Retiring GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz is using his final days in office to push for a $2,500-a-month taxpayer-funded housing stipend for lawmakers, who already make $174,000 a year.
Post by W.T.Faulkner on Jun 27, 2017 10:27:25 GMT -5
So, poor children and people with disabilities should just get a job to get health insurance, but able-bodied congresspeople should have a housing stipend even though they already make three times the median household income.
Chaffetz needs to not only retire, but really just disappear into the ether forfuckingever.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
ETA: I say this separate and apart from my feelings on the healthcare bill, which is a fucking abomination.
Sell it to the guy making $30k that can't afford health insurance.
Ditto BirdGirl. I think his timing is poor and I think he sounds like an idiot given the healthcare bill that is being debated currently, and wasn't he the one with the stupid iphone comment?
But I don't think the idea itself is without merit. Maybe not 2500, but something. Are their travel costs back home fully covered? because I could also be on board with giving a stipend that is meant to cover travel and lodging in DC, and scale it based on the home district. Van Hollen should get a smaller stipend than someone from California, Alaska, or Hawaii.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
His comment that rondaldo quoted- sure, I agree with that concept.
But a $2500 a month across the board? Nope. If new, less well paid members need help - let's talk. But giving all members this stipend on my bill? No.
There are too many peopel out there who need help. Taking my money so that a rich congressman can supplement his income some more? I'm not on board with that.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
ETA: I say this separate and apart from my feelings on the healthcare bill, which is a fucking abomination.
It might get more traction and sympathy if it wasn't being proposed by a member of the party who implores the rest of the country to Bootstrap their way into the middle and upper class. I just can't get it up for someone who makes $174k individually crying that he can't afford a mortgage in Utah, an apartment in DC and send his kids to college when he's part of a group actively campaigning to take basic shelter, food and healthcare assistance away from people who make 20% of that. Maybe his wife needs to get a job or they need to downsize. Or his kids can take student loans like everyone else. Maybe then these people would finally "get" what the other side has been talking about for so long.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
ETA: I say this separate and apart from my feelings on the healthcare bill, which is a fucking abomination.
I get your train of thought, but until there are no more children going hungry outside of school hours and adults going hungry to try and feed their kids; people dying because they can't afford their medical care; seniors trying to cobble together enough to afford their prescription drugs; and families living in their cars because we can't provide affordable housing in this country I could give a shit less about the trials and tribulations of a US congressperson who is struggling to afford two households so he can stroke his ego by being on capitol hill. Especially one who is as big a POS as Chaffetz.
Ditto BirdGirl . I think his timing is poor and I think he sounds like an idiot given the healthcare bill that is being debated currently, and wasn't he the one with the stupid iphone comment?
But I don't think the idea itself is without merit. Maybe not 2500, but something. Are their travel costs back home fully covered? because I could also be on board with giving a stipend that is meant to cover travel and lodging in DC, and scale it based on the home district. Van Hollen should get a smaller stipend than someone from California, Alaska, or Hawaii.
I think if something like this was implemented, a stipend based on COL where each person lives makes more sense than a flat amount for everyone.
The way the military housing allowance works in a basic nutshell is that it's based on the average housing cost in the area where you live. If you choose a residence that's more expensive than the average then you pay the difference out of your pocket. Conversely if you choose a residence that's less expensive than the average then you can keep the difference.
Post by rondonalddo on Jun 27, 2017 10:54:14 GMT -5
It's difficult for me to sympathize. Much like I choose to work in the nonprofit sector, Congresspeople choose to work in public service that takes them away from home. I would much rather we create policies that benefit a much larger percentage of Americans (Congresspeople included) than that we create a special taxpayer-funded stipend for a tiny percentage of the population.
I'm also not against this in principle. But it is amazingly tone deaf coming from him, right now.
I suspect it would be received differently if coming from Randy Bryce, aka Ironstache, aka the guy running against Paul Ryan whose background is that of a union ironworker.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
ETA: I say this separate and apart from my feelings on the healthcare bill, which is a fucking abomination.
So maybe, rather than getting that new iPhone that he just loves and he wants to go spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe he should invest that in housing.
Post by biscoffcookies on Jun 27, 2017 10:56:44 GMT -5
Ok aside from the general WTF of this, I think even if you were to give them a housing stipend $2500 is way too generous. You can rent a basement apartment on Capitol Hill for $1800, even less if you are willing to have a smaller one, one not recently renovated, and/or live not in the close-in Capitol Hill area but rather out in Hill East. Not to mention that there are also other potentially less expensive neighborhoods. Even IF they are getting a stipend, why should it be enough to rent a 1 or even 2 bedroom luxury apartment all to themselves? The entitlement here is stunning particularly from one of the main proponents of the idea that if you can't afford food or health care that is the oo bad for you.
