congress perks

Members of congress should not be above the law and should not be able to vote themselves benefits or take trips and gifts from lobbyists. Any medical insurance modifications they vote into law should include them and their families, they are citizens of the USA, not royalty. They have set the standard for the corporate greed by enacting laws of entitlement that benefits them and their families and the CEOs of Americas corporations also benefit from these undisclosed benefits such as money going to their 401K that is not publicly disclosed as part of their salary. And medical benefits and educational benefits (full college tuition) for their children that evidently is subject to taxes or disclosure. The public is sick of this abuse.

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on June 5, 2009 at 9:16pm: Well Ok, then how do you attract quality people to Congress knowing that even a rookie baseball player makes more than a Senator?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on June 8, 2009 at 8:22am: Decreasing pay would put the emphasis of the job on what you do rather than the pay. It would become a job along the lines of social work, teachers, and ministers, being a vocation rather than a job that people choose because of the pay. However, if they lay out a government supported/sponsored health care option like the Obama administration is advocating (not single payer), congress too should be given the option to follow it or not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on June 8, 2009 at 8:24am: Or they become more corrupt....

Christopher said:
Decreasing pay would put the emphasis of the job on what you do rather than the pay. It would become a job along the lines of social work, teachers, and ministers, being a vocation rather than a job that people choose because of the pay. However, if they lay out a government supported/sponsored health care option like the Obama administration is advocating (not single payer), congress too should be given the option to follow it or not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew M on June 8, 2009 at 10:19am: John's right. They get paid very little considering the hours both in DC and at home that they put in. Most cogressmen put in very long hours.

Also, I should point out that the entire SES level of government employees only get a pay raise when Congree gets a raise. No locality pay. No cost of living adjustment. No adjustment up for high performance appraisal. No appeal for poor performance appraisal. Sure there are some dud SES folks but most are hard working career employees who could make much more in the private sector but choose to stay out of a sense of duty.

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Monroe on October 9, 2009 at 7:07pm: School teachers also get paid very little. They end up choosing their career because they want to help children. You can have a PH.D and teach 20 years and you can make $65,000 a year in Washington State Public Schools. And referring to the entire SES level of government that means a pay raise for Congress costs even more than the actual people directly in Congress. In the "real" world you only get a pay raise if you successfully make money for the accompany OR accomplish the tasks set out before you (history of Congress pay raises). Our Congress thinks they are "entitled" to a raise every January while the rest of deal with hiring freezes and wage freezes for the last 2 years.

Leslie
JRS Medical Supplies

Andrew M said:
John's right. They get paid very little considering the hours both in DC and at home that they put in. Most cogressmen put in very long hours.

Also, I should point out that the entire SES level of government employees only get a pay raise when Congree gets a raise. .

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on October 9, 2009 at 7:11pm: Actually Congress has not taken a raise for several years

As for teachers, they knew what the salary was before they took the career.

Leslie Monroe said:
School teachers also get paid very little. They end up choosing their career because they want to help children. You can have a PH.D and teach 20 years and you can make $65,000 a year in Washington State Public Schools. And referring to the entire SES level of government that means a pay raise for Congress costs even more than the actual people directly in Congress. In the "real" world you only get a pay raise if you successfully make money for the accompany OR accomplish the tasks set out before you (history of Congress pay raises). Our Congress thinks they are "entitled" to a raise every January while the rest of deal with hiring freezes and wage freezes for the last 2 years.

Leslie
JRS Medical Supplies

Andrew M said:
John's right. They get paid very little considering the hours both in DC and at home that they put in. Most cogressmen put in very long hours.

Also, I should point out that the entire SES level of government employees only get a pay raise when Congree gets a raise. .

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Monroe on October 12, 2009 at 4:00pm: John Antonelli,
I'm sorry, it seems that Congress got a pay raise in January of 2009 - see here - http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/03/15/now-about-that-congr... - where do you get your misinformation?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on October 12, 2009 at 5:28pm: When was there last pay raise????? (that is your answer) :) My point is that as a Federal employee, I pretty much get a raise every year not so for Congress.
Leslie Monroe said:
John Antonelli,
I'm sorry, it seems that Congress got a pay raise in January of 2009 - see here - http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/03/15/now-about-that-congr... - where do you get your misinformation?; ▶ Reply to This