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America's Politicians Earn $608 Per Hour
On the surface, earning $174,000 per year, while putting one solidly in the top 10% of all US earners, does not sound like much. This happens to be the 2014 allocated wage of America's elected political representatives, the members of the House of Representatives. And indeed, in the grand scheme of things it isn't much... until one considers that in the 102-day period between August 1 and November 12, this wage will be "earned" for just working a paltry 8 days, which, presuming 10 hour workdays, amounts to a whopping $608 per hour, on par with what some of America's most prominent lawyers earn. It is also several times the hourly compensation of anesthesiologists, one of the highest-earning professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at $113 an hour on average.
According to The Hill, liberal activist Ralph Nader worked out the eye-popping calculation in an angry letter he sent to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Monday. From The Hill:
“While millions of Americans are working more and more for less and less, you and your House of Representatives seem to have no problem working less and less for more and more,” he wrote.
Nader calculated that Boehner, who earns $223,500 a year as Speaker, will earn roughly $781 per hour over a three-and-half month span, given Congress worked only eight days. Boehner has a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Lawmakers and their aides rebut Nader’s claim by arguing that time spent in Washington is only part of their job. The other part is meeting with and serving constituents back in their home districts and states. That’s why they call the time away state and district “work periods.”
But critics, including President Obama, aren’t buying it. Obama scolded lawmakers on Aug. 2 for going “on vacation” without passing legislation to raise the minimum wage or reduce interest on student loans.
Yes, we too find it ironic for Obama to be bashing others' vacation practices, but in this case he happens to be right: because if there is one job that is more useless than that of the US GOTUS, it is that of a US politican, whose "work" is laid out as follows:
The House left for a five-week vacation from Washington on Aug. 1 and didn’t return until Sept. 8. After two four-day workweeks, it left again Thursday and is not due to return until Nov. 12.
The Senate worked a similar schedule. It took the same break as the House in August and also worked only two weeks in September before leaving Washington to campaign for the midterm elections.
Some lawmakers admit they should probably be working harder.
Rep. David Jolly, a Republican from Florida, sent a letter to the House Rules Committee asking for the House to adopt a rule that would require it to stay in session longer.
“I write to strongly advocate for a permanent rule change that would formally require the House to be in session significantly more days during the 114th Congress, which will convene in January 2015,” he wrote. “The House of Representatives, the ‘People’s House,’ simply cannot address the many priorities of the nation if we are not in session more days,” he added.
And while it is easy to be furious with America's worthless landed political class - whose only contribution to society is being voted out or resigning - a logical question arises - why should the House, or the Senate, or even the President for that matter, work any hours in a world in which all the heavy lifting, or any lifting, is borne by the monetary authority, i.e., the Fed, which makes sure nobody in power has to make any decisions ever again just by pressing CTRL-P a few billion times every day.
Finally, while we are amused by the naive thinking that members of the House earn "only" $174,000 per year or however much per hour, it is not their wages that make most members of Congress millionaires. In fact, as the following chart shows, the 50 richest members of Congress all have a net worth of $7.5 million or higher!
They did not earn this money by collecting a paltry salary. Instead, they made it through kickbacks, bribes, and other "lobbying" funds. All of which, of course, are perfectly legal in the circus that passes for US government.
It is that which should be the target of public ire, not how much Congressmen make on an hourly basis. Because when one factors in all the undisclosed sources of funds, it is then that one would get a per hour number that would rival some of the best paid hedge fund managers in the US.
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rat bastards
I wonder if the Geneva convention has a section in there against tar and feathering?
Yep, the best money can buy. Fucking love those guys and bitches.
I think we should double it, if they QUIT FUCKING IT UP!!
Politicians don't even deserve the minimum wage.
What "value" do these clowns add to society?
At least a burger flipper makes me a meal; these politicians take a big chunk of my income with nothing in return but a police state.
Vote 'em all out, en masse.
@ Ignatius,
No, a lot cheaper just to blindfold them & line the Criminal Fraud Board of Directors (AKA) CONgress up against a wall & have the Free Amaerican People go to town on them Fireing Squad style.
Of course on the breaking backs of us hard working sucker tax paying U.S. citizen serfs and peasants.
Would it not be more correct to say "They are paid $608 an hour"
Whether they have earned it ought to be decided by the electorate.
Now, Now, Stinkhammer, let's cut these poor guys a break. The life of a politician requires that they be "on" all the time and travel far from their families. Not an easy job, long hours negotiating deals to please everyone. Let's not forget the invasive media scrutiny of their every action and decision. The $400 haircut and full time aethetician are a must have just so you can stay on subject and not be forced to explain a wayward hair or shine in front of the camera.
I hate politicians as much as the next guy, but I agree that you can't just divide by the number of hours in session. Campaining 16 hours a day seems like a lot of work.
Working at McDonalds for the evening shift, and then stocking shelves overnight at Walmart "seems like a lot of work", but what do those 2 jobs pay? $30,000 a year for both?
At least those crap jobs add "value" to society. A walmart with empty shelves, and a McDonalds with no one in the kitchen wouldn't stay in business too long.
Meanwhile, the politician subtracts value from society, so $8 an hour is way too much for these dimwits. Feinstein should be volunteering for free, not be worth the millions that she is.
$400 for an injection-molded Ken-doll look, Bryll-creamed to within an inch of its life. Republicans part on the right. Democrats part on the left. Same out-moded 70s do. What a rip off!
Who works for who again?
LOL
I say raise minimum wage to $600 an hour... we'll cut'em a little slack.
