outside of a handful of ethical conservatives, i highly doubt that any congressman *ONLY* makes $174K per year. sleazy lobbyists with suitcases full of cash are practically lined up outside of the Capitol to make sure their pet piece of legislation gets the proper attention.
vast fortunes have been made by MANY congressmen while serving in congress on supposed fixed salaries.
Like heck they do. If anything, their pay should be reduced, and their number greatly increased (according to original representation fraction, Congress should have around 12,000 members now), so that pretty much anyone could be in Congress, they can't form powerful coalitions or be lobbied.
If anyone can be in Congress, then power can begun to be decentralized again. Also, the Senate needs to go back to being picked by the States.
STIMPY!
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Most deserve a prison jump suit, Stumpy Hoyer included.