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In reply to the discussion: "Struggling to make ends meet" on $174K a year?? Really Nancy??? [View all]NOVA_Dem
(620 posts)243. Renting is fine and can cost much less than a mortgage.
You can live 10 minutes away from DC, make all the votes you need, as well as rent in a safe area for less than 2K a month.
Your friend has low self-esteem who doesn't understand that he's the one with the power to grant the lobbyist's requests.
You're right you don't know what my job is that's why your wrong about who I associate with during the course of the day.
You don't need to spend a lot of money on clothes to look important. If they bought clothes that fit properly they would be better dressed than 99% of the poorly dressed (yet rich and powerful) slobs in the District.
I just think it is comical that half of your argument is that they need more money to wear better suits.
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"Struggling to make ends meet" on $174K a year?? Really Nancy??? [View all]
proud2BlibKansan
Feb 2013
OP
You think the staff is overpaid? You know every time I hear some beltway brat crabbing about how
Ed Suspicious
Feb 2013
#109
I think anyone who has a pay freeze is quite lucky/privilege. It would be absolutely life-
robinlynne
Feb 2013
#234
I used to--and the Congresspeople should go old school--like many of their constituents do when
MADem
Feb 2013
#133
Fuck it.. build them some barracks, with a mess hall.. just like our troops live in..
Ghost in the Machine
Feb 2013
#190
You know what? That wouldn't be a bad idea, actually--fire up a "SRO" building, with five hundred
MADem
Feb 2013
#200
I am not bothered by Nancy Pelosi's comments (or non-comments). I've said that elsewhere
MADem
Feb 2013
#321
I don't think, if we break it down, we have much (if any) disagreement, actually!
MADem
Feb 2013
#329
I think most people are upset about the "dignity of the job" portion of the statement.
NOVA_Dem
Feb 2013
#292
No, most people are upset about the "making ends meet" fake quote, which is why the OP used it
GiaGiovanni
Feb 2013
#296
A quick eyeball of the thread shows many more posts concerned with the money/ making ends meet theme
GiaGiovanni
Feb 2013
#300
Sherrod spent his free time at peace rallies and Camp Wellstone activist training
Kolesar
Feb 2013
#174
half of congresspeople are millionaires. the other half is mostly very well-off.
HiPointDem
Feb 2013
#220
neither do ordinary people of modest means deserve a pay cut, yet they have gotten one
HiPointDem
Feb 2013
#255
I can see that, but how many Senators live entirely off that $174k? I suppose if we had an actual
brewens
Feb 2013
#6
The amount needed to maintain a residence in DC is how they justified paying themselves almost
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2013
#29
I'm beyond amazed that Americans just don't seem to care at all about the blatant
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2013
#183
Actually, I read that a Congress person spends 80% of their time fundraising
dixiegrrrrl
Feb 2013
#202
Here in Bergen County $200,000 per year is just making it into the upper middle class.
Walk away
Feb 2013
#211
DU forum policy prohibits me from posting information that would completely torpedo annabanana's
slackmaster
Feb 2013
#51
She's speaking up for the members who don't make as much outside the job as her
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
Feb 2013
#148
Or when she personally bottled up HR 676 to keep it out of the health care debate
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2013
#81
It's still a ridiculous notion - whether she's speaking of herself or not.
proud2BlibKansan
Feb 2013
#13
If they were paid like normal people, on job performance, they wouldn't be making jack shit
Harry Monroe
Feb 2013
#194
They all get a travel allowance, the minimum is over $6,000 a year with additional compensation
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#31
In typical DC fashion, she has been "extraordinarily lucky" and managed
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2013
#9
No shit. It's a shame how many congressmen have to quit because they can't afford to serve.
progressoid
Feb 2013
#187
They'd go out on the "Speaker's Circuit" and rake in millions speaking to lobbyists!
