Congress gives its staff 9.1 million in bonuses.

[dixiegrrrrl]

Last year alone, more than 200 House lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, awarded bonuses totaling $9.1 million to more than 2,000 staff members, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of office-disbursement forms. The money comes out of taxpayer-funded office budgets, and is surplus cash that would otherwise be forfeited if not spent.

More...WSJ
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123854799133476409.html

This is dated April 1, NOT a joke, tho.

Well, a joke on the taxpayer.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. Disgusting.

x(

[bluestateguy]

2. Congressional staff are not particularly well paid

Except for maybe Chiefs of Staffs, congressional staff are very modestly paid, and living in DC ain't cheap.

[kerrywins]

3. Exactly, They Need to Steal More From the Citizens

to insure these people are well paid.

[amandabeech]

5. A lot of good, experienced people can't join staffs because the salaries are too low

and the work week can be very long.

Basic federal government 9-5 pays a lot better, actually.

The folks answering your mail are often making $20,000 or so and are having a really hard time paying off their student loans, making rent and eating because housing is so high in D.C. and the lowest level people must have their bachelor's degrees. One thing staffers do is to hit all the lobbyist receptions just for the food. I don't think that's a good thing, and it certainly doesn't guarantee that the best people go to work for the people who make the laws for the country.

I did it for a little bit a long time ago. I've been thinking about going back as a second career, but I don't think that I can afford it even though my student loans are paid off.

[Double T]

4. We need a 'house cleaning' on both sides of the aisle.

Our elected elitist ASSHOLES in congress just don't get it. I'm sure we can find people to represent US that do!

[amandabeech]

6. Yes, but with low salaries, those people aren't always able to attract the best

and those with real experience.

It also guarantees that people without huge student loans will be easier to recruit than those with them.

That means that the wealthiest often can work for Congress. It should be obvious that what that leads to.