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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMillionaire Georgia Republican Says His $172,000 Salary Isn’t Enough For 126 Days Of Work
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/19/phil-gingrey-reveals-how-republicans-really-feel-about-public-service/How many ordinary Americans would complain about a job that pays $172,000 to work only 126 days a year? Georgia Republican Congressman Phil Gingrey did exactly that. During a private meeting with fellow Republicans such as John Boehner to discuss exempting members of Congress and their staffs from having to enroll in Obamacare, Rep. Gingrey apparently whined about his salary, according to the National Review. He said while lobbyists can make 500,000 a year Im stuck here making $172,000 a year.
It was a tiny remark that reveals a lot about how Republicans must really feel about their jobs in public service. Of course, this remark angered some aides in the room. The National Review reports that one person noted that many lower-rung congressional aides make relatively low wages and have no real expectation of a future cash-out. But the bigger story here is that a multi-millionaire Republican is actually whining about how much hes making as an elected member of Congress while the very people he represents are not pulling in near as much income for an entire years work compared to what Gingrey makes working just 126 days in 2013 alone.
Tigress DEM
(7,887 posts)vinny9698
(1,016 posts)You serve your internship, then after a couple of terms, you are hired as a lobbyist.
Another example, you play football on a college scholarship, then you go into the NFL.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)Let's see: $172,000 / (126 days * 8 hours/day) = $170 per hour
Not bad.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)The income taxes while 49% does not pay anything. I would live to pay my fair share on his salary.
RC
(25,592 posts)Too many Americans do not make that in a month. That is $16,389.60 a year. And that is working with the gross numbers. The net income is about 20% less. (Taxes, Social Security, Medicare, etc.) That idiot Republican needs to be pillared on national TV.
Faux pas
(14,679 posts)such admirable qualities.
CK_John
(10,005 posts)They also don't believe in public education, universial health care, or food stamps and social security. No need for a "how could they do that?"
You can't shame the shameless.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)don't let it hit ya where the lord split ya!
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)so he can pretend he is full! Or maybe take a second job! Or I know....sell his Christmas gifts on Craigslist!
CurtEastPoint
(18,644 posts)EC
(12,287 posts)since I think we are over paying them the way it is. They're hardly ever there and when they are they don't do anything for the people, they just act silly.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)So much the better, actually, since you are Republican.
lpbk2713
(42,757 posts)I'd like a list of the thieving and lying rethugs who he is envious of.
JHB
(37,160 posts)Anything in particular, or just elephant-trunk-stomping on general principals?
TalkingDog
(9,001 posts)First last and only reason. I didn't even notice the date.
The conservative stomping is just a bonus.
JHB
(37,160 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)I hate republicans.
Autumn
(45,084 posts)Fucking whiner.
SDjack
(1,448 posts)further reduce his personal work load. Passing envelops of cash to members of congress is a lot easier than voting to reopen the government.
Burma Jones
(11,760 posts)If you're all about measuring success by income, and most Republicans are, you are not going to take this sort of job without a trust fund or blind trust or other source of income.
Yet another reason I vote Democratic.......
TroglodyteScholar
(5,477 posts)You, too, can have it so good, just like all the rest of us who don't set our own pay rate.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)sakabatou
(42,152 posts)NOT ENOUGH?! WHAT. THE. FUCK?!
Spirochete
(5,264 posts)he'll swear he's not in it for the money, I'd bet...
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)it takes more than 126 days.
I am not sure where the 126 days comes from.
Is that days in session? They are not required to attend every session and AFAIK most of them don't. But what about the time required to fly or drive back to his district? What about meeting with constituents all over his district? What about briefings, meeting with staff, and campaigning? I know from personal experience that campaigning can take some time and energy - and money too. It's sort of a requirement if he wants to keep his job.
I was lucky to have a Democratic Congressperson for one term, but she ran in 3 campaigns 2004 when she lost, 2006 when she won, and 2008 when she lost. I read that she/her spouse spent something like $350,000 of their own money on those campaigns. Well, heck, they didn't even break even. The salary did not even get their money back. And as an incumbent, you get to do a lot of your campaigning at taxpayer expense, but it still takes your time.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)Threedifferentones
(1,070 posts)And who doesn't believe that some of a lobbyist's salary goes to the congress people they are bribing errr I mean lobbying?
JimboBillyBubbaBob
(1,389 posts)He can walk his ass up to "K" Street and see who's hiring.
MindMover
(5,016 posts)Initech
(100,075 posts)CanonRay
(14,101 posts)Asshole.