by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
My congressman, Republican Jason Smith of Missouri's 8th district, touts himself as a simple farmer and a small businessman. But young Jason, who is also a lawyer, has his hand deep in the public's pocket where he pulls in a comfortable $174,00 per year in salary along with travel expenses and numerous other perks. Indeed, if Jason is like many of his peers in Congress, he enjoys occasional meals, drinks, trips, and other gifts from lobbyists - as well as a steady stream of donations to help insure his re-election time after time after time - nearly $1.2 million for this election cycle alone!
But that isn't all of the income that Jason Smith receives for his work in Congress - he also gets free lodging along with free cable, utilities, cleaning services, security (all non-taxed) - and the free use of the capitol gym. Not too shabby for a simple farmer and small businessman!
(The original members of Congress received a total fifty cents per day for their services - and those guys had a nation to build! Boarding house fees came out of their own pockets.)
The reason Jason Smith and many other members of Congress receive "free" public housing is that they choose to sleep in their congressional offices. That is a practice that came into vogue through the example of former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey back in the 1990's. Today members justify sleeping in Washington DC free by claiming that it keeps them from becoming too "comfortable" in the swamp.
Speaker Paul Ryan sleeps in his office. Ryan says that he has so much work to do that he is often at his desk until late a night. Regardless of what he is doing "at his desk," he could be doing it at a desk in a boarding house or an apartment. Living and working in a contained space creates a climate that fosters health issues, both physical and mental.
An article in Politico yesterday entitled "It's Almost Nasty" told of efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus to end the practice. The caucus members filed a complaint with the House Ethics panel, a complaint which was neither acknowledged or answered. The thrust of the complaint was that congressmen essentially living in their offices create a health risk for people who have to do business in those same offices, and it also suggested that the free rent was something of value and should be taxed. Apparently congressional parking spaces for cars are taxed, and the complaining congressmen felt that parking spaces for humans should be taxed as well.
While the exact number of congressmen who reside in their offices is not known, the piece in Politico estimated that is was between forty and one hundred - and perhaps more. The article suggested that most of the overnight residents of the congressional offices are Republican men. (Maybe it's time for a remake of Animal House!)
$174,000 a year, gifts from lobbyists, donations totaling seven figures, free rent, free cable, free utilities, free security, free gym membership, a paid staff to pick up after you. Wow! Jason, if I were you I would probably be trying to sell that hardscrabble farm back in Missouri. You've landed in the gravy!
Citizen Journalist
My congressman, Republican Jason Smith of Missouri's 8th district, touts himself as a simple farmer and a small businessman. But young Jason, who is also a lawyer, has his hand deep in the public's pocket where he pulls in a comfortable $174,00 per year in salary along with travel expenses and numerous other perks. Indeed, if Jason is like many of his peers in Congress, he enjoys occasional meals, drinks, trips, and other gifts from lobbyists - as well as a steady stream of donations to help insure his re-election time after time after time - nearly $1.2 million for this election cycle alone!
But that isn't all of the income that Jason Smith receives for his work in Congress - he also gets free lodging along with free cable, utilities, cleaning services, security (all non-taxed) - and the free use of the capitol gym. Not too shabby for a simple farmer and small businessman!
(The original members of Congress received a total fifty cents per day for their services - and those guys had a nation to build! Boarding house fees came out of their own pockets.)
The reason Jason Smith and many other members of Congress receive "free" public housing is that they choose to sleep in their congressional offices. That is a practice that came into vogue through the example of former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey back in the 1990's. Today members justify sleeping in Washington DC free by claiming that it keeps them from becoming too "comfortable" in the swamp.
Speaker Paul Ryan sleeps in his office. Ryan says that he has so much work to do that he is often at his desk until late a night. Regardless of what he is doing "at his desk," he could be doing it at a desk in a boarding house or an apartment. Living and working in a contained space creates a climate that fosters health issues, both physical and mental.
An article in Politico yesterday entitled "It's Almost Nasty" told of efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus to end the practice. The caucus members filed a complaint with the House Ethics panel, a complaint which was neither acknowledged or answered. The thrust of the complaint was that congressmen essentially living in their offices create a health risk for people who have to do business in those same offices, and it also suggested that the free rent was something of value and should be taxed. Apparently congressional parking spaces for cars are taxed, and the complaining congressmen felt that parking spaces for humans should be taxed as well.
While the exact number of congressmen who reside in their offices is not known, the piece in Politico estimated that is was between forty and one hundred - and perhaps more. The article suggested that most of the overnight residents of the congressional offices are Republican men. (Maybe it's time for a remake of Animal House!)
$174,000 a year, gifts from lobbyists, donations totaling seven figures, free rent, free cable, free utilities, free security, free gym membership, a paid staff to pick up after you. Wow! Jason, if I were you I would probably be trying to sell that hardscrabble farm back in Missouri. You've landed in the gravy!
1 comment:
Today parking ranges from $205 to $280 a month in D.C. On line real estate advertiser trulia has, available June 1st, a one bedroom, one full bath, Capitol Hill (Barney Circle/Hill East) on a six month lease at $2,100 per month. There are less expensive places to live but they tend to be farther away from the Hill. Then newly minted Senator Obama found a plain Jane apartment for $1200 in Stanton Park (a little closer to the Capitol). Tenured Senators like Ol' Roy Blunt and Pat Roberts, just because they don't represent Missouri or Kansas, have bought mansions near D.C. Guess Pat is still renting a barcalounger when he is back in Dodge City. He's now the biggest dodge from around Dodge City.
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