Time to Get Their House in Order

As of Friday, September 9, 2011

I have read that many of this country’s congressmen are complaining about their salaries.

According to a report from the Taxpayer’s Protection Alliance (TPA), “Members of Congress receive an annual salary of $174,000, which puts them in the highest paid 5 percent of U.S. workers. They also receive a host of additional benefits that put their total annual compensation at around $285,000. Federal legislators earn 3.4 times more than the average full-time American worker, and are among the highest paid legislators in the industrialized world.”

However, many of our representatives say that’s not enough. Some say they’re having trouble paying their mortgages or paying off college loans, and the number of hours they put in on the job makes the hourly rate not much. Even if they were to put in 60 hours a week every week of the year, their hourly rate would be $55.76.

I hope they don’t try to get sympathy from the thousands in this country who work for minimum wage or can’t find work at all. With a $174,000-per-year salary, these people are clearly living beyond their means. Do we really want people making economic decisions for our country who can’t make ends meet in their own homes?

As TPA points out, “Congress has run up a $14.3 trillion debt and a $1.5 trillion deficit, yet they are still among the best compensated employees in America. It’s time to hold our representatives in Washington responsible for their job performance. With the high salaries Congress is collecting, we don’t think it’s too much to ask that they do their jobs and get our economic house in order.”

The group also points out that if congressional salaries were cut to $100,000, taxpayers could save $39 million each year.

Doris Smith

Pinehurst

More like this story

lhines48 1 year, 8 months ago

It’s that ironic that these people who we elect to represent us are complaining about their salary is not enough for them to live on when they are making three or four time more then the average American. Just about any working American would be glad to make, half that and in most cases would be able to support their family with any problem. When we ask for an increase in the minimum wage, they come up with kind of charts and graphs saying that an increase in the minimum wage would cause national inflation and lost of jobs.

Most of us have to same bills that they have. We have college tuition and loans that we have to pay; we have mortgages and medical bills that we must pay also. What make them think that their needs are more essential than ours? We ask for an increase in the minimum wage and they tell us that we should cut back on our spending so we can meet our needs and pay our bills. Well, I think that they should do the same thing that they are asking us to do, cut back on spending and live in their means. . During the next election, we need to watch what we are voting for because they will stick a salary increase in a bill and unknowingly we will vote them a salary increase. Personally, I think that we should get rid of all career politicians. We need to institute term limits to get rid of all these career politicians. I think that would solve a lot of our problems. Maybe we the people should start a partition to institute term limits. I don’t know if we can do that but it is a thought.

keke 1 year, 8 months ago

I totally agree about career politicians. After so many years, many lose touch with what it's like to be a "regular" American. When our country was founded, politicians still had their regular jobs in addition to being a public servant. They certainly felt hardships just like any other citizen and didn't take their responsibilities lightly. We definitely need to institute term limits, but that is going to be HARD with career politicians fighting against it in the courts!

There is a grassroots movement already underway with some success in a few states: http://www.termlimits.org/

On a side note, career politicians would likely create a jobs plan more quickly if they knew their time was running out!

Toda 1 year, 8 months ago

We the people can't vote on anything except who to represent our interests until they are sworn into office. They vote on their own pay raises and golden parachutes. Only congress can receive a part of their salary once they serve for two years. Where else in this world does anyone have that perk? In addition, they have good careers with the corporate PAC's who buy votes. The people no longer have the priviledge to vote on local matters affecting our money, so why would anyone assume we can change the corruption in Washington?

DaveyNC 1 year, 8 months ago

Here's a good idea: cut their pay. That way, they will be even more vulnerable to under the table offers. Or just cut their pay altogether and make it an unpaid position so that only the wealthy can afford to do the job.

Look, most Congresscritters have to maintain a home in their district and in DC. DC, by the way, is quite an expensive place to live. If they have children in DC, they will probably choose a private school both because DC schools are some of the worst in the country and for security reasons.

I want to get value for the money we pay them but in the end, they shouldn't have to go broke to serve. That $39 million mentioned by the writer isn't even a rounding error in the grand scheme of things. Go find a real problem.

lhines48 1 year, 8 months ago

I agree that DC is an expense place to live because I lived there for about ten years. But the choice to sending their kids to a private school system is a choice made by them and I don't think that we should have to pay for their choices. . If the school system in DC is so bad then they should do something to correct the problem. As for maintaining a home is two different place that is also their choice and I don't think that we should be obligated to pay for their choices. There are a lot of people who are in worst shape then they are and they don't no where near $175 a year. When ask them to do something about the economy and the hard times that we are having, they tell us to cut back, buy a cheaper car, down size our home. Instead of going out to eat 4 nights a week, maybe only go out one night a week. Send you kids to a college that we can afford. Well they should follow the same rules that they tell us to follow. I have no sympathy for them because they have none of us

DaveyNC 1 year, 8 months ago

So, their kids should receive an inferior education because mom or dad decided to run for office?

