Oklahoma congressman: It's 'bull crap' that constituents pay my salary

jayem

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Does he not accept his $174,000 yearly salary? Or the subsidy he gets to buy health insurance? (Which, BTW, is more than other federal employees get.) And what does he do with the $900,000+ he gets every year for his staff salaries?
 
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SeventyOne

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That's for sure. It was a poor political move. But how is he wrong?

He's wrong in saying that his past taxes has paid for his salary now. That money is long gone, spent on other things, including past congressional salaries. Right now, he's paid by current revenue and new debt. In other words, other people's taxes.
 
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Hammster

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His taxes are not earmarked to pay his salary. His constituents also pay taxes.
So theirs are earmarked, either. And I'm not sure it matters.
 
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Goonie

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So where's the flaw in his thinking?
Erm, by not recognising the fact that the salary of an Oklahoma congressmen is paid for by taxpayers.

Why are congressman, senators etc paid? Well without the prospect of a salary the position of politician would be the sole province of the very wealthy. One issue in the UK which I assume is replicated on the US is the idea of unpaid interns being the entry to well paying graduate jobs. This acts as a block on graduates from poor backgrounds since they cannot afford to spend years unpaid, unlike those with family income.
 
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Hammster

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He's wrong in saying that his past taxes has paid for his salary now. That money is long gone, spent on other things, including past congressional salaries. Right now, he's paid by current revenue and new debt. In other words, other people's taxes.
Since there's a debt and deficit, that isn't correct either.
 
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Hammster

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Erm, by not recognising the fact that the salary of an Oklahoma congressmen is paid for by taxpayers.

Why are congressman, senators etc paid? Well without the prospect of a salary the position of politician would be the sole province of the very wealthy. One issue in the UK which I assume is replicated on the US is the idea of unpaid interns being the entry to well paying graduate jobs. This acts as a block on graduates from poor backgrounds since they cannot afford to spend years unpaid, unlike those with family income.
He's a taxpayer. And probably pays more than a lot of his constituents.
 
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LoAmmi

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Erm, by not recognising the fact that the salary of an Oklahoma congressmen is paid for by taxpayers.

Why are congressman, senators etc paid? Well without the prospect of a salary the position of politician would be the sole province of the very wealthy. One issue in the UK which I assume is replicated on the US is the idea of unpaid interns being the entry to well paying graduate jobs. This acts as a block on graduates from poor backgrounds since they cannot afford to spend years unpaid, unlike those with family income.

Some states actually don't allow unpaid internship. You have to give them at least minimum wage.
 
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LoAmmi

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He's a taxpayer. And probably pays more than a lot of his constituents.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that he doesn't pay enough in taxes to cover his congressional salary. He is payed for by the taxpayers (himself included, sure). He is paid by all of us. I daresay that it'd be nice if congress creatures remembered that and worked FOR us instead of FOR special interests.
 
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HawgWyld

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...I daresay that it'd be nice if congress creatures remembered that and worked FOR us instead of FOR special interests.

It would be nice, but being mouthpieces for special interests is likely the higher paying gig. The fact we've let *that* happen is a disgrace.
 
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Hank77

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That's for sure. It was a poor political move. But how is he wrong?
Someone who worked at a good paying job for 30 yrs and paid in thousands in income taxes lost their job through no fault of their own. Now they are making $12 an hr and receiving food stamps, help paying for their health ins. etc.

Would he agree that they have already paid for those safety net benefits with income taxes that they paid in the past? I highly doubt it.
 
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