the $174,000 salary a member of Congress makes is not sufficient to live in the District of Columbia
A cheaper and more effective solution would be to bring the United States Congress into the 21st century. There has been the suggestion that having members of Congress stay close to their constitutuants is a good thing for the political process; now Congress has a monetary reason to "go virtual". If you don't have to spend money for a second residence (even reside in your government office), travel, more office drones, and the space for those drones, it's money taken out of the debt.
Give then the minimum wage.
I will give this a hardy second. It would not only be cheaper, it would make them more accountable. It’s hard to look a guy in the eye and tell him you are underpaid when he is supporting a wife and two kids on $30,000.00 or less,