Congress August Recess

[swissvale72]

How the FUCK do these elected officials get six weeks off????

[SteelPro]

How the FUCK do these elected officials get six weeks off????

To be fair the point of August Recess isn't just for them to take month long vacations. In theory they should be spending time at their local offices and conducting town halls and other meetings and events in their home districts to answer to their constituents.

[955876]

Term limits would put an end to these lifelong leeches...

[Legacy User]

How the FUCK do these elected officials get six weeks off????

To be fair the point of August Recess isn't just for them to take month long vacations. In theory they should be spending time at their local offices and conducting town halls and other meetings and events in their home districts to answer to their constituents.

I also hear that ministers and priests only work once a week for two hours on Sundays. Is that true? Also, lazy profs and public school teachers do nothing over the summer and still get paid! Six weeks?! How in the fuck do profs get paid for doing nothing for 3 and a half months and public school teachers for doing nothing for 3?!?!?

[Donnie Brasco]

The time off isn't an issue for me because as others have mentioned, they should be visiting their constituents

I do have a problem with the following benefits:

1) Pay is outrageous.$174k. Most of these hucksters already are wealthy, plus they get a shit ton of lobbying money. And they draw this salary for life. $50k seems like a reasonable number
2) Pension plan eligibility. There's a reason pensions are going the way of the dinosaur (because they're fucking expensive to fund and administer)
3) You know the ACA? Yup the plan that congress has, which they enacted "for the American people" is exempt from the provisions. How's that for irony? Plus they get health care access for life

https://smartasset.com/retirement/congr ... ment-plans

[Legacy User]

The time off isn't an issue for me because as others have mentioned, they should be visiting their constituents

I do have a problem with the following benefits:

1) Pay is outrageous.$174k. Most of these hucksters already are wealthy, plus they get a shit ton of lobbying money. And they draw this salary for life. $50k seems like a reasonable number
2) Pension plan eligibility. There's a reason pensions are going the way of the dinosaur (because they're fucking expensive to fund and administer)
3) You know the ACA? Yup the plan that congress has, which they enacted "for the American people" is exempt from the provisions. How's that for irony? Plus they get health care access for life

https://smartasset.com/retirement/congr ... ment-plans

I am wary of making the pay so low that basically only the wealthy or ideological extremists would run for office; we have enough of those folks now as it is.

[Donnie Brasco]

The time off isn't an issue for me because as others have mentioned, they should be visiting their constituents

I do have a problem with the following benefits:

1) Pay is outrageous.$174k. Most of these hucksters already are wealthy, plus they get a shit ton of lobbying money. And they draw this salary for life. $50k seems like a reasonable number
2) Pension plan eligibility. There's a reason pensions are going the way of the dinosaur (because they're fucking expensive to fund and administer)
3) You know the ACA? Yup the plan that congress has, which they enacted "for the American people" is exempt from the provisions. How's that for irony? Plus they get health care access for life

https://smartasset.com/retirement/congr ... ment-plans

I am wary of making the pay so low that basically only the wealthy or ideological extremists would run for office; we have enough of those folks now as it is.

It cuts the other way too: if you're committed to being a congressperson, then the pay doesn't really (or shouldn't) matter. You'll find a way to make it work regardless of the short term hardship.

[Legacy User]

Donnie, that sounds like: “If you’re ideologically driven enough and narcissistic enough to suppose only you can fix this even if it means financial martyrdom, the pay won’t matter.” That sounds scary to me.

Like I said, I don’t know about $175k for a house member, but 50k sounds pretty low.

[COR-TEN]

That's hilarious. In a country where grab as much as the pie as you can, ride the wave of benefits, and exploit whatever you can for the almighty greenback, you want congress to make $30K more than poverty level? What kind of incentive is $50K?

Seriously. You legislate for 340 million people and you want to pay them like a taxi cab driver? Meanwhile CEO's for companies that contribute garbage to society make 500 times the average worker, in the tens of millions with stock options and severance, and that's fair compensation? No fucking wonder public school teachers don't get paid shit. It's all based on perceptions of the importance of a particular job. There is no sense of fairness, because in this country, "fair" don't mean shit.

