Congressman Upset His $174,000 Annual Salary Not Enough To Live 'Decently' In D.C.

[FarCenter]

In an interview published Thursday in Roll Call, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) lamented that his $174,000 annual salary was not enough to live "decently" in Washington, D.C.

"I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid," Moran said. "I understand that it’s widely felt that they underperform, but the fact is that this is the board of directors for the largest economic entity in the world."

The remarks came as the House begins markup on a bill to fund all legislators' salaries. Moran is planning to introduce an amendment that would offer lawmakers a per diem, USA Today reports.

Moran stated that some members actually sleep in their offices while in session. But since his district is just across the river in northern Virginia, he doesn't have to maintain two homes (or a small apartment) like other members, as the Washington Post notes.

“Our pay has been frozen for three years and we’re planning on freezing it a fourth year," Moran told Roll Call. "A lot of members can’t even afford to live decently in Washington."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/congress-underpaid-2014-4

[hrmjustin]

1. Oh Lord!

[edbermac]

2. And this guy's a Democrat??

[Thinkingabout]

3. They should be paid $7.25 an hour while in session and learn to live like lots of folks.

[lonestarnot]

4. Phoenix City Manager apparently didn't think $278k was enough so they raised him to 315.

Cut other peoples' crap, but he got his.

[Journeyman]

5. He'll be missed, but it's obvious he needs to get different employment. . .

I don't see what his gripe is. He knew the wages when he applied for the job. Now that it's proved to be inadequate for his needs, he must move on.

And I'd rather not listen to the whining. Just submit your resignation, Moran, and give your support to the better person who should replace you. No brainer (though even this simple task, he seems inadequate to the task).

[FarCenter]

7. "Moran announced on 1/15/2014 that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Moran

He can speak freely now and tell us what all the other Congresspeople are thinking.

[steve2470]

6. bad optics to say the least...he best recant that and apologize sincerely quickly nt

[napi21]

8. His problem, I suspect, is that he's tryig to keep up with most of the other congressmen

who are already very rich! I know lots of congressmen sleep in their offices, which is fine by me. The wealthy ones can afford to pay a mtg. on their house in their home state, PLUS rent an apartment in DC which is very expensive.

I happen to like Jim Moran, but he need to get a grip on reality. IF you can't afford to live where your job is, move to somewhere that you can afford.

[Matariki]

9. Their salaries should be directly tied to the minimum wage

say like twelve times max or something like that.

[theaocp]

10. There are more of them in need?

[rustydog]

11. Congressman, Do you want some cheese to go with that potent wine?

some Brie, perhaps?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. Call the waaahmbulance!

And I buy cheap tickets to the opera in the buzzard roost. I hear and see the same opera as the people in the good seats. So there.

My editorial comment:
NOTE: Do not be afraid to go to the opera, because they put the words up IN ENGLISH up above the stage, so you know what's going on.

[penultimate]

14. I love watching Oprah, and I can understand her just fine without subtitles.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

15. They put up Surtitles at the opera for English-language opera too.

When my child was little, I took her to see Hansel and Gretel in English at the opera. They did it for a Christmas show. She was fascinated.

[Jackpine Radical]

32. English subtitles? They oughtta do that for the

Grand Old Opry too.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

39. DUzy!!

Good idea!
I don't listen to people who sing with clothespins on their noses and commit pedal steel guitar abuse.

[penultimate]

13. It is ridiculous how little they make. They should create a paypal account so that citizens

can donate money to help those poor people in congress elevate themselves out of poverty. I'd be willing to skip a week of eating so that I can donate a $100/mo to help them out. Imagine how much of a difference we could make for them if we all donates $100/mo to give them the helping hand they need.

[jmowreader]

16. He's right. You know it, but you don't want to admit it.

The kinds of people we need as our elected representatives can make more than $174,000 per year fairly easily, and they can't afford (or don't want to) take a pay cut. I know elected service is an honor, but you can't stick "honor" in an envelope and send it to a mortgage company...at least if you want to keep the house.

If you pay Walmart-store-manager money you are going to get Walmart-store-manager-caliber people. Simple as that. Walmart store managers are perfectly nice people, but there's a reason they run a store instead of a corporation. The end result is you get three classes of congressmen: very rich people, who go to Washington to legislate their tax bills out of existence; ideologues, who figure working for peanuts for a couple of years would be fine if it means they can get rid of all the social programs they don't like; and guys auditioning for K Street.

