Congress: Is this true about their salary?

Question

I heard on the W&J radio show that congress only makes between $16,000-$18,000 a year. The rest comes from an outside sources, or something like that. Is this true or no? I thought I heard them say something about congress is supposed to be a part time job, what was that about?

Can someone please explain? Sorry if the details are vague.

Answer 1

All of this is false. You can do an on line search to find out the salaries of Congressmen

Answer 2

Way false.  They made that much in 1955.  Senators and  Representatives make $169,300.  If they are in a leadership role, majority/minority leader, speaker of the house, they make even more.  In addition to that, they get gifts and speakers fees from PAC groups and such.  Way back in the early days of the US, they did believe it would be a part time job (and it was).  They would go back to run their businesses, farms and plantations.  

There may be some states that have ultra low salaries for their congressmen but I don't think that is a good thing, where are they getting the money they need to live on?  I want them to be working for the people.

Answer 3

Congressmen receive a minimum of $169,300, assuming that they have not turned down any salary increases, which some have. The Speaker of the House makes $217,400. The House and Senate party leaders each make $188,100.

Now, the program may have been talking about state legislatures. In 2005, state legislators in New Hampshire receive $100 a year, for instance. The second link shows the 2005 pay for state legislatures.

Of note, from the About article, "From 1789 to 1815, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1815, when they were paid $1,500 per year."

Of course, $6 a day was a pretty good sum in 1815, and $1,500 a year was a very good salary...