Should members of the US Congress be paid at the federal minimum wage rate of $5.15 an hour?

Answer 1

This is the best question I have ever seen on Yahoo Answers!

Most congress men and women are wealthy such that a lower salary wouldn't likely enable them to empathize any better with someone who is forced to live on minimum wage. While its' members enjoy multiple revenue sources and perks as representatives during and after they hold office, I don't think such a salary reduction would be much of a motivator to find the best people to represent American citizens.

Answer 2

No, but their raises should be tied to increases in the minimum wage.

If they earn 125,000 a year now, then the minimum wage should be set at 25,000 for a year at the 40 hour work week. Then, whenever Congress gets a raise, the minimum wage should be increased so that whatever 1/5th of a Congressperson makes is what the minimum wage earner gets per year for a 40 hour work week.

Hillary Clinton proposed this, by the way. It was shot down.

Answer 3

I guess if you want to attract people with the qualifications of a hamburger flipper. Most congressmen have law degrees that cost them big. If they weren't paid well they would do something else instead. If you cant get a hamburger and fries out of a burger king kitchen crew making 5.15 an hour, maybe you should try getting a piece of legislation through that same kitchen personnel just to see what comes out on the other side. The answer to your question is no. Unless you want to live in chaos!

Answer 4

Hell No! That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard! They have some of the most stressful jobs in the world. Their jobs are not like working at McDonalds, they took time to get there. If we are going to pay politicians who have devoted their life to their job at a minimum wage rate then that means doctors, lawyers, and pilots should make as much as fast food employees or store managers. Paying everyone the same wage for different work would take away the incentive for getting to that level of professionalism. It would effectively be converting to communism and how effective of a system is that? Not very.

Answer 5

The taxpayer in me agrees but the businesswoman in me disagrees. When any employer pays a higher salary, they can be more selective about the candidates they hire. Look at all the corruption, scandal, and incompetence we've already got in Congress. Now imagine how much more mucked up things would be if the only people applying for the job (meaning running for office) would settle for $5.15/hour!

Answer 6

Because of their lack of education, their lack of business experience, no that would not cause such a pay cut. Most of these people took huge pay cuts to be in Congress. I doubt these go getter's ever worked for minimum wage. I know that I have never worked for minimum wage not even when I was 16 yrs old.

Answer 7

No way. If they were paid minimum wage we would have no members of Congress. Why would they want to take on that stress for the same wage of someone that flips burgers?

Answer 8

People being paid 5.15 an hour might be interested in doing their jobs rather than keeping their jobs.

Answer 9

No. I think that with all the perks they get they should be paid NOTHING!!! If they were payed nothing but still received housing medical or whatever, then you would only have people running for office who genuinely wanted to be there for the good of the country.

Answer 10

Yes. The point is that all they do is sit in their LazyBoyz and dicuss stupid subjects that sometimes barely effect the whole US. So to pay them minumum wage is an excellent idea. If they want money make them do someting for it.