I found this to be interesting.
If you measure Congress’s productivity as pay earned per law passed, the typical member this year earned $3,053 per law. The 106th Congress (in office from 1999 to 2000) passed 604 laws, earning the typical member just $460 per law passed. The 101st Congress (1989-1990) passed 666 laws, for a scant $281 per law.
In that regard, no Congress in modern times has been paid more for doing less than the current group. We may even be paying them to do harm, since the 16-day government shutdown in October cost the economy about $20 billion. Other Congressional behavior, such as the “fiscal cliff” standoff at the end of 2012 and the showdown over raising the federal borrowing limit in 2011, rattled financial markets while discouraging businesses and consumers from spending.
In Congress’s first year, 1789, members were in session for 168 days. They got paid $6 per day, the equivalent of a $26,000 salary today, and when Congress adjourned that fall, many members went home to help run the family farm or business. That group of part-time legislators, perhaps the most important Congress ever, passed many of the laws that formed the framework of the U.S. government for the next 220 years.
In 2013 members of Congress worked less, got paid a lot more and struggled to produce anything of significance. If America really is in decline, it starts on Capitol Hill.
Rick Newman’s latest book is Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback To Success . Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman .
I Agree. voting to appeal Obamacare 100 times is not legislating.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel the same way about Harry tanking all legislation coming from the House? Perhaps if he allowed an honest debate over the issue and then a straight up or down vote they would have stopped at 50.
DeleteI agree. We should reduce their salaries. I'd give them 10k a year for expenses and deduct 1k per law passed.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need more stinkin' laws.