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GOP Rep: I'm 'Struggling' On My $174K Salary (VIDEO)

I think the point being made is that those calling for cuts in the salaries of government employees refuse to even considering cutting their own salaries.



GOP Rep: I'm 'Struggling' On My $174K Salary (VIDEO) | TPMDC
I can guarantee you, or most of you, I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you. With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high on the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now. Would it be easier for me if I get more paychecks? Maybe, but at this point I'm not living high on the hog.
Duffy also said that he pays more in health care costs and retirement savings than he did when he was a district attorney before he ran for Congress. That said, Duffy said he'd support the idea of "public employees across the board" taking a compensation cut.
"Let's all join hands together and say 'I'll take a pay decrease, absolutely," Duffy said.
A Duffy spokesperson told TPM that Democrats are trying to make the salary line into a partisan shot.
 

I can guarantee you, or most of you, I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you. With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high on the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now. Would it be easier for me if I get more paychecks? Maybe, but at this point I'm not living high on the hog.
Duffy also said that he pays more in health care costs and retirement savings than he did when he was a district attorney before he ran for Congress. That said, Duffy said he'd support the idea of "public employees across the board" taking a compensation cut.
"Let's all join hands together and say 'I'll take a pay decrease, absolutely," Duffy said.
A Duffy spokesperson told TPM that Democrats are trying to make the salary line into a partisan shot.

That's great rhetoric for Duffy to make, however there is little chance he or any member of Congress will take a cut. Can you say bull****!!!
 
That's great rhetoric for Duffy to make, however there is little chance he or any member of Congress will take a cut. Can you say bull****!!!

Personally, I think he probably makes a little too low, but I can't say I have sympathy for his "struggling"
 
That's great rhetoric for Duffy to make, however there is little chance he or any member of Congress will take a cut. Can you say bull****!!!

You'll like this one PB...

Another Pay Raise For Congress | Judicial Watch
At least one well-known politician—Alaska Governor Sarah Palin—refused her pay raise, even though it was recommended by a state compensation commission. The commission wants to increase the Republican governor’s salary from $125,000 to $150,000 and also give raises to the lieutenant governor, department heads and legislators
 
couldn't POSSIBLY be that you think he's a liar because hes with the GOP, now COULD it :rolleyes:

While I can't speak for pbrauer, I think he's a liar because he's a politician. Although to be fair, he never actually said he would be willing to take a cut, simply made the argument for why he shouldn't have to take a cut.
 
I think all politicians should go unpaid until the budget in balanced and there is money left over to pay them.
 
side note:

I should think many of you would be thrilled that a politician in DC was having the same troubles making ends meet some of us do. Instead of a fat cat, rich spoiled brat, there's a regular joe with money issues in DC.
 
I think the point being made is that those calling for cuts in the salaries of government employees refuse to even considering cutting their own salaries.

The politicans that called for and passed a bill calling for public employees to contribute more to their health care and pensions will be covered by the exact same requirements. The politicans too will have to pay more.

PolitiFact | Fitzgerald: Wisconsin legislators would have to give up the same amount of pay as other state employees
 
The politicans that called for and passed a bill calling for public employees to contribute more to their health care and pensions will be covered by the exact same requirements. The politicans too will have to pay more.

PolitiFact | Fitzgerald: Wisconsin legislators would have to give up the same amount of pay as other state employees

Dirty Republican bastards! How DARE they put themselves under the same draconian restrictions they foist on those poor, poor other employees.



Oh... wait. That's a good thing, right?
 
If a Democrat had made this statement, the Libbos would be on here saying,

"See? See? 174 grand ain't no money!". Thereby suddenly making people who make 80 grand a year, poor and in need of government assistance.
 
I can't believe none of you have heard of expense accounts. I always had a new truck courtesy of mileage allowance.

I don't know where the congressman's district is located, but the mileage between Madison, Wi. and D.C. is 846 miles. He is allowed .71 cents per mile times 64 plus 10%. That comes to a little over $42,000. According to Expedia today, a round-trip on Delta, between Madison and D.C. is $420. Obviously that's 100 trips a year.

A sum for travel based on the following formula: 64 times the rate per mile multiplied by the mileage between Washington, DC, and the furthest point in a member’s district, plus 10%.

http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C*PL[%3D%23P%20%20%0A

Congressmen get a $3,000 tax deduction for housing, but with a little creative accounting with their MRA, I'm sure they could find a little help with that.
same source said:
In calendar year 2010, the members’ representational allowances range from $1,428,395 to $1,759,575 with an average MRA of $1,522,114.

And some cry about teachers salary...LOL
 
I can't believe none of you have heard of expense accounts. I always had a new truck courtesy of mileage allowance.

