Do you know what a Congressman was paid in 1969??

[kentuck]

You may be surprised?

http://hobnobblog.com/congress-by-the-numbers/pay-and-perquisites-of-members-of-congress-including-a-history-of-house-and-senate-salaries/

[Duer 157099]

1. Why do I have to click on a link that leaves DU for the answer?

If you pose a question as an OP, and you know the answer, why not just post it?

[kentuck]

3. I'll tell you.

30,000 dollars and went up to 42,500.

[Duer 157099]

5. Thanks

We should have chained the CPI to their salaries.

[kentuck]

6. No problem.

It was on Google.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. That was quite a bit of quid back then

[Rex]

4. That is almost 190k in todays money.

Not bad.

[enough]

7. Back then a year of college at a high-end school was about $5000 (no I haven't skipped a zero).

[lpbk2713]

8. Almost a $30K increase during the BushCo Regime years.

Many American families don't even earn as much as the
increase they approved for themselves in that time span.
Of course, Congress was treating the budget like it was
only play money at the time anyhow.

[kentuck]

9. People need to understand that a 3% increase for a Congressman is not equal to a 3% increase ...

...for someone on Social Security. There is a big difference when 3% equals $30 dollars and when 3% equal $4500 dollars. Congress tied themselves to the same COLA as low income people.

[moondust]

10. How much insider trading did they do back then?

You know, to supplement their meager salaries.

[kentuck]

11. And now...

They put their money into foreign accounts.

[lpbk2713]

12. And they have the best retirement plan you'll find anywhere.

I hate to think of what they get away with on our expense account. It pisses me off.

[kentuck]

13. They also have access to inside information for stock market trades...

and I'm sure some have used it.

[lpbk2713]

14. That was the subject of a 60 Minutes report not too long ago.

Some were caught red handed and they are still at it.

[madokie]

15. Wow

SOB's are way over paid if you ask me.

[Shrike47]

16. That was 6 or 7 times as much as I made with my shiny BA in History.

[kentuck]

17. Supposedly, the formula was put in in exchange for honoraria speeches...

which they were paid for. However, most of them made less than $10K per year in honoraria speeches. Quite a good swap for them.

[sadbear]

18. In Texas, state legislators don't make much at all.

It's almost like you have to be independently well-off to be a state legislator.