The world’s most exclusive club

You pay for their perks but don't get to enjoy them

Posted 4/12/21

As a taxpayer, you pay Nancy Pelosi $223,500 a year for what she does in Washington.

Not exactly in the Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates Billionaires Club but it pays the bills.

As a taxpayer, you …

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The world’s most exclusive club

You pay for their perks but don't get to enjoy them

Posted

As a taxpayer, you pay Nancy Pelosi $223,500 a year for what she does in Washington.
Not exactly in the Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates Billionaires Club but it pays the bills.
As a taxpayer, you pay for her own jet like the President and Vice President have.
Ater all, she is the Speaker of the House and one of the leaders of the legislative branch.
She needs to fly home to San Francisco occasionally.
Flying commercial , like Joe Wilson and other House members do, would be a hassle.
Mrs. Pelosi may tell you she is all about inclusion.
She may say she wants to end systemic racism and other faults of America.
But she is a ranking member of the world's most exclusive club. It's better known as the US Congress.
If you ever wondered why so many people run for Congress, this is it.
But gaining admission to this exclusive club takes work, money and clearing other hurdles.
Adam Andrzejewski of Forbes magazine has these numbers:
• Salary: House majority and minority leaders are paid $193,400. 
Members get by on $174,000.
Politicians can also pick up a few bucks from federal contractors.
For example, Vanderbilt University paid Rep. Jim Cooper, $250,000 in 13 years and the university received $2.6 billion from Washington.
• Pensions: Members qualify for a pension plus Social Security. They vest in taxpayer-paid pensions after 5 years and receive a pension at age 50. 
For each year of service, a member’s annual pension increases by about $2,000. 
Federal pensions are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Taxpayers pay but can’t see who receives how much.
Ethics laws are so weak that no member ever lost a pension due to a corruption conviction.
• For job related injuries, Worker’s Compensation Insurance and Social Security Disability Insurance cover members. 
Jesse Jackson, Jr,. D-IL, whose father was a South Carolina native, received $138,400 for a bipolar disorder and depression. He argued that Congress made him mentally ill.
Rep. Jackson was convicted of spending about $750,000 in campaign donations for illegal vacations and other personal items. 
• Travel: In 1 year, the House spent $4.3 million on travel.
Congressional pins get them around airport security  lines. Their license plates allow free illegal parking and 72% subsidized health insurance. 
Congress exempted itself from  the Freedom of Information Act, investigators’ subpoenas, protections against retaliation for whistle blowers and other laws.
Our thanks to reader John White for passing this along.
We welcome your thoughts.
Please email them to JerryBellune at yahoo.com

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Nancy, Pelosi, congress, House, Speaker, Jesse, Jackson

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