I don't know where the congressman's district is located, but the mileage between Madison, Wi. and D.C. is 846 miles. He is allowed .71 cents per mile times 64 plus 10%. That comes to a little over $42,000. According to Expedia today, a round-trip on Delta, between Madison and D.C. is $420. Obviously that's 100 trips a year.



Congressmen get a $3,000 tax deduction for housing, but with a little creative accounting with their MRA, I'm sure they could find a little help with that.


And some cry about teachers salary...LOL

from your link...

Second, the report provides information on allowances available to Representatives and Senators to support them in their official and representational duties as members. These allowances cover official office expenses, staff, mail, and other goods and services.

Which of those would trips home or living expenses count as, in your opinion?

also from your link...
The MRA also is available to pay ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in support of official and representational duties to the district from which a member has been elected. The official office expenses allowance component of the MRA varies for each member.
THis is where the mileage allowance comes in. Notice it's for 'ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in support of official and representational duties'....NOT for travel back and forth to see the family and such.
 
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That's great rhetoric for Duffy to make, however there is little chance he or any member of Congress will take a cut. Can you say bull****!!!

I think congress did take a 5% budget cut right after the 2010 election, didn't they?
 
from your link...



Which of those would trips home or living expenses count as, in your opinion?

also from your link...

THis is where the mileage allowance comes in. Notice it's for 'ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in support of official and representational duties'....NOT for travel back and forth to see the family and such.

The office expenses and mail allowances components vary from member to member due to variations in the distance between a member’s district and Washington, DC, for the mileage allowance, cost of office space in his or her district for the space allowance, and number of non-business addresses in his or her district for the mail allowance.
 
side note:

I should think many of you would be thrilled that a politician in DC was having the same troubles making ends meet some of us do. Instead of a fat cat, rich spoiled brat, there's a regular joe with money issues in DC.

Having money issues makes one more vulnerable to bribery and backroom deals.
 
Whovian said:
from your link...



Which of those would trips home or living expenses count as, in your opinion?

also from your link...

THis is where the mileage allowance comes in. Notice it's for 'ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in support of official and representational duties'....NOT for travel back and forth to see the family and such.

The office expenses and mail allowances components vary from member to member due to variations in the distance between a member’s district and Washington, DC, for the mileage allowance, cost of office space in his or her district for the space allowance, and number of non-business addresses in his or her district for the mail allowance.

And your translation is 'use the money to fly home to see the family'???
 
That's great rhetoric for Duffy to make, however there is little chance he or any member of Congress will take a cut. Can you say bull****!!!

You're probably right. In this link it says congress hasn't taken a cut in 77yrs! However they do sometimes talk about taking one.


Freshman Democrat blasts leadership for not holding vote on salary cut - TheHill.com
In a letter sent Thursday afternoon, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) pressured Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) to hold a vote on her bill to cut congressional pay by five percent and save taxpayers $4.7 million next year before Congress breaks for its fall recess.“For months, and despite multiple requests to move it forward, the bill has not seen any progress in the House,” said Kirkpatrick in the letter. “It seems that it is being swept under the rug.”
 
Personally, I think he probably makes a little too low, but I can't say I have sympathy for his "struggling"

I think they all make 174K accept for the leaders, who make more.
 
I think they all make 174K accept for the leaders, who make more.

In my opinion, a senator should make about 250k :shrug:
 
couldn't POSSIBLY be that you think he's a liar because hes with the GOP, now COULD it :rolleyes:

He probably won't say a word about the link I posted where Pelosi and Hoyer swept a pay cut bill under the rug. It was even introduced by a Dem.
 
In my opinion, a senator should make about 250k :shrug:

No, if we are able to ever afford to pay people more, it should go to our troops. They are way under paid.
Congressman should not make a career out of their service anyway. Once they get back in the private sector they can make a killing on books, speeches, etc.
 
No, if we are able to ever afford to pay people more, it should go to our troops. They are way under paid.
Congressman should not make a career out of their service anyway. Once they get back in the private sector they can make a killing on books, speeches, etc.

I think troops are underpaid as well.
 

OOOOOHHHH Whovian....I think I found an ever bigger nugget. :)

Badger Blogger » Blog Archive » Journal / Sentinel “PolitiFact Wisconsin” hands out its first 100% “True” fact-check
Congratulations to Scott Walker for being awarded the first “full green Truth-O-Meter” by PolitiFact Wisconsin.“For years, folks in southeastern Wisconsin have heard about Scott Walker, the Milwaukee County executive, giving up thousands upon thousands of dollars of his salary.
Elsewhere, the claim may be more of a jaw-dropper.
So now the $370,000 question: Has Walker really given back that much back?
Walker has foregone $375,070 in salary since being elected county executive in 2002 — $5,070 more than what he has claimed during the gubernatorial campaign.”Show us another politician, anywhere, that has put that much personal compensation back in the hands of the taxpayers who employ them.
Clearly, you can see why the public employees unions vilify him. Walker is a man of character and integrity, who keeps his word.
 
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