CNN Investigation Reveals Congressional Staffers Received $6.1 Million In Bonuses
Media ITE
Despite all the talk of belt-tightening in Washington, CNN’s Lisa Desjardins dug through many Congressional expense reports and discovered up to $6.1 million was paid out in bonuses to Congressional staff members during the beginning of the year, at the height of talks about a potential government shutdown.
In the expense statements, bonuses are included within the broadly defined category of “other compensation.” After confirming with various offices, Desjardins reports the amount of bonuses handed out by Republicans in the time period was $908,000 and for Democrats it was $3.1 million in bonuses, while the remaining amount was awarded by Congressional committees. Some representatives are happy to defend the expenditure like Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn who said in a statement:
“My staff worked extremely hard . . . including quite a few all-nighters and many weekends . . . and I rewarded them with an end-of-the-year bonus.”
Yet many others were less eager to justify it. Even though Congressional staffers do not earn a high salary to begin with, the idea of taxpayer money being used for discretionary bonuses is sure to rub many people the wrong way.
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Money really means nothing to these people. Or at least money from our taxes.
When you think about it, that 6.1 million is a pittance compared to what Michelle Obama’s trip to Africa cost the taxpayers.
As a Congressman they employ these staffers. Do they pay this out of their own pocket ? I’ll bet not. If they did there wouldn’t be a stink about this.
I have to agree with BobF. If the Congressmen are paying these bonuses out their standard office expense accounts.
The guys putting in late nights poring over the budgets looking for things that don’t belong or can be cut should be paid. If they put in shifts reading bills around the clock they should be paid. It is important to limit how much a Congressman can spend but if they key guy put in eighty hours in a week he should be paid for eighty hours.
Bob, your right, it is a slap in the face right now more then ever with the bad economy that is all their fault.
Mark, and for CNN to be reporting this is really something. I guess they had to make sure they did it before FOX got their hands on it. Plus is mentions republicans as well but not as extreme.
Avitar, according to the article it says it was put into their expense accounts so I guess it is our tax dollars and not theirs. Just guessing.
Nutty Pelosi has became to wind up being one of the most liberal people in politics throughout the particular region. It’s arduous for us in order to believe just how people may reelect her within their appropriate head.