And I would hold all those congresspeople accountable for not meeting with their constituents. Like mcconnell, who goes out the back door and calls capitol police to clear the hallways of his office. Running from a shadow like a terrified schoolgirl.

[Donnie Brasco]

That's hilarious. In a country where grab as much as the pie as you can, ride the wave of benefits, and exploit whatever you can for the almighty greenback, you want congress to make $30K more than poverty level? What kind of incentive is $50K?

Seriously. You legislate for 340 million people and you want to pay them like a taxi cab driver? .

Do you think the current setup is working where Congress is getting paid well over 6 figures and 5 times the poverty level?

[COR-TEN]

That's hilarious. In a country where grab as much as the pie as you can, ride the wave of benefits, and exploit whatever you can for the almighty greenback, you want congress to make $30K more than poverty level? What kind of incentive is $50K?

Seriously. You legislate for 340 million people and you want to pay them like a taxi cab driver? .

Do you think the current setup is working where Congress is getting paid well over 6 figures and 5 times the poverty level?

Notice you left out an entire paragraph in your response. At any rate, it's obvious you don't think legislators are "worth it." Since most of the right thinks government is corrupt and useless. It needs an overhaul, but the basic concept still holds true.

There's no doubt some abuse the system, but as usual, punish the many to restrict the nefarious behavior of the few.

[swissvale72]

How the FUCK do these elected officials get six weeks off????

To be fair the point of August Recess isn't just for them to take month long vacations. In theory they should be spending time at their local offices and conducting town halls and other meetings and events in their home districts to answer to their constituents.

I also hear that ministers and priests only work once a week for two hours on Sundays. Is that true? Also, lazy profs and public school teachers do nothing over the summer and still get paid! Six weeks?! How in the fuck do profs get paid for doing nothing for 3 and a half months and public school teachers for doing nothing for 3?!?!?

Not the same....public schools generally close during the summer. The United States of America never closes, yet no legislative business can be conducted for 6 weeks!!! It was only a few years ago, was it not, that these slouches went home and left shit undone affecting federal workers and the ability to keep paying them?

As per usual, the professor still lit comes up with a bullshit analogy.

[Donnie Brasco]

That's hilarious. In a country where grab as much as the pie as you can, ride the wave of benefits, and exploit whatever you can for the almighty greenback, you want congress to make $30K more than poverty level? What kind of incentive is $50K?

Seriously. You legislate for 340 million people and you want to pay them like a taxi cab driver? .

Do you think the current setup is working where Congress is getting paid well over 6 figures and 5 times the poverty level?

Notice you left out an entire paragraph in your response. At any rate, it's obvious you don't think legislators are "worth it." Since most of the right thinks government is corrupt and useless. It needs an overhaul, but the basic concept still holds true.

There's no doubt some abuse the system, but as usual, punish the many to restrict the nefarious behavior of the few.

I left out the entire paragraph because I already know your stance on CEOs and capitalism and it's not germane to the issue

I don't think the government is useless, but it becomes useless when you have individuals involved for the wrong reasons (their own corrupt behavior)

[Legacy User]

Not the same....public schools generally close during the summer. The United States of America never closes, yet no legislative business can be conducted for 6 weeks!!! It was only a few years ago, was it not, that these slouches went home and left shit undone affecting federal workers and the ability to keep paying them?

As per usual, the professor still lit comes up with a bullshit analogy.

Swiss, is it possible that you misunderstood my point?

Ask Heske if he does nothing during summer break or works. The summer is when academics primarily research. We don’t sit around doing nothing (must of us any way). Neither do members of Congress when they go on break. They are “supposed” to meet with constituents, attend to district business, etc. THAT is the analogy.

Where the analogy does break down is teachers being paid for a nine month contract. Congress persons are contracted to work all year.

