Congressional Pay

[vrodderD]

Pissed off about the bailout? Rightfully so, but before we lynch the Free Market, let's turn the flashlight back at our own Government.

Salaries for Members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and the President

As of January 2008
President $400,000
Vice President $221,100
Speaker of the House $217,400
House Majority & Minority Leaders $188,100
House/Senate Members & Delegates $169,300
Chief Justice, Supreme Court $217,400
Associate Justices, Supreme Court $208,100

Doesn't sound too bad? Well, look at this. We have 535 members of the house and 100 members in the Senate so heres the simple math without Perks:

House of Representatives costs you: $90,868,100.00 (531 members plus 3 leaders, Speaker gets extra $29,300.00 more than other leaders and and $48,100.00 more than my local representative, Sue Myrick)
The Senate costs you: $16,252,800.00 (96 members and 4 leaders)

Lest we forget, they get free healthcare, pension paid for by you. Typical US House/Senate member with 20-25 years of service gets approx $1,000,000 to retire on. Congressional pension benefits are 2-3 times more generous than what a similarly-salaried executive could expect to receive upon retiring from the private sector.

So, still think you're getting a good deal? The budget for 2008 (you know, those mean old republicans with the loose wallets) was an irresponsible $3 Trillion. BTW, thats 1/3 of what Obama says is needed to avert dire consequences/disaster/etc, just in his first 4 weeks of office.

Sobering eh? So, where's the outrage? Where's the hope for change?

[Remphoto]

Pissed off about the bailout? Rightfully so, but before we lynch the Free Market, let's turn the flashlight back at our own Government.

Salaries for Members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and the President

As of January 2008
President $400,000
Vice President $221,100
Speaker of the House $217,400
House Majority & Minority Leaders $188,100
House/Senate Members & Delegates $169,300
Chief Justice, Supreme Court $217,400
Associate Justices, Supreme Court $208,100

Doesn't sound too bad? Well, look at this. We have 535 members of the house and 100 members in the Senate so heres the simple math without Perks:

House of Representatives costs you: $90,868,100.00 (531 members plus 3 leaders, Speaker gets extra $29,300.00 more than other leaders and and $48,100.00 more than my local representative, Sue Myrick)
The Senate costs you: $16,252,800.00 (96 members and 4 leaders)

Lest we forget, they get free healthcare, pension paid for by you. Typical US House/Senate member with 20-25 years of service gets approx $1,000,000 to retire on. Congressional pension benefits are 2-3 times more generous than what a similarly-salaried executive could expect to receive upon retiring from the private sector.

So, still think you're getting a good deal? The budget for 2008 (you know, those mean old republicans with the loose wallets) was an irresponsible $3 Trillion. BTW, thats 1/3 of what Obama says is needed to avert dire consequences/disaster/etc, just in his first 4 weeks of office.

Sobering eh? So, where's the outrage? Where's the hope for change?

You make a good point V-Rodder. And don't forget their staffs, travel and other perks. A bit hypocritical for them to ask executives to cap pay and incentives while they skate free. Many of them played a major role in the current economic situation.