$1,603 a day

[LiberalEsto]

That's what members of Congress earned per day during their 103 days of work in 2006. And 103 days isn't even 1/3 of the year. That leaves them 262 days off.

The current salary for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $165,200 per year.

Yet the Rethugs in charge refused to approve an increase in the $5.15 minimum wage. And now they're getting all cranky because the incoming Democratic leadership wants them to work a full week. Oh, the horror! They claim it will harm families!

Someone please clue them in that people who earn the minimum wage need to work at more than one job just to feed their families. And if you're working 80 or more hours a week, you don't exactly get to spend lots of time with the family.

[stillcool]

1. they should just quit...

after they empty their pockets.

[Donnachaidh]

2. I wonder how many of them took paid speaking engagements

on their days off? Is there any way to check on this?

[LiberalEsto]

3. Not that I know of

except by checking each one's annual financial disclosure form

[dsc]

9. none

Honoraria was banned for Congresspeople in the 1990's.

[Infinite Hope]

4. They use their days off for meetings in DC. Weekends are often spent in their district.

So it's not like they (at least the Dems) are kicking back on the beach. They're working. The two I interned for in the past didn't even have a weekend free.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. Some of them are working, others are not

I admit that they should have ample time to return to their constituencies but the 2 day work week that the GOP congress had was absurd.

[Infinite Hope]

8. 3 day work day*. And I agree, that's a bit short. I think 4 days would be good.

It would allow for more debate, but also allow a 3 day weekend to get to their districts and stay in touch with their constituents; to stay grounded.

[OzarkDem]

5. Remember when the GOP'ers used to complain about Congressional pay?

Back when they were in the minority. And the news media gleefully reported every word.

A lot of them are losing perks (including budget for staff, offices, meeting rooms, etc. Plus they've been cut off from access to lobbyists. And now Dems are asking them to put in a full week of work! This must have really put a crimp in their luxury lifestyle.

[A Simple Game]

7. If you don't like five eight hour days, try

working four ten hour days, problem solved.

Must be hard to go to Scotland and play a round of golf if you only have two days off.

Not happy with the work schedule? We could cut your hours, of course that also means a cut in pay!

[Infinite Hope]

10. It probably largely Democrats that this applies for, but

in my experience, a 10 hour day would come as a blessing. They often work 12-16 hour days, especially under the Republicans who kept votes going into the early morning hours. It's not like they're working 3 8 hour days and then going on vacation. Most I've seen (Democrats at least) work 10-12 hours a day on average, 7 days a week.

Edit: And that's a non-campaign year.

[Jacobin]

11. That doesn't count what they steal and take in bribes

that 1603 is merely their per diem. the real money comes from the corporations they take bribes from