Congressman Whines About Salary

[UNHWildCats]

During a town hall meeting yesterday, Representative Steve Southerland (FL-02) complained that his $174,000 a year salary was “not so much” even though his salary is nearly four times more than a typical Florida family or a local police officer’s salary.

“It’s unbelievable how far out of touch Representative Steve Southerland is with Florida families if he thinks his $174,000 salary is not so much,” said Adam Hodge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “While he’s complaining about only making $174,000, his constituents are struggling to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head or find a job.”

Southerland went on to tell his constituents that “this job doesn’t mean that much to me” and claimed his salary “would not seem so high” given that “they’re shooting at us.”

[ASUG8]

He clearly didn't research the position very well. I mean, in this day and internet age, how could a person possibly find out what the pay, job requirements, and media scrutiny as a congressman would be like?

[∞∞∞]

Congressmen shouldn't even be paid. Just compensate them for travel and that's it.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your fuck ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy fucking person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you fuck around all the time.

[Wedgebuster]

I too think it's a shitty job. But I also think those in congress have done an equally shitty job at their shitty jobs.

They all should be fired.

[HI54UNI]

I got news for ya T - everybody with a job bitches about their pay.

[Col Hogan]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your **** ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy **** person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you **** around all the time.

While I don't disagree with you on a single point above...it's also true that each member of Congress actively sought the job...knowing most if not all the above mentioned points...

So while everything may be true...in these times of unemployment and under-employment...it really isn't very smart to openly piss and moan about "the job"...

If it's that bad...quit and go back to what you were doing prior to the decision to actively seek this job you say sucks...

[∞∞∞]

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your fuck ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy fucking person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

Perfect. Being a congressmen should be a personal sacrifice for your country. Give them a bit of money for housing and travel, but absolutely no benefits or salary. And if a salary is necessary, make it minimum wage. Make the job one of honor and respect again, and maybe we'll get better people to run...

[Wedgebuster]

What ever happened to the "Congressional Dorms?"

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your fuck ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy fucking person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

Perfect. Being a congressmen should be a personal sacrifice for your country. Give them a bit of money for housing and travel, but absolutely no benefits or salary. And if a salary is necessary, make it minimum wage. Make the job one of honor and respect again, and maybe we'll get better people to run...

that's a sure way to get millionaires and much more crooked people than we already have in office - not better people.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your **** ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy **** person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you **** around all the time.

While I don't disagree with you on a single point above...it's also true that each member of Congress actively sought the job...knowing most if not all the above mentioned points...

So while everything may be true...in these times of unemployment and under-employment...it really isn't very smart to openly piss and moan about "the job"...

If it's that bad...quit and go back to what you were doing prior to the decision to actively seek this job you say sucks...

fair points as well. it's certainly not smart - but I'll say this - he isn't saying anything I haven't heard from EVERY. SINGLE. MEMBER. I've ever known (R and D) privately.

[TheDancinMonarch]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your **** ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy **** person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you **** around all the time.

Maybe this explains why "the best and the brightest" do not go in for government "work", despite being able to steal at will.

And oh by the way they wrote a nice provision for themselves into the tax law to account for the two residence problem.

[dbackjon]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your fuck ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy fucking person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you fuck around all the time.

Cry me a river.

If you are getting into for the money, then you are making the wrong career choice. It is not like the pay was a secret. And while in the public spotlight, and I do sympathize with that aspect, a lot of people have shitty jobs that pay a lot less.

He is free to resign.

[ASUG8]

Dback is right....

Most of these asshats are ambulance chasers anyway who aspired well beyond partner and figured the House/Senate would be a great resume builder. A lot of them probably took pay cuts, likely this guy. IMO, by the time you get into this stage of your life you should be past most of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and be working on the self actualization portion, not additional accumulation of wealth (although you can certainly keep doing it at $174K/yr).

[ODUsmitty]

Don't forget the post-Congress benefits that they receive.

Not shabby.

[AZGrizFan]

I got news for ya T - everybody with a job bitches about their pay.

That's where you lost him.

[CID1990]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your **** ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy **** person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you **** around all the time.

TTBF- you have described MY job with all of your points except #9, and I make less than half of what the Honorable A$$hole makes. In place of #9, add in that I am about to lose my locality pay which means a 14% pay cut this October.

I'm not whining and neither should he. No sympathy.

[houndawg]

sorry Travis - I'm calling this out as BULLSHIT.

Guys a right-wing conk, but I agree with what he said.

Being a Congressperson is a shitty job - and their pay, $174k/year - while a lot more than most of us working stiffs make - isn't really all that much when you consider the following:

1. you have to keep two residences, including one in ultra-expensive DC - not cheap
2. you have your name slandered and libeled by a shit-load of slack-jawed yokels, none of whom know you (this is true regardless of party)
3. you never really get to be "off" every moment of your life is under a microscope - so your **** ups - even flipping off a guy in traffic - becomes news.
4. you hardly ever get to see your family - and even when you do, it's not like your phone can ever just go "off"
5. while Congressional insurance and benefits are good - they actually have a lot of the same bullshit and headaches as everybody elses plan does
6. your ENTIRE life is scheduled down to the minute (sitting in scheduling meetings for a member of Congress, you almost feel sorry for them, their life really isn't their own)
7. every crazy **** person who lives in your district - and many who don't try to contact you in all sorts of ways
8. you don't get a security detail - and, as what happened in Tucson shows - it's a risky job.
9. from the day you win your election you need to raise $10k/week to get re-elected (in a fairly safe district - much more in a swing district), which means multiple times/week you have to drag your ass down to party headquarters or somewhere off federal property to make hundreds of money calls...

While it may come across as a bunch of whining by some guy with a good gig - and in some respects, it certainly is, esp. with so many people out of work and suffering in much more real ways - he's not wrong when he says that being a Congressperson is not some cushy, do-nothing job where you **** around all the time.

Oh please. The salary is a drop in the bucket, they make their money on kickbacks and crooked defense contracts and they have the finest health care you and I can provide. You can bet your ass that if you or I get shot in the head we won't get the treatment Giffords got.

[Cap'n Cat]

What ever happened to the "Congressional Dorms?"

Too many pregnant and ass-torn pages.

[grizzaholic]

I got news for ya T - everybody with a job bitches about their pay.

That's where you lost him.