I think if something like this was implemented, a stipend based on COL where each person lives makes more sense than a flat amount for everyone.
The way the military housing allowance works in a basic nutshell is that it's based on the average housing cost in the area where you live. If you choose a residence that's more expensive than the average then you pay the difference out of your pocket. Conversely if you choose a residence that's less expensive than the average then you can keep the difference.
They all live in Washington DC. i assume the stipend would cover their place in DC.
Oh, duh. Never mind me, lol. I am jet lagged and have not had enough coffee.
Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, but maintaining 2 households is expensive. Especially if you want to see your family. And especially in DC. The Members who have money already have no problem paying this expense, but it's by and large not coming from their salaries. There's a reason Members live in "group" houses and sleep in their offices. If you want it to be viable for people to serve in Congress, particularly longer term, who aren't the Pelosis and Issas of the country, this actually is a step in the right direction.
Yes it's expensive to run for office and that will keep many people out. But it's also expensive to be IN Congress. And you can't use your campaign funds to pay your personal expensives, ahem, Aaron Schock.
I don't know Chaffetz's motivation, and I too am skeptical of his ideas generally, but I can get behind this.
ETA: I say this separate and apart from my feelings on the healthcare bill, which is a fucking abomination.
It might get more traction and sympathy if it wasn't being proposed by a member of the party who implores the rest of the country to Bootstrap their way into the middle and upper class. I just can't get it up for someone who makes $174k individually crying that he can't afford a mortgage in Utah, an apartment in DC and send his kids to college when he's part of a group actively campaigning to take basic shelter, food and healthcare assistance away from people who make 20% of that. Maybe his wife needs to get a job or they need to downsize. Or his kids can take student loans like everyone else. Maybe then these people would finally "get" what the other side has been talking about for so long.
100% this. They can do what the rest of the country does. Budget. Share an apartment with another Senator. There are ways to make it work.
I'm also not against this in principle. But it is amazingly tone deaf coming from him, right now.
I suspect it would be received differently if coming from Randy Bryce, aka Ironstache, aka the guy running against Paul Ryan whose background is that of a union ironworker.
I'm sure it would. I'm still not sure that I would be supportive of it given our current political climate. But Chaffetz is a fucking idiot for even thinking about this, let alone proposing it. You are some kind of asshole to represent the party that wants to take away every damn entitlement program in the country and healthcare from millions of Americans while simultaneously proposing that American taxpayers pay more every month PER MEMBER OF CONGRESS than I pay for my own fucking mortgage in a M-HCOL state!
Ok aside from the general WTF of this, I think even if you were to give them a housing stipend $2500 is way too generous. You can rent a basement apartment on Capitol Hill for $1800, even less if you are willing to have a smaller one, one not recently renovated, and/or live not in the close-in Capitol Hill area but rather out in Hill East. Not to mention that there are also other potentially less expensive neighborhoods. Even IF they are getting a stipend, why should it be enough to rent a 1 or even 2 bedroom luxury apartment all to themselves? The entitlement here is stunning particularly from one of the main proponents of the idea that if you can't afford food or health care that is the oo bad for you.
I would totally support taxpayer funded Congressional housing a la the underfunded public housing they love to insinuate is such a luxury. Maybe a taste of a nice SRO in a 10 story brutalist style building that hasn't been updated in 10 years?
Post by cattledogkisses on Jun 27, 2017 11:09:22 GMT -5
And FTR, while I can objectively see some of the merits to this, it comes off tone deaf as all hell, especially given their continued efforts to screw the poor in any way that they can.
Depending on deductions, a salary of $174,000 is almost $10,000 in monthly take home pay. DC is expensive. I get it. I live here. This is ridiculous coming from him.
I'm also not against this in principle. But it is amazingly tone deaf coming from him, right now.
I suspect it would be received differently if coming from Randy Bryce, aka Ironstache, aka the guy running against Paul Ryan whose background is that of a union ironworker.
Side note, we have a new Formerly Hot club member. FHRB.
Well, I can see why GOP members of Congress don't ever want to have to return to their home states to answer for their absolutely heinous legislation, but no.
Do we really think people are choosing not to run for congress because they are concerned about housing? Because the millionaire thing starts way before that given the costs people now incur to run a campaign.
They can't have better healthcare, a housing allowance and whatever other perks while making exponentially more than the American people and claim regular Americans are the ones that have to go without basic necessities to fund it. Nope.
When they are the average American then maybe it is a worthwhile discussion but in our current economic environment? Nope.
Did I say nope? Just wanted to make sure my views were heard lol. 😊