Myth vs Fact ~ somewhat surprised me
Received this from my states' congressional representative.
"MYTH VS FACT
It started with email, now it?s social media ? it?s easier than ever to spread false information. When I came to Washington there were a few things I?d heard through the rumor mill about Members of Congress. I want to clear up a few myths with facts.
MYTH: Members of Congress can retire and receive a salary or pension for life after serving just a single, two-year term.
FACT: Members of Congress are eligible to start earning a pension after five years, similar to federal employees. A three-term (6 years) Congressman would be eligible for a pension once they turn 62 years old. It would be around $17k ? generous but not full pay.
MYTH: Members of Congress receive free health care.
FACT: Members of Congress and staffers who want employer coverage are required to pay a portion of the premium, similar to many private employers. I believe Congress should live under the laws it makes, so my staff and I buy our health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. There are several members who?ve chosen to pay for private health insurance or are on their spouse?s plan. My family pays $9,673.56 a year for health insurance. Like most Americans, I expect it to go up next year.
MYTH: Members of Congress are exempt from Obamacare.
FACT: Members of Congress and their personal staffers were included in Obamacare when it passed in 2010. Section 1312 of the law requires members of Congress and staff to use an Obamacare plan if they choose employer sponsored health care.
MYTH: Members of Congress get free housing in Washington, D.C.
FACT: I give this one three Pinocchios. Members of Congress do not receive free housing or any housing reimbursement. I rent a bedroom from a nice couple who has lived in Washington for years.
MYTH: Members of Congress, their staff and their families do not have to pay back student loans.
FACT: There is no student loan benefit for Members of Congress or their family. There is a student loan repayment program for congressional staff members.
MYTH: Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security.
FACT: According to the Social Security Administration, All Members of Congress, the President and Vice President, Federal judges, and most political appointees, have to pay into the system just like everyone else. All Members have been paying into Social Security since January 1984.
MYTH: Members of Congress vote to increase their own pay all the time.
FACT: Congressional salaries have not increased (including cost of living adjustments) since 2009. The annual salary of a rank and file Member of Congress (like me) is $174,000. The last time Congress unilaterally changed its salary was in 1989, which included a cost of living adjustment. "
Does not fit what had been lead to believe :?:
"MYTH VS FACT
It started with email, now it?s social media ? it?s easier than ever to spread false information. When I came to Washington there were a few things I?d heard through the rumor mill about Members of Congress. I want to clear up a few myths with facts.
MYTH: Members of Congress can retire and receive a salary or pension for life after serving just a single, two-year term.
FACT: Members of Congress are eligible to start earning a pension after five years, similar to federal employees. A three-term (6 years) Congressman would be eligible for a pension once they turn 62 years old. It would be around $17k ? generous but not full pay.
MYTH: Members of Congress receive free health care.
FACT: Members of Congress and staffers who want employer coverage are required to pay a portion of the premium, similar to many private employers. I believe Congress should live under the laws it makes, so my staff and I buy our health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. There are several members who?ve chosen to pay for private health insurance or are on their spouse?s plan. My family pays $9,673.56 a year for health insurance. Like most Americans, I expect it to go up next year.
MYTH: Members of Congress are exempt from Obamacare.
FACT: Members of Congress and their personal staffers were included in Obamacare when it passed in 2010. Section 1312 of the law requires members of Congress and staff to use an Obamacare plan if they choose employer sponsored health care.
MYTH: Members of Congress get free housing in Washington, D.C.
FACT: I give this one three Pinocchios. Members of Congress do not receive free housing or any housing reimbursement. I rent a bedroom from a nice couple who has lived in Washington for years.
MYTH: Members of Congress, their staff and their families do not have to pay back student loans.
FACT: There is no student loan benefit for Members of Congress or their family. There is a student loan repayment program for congressional staff members.
MYTH: Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security.
FACT: According to the Social Security Administration, All Members of Congress, the President and Vice President, Federal judges, and most political appointees, have to pay into the system just like everyone else. All Members have been paying into Social Security since January 1984.
MYTH: Members of Congress vote to increase their own pay all the time.
FACT: Congressional salaries have not increased (including cost of living adjustments) since 2009. The annual salary of a rank and file Member of Congress (like me) is $174,000. The last time Congress unilaterally changed its salary was in 1989, which included a cost of living adjustment. "
Does not fit what had been lead to believe :?:
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FACT: They are in session an average of 138 days per year.
$1,260 per say is not bad pay. Also, much of the money they collect in donations go straight into their pocket.
How do they get they get rich on the $174K. Simple: They are crooks.0 -
I say we should believe him. We have never been lied to by a politician. 0 -
Fact: I don't believe that lyin' sumbich.... 0 -
Flying Clay Disk wrote:CHALLENGE: I'd be willing to bet lunch that not a single congress person pays a single dollar out of their pocket for room and board in DC which isn't reimbursed 10,000x over by special interest money! I mean think about it, what could possibly be better than having your pet congressman living right next door where you can walk over on a whim to borrow a cup of sugar...and make your case for the next $80 BILLION dollar defense contract???? What could possibly be better than having a morning chat across the backyard fence and agreeing to go hit some golf balls around the links after lunch...and having 4 hours dwell time to lobby for your firm to get the next $3 TRILLION dollar government funded program!!
What could possibly be better?????
C'mon!
:evil: :evil: :x :x :x
No Bet0 -
Funny that he does not mention the six-figure "speaking fees" or the book deals actually written by a ghost writer, or the fact that no retiring congressman is ever less than a multi-millionaire no matter how modest his origins. What he claims as fact may be "officially" true but like all political statements, it skirts the real truth by a mile. 0 -
What he says is factual.
What he does not say is that there are plenty of people who will help out members in various ways to make their lives easier.0 -
Yeah but how cool to retire after 5 years and get almost 20K a year!
Also technically that only applies to house members a Senator could retire with one term since theirs are six years
Further a bunch of them tend to stay for 20 or 30 years and get 80% of their final salary as retirement0 -
Folks it is all about public service. They go to Congress wealthy lawyers and retire multi-millionaires. Really, it is all about serving the public. 0 -
public service... it takes a special skill to quietly transfer large sums of money from the public venue to ones bank account without garnering to much attention..... that can be slowed by an unusual concept known as term limits......seldom mentioned 0 -
that crazy cortez lady is a good example, she claimed she needed money to rent an apartment prior to her getting sworn in as she had no money, she is now flying all over the country and her face is in the news almost everyday, where does she get the money for that??? gotta wonder what her bank account looks like now....... 0
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