Millionaire Georgia Republican Says His $172,000 Salary Isn’t Enough For 126 Days Of Work

[TalkingDog]

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/19/phil-gingrey-reveals-how-republicans-really-feel-about-public-service/


How many ordinary Americans would complain about a job that pays $172,000 to work only 126 days a year? Georgia Republican Congressman Phil Gingrey did exactly that. During a private meeting with fellow Republicans such as John Boehner to discuss exempting members of Congress and their staffs from having to enroll in Obamacare, Rep. Gingrey apparently whined about his salary, according to the National Review. He said while lobbyists can “make 500,000 a year … I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year.”

It was a tiny remark that reveals a lot about how Republicans must really feel about their jobs in public service. Of course, this remark angered some aides in the room. The National Review reports that “one person noted that many lower-rung congressional aides make relatively low wages and have no real expectation of a future cash-out.” But the bigger story here is that a multi-millionaire Republican is actually whining about how much he’s making as an elected member of Congress while the very people he represents are not pulling in near as much income for an entire year’s work compared to what Gingrey makes working just 126 days in 2013 alone.

[Tigress DEM]

1. Grrrrrr! nt

[vinny9698]

24. Being in Congress is like being an intern for a large corporation

You serve your internship, then after a couple of terms, you are hired as a lobbyist.
Another example, you play football on a college scholarship, then you go into the NFL.

[Laelth]

28. If we want to change this system, we'll have to pay them a lot more. n/t

-Laelth

[DetlefK]

2. Averaged, he's working a 20-hour-week.

Let's see: $172,000 / (126 days * 8 hours/day) = $170 per hour

Not bad.

[Thinkingabout]

29. Bet he would not vote to increase minimum wage either. This is the group complaining about they pay

The income taxes while 49% does not pay anything. I would live to pay my fair share on his salary.

[RC]

3. That works out to $1365.08 a day.

Too many Americans do not make that in a month. That is $16,389.60 a year. And that is working with the gross numbers. The net income is about 20% less. (Taxes, Social Security, Medicare, etc.) That idiot Republican needs to be pillared on national TV.

[Faux pas]

4. Greed and sloth...

such admirable qualities.

[CK_John]

5. They have talked like this for at least 50yrs, we are just being to understand them is all.

They also don't believe in public education, universial health care, or food stamps and social security. No need for a "how could they do that?"

You can't shame the shameless.

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. There's the door asshole....you are welcome to use it...

don't let it hit ya where the lord split ya!

[VanillaRhapsody]

7. He should call the Walmart helpline and learn to "cut his food into pieces"

so he can pretend he is full! Or maybe take a second job! Or I know....sell his Christmas gifts on Craigslist!

[CurtEastPoint]

8. I read w/glee that his US Senate campaign is imploding due to infighting...

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/political-insider/2013/nov/19/phil-gingreys-top-staffers-resign-campaign/

[EC]

9. Maybe he should look for another job

since I think we are over paying them the way it is. They're hardly ever there and when they are they don't do anything for the people, they just act silly.

[closeupready]

10. So stop being a Congressman. Fine with me.

So much the better, actually, since you are Republican.

[lpbk2713]

11. Who the hell forced the asshole to run for office?

I'd like a list of the thieving and lying rethugs who he is envious of.

[JHB]

12. Not that I disagree, but what prompts posting this 2-month-old story?

Anything in particular, or just elephant-trunk-stomping on general principals?

[TalkingDog]

20. I hadn't seen it before on DU

First last and only reason. I didn't even notice the date.

The conservative stomping is just a bonus.

[JHB]

21. Works for me!

[Rex]

13. SIGH.

I hate republicans.

[Autumn]

14. He's not stuck. The little fucker can always resign.

Fucking whiner.

[SDjack]

31. ... and become a lobbyist. That would more than double his salary and

further reduce his personal work load. Passing envelops of cash to members of congress is a lot easier than voting to reopen the government.

[Burma Jones]

15. Doesn't this dweeb know that higher IQ Republicans NEVER run for office.....

If you're all about measuring success by income, and most Republicans are, you are not going to take this sort of job without a trust fund or blind trust or other source of income.

Yet another reason I vote Democratic.......

[TroglodyteScholar]

16. I hear Wal-Mart's hiring for holiday shifts, Phil.

You, too, can have it so good, just like all the rest of us who don't set our own pay rate.

[Orsino]

17. I knew there was something I disliked about my new Congressman besides everything. n/t

[sakabatou]

18. THAT SOB!

NOT ENOUGH?! WHAT. THE. FUCK?!

[Spirochete]

19. But in the same breath

he'll swear he's not in it for the money, I'd bet...

[hfojvt]

22. probably if you do it right

it takes more than 126 days.

I am not sure where the 126 days comes from.

Is that days in session? They are not required to attend every session and AFAIK most of them don't. But what about the time required to fly or drive back to his district? What about meeting with constituents all over his district? What about briefings, meeting with staff, and campaigning? I know from personal experience that campaigning can take some time and energy - and money too. It's sort of a requirement if he wants to keep his job.

I was lucky to have a Democratic Congressperson for one term, but she ran in 3 campaigns 2004 when she lost, 2006 when she won, and 2008 when she lost. I read that she/her spouse spent something like $350,000 of their own money on those campaigns. Well, heck, they didn't even break even. The salary did not even get their money back. And as an incumbent, you get to do a lot of your campaigning at taxpayer expense, but it still takes your time.

[hobbit709]

23. Boo FUCKING hoo!

[Threedifferentones]

25. Stuck in the position he volunteered and campaigned for?

And who doesn't believe that some of a lobbyist's salary goes to the congress people they are bribing errr I mean lobbying?

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

26. He's not stuck!

He can walk his ass up to "K" Street and see who's hiring.

[MindMover]

27. God save Georgia from the likes of Phil the greedy bastard Gingrey and Bobby the snake Barr ....

[Initech]

30. Go cry me a fucking river!!!

[CanonRay]

32. Well quit then

Asshole.