Congressional Pay Cuts Undermine Dignity of Job, Pelosi Says

Congressional pay cuts undermine the dignity of the job, Pelosi says.

"The current salary for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year."[1]

About 70% of Marines hold the rank E4 or lower[2], and they each earn less than $30,000 per year[3].

You wanna compare retirement plans next, Representative?

To rate any sort of pay after exiting the services, one must serve on active duty at least 20 years (with certain exceptions based on combat injuries). At that point, they rate 40% of the base pay of their highest rank. After 30 years on active duty, they rate a maximum of 75% of their highest base pay.[4] The highest enlisted base pay is less than $65,000, making the maximum retirement pay less than $49,000.[5] But it is incredibly difficult to stay in service that long. Promotion and retention are performance-based but restricted numerically annually by law; less than 1% of enlisted Marines reach the rank of E9.

Those who serve in Congress also must serve 20 years to rate retirement pay (with certain exceptions based on age). A typical congressman earns $55,012 in retirement pay after 20 years. There is no maximum, however, it would take about 60 years of service to rate the 75% of base pay rated by 30 years in the military.[6]

The point is, Representative Pelosi, that all congressmen are already paid significantly more each year than the large portion their counterparts serving in the military, and only a small number of military servicemen come close to the level of congressional pay. Similarly, fewer military servicemen rate retirement pay, and when they do, they still aren't paid as much as congressional retirees.

And I sincerely hope I don't have to explain to you which of the two jobs is ACTUALLY more dignified.

Sources:
[1] http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm
[2] http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/marinepromotions/a/marineprom.htm (A little old, but the percentages align with what I've been briefed officially within the past 12 months.)
[3] http://usmilitarypaychart.com/2013-military-pay-chart/ (Highest E4 base pay * 12 < $30,000.)
[4] http://militarypay.defense.gov/retirement/ad/04_redux.html
[5] http://usmilitarypaychart.com/2013-military-pay-chart/ (Highest E9 base pay * 12 < $65,000.)
[6] http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30631.pdf

Note:
I used the enlisted servicemen for the comparison because most servicemen are enlisted. Although it occurs to me now that perhaps a comparison with officers would be relevant as well since the numbers would more closely math the number of congressmen as well as the fact that officers are more likely to be college educated. However, the pay systems are the same for officers as enlisted.

On Veterans Day 2010

Since 1919, the United States of America have set aside a day each year to honor and remember the men and women of the US Armed Forces—heroes, all of them. What will you do today to remember and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifices to keep us safe? How will you thank those who were or still are willing and ready to do the same?

As you seek ways to pay respect to the people who deserve it more than any other in your church, city, state, country, and world, here are a couple excellent videos I want to share with you.




Yesterday was the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. In honor of the Corps, and because that's the branch I plan to join, here is another video produced by the same group dedicated to our Marines.


Please consider visiting The Warrior Song Project's website, where you can get various media and apparel. All proceeds from the sale of "The Warrior Song" MP3 are donated to the Armed Forces Relief Trust on a voluntary basis by The Warrior Song Project. A portion of the proceeds from all other sales are also donated to the AFRTrust on the same basis. Those who have or still serve in any of the US Armed Forces can simply email them to receive The Warrior Song for free, and active or retired Marines can also receive the The Warrior Song - Hard Corps for free (details here).

And for those who are active or retired military and are going out to dinner tonight, here are some places to hit up where your service will be honored by offering you free food.

• Applebee's: Veterans Eat FREE November 11th (click for details)
• Golden Corral: Free "Thank You" Dinner Monday, 11/15 (5pm-9pm) for Veterans (details)
• Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin’ Onion and Beverage for active/retired military (details)
• Chilis: Veterans eat FREE (details (PDF))
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To my civilian friends, please find ways to join me in doing things that say...

To my military friends, Thank you.