'This is a disgrace': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams her future colleagues in Congress...

[EffieBlack]

60. It's more complicated than the article and AOC suggest

Each Member is given a set annual budget - a Member Representational Allowance aka MRA - from which they pay all office expenses, including travel, postage and staff salaries. The MRA is usually not enough to pay a good wage to all of the staff they need in their DC and district offices, so they make do by paying salaries that are lower than the private sector and hiring unpaid interns. Despite the low salaries, the benefits are pretty good and the interns get excellent experience.

And while many students/recent graduates can't afford unpaid internships, many schools and organizations provide fellowships that pay the students a stipend or salary to enable low-income students to take the positions. For example, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation funds dozens of students and recent graduates who work in CBC offices each year.

The alternative would be hiring fewer staff at higher wages - and I can only imagine how constituents would squawk when their phone calls don't get answered, the correspondence is delayed even further and their constituent services fall by the wayside because their Member/Senator cut staff.

The Members are not taking advantage of their staffs. They're doing the best they can with what they have. Of course, Congress can vote itself more money to pay for staff, but I have a feeling that wouldn't be received too well...