Arizona's right-wing showoff congressman, Jeff Flake, talks a big game when it comes to his alarms about the deficit. He's rejected any attempt to use federal funds to help working-class American families: no unemployment, food stamps, money for small businesses, no nothing.
Hey, Jeff, how about cutting your own $174,000 salary? You're a supposed rebel: How about introducing a bill to reduce it by $100,000 to a still-healthy $74,000? Many of your constituents in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction and Queen Creek have had to take salary cuts in the Great Recession -- that is, if they haven't lost their jobs? Of course they're not career politicians like you, Jeff.
Some of us manage to live okay on $44,000 (our income last year) or a lot less.
From 1789 to 1815, congressional pay was $6 per diem (per day); from 1817 to 1855, it was $8 a day. Factoring in inflation, that was about from $80 to $180 a day -- and you don't work more than three days a week, do you, Jeff?
If you're a true conservative, you should be able to live on a lot less, right? Maybe if you didn't waste your money on all the high-tech devices you're shown bragging about in the D.C. papers, you could manage on less.
You know, there's nothing that says you have to accept your salary, the money that comes from taxpayer dollars, the money that lets you live your plush lifestyle that is cheating the future of our children and grandchildren.
Some governors have refused part of their annual salaries. New York's mayor, like some CEOs of troubled corporations, takes one dollar a year. We know you're not a billionaire, Jeff Flake, but what would happen if you had to live on less than your exorbitant benefits and $174,000 a year?
Maybe if the voters of Arizona's Sixth Congressional District kick you out on your hypocritical ass, you'll find out, hypocrite.
If I'm elected, I'll introduce a bill to lower congressional pay by $100,00 a year.
And if it doesn't pass, I'll return the $100,000 to the Treasury. I'm a thrifty Green and don't need your exorbitant pay.
