Retiring House Republican says $174,000 isn't enough money for members of Congress: 'Most of us don't have wealth'
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."
Let's just build a big congressional dorm with furnished studio apartments and make them all live there when Congress is in session. It would save the government a fortune in cost of living reimbursements and security costs.
You know genuinely I don't understand why this isn't a thing. It's expensive to have two homes, especially when you aren't even sure you'll have the job for more than four years. It would lower the cost of entry into politics for people who do work minimum wage.
Shoving someone into a land full of surprise expenses seems like a perfect recipe for corruption.
It sounds like you understand perfectly well. Politics is for rich people to get more power, and get richer by granting favors to their friends. "Public servant" is the lie they tell to make us feel good about it.
Yes, I know that there are the few modest politicians, but it's the exception to the rule.
They could also just have an apartment, they don't need a mansion in Virginia.
Even 2 apartments are expensive, I remember AOC was having trouble finding one in DC
Congressional barracks or even a neighborhood would actually be a great idea. It could get its own metro line.
Like it’s a job with a lot of time there. I think it’s fair that they be able to comfortably live there with their spouses and other loved ones, but it would be good to keep housing centralized to them. I’m reminded of Air Force neighborhoods where I grew up. Sometimes your aimless walk would get you a conversation with someone holding a machine gun because there are medium security off base residences
Matt Gaetz would organize a panty raid. I guarantee it.
I had toyed with the idea of putting cameras all over the building and charging to view them...
I remember an election or two ago a story about a freshman congressman having to sleep on a cot in his office because he couldn't afford DC rent.
Maybe they should do something about the out of control rent prices lol
Make it a munger dorm.
There would be the added perk of people not wanting to remain congress critters for more than a couple of terms unless they really care about the job
A bunch of them sleep in their office already. Worst kept secret in Washington. Dorms would be an upgrade.
I was also thinking the extremely wealthy wouldn't want to tolerate living without the luxury they are used to.
Squid games dorm
Put them in government housing on welfare with Medicaid.
Many members of Congress already sleep in their office (which is technically against building codes). Dorms would be an improvement.
That's a version of Big Brother I'd definitely watch. At least the first season.
Great idea. And we have so much unused real estate the government owns in DC if they didn't force people to return to the office.