SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - More proof that politicians are just out of touch...

CaptainHaplo · 12-11-09, 10:29 PM

For the record - congressional pay raises work this way....

The raises are automatic unless congress explicitly votes in favor of NOT getting a raise. If they don't even bring up the subject, then they get one without lifting a finger. Usually any bill that would remove the yearly pay raise gets stuck in a committee to die. That way they can honestly say they didn't vote themselves a pay raise. While technically true, just goes to show how smart they can be when taking your money. Too bad they can't spend it with the same intelligence.

As for the pay and benefits:

Among the advantages: a choice of 10 healthcare plans that provide access to a national network of doctors, as well as several HMOs that serve each member's home state. By contrast, 85% of private companies offering health coverage provide their employees one type of plan -- take it or leave it.Lawmakers also get special treatment at Washington's federal medical facilities and, for a few hundred dollars a month, access to their own pharmacy and doctors, nurses and medical technicians standing by in an office conveniently located between the House and Senate chambers.
Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug...ress-benefits2

The current salary (2009) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.
Source: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscong...ongresspay.htm

Overall, a congressional pension is more generous "by a factor of four" than the average private sector plan, concludes Dallas Salisbury, president of the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The NTUF estimates a lawmaker's pension adds another $60,000 a year in value to his or her salary.
Source:http://www.fa-ir.org/alabama/corrupt...20Benefits.htm

Now you see why its called a "golden parachute"?

12-11-09, 10:29 PM	#23
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	For the record - congressional pay raises work this way.... The raises are automatic unless congress explicitly votes in favor of NOT getting a raise. If they don't even bring up the subject, then they get one without lifting a finger. Usually any bill that would remove the yearly pay raise gets stuck in a committee to die. That way they can honestly say they didn't vote themselves a pay raise. While technically true, just goes to show how smart they can be when taking your money. Too bad they can't spend it with the same intelligence. As for the pay and benefits: Among the advantages: a choice of 10 healthcare plans that provide access to a national network of doctors, as well as several HMOs that serve each member's home state. By contrast, 85% of private companies offering health coverage provide their employees one type of plan -- take it or leave it.Lawmakers also get special treatment at Washington's federal medical facilities and, for a few hundred dollars a month, access to their own pharmacy and doctors, nurses and medical technicians standing by in an office conveniently located between the House and Senate chambers. Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug...ress-benefits2 The current salary (2009) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Source: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscong...ongresspay.htm Overall, a congressional pension is more generous "by a factor of four" than the average private sector plan, concludes Dallas Salisbury, president of the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The NTUF estimates a lawmaker's pension adds another $60,000 a year in value to his or her salary. Source:http://www.fa-ir.org/alabama/corrupt...20Benefits.htm Now you see why its called a "golden parachute"? __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo