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Retiring House Republican says $174,000 isn't enough money for members of Congress: 'Most of us don't have wealth' (www.businessinsider.com)

submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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Rank-and-file members of both the House and Senate are paid $174,000 a year.

That probably seems like a decent amount of money, and it is: The median household income in 2022 was $74,580, according to the US Census.

But consider that members of Congress generally have to maintain two residences — one in Washington, DC, and one in their home state — and that they haven't gotten a raise since 2009.

Inflation, meanwhile, has eaten away at the value of that salary over time: If lawmakers' salaries had kept pace with inflation, they would be paid over $250,000 today.

Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who served as the interim speaker of the House following Kevin McCarthy's ouster, told The Dispatch that congressional pay needed to be raised in order to attract "credible people to run for office."

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[-] CrazyEddie041@kbin.social 56 points 10 months ago

If they're struggling, then maybe they should pick up a second job, maybe cancel some of those subscription services?

[-] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 24 points 10 months ago

Stop buying Starbucks and avocado toast

[-] Poggervania@kbin.social 14 points 10 months ago

Hell, maybe even pull themselves up by their bootstraps?

In all seriousness, if you can’t live off a $175k salary in a country where the most expensive state requires you to make like $110k a year alone to live comfortably, that’s a you problem.

[-] fenynro@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago

I have no love for our politicians, at all, but that's somewhat misrepresentative of the situation.

They're not spending their money only in one state. They usually have to maintain multiple residences, one in their home state and another in the notoriously expensive DC metro area. DC cost of living eats a significant chunk of that value, I'm sure

[-] Poggervania@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago

TIL something new - I did not realize they have to have homes in both their home state and in DC. Actually, I’m kind of surprised that’s how it worked, and it’s shitty if the government doesn’t provide them COLA or something if they have to have two homes.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

An additional benefit of the congressional dorm idea is to not get them too settled into a permanent situation - they know it’s temporary. Maybe it will help encourage more frequent turnover

[-] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

The problem is that that are picking up second jobs, in a sense.

[-] Neato@ttrpg.network 10 points 10 months ago

We should actually pay them more. We don't want only the rich able to represent us.

We should pay everyone more as well.

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 4 points 10 months ago

I get the sentiment, but having members of Congress beholden to an employer would be pretty bad. There's already a corruption issue with insider trading, speaking fees, the revolving door, etc.

this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024

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