Why does the Senate Chaplain make $150k and have staff making $129k, $86k, and $52k?

[FourScore]

Here's another $250,000+ they could cut...

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Why does the Senate Chaplain make $150k and have staff making $129k, $86k, and $52k?
by John Aravosis (DC) on 7/12/2011 12:59:00 PM

SNIP

...Chaplain: $150,698
Chief of Staff: $129,223
Director of Communications: $86,056
Executive Assistant: $52,828...

SNIP

...In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, Chaplain Black’s duties include counseling and spiritual care for the Senators, their families and their staffs, a combined constituency of six thousand people. Chaplain Black’s days are filled with meeting Senators about spiritual and moral issues, assisting Senators’ staffs with research on theological and biblical questions, teaching Senate Bible study groups, encouraging such groups as the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast, and facilitating discussion and reflection small groups among Senators and staff.

SNIP

...1. He offers spiritual counseling to Senators, their families, and staff. Why? They don't have their own priests, preachers, rabbis and mullahs? Seriously, how many Americans get, need, a priest on the job because they can't just pick up the phone and call the head of their church if they have a question?

2. What do you mean he's helping staff research theological and biblical questions? If the research is for the staff's own personal religion then the taxpayers shouldn't be paying for it. And if the research is to influence legislation, then that's just creepy.

3. Bible study? Because, again, Senators and staff can't just go to church on Sunday like everybody else? If they want to hold a bible study at work, they can pay for it themselves. No one is subsidizing my personal bible study on the job.

4. "Encouraging the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast." At $150k a year, that had better be a lot of encouraging...

This office seems superfluous at best. But this is America, and we dare not suggest that the line item for God be cut. God forbid.

http://www.americablog.com/2011/07/why-does-senate-chaplain-make-150k-and.html

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Why do you hate America?

[Angry Dragon]

2. If it is not in the Constitution ...... it needs to go

For all the immoral shit that is happening in congress, he is not doing a very good job and should be fired anyway............


the House even gets their own
http://chaplain.house.gov/

[gateley]

3. They need a constitutional professor more than a spiritual counselor. nt

[NightWatcher]

21. a Resident Constitutionalist would be a much better service

No, I'm sorry Rep Bachmann, but that's just silly

[riderinthestorm]

4. Oh man, I just have to K and R this. Spot on.

but will take out my extra jumbo size popcorn to share....

:popcorn:

[Raschel]

5. Great points. Get your own spiritual leader like the rest of us do. Taxpayers don't have one

paid for by others at our beck and call.

[leftstreet]

6. He should be fired. He hasn't taught these greedy fuckers anything!

:-)

[Raschel]

8. Wow! lol good point.

[global1]

7. Combat Pay.......

Would you like to have to minister to this group?

[Raschel]

9. I will for $150,000. No problemo.

[Divine Discontent]

11. I'd constantly be bringing up The Sermon on the Mount & its valuable points they should take into

consideration if they're going to ask for clergy support at all. Of course, they'd stop asking for me to come talk to them pretty quickly.

I think it's interesting they have such a high pay for them, but not that they have to staff such positions. I think the hazard pay comment is funny. I can also appreciate some saying, why do they even have this position, still however, I just find the pay of $75 hour for that job a bit ridiculous. $30/hr is more than enough. I know it's a large pool of people they cover, but that pay is a tad bit much, and the comm. director sounds pointless.

[Raschel]

12. Agreed!

[Gregorian]

10. Why do you hate Rome?

It's the age old scheme where the poor don't rule. And those who do make sure it pays well.

[Zoigal]

13. And what about the private gyms (with great equipment) that both houses

of Congress have, as well as the mini hospitals (staffed, of course), barbershops,
dining rooms, and other perks?? My cousin worked in DC and was often
in those areas. (He was Coast Guard not a politician.) Individually, they don't amount to much, but added up would probably be a bit.....z

[wakemewhenitsover]

14. Separation of church and state, God damn it. n/t

[lpbk2713]

15. Because he can.

It's Washington, the tightest good ole boys club there is.
And it's not like they think of all that as real money,
it always has been just play money to them.

[Cereal Kyller]

16. Uh, because God really loves him a lot?

Or maybe the guy's got the photos and negatives of God with the Girl Scouts and the goat.

[robinlynne]

17. oh hell no. My tax dollars? Hell no.

[raouldukelives]

18. When you spend all your life attacking the least among us

It's nice to have a paid Chaplain on hand telling you your doing the right thing.

[spin]

19. There is lots of waste in the Federal Budget ...

Trimming the budget is not impossible.

Of course, the very rich should pay a higher tax rate and corporations that make a profit should have to pay taxes.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. They obviously suck at their job, too.

A more spiritually bankrupt group I've never seen.

[geardaddy]

22. What's his denomination?

Why are they promoting his one view.

This needs to stop.