Oh the poor old things. Imagine not getting a raise since 2009!! All the minimum wage workers can imagine just that, because minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009, either. And a full time minimum wage job is going to provide a helluva less income than $174K.

I'm so tired of these privileged blowhards griping and complaining about how hard they have it while actively refusing to actually improve the lives of their constituents.

Neither do we.

They can literally print money freely via insider trading, which is why many of them are millionaires. “Don’t have wealth”??? k.

This crying for more taxpayer dollar handouts through one of their pet media rags garners no sympathy from me. Especially when many of them view their role as obstructionists who should prevent government from functioning entirely. It’s pathetic, they should fuck off to the geriatric ward if they don’t think the job pays enough.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

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.

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."

"And then, you know, the very wealthy few end up dominating the news because of their personal stock trades when most of us don't have wealth."

McHenry, a more mild-mannered House Republican than most, recently announced he would retire from Congress at the end of his term.

As of now, many members of Congress are, in fact, independently wealthy, and many generate significant income from stock trading.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has long pushed for a pay raise for members of Congress, arguing that it's a safeguard against corruption and makes lawmakers less likely to seek income through stock trading.

The original article contains 340 words, the summary contains 176 words. Saved 48%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

Never trust anyone over the age of five wearing a bow tie.

Can't afford two houses on that salary. Boo hoo!

That salary means something different to a congressman from the Bay area or NYC, vs. a congressman from Boise or Iowa. Im down for pay raises generally.

Public servant wanting to get rich. Funny times.

The man who voted AGAINST raising YOUR wage is now complaining HIS wage ISN'T enough!

It turns out, in capitalism, doing anything besides surviving is expensive.

If it were up to me you'd be much poorer than you are so count your fucking blessings congressman.

What if we just pay them +10% on the existing bribe structure and convert to federally funded elections?

If lawmakers' salaries had kept pace with inflation, they would be paid over $250,000 today.

You mean kinda like how inflation has fucked everyone else in the country too? Kinda seems like the guys in charge of this shitshow should be the LAST motherfuckers getting a raise.