And no, it's not their choice to maintain two homes. You may recall that in order to be eligible for office, a person must live in the district they represent. So, one home there and a place to live in DC. Any way you count it, that is two households.

Can't recall the last time a Congressman told me to cut back or buy a cheaper car. President Obama has suggested that, though. Maybe we should cut his pay.

emb6683 1 year, 8 months ago

Who says they have to maintain a home in DC? This CBS news report from last Jan says that one-fifth of the house freshmen sleep in their office.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/22/eveningnews/main7272636.shtml

According to the article

"Ohio's Steve Stivers and Arkansas' Tim Griffin are Iraq War veterans, while New York's Chris Gibson spent 24 years in the Army. "He sees his mission to Congress as just another deployment," said Gibson spokeswoman Stephanie Valle."

Hooah.

Toda 1 year, 8 months ago

More vulnerable...check out http://www.opensecrets.org See what North Carolina elected Representatives receive from corporations. They are all representing their self interests. I find it interesting how one local church and it's members - die hard republican's - supported Howard Coble. They don't believe in alcohol in any form...one of his major contributors is the beer and wine industry. Go figure.

CNMT 1 year, 8 months ago

We also need to revamp their retirement system. Getting full pay for the rest of their lives after serving one term in office is costing the taxpayers a boatload of money (I don't have an exact figure, so will not even attempt to quantify it here!). I know of no other job in America where you can work for as little as 2 or 4 years and collect full pay for the rest of your life!

DaveyNC 1 year, 8 months ago

Keep thinking that and don't bother to check the facts: http://goo.gl/djJyz

Pretty good retirement for those guys, better than non-government workers, but not full pay for 2-4 years of service. By law, can't draw more than 80% of full pay.

Should it be cut back? Probably. I think they should have 401(k) plans like the rest of us, not pensions. Their interests should be aligned with ours.

emb6683 1 year, 8 months ago

Another piece of internet nonsense that keeps coming back. For all their faults, congressmen are considered federal civil servants, they pay into the Federal Employee Retirement System and have the same retirement options that all other federal government employees do. None of which are even close to collecting full pay after only 2 years of work. FERS has three components: a pension based on years of service and top salary, the Thrift Savings Plan (a government version of a 401k) and Social Security.

More generous that the average non-government worker? Yes, especially in this time of fewer companies offering fixed pensions, but not the gravy train that you make it out to be.

They also pay into the Social Security system, so you can also ingore that internet nonsense when you see it.

CNMT 1 year, 8 months ago

Thanks to both posters who corrected my misinformation. I should have checked further before I posted - I was only repeating what I had heard and read many years ago. The fact still remains that their pensions are 2 -3 times more than the average American receives and taxpayers are footing some of this as the congressmen/woemn didn't contribute that much into the plan.

uwharrieheirlooms 1 year, 8 months ago

Build a dormitory on the same plan as a college student lives in and require all House and Senate members to live there at taxpayer expense. Why bring the whole family to DC when we didn't elect mom or dad and the kids. And most of all, if you can't live on the huge salary, then don't run for office in the first place.

In this day and age of technology, stay home and do the country's business via telecommunication. While we're at it, eliminate fundraising and lobbiests and lets get them all honest.

Hey, a person can dream, can't he?

JustThinking 1 year, 8 months ago

YOU too can be a politician or a doctor, lawyer, or Indian Chief!! Sounds like a good career choice if you want to make some moony in this country! We are all FREE to do so!

Toda 1 year, 8 months ago

Last election there was so much talk about throwing the money grabbers known as Senate and Congressional Representatives out of office. Well how did that go? The same bunch who has warmed their seats for decades are still there due to Indiana Style Voting. So don't complain about any of the self centered elected officials from the big spenders in Carthage to the Bigger spenders in Washington. The voters have spoken, so embrace the crap handed down to the voters and taxpayers. It's their game played by their rules. So sit back and suck it up...you created this mess.

Toda 1 year, 8 months ago

It seems there is apathy all around these days when Washington spends more than is received through taxation. I am amazed at how few Moore County'ans even care that we are approaching the 300 million dollar threshold projected by T Cary McSwain and four of the County Board of Commissioners? One would think prosperity abounds in this county. I have posed a blog outlining some of the concerns and figures. http://www.thepilot.com/weblogs/alter...

Anyone who would like a copy of the power point presentation, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll be glad to share the mind-boggling numbers that represent decades of debt for our children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. 222 million is just the starting point...just wait!!

Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago

Yes, Germany has the following political parties: Communist Party of Germany. Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany, Pirate Party Germany, The Violets & the Human Environment Animal Protection Party.

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