"earn" implies "Work". Being a politician is hardly what I would call "working". They are just the high wager "earners" in today's Free Shit Army.
Wow....and to think I thought my sister earning $400 an hour reading zerohedge at home was doing well.
secession is an answer.
Yep. The sooner the better!
Excuse me, did you say "earn"? Sorry, can't go there; they steal money from taxpayers. They don't do a fucking thing except live off of OPM and then have the gall to expect more of the same year-after-year. They are nothing more than parasites.
www.traderzoo.mobi
pubic lice = politicians
hookworms = banksters
scabies = lobbyists
pinworms = captured regulators
Technically billable hours are not the basis for calculating distributed profits per partner or an associate's salary. In other words partners make more and associates make less than they bill. This is called attorney leverage.
On the other hand, these politicians (most of whom are shitty lawyers) should only be billing $1 an hour, if that much, for the schlocky bullshit and debt leverage they turn out.
They all make terrific human shields for ISIS.
if any of ya'll mother fuckers voted for them - then fuckin pay'em...
just understand that the bankers pay more..
"Give me control of a nation's money,and I care not who makes the laws."
Guess who?
Kate Upton? Jennifer Lawrence? Surely someone with nudies.
No politician should earn more [taxpayer funded salary] than the average per capita income for their area (district, state, nation).
Nice work if you can get it.
Most lawmakers are lawyers.
Key skill set = equivocation, lack of ethics, broken moral compass.
I thought their key skill set was to smile for the camera while taking the money shot and swallow it from their coporate overlords.
They are not so much lawyers as dealmakers. Good, bad or ugly they thrive on making deals and getting some commissions on those deals. Their political capital is the first goal. ANd besides being an egomaniac.
IT really has turned into the worst. The unknown "big agenda" has muddied the waters.
I personally met and debated with my congresscritter, at a townhall forum.
MY only thoughts were" HOly shit, we are a pretty fucked-up bunch."
That's nothing. The Chinese politicians as a group made triilions of dollars in just one decade.
Where do I sign up?
"The other part is meeting with and serving constituents back in their home districts and states"
Still fucking waiting for that meeting and serving.
-90% of America
does this include their legal insider trading?
That's the one thing the article left out. The bribes, kickbacks, etc., are pocket change compared to the millions they make from insider trading. Perfectly legal for members of congress. Pardon me while I puke.
That's not too shabby.
My SS check is about that for the month. Little less.
“House of Representatives seems to have no problem working less and less for more and more”.
Well, it’s about time he pointed his finger.
But, he omits to mention the same is true at all levels of government… federal to city and special district… head of department to janitor.
Here are numbers we could have fun with: the LA Times reported that about 2 years ago, tree trimmers employed by LA county were planning to strike for higher wages; at the time they were taking down $4500/month, along with $500-$1,000/month in a dozen or so benefits. I did further research regarding other work categories for cities and counties. Result? The same.
It finally occurred to me these guys were sort of overpaid, that a large majority of the private labor force would be happy to do this work at half the rate.
So, why not terminate all who work for these cities and counties, and replace them with applicants who bid for a position. This should be done over a three or six month period.
This led to further research, namely the financial statements issued by cities and counties, special districts and state governments. I found that they have amassed surpluses in the trillions. When I studied this for California, I found surpluses (about the year 2000) that divided out to $20,000 for every man, woman and child in the state; you read that right, every man, every woman, every child. Then I factored in numbers included only in footnotes and the dividend ballooned to over $40,000 for every man, woman and child.
These surpluses are in the form of cash and bonds, real estate and stocks, domestic and international; and represent an over collection of taxes. See, ‘Who Owns City Hall?’ and ‘Of Lords and Cattle’.
It all generated several questions, such as, ‘Who owns these surpluses?’ and, ‘When do I get my dividend?’ and, ‘How is it to be done?’
1. Why not? Public employee unions and CALPERS.
2. They stole it by hook and crook, and they're going to keep it.
3. Your 'dividend' is being wisely re-invested in California's future by those sagacious beings in Sacramento.
4. Here's how it's done elsewhere: sit down, STFU, and they won't throw you in prison or let the cops use you for target practice.
Welcome to California.
After serving a two year term in the House of Representatives, how much is their retirement (incl health benifits)?
the problem with US congress is too many lawyers and not enough engineers. scumbag lawyers
I can't afford that (I know, my fault), I guess I don't really need their service/bullshit.
What constitutes "work" for these people? Passing more bad laws that continue to transform the U.S. into a 3rd world kleptocracy? How about paying them to go home and stay home - that would be a better use of the money. The only good these people could do would be to come in and vote to eliminate pretty much every law and piece of legislation passed in the last 100 years. Since that isn't going to happen staying away from D.C. would be the best choice.
The thing about bureacrats is that once they make a rule they are out of a job, unless they can come up with another rule.
Rinse, Repeat
Rules are almost exclusively additive. How often do you hear about a rule suddenly becoming a non-rule?
How thick is the book on tax law in the US?
Can any single human understand the whole thing???
Any reasonable system would be understandable to the majority of those it applies to, not an elite few who use its intricacies for their own corrupt ends.
Just thinking out loud.
AKA John NOguez, Juan R Rodriguez the sitting LA County Assessor was arrested/indicted/jailed in Oct 2012, he's still collecting a paycheck while on bail. http://www.laweekly.com/2014-05-29/news/la-county-assessors-race-who-wil...
Not sure if a trial date has been set yet, but what's the rush at $600/ hour?
I would pay them $1200/hr to stay home all year.
The last thing we need is more legislative buffoonery.
There's a big difference between being paid $608 an hour and EARNING $608 an hour.