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. They cash in when they leave office.

They become lobbyists or corporate board members and turn that perceived knowledge into big money.

It's like a really selective college that pays you to attend.

[think]

34. All the more reason to pay them well and restrict corporate collusion as a condition

Unless the cycle you mention is broken Americans will never get fair representation by our politicians.

Pay them well and make it illegal for them to become corporate lobbyists and board members for 5 years after leaving service. Hell pay them for 5 years after serving. In the long run it would extremely cheap in comparison to what the corporations are costing us in tax breaks, no bid contracts, etc etc....

[jmowreader]

35. And you can see where there's a problem with that.

[bigwillq]

17. Vote this fool out.

Folks are starving to death, and this jackass is upset because his $174K salary is not enough. Please.

Live on my salary. Then we can talk about unfreezing your pay.

[justiceischeap]

18. I live in the DC Metro area

and make much less than that and I'm just fine. Granted I need two roommates for that to be the case but you do what needs to be done.

[jberryhill]

30. And where is your other home?

The one back in your home state where your family lives?

[Vinca]

19. Boo hoo. Some sleep in their offices.

Beats a cardboard box under a bridge somewhere. Love a guy making 6 figures crying poor mouth.

[LeftishBrit]

20. What is the average salary for residents of Washington DC, who are not members of Congress?

Much lower, I suspect.

[baldguy]

21. Time was 4-6 Congressmen got together to rent a small apartment in DC.

Maybe the Moran should start looking for roommates.

[madokie]

22. F* this freeloading mo'fo

We have a lot of good people who are doing more for our country who can't even afford a place to sleep nor 3 squares a day. fuck him and the lies he rode in on.

[99Forever]

23. Cry me a river, a$$hole.

I make $13hr x 35 hours a week. (my employer was granted a year extension on the requirement to provide health insurance to ALL employees) I take home about $720 bi-weekly. I get ZERO benefits. My premium for SHIT "healthcare insurance" that pays NOTHING until I reach a $6000 deductible (which, BTW, I am required by the law YOU passed) is $244 and change a month.

My freakin' heart bleeds for your 1% ass.

[Daninmo]

24. Easy fix

There are plenty of military bases nearby. Build another barracks. Basically an Officers quarters. Issue each of them a room, if they want it. They can live on base, when not back home in their districts.

They will be safe and protected, they can even get access to the chow hall on base.

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. Each state should buy condos in DC for their representatives.

Then cut the salaries in half.

Living in public housing would do them good.

[Uben]

27. This guy is a moran!

Couldn't resist!

[jwirr]

28. Welcome to the real world Congressman. That is what is happening to the rest of us in the 99%

[BKH70041]

29. He's already said when his term is over he's done.

You can say all sorts of shit when you're not going to be on the ballot next time.

[notadmblnd]

31. No, you are not a member of the board of directors. You are a public servent

and if you want to live like you are a board member of some huge corporation, I suggest you get off the government dole and get a real job!

Flipping welfare queen isn't happy with the 174k he'spaid for doing next to nothing. Cry me a freaking river why don't ya?

[think]

33. Corporations will continue to buy politicians because we won't pay them more to work for US

So the folks in Washington that oversee trillions in spending every year of our money are beholden to their bosses. The corporations.

It is pretty obvious that if WE don't pay for good representation the corporations are more than happy to step in and pay the tab as long as they get represented well.

Yes, politicians should be altruistic and work strictly out of loyalty and patriotism rather than the promise of great pay check but look around. The majority don't.

[abelenkpe]

36. If his salary is not enough to live decently

then he should recognized that vast majority of his constituents like all workers across our country are also in desperate need of a raise.

[qazplm]

37. I live with someone

in N. Va., and combined we make about that much money, and we both save money every month without really trying.

Granted, I'm a boring person who enjoys staying at home lol but I save about 3-4K a month on my own....so I'd have to spend that much a month over my 3K rent, and food, and gas, and whatnot before I even started to dip into any savings.

I agree, if you have a spouse and a couple of kids, and you are the sole provider, this is an expensive area, and 174K isn't rich in this area, but it most certainly is way beyond enough to live "decently."

[RandySF]

38. I don't know the cost of living back there.

But I know he is divorced with grown kids, so he should manage ok. But as high as one's salary may sound in comparison to others, don't automatically assume it's the high life. I am supporting my wife and kid on 65k in San Francisco before taxes and right now it's pretty tight.