Public Thinks Congress Is Overpaid

Recently, one congressman complained that he couldn't afford to buy his own insurance without help from the government, because he had to get by on a salary of only $174,000 a year. The poor jerk better hope his constituents don't hear about that, because the chances are that most of them already think he makes too much money.

That's what a new survey by Public Policy Polling shows. That survey was done on September 25th and 26th of 790 registered voters, with a 3.5 point margin of error. This doesn't really surprise me, since those in Congress make nearly four times the median salary of the citizens they represent (and that doesn't count the money they get for expenses or the generous retirement plan). And their recent action in shutting down the government, putting over 800,000 federal employees on furlough w/o pay (at least until the shutdown is over) while continuing to receive their own salary, is certainly not going to change any public opinions.

The top chart doesn't show what people think Congress gets paid, but what they think Congress should get paid. And it's a lot less than what they are paid. Note that 87% of the general public thinks Congress should be paid less than $150,000 a year (instead of their current $174,000 a year salary) -- and that cuts across all political lines (including 83% of Democrats, 88% of Independents, and 92% of Republicans).

Those are overwhelmingly large percentages -- and it would probably be a good idea for Congress to stop playing political games and start earning their salary (by fixing the economy and creating jobs to begin with). Right now, people see them getting a large salary to strut around and act important while the economy goes down the tubes.

In fact, most people don't think those in Congress are worth even $100,000 a year. Those who think Congress should make less than $100,000 a year comprise about 66% of the general public (or about 2 out of every 3 Americans) -- and that includes 64% of Democrats, 62% of Independents, and 72% of Republicans.