Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) thinks members of Congress aren't paid enough.The median income in America is $51,017 and $174,000, according to Kiplinger, places members of Congress in the top 5% of taxpayers nationwide. Suffice to say there are not many people going to bed at night praying that members of Congress get a pay bump.
Speaking to CQ Roll Call, Moran, who is retiring after this term, said he and his colleagues are not adequately compensated for their public service.
“I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid,” Moran said. “I understand that it’s widely felt that they underperform, but the fact is that this is the board of directors for the largest economic entity in the world.”
Rank-and-file members of Congress are paid $174,000 annually. However, Moran says, it's just not enough, as members often have to maintain two residences: one in their home district and one in Washington, D.C.
"A lot of members can’t even afford to live decently in Washington," he said, noting that some of his colleagues sleep in their offices or rent "tiny" apartments to save money.
However, I don't find that particular part of the quote to be the most egregious comment that Moran made in this interview. People always think they should be paid more than they currently and let's be honest, to be the least trusted institution that Gallup has polled since 1973 you need to be filled with people like Jim Moran.
No, it was the "this is the board of directors" comment which really shows just how dangerously naive Moran is when it comes to his responsibilities and the role Congress needs to play. The government is not a business. It does not create wealth. However, it does play a role in setting the rules for business and with Moran being an ardent supporter of President Obama 's economic policies Moran owns a piece of the worst recovery (if you can call it that) in the post-WW2 era, the lowest labor force participation rate in the past 35 years, and a deficit spending binge that led to more debt being created under Obama than under any other previous president! This doesn't even include ObamaCare which is stunting growth and cutting hours for workers!
So, let's say he is on a board of directors - a quick glance at what has happened to our economy over the past 5 years is enough to have everyone fired, never mind get a raise! As President Calvin Coolidge said "The business of America is business," and Rep. Jim Moran, member of America's "Board of Directors" has rubber stamped every policy that has come in front of him that makes it more difficult for entrepreneurs and private enterprise to succeed.
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