[COR-TEN]

I left out the entire paragraph because I already know your stance on CEOs and capitalism and it's not germane to the issue

I don't think the government is useless, but it becomes useless when you have individuals involved for the wrong reasons (their own corrupt behavior)

Oh for fucks sake of course it's germane to the issue. It's like discussing trade and manufacturing with china ignoring the fact that their system is state run, whereas here in the US it is not - for the most part. You can't discuss government and ignore capitalism.

And of course some individuals are involved for the wrong reasons, but what data do you have to support the idea that ALL are corrupt? You throw the baby out with the bathwater. But that's what the conservative right has been selling since reagan. Gov is the problem, so many have swallowed that hook line and sinker.

[SteelPro]

I don't think what they are paid is a problem. In fact, there are some good arguments that paying them more would be better. And I don't think the amount of recess time is an issue either. Not like they accomplish much when in session. More time away from Washington and that cess pool of lobbyists and more time in front of the faces of their constituents is a good thing. In fact, in this day and age of technology why do they even have to be in Washington as much as they are? You telling me "Aye" and "Nay" can't be said over skype? There are way bigger issues than congressional pay and time spent in session arguing in DC along party lines. A bigger fix would be greater restrictions on ex-congress members landing cushy lobbying jobs. The people want it and there is some bipartisan support for it. Warren on the left and Cruz on the right have both railed against ex-congressmen landing 7 figure salaries as lobbyists. Both have proposed longer or even permanent restrictions from landing those jobs. Yet it doesn't happen because 2/3rds of them are crooks that can't wait to cash in as lobbyists.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar ... 20/590182/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 290114001/

This is Fucked up....

Of lawmakers who were part of the 115th Congress from 2017 to Jan. 3 who are working outside of politics, 59% now work for "lobbying firms, consulting firms, trade groups or business groups working to influence federal government activities

[swissvale72]

Let's say it's true, which I don't necessarily believe, that these non-productive fucks are working back in their district. Don't you think it would be more prudent to stagger these breaks,rather than close down Congress for SIX fuckin' weeks straight??

Here's the cynic in me. Longer times goes on, more I appreciate the New Hampshire, Live Free or Die, way of paying state legislators $100 per year plus travel. My rationale is this. My assumption is that these fuckers don't do this. And I would rather pay them $100 for not doing shit than pay them $174K for not doing shit!!

And Lit....you're making it sound like I was dissing on professors and academics. I'm not. And if I was...I would diss on you, not on Hesske!! I know Hesske works all summer....you probably sit on your ass and think.

[Legacy User]

Let's say it's true, which I don't necessarily believe, that these non-productive fucks are working back in their district. Don't you think it would be more prudent to stagger these breaks,rather than close down Congress for SIX fuckin' weeks straight??

Here's the cynic in me. Longer times goes on, more I appreciate the New Hampshire, Live Free or Die, way of paying state legislators $100 per year plus travel. My rationale is this. My assumption is that these fuckers don't do this. And I would rather pay them $100 for not doing shit than pay them $174K for not doing shit!!

And Lit....you're making it sound like I was dissing on professors and academics. I'm not. And if I was...I would diss on you, not on Hesske!! I know Hesske works all summer....you probably sit on your ass and think.

What does Hesske do? Mow lawns? Come on, man! Right now I’m beating my head against a wall trying to reduce a 33 page article draft down to 20 to submit to a middling journal (best I can do).

Again, the point I was making is that recess does not mean not working any more than summer break means not working for academics.

[swissvale72]

Let's say it's true, which I don't necessarily believe, that these non-productive fucks are working back in their district. Don't you think it would be more prudent to stagger these breaks,rather than close down Congress for SIX fuckin' weeks straight??

Here's the cynic in me. Longer times goes on, more I appreciate the New Hampshire, Live Free or Die, way of paying state legislators $100 per year plus travel. My rationale is this. My assumption is that these fuckers don't do this. And I would rather pay them $100 for not doing shit than pay them $174K for not doing shit!!

