Why can't lawmakers take a salary cut??

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senate_salaries.htm

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm


United States Senators and Congressmen make over $170,000 per year, plus travel expenses, plus tax payer supported healthcare (that they don't want anyone else to have). Why is it, that no matter how low the economy sinks, these people never seem to take a pay cut? These are the same lawmakers that normally propose pay cuts and staff cutbacks as a way of trimming government waste. Why is it that when pay cuts pay are made, those cut are always the those that can least afford it??? 😕

$170K seems quite reasonable for a job as important as Congressman. Why do you care about the salaries of Congressmen? It's hardly a significant part of the federal budget.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
$170K seems quite reasonable for a job as important as Congressman. Why do you care about the salaries of Congressmen? It's hardly a significant part of the federal budget.

Why do I care? Well...it seems a bit hypocritical to ask those earning less to take a pay cut, while those earning more never do. I agree, the amount saved is not huge, but if "all options are on the table" as I've heard from many of these lawmakers, why can't they take a temporary 20-30% cut like they ask others to do?

Originally posted by bill718
Why do I care? Well...it seems a bit hypocritical to ask those earning less to take a pay cut, while those earning more never do. I agree, the amount saved is not huge, but if "all options are on the table" as I've heard from many of these lawmakers, why can't they take a temporary 20-30% cut like they ask others to do?

Because there is no electoral pressure to do so.

Lawmakers.....military......Civil servants.......they all need to take a pay cut, they make WAY more money & benefits than they would get in the private sector.

We took a 5% pay cut thsi year, we meaning Az State workers, and the state legislators took zero. In fact they voted down a pay cut after the jobbed us with one. Elitist pigs is what I call them.

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Lawmakers.....military......Civil servants.......they all need to take a pay cut, they make WAY more money & benefits than they would get in the private sector.

Sounds to me like the private sector should pay its workers more.

Originally posted by rwingett
Sounds to me like the private sector should pay its workers more.

Yeah...like THAT will ever happen!!🙄

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
$170K seems quite reasonable for a job as important as Congressman. Why do you care about the salaries of Congressmen? It's hardly a significant part of the federal budget.

Because they are grossly OVERpaid for what they do.

I saw John Boehner on 60 minutes and he proposes a 5% pay cut.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_go_co/us_boehner_cuts;_ylu=X3oDMTJjMDI3djBvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAxMjA5L3VzX2JvZWhuZXJfY3V0cwRwb3MDMTIEc2VjA3luX3N1YmNhdF9saXN0BHNsawNib2VobmVycHJvbWk-

Originally posted by Metal Brain
I saw John Boehner on 60 minutes and he proposes a 5% pay cut.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_go_co/us_boehner_cuts;_ylu=X3oDMTJjMDI3djBvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAxMjA5L3VzX2JvZWhuZXJfY3V0cwRwb3MDMTIEc2VjA3luX3N1YmNhdF9saXN0BHNsawNib2VobmVycHJvbWk-

Sure. You also hear stuff about paying down the debt and restoring ethics to the federal government and even about bringing our troops home. Nice isn't it? 😕