Posted on 07/31/2017 12:03:42 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) its July 2017 Porker of the Month for advocating for taxpayer-funded housing for members of Congress.
During an interview with The Hill on June 26, 2017, then-Rep. Chaffetz said, “I really do believe Congress would be much better served if there was a housing allowance for members of Congress.” He admitted that the current political climate made such a proposal legislatively arduous, but claimed that, “A $2,500 housing allowance would be appropriate and a real help to have at least a decent quality of life in Washington.”
Ironically, the interview was conducted four days before Rep. Chaffetz resigned from Congress and abandoned his chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight in order to pursue a lucrative television career.
Perhaps his time in Washington has clouded now former Rep. Chaffetz’s idea of what qualifies as a decent quality of life. For example, his annual House salary of $174,000 was nearly three times the median annual income of one of his former constituents.
Furthermore, there are ample reasons why Congress does not deserve additional taxpayer benefits. The national debt nearly doubled during Rep. Chaffetz’s time in Congress. Government-wide improper payments have risen to $144 billion in FY 2016. Congress has failed to complete its own budget process on time for 20 consecutive years, which mirrors Congress’s nearly 20-year failure to balance the budget. A Gallup poll shows congressional job approval at an embarrassing 19 percent.
Rep. Chaffetz is not the first congressman to propose additional taxpayer-funded benefits. Former Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) made a similar statement on April 3, 2014, just before his retirement.
CAGW President Tom Schatz said in a statement: “Public service is about serving the public, not indulging one’s self on the taxpayers’ dime. Members of Congress have shown themselves time and time again to be underserving of any pay raise, let alone additional perks beyond their free gym membership, subsidized health insurance, and substantial retirement benefits. Instead of focusing on themselves, they should be completely focused on cutting wasteful spending, and CAGW’s give them the blueprint to do just that.”
For his thoughtless advocacy of a taxpayer-funded housing stipend, CAGW names former Rep. Jason Chaffetz its July 2017 Porker of the Month.
Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.Porker of the Month is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.
PING!
They got no couches or rest rooms in those offices they already get for free?
And? What make him resign and go work for Fox News?
Telecommunication should work well for the do nothing D.C. Scum bags. That would be a windfall for us POOR tax payers.
Chaffetz is quitting, but there are plenty that need to be Cantorized.
Fox hired him. What’s next Megan Kelly?
What do congressmen get for free?
Car/travel
Food
Medical for life
Full pay for life
Ability to legally profit on insider trading
Not too bad of a gig if you can get it!
Instead, we should furnish them housing. Housing equivalent to a middle grade Non-com soldier. If it is good enough for those who put their lives on the line for us, it is good enough for all government EMPLOYEES.
We should take a couple of Navy berthing barges (used for the crew when their ship is in drydock, tie them up at the old Washington Navy yard and move congress aboard. There is galley and laundry facilities aboard them, showers, and a lounge. All the conveniences of home. Can use a couple of school buses to transport them between the barges and congress. We could charge them a reasonable dollar amount for room and board.
“Full pay for life”
They do not get full pay for life. They get a pension based on their top three years salary and have to serve a minimum of 5 years.
But, insider trading has to be stopped.
No one can do a thing about previous congresscritters. How about we focus on the ones in office today. The best bill Trump could throw out the John Q. Citizen would be to make Congress pay for any and all overages out of their own pockets.
Sounds good to me!!
There are unused military barracks in and all around D.C.. Due to down sizing the military.
They could use the Sheriff Joe Tents that the incoming rat tore down.
Not much direct cost involved, the tax payers have already funded the barges, the Navy owns the Washington Navy Yard, the only new costs are towing and shore services (electricity, sewage, water and garbage disposal.) Win win for everyone. Low cost housing for congress, no need for a pay increase, and they are only a few minutes ride on a bus from their offices.
For at least some of his Congressional career, Chaffetz chose to sleep on a cot in his office suite, rather than rent an apartment or buy a home in DC. That makes his whine about not having a housing allowance even more off-putting.
How about a congressional dormitory run by the lowest bidder?
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