Lawmaking can be tough work. But it’s not a bad job if you can get it.
Members of Congress began their annual five-week summer recess in August, leaving the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., to spend time in their districts or travel abroad.
While this is perhaps the longest of federal lawmakers’ breaks, it’s by no means the only time they’ll have off this session. In fact, the Senate has scheduled 10 weeks off this year, and House members will work only 126 days in 2013.
For this, rank-and-file members of Congress receive an annual salary of $174,000.
Work hard, play hard?
Actually, the members of the 113th Congress who packed their bags earlier this month left behind a mountain of unfinished business and is on track to be the least productive Congress … Ever.
Perhaps that’s why a new poll shows an overwhelming majority of Americans – Republicans, Democrats and independents – believe Congress doesn’t deserve its traditional summer break.
On the other hand, the average attorney handling garden-variety law matters works hard for his clients — particularly those who are ensnared by life’s tragedies. We’re thinking of the breadwinner who was maimed by a drunk driver or the lawful immigrant illegally detained for weeks by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
There’s also the broken-hearted mother whose spouse inflicted harm on her children. Last we heard they may not get such posh treatment!
It’s quite a paradox, isn’t it?