Example Of Overpaid Government Workers?

The Art Of Distraction--
Pointing a finger in another direction so people won't see what your doing spending.

In 2012 it cost taxpayers an estimated $1.26 billion to fund the 435 members in House Of Representatives and another $931 million for the 100 Senators.

As of July 31st, 2013 there were only 15 legislative bills Congress passed in this session.
If we spent nearly this same amount this year this will come to $146,066,667 per bill

Misc. Salary BreakdownsHouse of Representatives$223,500 per annum: Speaker of the House
$193,400 per annum: Majority and Minority Leaders
$172,500 per annum: Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, Legislative Counsel, Law Revision Counsel, Parliamentarian, Inspector General, Director Interparliamentary, General Counsel to House, Chaplain

Senate$193,400 per annum: President pro tempore ($230,700 per annum if the position of Vice President is vacant), Majority and Minority Leaders
$172,500 per anum: Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, Legislative Counsel, Senate Legal Counsel
$171,315 per annum: Parliamentarian
$155,500 per anum: Chaplain $155,500


COMMENTARYSomeone please explain to me why Republicans in the House are so hell bent on taking away the same health insurance benefits they enjoy?According to South Carolina's Republican Congressman Jeff Duncan , "Members of Congress participate in the same health insurance system that all federal employees use. It consists of several private insurance companies competing to be federal employees’ insurance provider. Members of Congress pay part of the premium each month, which varies based on which plan is chosen." This sounds an awful like the insurance exchanges set up by 'Obamacare' to me.
Someone please explain to me why Congress members on both sides of the aisle are hell bent on reducing Social Security benefits?According to the August 2013 senate report as of October last year 312 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $71,472. A member with Service Under Both CSRS and FERS who spent 32 years in congress could retire with a pension of $89,610 according to this same report.

According to this senate report, "By law, the starting amount of a member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80 percent of his or her final salary." This works out to be a pension cap of $139,200. Currently Social Security is capped at $30,396 no matter how long or how much a worker earned. That's over 78% less then what a member of congress could receive!

We're constantly hearing about how government workers are overpaid and how ordinary citizens are leaching on the government's teat. Perhaps congress should start looking in their own back yard.

When someone receives food stamps they're a mooch, but when members of congress receive subsidized meals in the legislative diningrooms or reimbursed it's A-OK isn't it?

How many of us have access to a free gym, free haircuts, free travel, or a free hotel room that come with our jobs?

Congressional members' current salaries ($174,000) are higher then what 97% of the rest of the country earns (without accounting for their perks).

Published on Mar 15, 2013

Apparently what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander.
I suppose when it's your football, you get to make the rules.


Reference Sources:
      Congressional Salaries and Allowances @ library.clerk.house.gov
      The Los Vegas Sun (newspaper)
      Congress: Living High on the Backs of Taxpayers (The Fiscal Times)