MADem
Feb 2013
#204
We should pay them more, increase the lifetime benefits, and forbid any of
Warren Stupidity
Feb 2013
#16
Every two years they could lose the "job" so maybe they should not think of it that way
treestar
Feb 2013
#17
Of the ten longest serving current House members, the longest term is 54 years, 27 terms Dingle
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#46
And I know plenty of unemployed folks who would trade places with you in a minute
proud2BlibKansan
Feb 2013
#20
This is what you chose as your profession. If you wanted to be a politician then you too could enjoy
Pisces
Feb 2013
#111
The don't 'have to' have two housholds. They get a healthy travel allowance and other expenses
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#48
I'm sure some who defend politicians at every turn might say when they're at dinner
cherokeeprogressive
Feb 2013
#269
Congressional salaries should be set by the market - lower them until candidates stop running.
FarCenter
Feb 2013
#39
Information about properties owned by Former Speaker Pelosi and her husband is in public records
slackmaster
Feb 2013
#54
I agree with your point, but the Destitute Members Caucus could not have picked a more ironic...
slackmaster
Feb 2013
#98
Yes! They seriously could live a monastic lifestyle of quiet contemplation while they aren't doing
Ed Suspicious
Feb 2013
#151
I think the ineffectiveness of congress is not best addressed by cutting their pay
bhikkhu
Feb 2013
#85
I wouldn't pay any member of Congress one cent more than the national average income.
Ikonoklast
Feb 2013
#100
Sorry but I don't agree with you. Most have to maintain 2 residences. If you have children etc.
Pisces
Feb 2013
#103
And it would be even worse in Congress with only millionaires running for office or able to afford
Pisces
Feb 2013
#112
And people whose jobs are regularly shipped overseas can't afford ONE residence.
valerief
Feb 2013
#110
Anyone who believes Congress cares about regular people, stand in the corner. nt
valerief
Feb 2013
#106
I think senators and reps are compensated fairly, considering the perks.
mountain grammy
Feb 2013
#107
In Pelosi's defense many legislators are maintaining two residences, one in expensive DC, the other
cecilfirefox
Feb 2013
#124
It is trivial compared to the paycheck they'll get as lobbyists when they leave congress.
lumberjack_jeff
Feb 2013
#129
Just because I don't make $174k doesn't mean the person who does is smarter than me.
L0oniX
Feb 2013
#317
I am normally unsympathetic to the complaints of the well-off but I also think that congressional
JVS
Feb 2013
#159
Congressmen should be paid the average American wage earner's income from the previous year.
OceanEcosystem
Feb 2013
#161
The source doesn't have that phrase in it as a quotation - you were trolled by the msnNow writer....
xocet
Feb 2013
#169
Depends on where you live in DC. Fairfax county modest 3 BDR homes away from crime are 500K
GiaGiovanni
Feb 2013
#208
Could you please give me specifics on those "safe areas"? Better yet, give us links to those apts.
spooky3
Feb 2013
#257
Alexandria has lots of crime, unless you live in certain areas like Old Town
GiaGiovanni
Feb 2013
#284
I think most people would like to live within walking distance of a metro stop.
NOVA_Dem
Feb 2013
#311
Don't worry Congress, there's light at the other end of that revolving door.
EastKYLiberal
Feb 2013
#197
While Pelosi's statement was unelegant, a lower congressional wage attracts lobbyist cash.
alp227
Feb 2013
#207
not like everybody else. they still get health benefits and retirement, don't they?
robinlynne
Feb 2013
#236
and attract the very best for the work and the people's sakes with no hope to profit
TheKentuckian
Feb 2013
#270
It is very, very easy for the very wealthy to forget how many people have to get by
Nye Bevan
Feb 2013
#261
Nancy Pelosi: You and your cohorts vote yourselves pay raises in the DARK OF NIGHT
cherokeeprogressive
Feb 2013
#268
If they were worth it, that would be fine, however, except for a very few, I do not think so
still_one
Feb 2013
#277
For a House leader who took impeachment off the table, shouldn't she be making more?
AnotherMcIntosh
Feb 2013
#326