House Republicans are trying to sneak stuff under the table already

How surprised would you be that instead of working on issues such as avoiding a government shutdown, Republicans are working on raises? Republicans continue to show by deed that they could care less about everyday people. They simply cannot be bothered with doing things that benefit their constituents; they are more concerned about themselves, and there is no reason for it.

According to CBS News, members of the House make $174,000 per year. On top of that, they get paid travel and housing costs. Most of the American people make way less, and we’re responsible for our own travel and housing. In fact, CBS said that the median individual wage in the U.S. is $59,000 per year, yet we pay for these clowns to make six figures, plus other perks, and it doesn’t stop there. Unlike most of us, they also receive pensions and when they die, their families receive a death gratuity payment, which is equal to the deceased lawmaker’s salary at death. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, the death gratuity cost taxpayers $5 million from 2000 to 2021. Are you pissed off yet? If not, consider this: Mike Johnson received a raise upon his election to Speaker of the House and now makes $223,500. The minority and majority leaders-Steve Scalice and Hakeem Jeffries-each make $193,400 per year. Excuse me, but how do we sign up? These are service jobs. What’s wrong with them making $75 or $80K, which is still above the median?

They have not only voted themselves an under-the-table raise, but they can now opt out from the requirement to use the ACA for insurance. According to writers at Punch Bowl News, Congress has been barred from cost-of-living increases since 2009, but they make six figures for God’s sake. How many of us would like to make that, even without a raise? Members of Congress are like us in many ways, and it is highly likely that they live paycheck-to-paycheck, which is why they need to start out lower. Just think, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene do absolutely nothing in Congress, but she’s getting bankrolled. I don’t know about the rest of you, but that burns me up. Think how hard a waitress works. She’s on her feet all day, running back and forth with food and dirty dishes, and most times, she’s not appreciated for what she does. They typically make below minimum wage, and the tips keep them going. And let’s not even talk about teachers, firemen, and policemen. This is scandalous. House members get paid six figures to sit on their asses and create problems-not solutions-for the American people.

Punchbowl News tries to make a point of Congress not being allowed raises since 2009 while other federal employees are still getting them. Show me one of those federal employees who makes this kind of money, and I might agree. Besides, they must go into their agencies every day and work. This is not a fair comparison. Perhaps if Congress did more for the American people, they would deserve a raise. Right now, they just don’t.