And Lit....you're making it sound like I was dissing on professors and academics. I'm not. And if I was...I would diss on you, not on Hesske!! I know Hesske works all summer....you probably sit on your ass and think.

What does Hesske do? Mow lawns? Come on, man! Right now I’m beating my head against a wall trying to reduce a 33 page article draft down to 20 to submit to a middling journal (best I can do).

Again, the point I was making is that recess does not mean not working any more than summer break means not working for academics.

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

[Legacy User]

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

Now wait a minute. Let's be hygienic. Your claim that the team is less talented is hard to deny. If folks think the Steelers do not now have less talent than they did when AB, Bell, and Shazier were suiting up, they are, indeed, very much delusional or in some kind of hate induced denial. Whether the team is worse off without the mercurial AB is not as obvious. Though less talented, the team might do better, might be better. I'm not insisting on that, mind you, just wanting to propose that from having more talent it does not necessarily follow that a team is better.

[SteelPro]

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

Now wait a minute. Let's be hygienic. Your claim that the team is less talented is hard to deny. If folks think the Steelers do not now have less talent than they did when AB, Bell, and Shazier were suiting up, they are, indeed, very much delusional or in some kind of hate induced denial. Whether the team is worse off without the mercurial AB is not as obvious. Though less talented, the team might do better, might be better. I'm not insisting on that, mind you, just wanting to propose that from having more talent it does not necessarily follow that a team is better.

A political post evolving into a football discussion...

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man ... It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. ... It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone.

[jebrick]

A lot in this thread to digest.

Congressmen/women need to pay for their own flights back and forth. They generally need to have their own housing in Washington as well as their own districts. It can be expensive.

If the government provided dorm rooms for them you could cut some pay.

Voting on party lines is a symptom of the gerrymandering of districts with 80-90% of the congress folks only worried about primary challenges from more radical members of their party. It is what leads to AOC and Jim Jordan. More balanced districts will lead to more moderate elected officials who will be less likely to vote party lines and more in line with their constitutes.

[SteelPro]

A lot in this thread to digest.

Congressmen/women need to pay for their own flights back and forth. They generally need to have their own housing in Washington as well as their own districts. It can be expensive.

If the government provided dorm rooms for them you could cut some pay.

Voting on party lines is a symptom of the gerrymandering of districts with 80-90% of the congress folks only worried about primary challenges from more radical members of their party. It is what leads to AOC and Jim Jordan. More balanced districts will lead to more moderate elected officials who will be less likely to vote party lines and more in line with their constitutes.

Gerrymandering is a problem, but that is not causing partisanship. Partisanship in the senate is just as much of an issue as in the House, and gerrymandering has nothing at all to do with Senate seats. And I don’t think drawing fairer congressional lines would make much broad difference in the accountability of Congress Representatives to their constituents. Maybe for a handful of really purple Suburban districts it would have an impact. I’d say for 85% of the districts the makeup wouldn’t be very different. There will still be many very Red rural districts and AOC will never have to worry about general election challenger.

[COR-TEN]

Gerrymandering is a problem, but that is not causing partisanship. Partisanship in the senate is just as much of an issue as in the House, and gerrymandering has nothing at all to do with Senate seats. And I don’t think drawing fairer congressional lines would make much broad difference in the accountability of Congress Representatives to their constituents. Maybe for a handful of really purple Suburban districts it would have an impact. I’d say for 85% of the districts the makeup wouldn’t be very different. There will still be many very Red rural districts and AOC will never have to worry about general election challenger.

Maybe not. But republicans have control of 30 state legislatures — both the House and Senate — compared to just 18 by Democrats. Just two states, Minnesota and Alaska, have split chambers. That's due to gerrymandering.

[SteelPro]

Gerrymandering is a problem, but that is not causing partisanship. Partisanship in the senate is just as much of an issue as in the House, and gerrymandering has nothing at all to do with Senate seats. And I don’t think drawing fairer congressional lines would make much broad difference in the accountability of Congress Representatives to their constituents. Maybe for a handful of really purple Suburban districts it would have an impact. I’d say for 85% of the districts the makeup wouldn’t be very different. There will still be many very Red rural districts and AOC will never have to worry about general election challenger.

