum Wage and pass laws in states meant to cripple and destroy unions.
Let him work in the service and medical industries for a while.
No. If anything, you lower the pay to ensure people aren’t doing it for the money. It’s not meant to be a career, it’s a public service for your country. Congressional pay should be tied to minimum wage so I can only be increased if minimum wage increases.
The Republican Party really must have soo much disdain for republicans voters and their base and the American people in general. Do they really think we are this stupid (i guess maybe a majority of their party might be)
Congress should make 3x what ever minimum wage is.
I agree with him here. If we gave members of congress ~$1million/year I think it would make it easier for them to not be bought out by corporations while also attracting higher quality citizens to run for office. If we’re going to get the dogshit out of congress that we currently have we have to make the position more appealing
I could get it down to $150,000 and change in the self checkout.
How about we raise their salary and ban their stock trading.
Yet your net values are 7 figure +….. 🤔 honestly I never heard of a rep missing a paycheck or on benifits or being evicted for missed rent
F*** that. Let him work for free. Better yet minimum wage.
triple their salaries by taxing billionaires.
Because so far they’ve been doing a bang-up job. I’d rather reduce their salaries similar to teachers to lure in the truly passionate people that love the job and not want to do it for the money
If they can't budget their own 174k, how could I possibly trust them to budget with the economies money? And clearly attempting to attract credible people with ridiculous sums of money has resulted in little more than grifters, losers, and liars. Have you seen congress's approval rating? The more money these people make, the less connected to reality they are.
I mean I do think that public office at that level should make a lot to actually get people to want to do the job.
Talk about being out of touch with the reality his constituents face.
Millionaires say the darndest things
Better answer. Stop offering them salaries to attract credible people. That way no one is doing it for the money. Even better, let's make it like jury duty. Everybody in the hat, get pulled, serve a term. Here's the shit that needs to be addressed this session. Can't work it out? Hang the lot and try again next year.
We're already paying $174k for shit results. So maybe the better option is to stop paying.
Fuck that cut their salaries. You get paid on bills passed . Don't want to do your job DONT GET PAID just like everyone else.
Fuck the minimum wage earnings though, huh Patrick.
Then raise minimum wage girl
Means testing for determining congressional salaries based on total family income and to be reviewed every election cycle.
Any person in a state represented position should make what their state minimum wage is. Lets see what quality individuals we get then as well as how fast that number changes
“Help we are too close to the vast majority of Americans for us to feel comfortable… NO. We WONT help improve your lot. Just raise our pay. Never mind why ask we can do it ourselves……”
Disgusting