Should Members of Congress Draw A Salary?

[Hotwire]

Fairly simple question. Should the members of the U.S. Congress be paid? The vast majority of them are independently wealthy to begin with, and continue to draw annual income from their outside business ventures. Be they dividends on stock, profits from companies they own, etc. Do we really need to be paying these people and average of $174,000/year? The United States Congress currently has 535 members. That $93 million we tax payers shell out annually to these folks. Perhaps this money could be put to better use?

 

[Matt]

Yes. But they should not receive a pension or life time benefits.

 

[Hotwire]

Yes. But they should not receive a pension or life time benefits.

Do they deserve the $174,000/year, though, or should it be less?

 

[Kelly]

They should make as much as public servants like teachers, police officers, firemen, etc. They should NOT get lifetime pensions, unless they are in Congress for 30 years....and there should be term limits where they can only be in for 12 years. They should also cut their time in Washington by 25%.... BUT, should have to stay in session until they balance the budget each year, that should be their #1 priority.

 

[LOBO3315a]

Give them a car, a place to live, and a pay scale similar to our Armed Forces get paid. They should receive no other pay from outside revenues. Any Congressman/woman found to be receiving compensation outside this, should be tried for treason.

What we would get is a lot of people who actually have the country's best interest in mind serving in Washington, and no one would be able to get rich being an "Public Servant". Becoming a career politician is one of the cancers that need to be exorcised in this country.

 

[Kelly]

No one is getting rich being a public servant except politicians....lmao. I sure as hell am not getting rich.....lol

 

[Hobgoblin]

Give them a car, a place to live, and a pay scale similar to our Armed Forces get paid. They should receive no other pay from outside revenues. Any Congressman/woman found to be receiving compensation outside this, should be tried for treason.

What we would get is a lot of people who actually have the country's best interest in mind serving in Washington, and no one would be able to get rich being an "Public Servant". Becoming a career politician is one of the cancers that need to be exorcised in this country.

I second this.

 

[Hotwire]

I like the idea if paying them a soldier's salary, and forbidding income from any other sources.

 

[SV Fan]

Give them a car, a place to live, and a pay scale similar to our Armed Forces get paid. They should receive no other pay from outside revenues. Any Congressman/woman found to be receiving compensation outside this, should be tried for treason.

What we would get is a lot of people who actually have the country's best interest in mind serving in Washington, and no one would be able to get rich being an "Public Servant". Becoming a career politician is one of the cancers that need to be exorcised in this country.

I can live with them getting a decent salary but I am 100% with the getting money from outside sources

 

[Marvolo]

Give them a car, a place to live, and a pay scale similar to our Armed Forces get paid. They should receive no other pay from outside revenues. Any Congressman/woman found to be receiving compensation outside this, should be tried for treason.

What we would get is a lot of people who actually have the country's best interest in mind serving in Washington, and no one would be able to get rich being an "Public Servant". Becoming a career politician is one of the cancers that need to be exorcised in this country.

I third this. Doing this would certainly help the budget.

 

[Hotwire]

In light of Romeny's all but locked up nomination, I wonder if a mod could change the title of this to "Should Members of Congress, or the President, Draw A Salary?"

Seeing as how Mitt is one of, if not the, richest man to ever run for President, It makes me sick to think that the American taxpayer could possibly putting close to $570,000/year into is already well lined pockets. This guy does not need the money.

What are your thoughts?

 

[SV Fan]

I have no problem with them getting a salary, I take more issue with them getting money greased to them under the table. I do think they should draw up rules if you are a congressman, stuff you can't do while in office or after the fact that will try cut down on them being bought off.

 

[Paradoxium]

I think they should be paid 1-2 million a year, with pensions. t:

 

[Paradoxium]

In light of Romeny's all but locked up nomination, I wonder if a mod could change the title of this to "Should Members of Congress, or the President, Draw A Salary?"

Seeing as how Mitt is one of, if not the, richest man to ever run for President, It makes me sick to think that the American taxpayer could possibly putting close to $570,000/year into is already well lined pockets. This guy does not need the money.

What are your thoughts?

The hilarious part is, he would probably make more money not being president.

 

[Motown Marvel]

i think they should only be allowed a specific percentage more than the average income of a middle class worker. that way, the only way they can be paid more is if the middle class is making more.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I think they should be paid according to how much legislation is passed. That'd get rid of the gridlock.

 

[obin_gam]

Politicians should be paid as much as teachers I think. To ground them to the real world.

 

[Kelly]

For the days they are in Washington and Congress is in session....and then paid for a certain amount of days when Congress is not in session and they are in their home states and districts working. They MUST vote on every bill, and if they are running for something, then they forfeit their pay if they miss votes.

It should be a set pay for a certain amount of days a year, and if Congress goes into a special session that can be added....and no pension.

 

[Marvolo]

Minimum wage. No lifetime benefits. It is a public service and their quality of work is not worthy of what they are payed now nor the benefits they receive.

 

[DACrowe]

Yes. These are more than full-time jobs. We can hate on Congress all we want, but if you make it minimum wage or no pay at all, only the incredibly wealthy or affluent could afford to work in Congress and they already have way too much clout in governance in this country.

 

[chaseter]

The incredibly wealthy are the vast majority of congress and the senate. It takes money to campaign for votes.

 

[chaseter]

As for an answer, how about they get paid the average worker salary. If times are good then they obviously get paid more. They hold that responsibility.

 

[Hotwire]

Yes. These are more than full-time jobs. We can hate on Congress all we want, but if you make it minimum wage or no pay at all, only the incredibly wealthy or affluent could afford to work in Congress and they already have way too much clout in governance in this country.

These are the people already running Congress. That was sort of the reason I started this thread. Since these people are already independently wealthy, why should the American taxpayers continue to so generously line their pockets?

 

[bunk]

Give them a car, a place to live, and a pay scale similar to our Armed Forces get paid. They should receive no other pay from outside revenues. Any Congressman/woman found to be receiving compensation outside this, should be tried for treason.

What we would get is a lot of people who actually have the country's best interest in mind serving in Washington, and no one would be able to get rich being an "Public Servant". Becoming a career politician is one of the cancers that need to be exorcised in this country.

This.

Yes. These are more than full-time jobs. We can hate on Congress all we want, but if you make it minimum wage or no pay at all, only the incredibly wealthy or affluent could afford to work in Congress and they already have way too much clout in governance in this country.

Agree. And it's incredibly cynical to assume we're not getting anything in return for what we pay them. If they're restricted from all other ways of generating income, they must be compensated. Furthermore, I would also like to see them housed in the same dormitory when they are staying in Washington.