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submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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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[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 39 points 11 months ago

To be fair, they need a house in their hometown and a house in DC. That can be extremely expensive. You want congressmen to be financially independent so that they don't need to accept bribes and such.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 36 points 11 months ago

They'd still accept bribes if they were paid 5 million a day.

Its not about the money.

its about the position, and power.

[-] Quadhammer@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

This. They need to be forcibly stopped through legislation

[-] Da_Boom@iusearchlinux.fyi 7 points 11 months ago

And enforcement of legislation - can't get caught fucking around if the legislation is not enforced or enforceable.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Because they are so good about obeying laws as is.

[-] itsnotits@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago
  • It's* not about the money.
  • It's* about the position, and power.
[-] OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee -2 points 11 months ago

They already have the position and the power. This doesn't make any sense.

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 13 points 11 months ago

They don't need a house in either. They can rent a shitty apartment like the rest of us.

[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Housing is clearly what I meant. You think DC has affordable apartments?

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 11 months ago

People live there so yea...

If it's really that bad build a housing project for them with the bare minimum necessities. Let them see how the people they claim to represent live.

[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Making only the federal minimum wage, they would not be able to afford any housing in DC. Not even the projects.

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 11 months ago

174k is quite a bit higher than the minimum wage.

[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

My bad I mixed this thread up with the one saying they should make minimum wage lmao.

[-] boatsnhos931@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

If we only had a group of people who could pass laws to make housing affordable, gosh

[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

You got them there

[-] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

DC is expensive as golden shit.

Many represenitives live in their office.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 6 points 11 months ago
[-] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Some do. But if you pay them almost nothing, they all will because they will have to.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Not when they retire from their job.

this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
516 points (96.6% liked)

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