Maybe not. But republicans have control of 30 state legislatures — both the House and Senate — compared to just 18 by Democrats. Just two states, Minnesota and Alaska, have split chambers. That's due to gerrymandering.

Not really. There are a litany of reasons that state legislatures have swung decidedly one way or the other. Gerrymandering is way down the list of reasons. Yes it happens and Yes its a problem, but eliminating it wouldn't swing those numbers much, if at all.

[K_C_]

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

HOF talent, Me-First stat whore mental midget baby mama abuser/furniture thrower who quit on his team a reported 3 times. A locker room CANCER.

Make sure you tell the whole story.

[swissvale72]

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

HOF talent, Me-First stat whore mental midget baby mama abuser/furniture thrower who quit on his team a reported 3 times. A locker room CANCER.

Make sure you tell the whole story.

Here's the whole story, KC!! The guy that reportedly quit on his team three times, missed exactly one game, and he showed up for that one (not that he should have been permitted to play). His off-field behavior, that you are fond of citing, cost his team no games, had no discernible on-field impact. In fact, hours after driving 100mph on McKnight road (which you usually include in your diatribes), he was catching a 53 yard TD against Carolina, which we all cheered and were like, 'Go AB!!!' You have absolutely no proof that the guy is a so-called stat whore, and in any event, his legendary production helped his team win a ton of games, including some very big ones, like the one thatvput his team into the playoffs instead of the hated ravens.

I believe that's the whole story.

[Louis Lipps Service]

Let's say it's true, which I don't necessarily believe, that these non-productive fucks are working back in their district. Don't you think it would be more prudent to stagger these breaks,rather than close down Congress for SIX fuckin' weeks straight??

Here's the cynic in me. Longer times goes on, more I appreciate the New Hampshire, Live Free or Die, way of paying state legislators $100 per year plus travel. My rationale is this. My assumption is that these fuckers don't do this. And I would rather pay them $100 for not doing shit than pay them $174K for not doing shit!!

And Lit....you're making it sound like I was dissing on professors and academics. I'm not. And if I was...I would diss on you, not on Hesske!! I know Hesske works all summer....you probably sit on your ass and think.

What does Hesske do? Mow lawns? Come on, man! Right now I’m beating my head against a wall trying to reduce a 33 page article draft down to 20 to submit to a middling journal (best I can do).

Again, the point I was making is that recess does not mean not working any more than summer break means not working for academics.

I think Hesske is hard at work on a treatise focused on the assembled douchebaggery of Steelerfury.com, the fuckin' idiots that believe that the team can lose HOF talent, be coached by the same fuckin' idiot, and somehow be a better football team.

I believe you work, Lit....not so sure about the elected officials. And...if they're working, make no mistake.....they're working to get re-the fuck-elected, not to improve the lot of the American citizenry.

Wow. You managed to cram to an Antonio Brown reference into a political thread.

And yet you bitch, moan and claim to be the victim when I accuse you of pushing your agenda into every single thread.

Unreal.

[swissvale72]

I don't really give a fuck what accusations you level at me. Big dif between bitching and moaning, crying like a fuckin' baby, of which you're famous....and letting bullshit stand with no response. You accuse; I'll respond. Get the fuck used to it.

[jebrick]

Not really. There are a litany of reasons that state legislatures have swung decidedly one way or the other. Gerrymandering is way down the list of reasons. Yes it happens and Yes its a problem, but eliminating it wouldn't swing those numbers much, if at all.

Except in places like Wisconsin and North Carolina where the party that got the least votes overall controls the State Legislature. Those two are the most egregious but other state do similar things with are well off of their vote totals ( including Maryland, Louisiana and Kentucky). Gerrymandering is not a silver bullet but it is an issue.