You might ask what $227,592,000 is all about. The average pay for a congressman is $174,000.00 a year. Please follow below the artsy orange thing for more information.
In the 2009-2011 congress there were 178 Republicans. In the 2011-2013 congress there were 242 Republicans. In the 2013-2015 congress there were 234 Republicans. Here is the simple math laid out:
2009-2011
R 178 times 174,000 = 30,972,000 times 2 years = 61,944,000
2011-2013
R 242 times 174,000 = 42,108,000 times 2 years = 84,216,000
2013-2015
R 234 times 174,000 = 40,716,000 times 2 years = 81,432,000
Total for above = 227,592,000
The total does not reflect staff, per diem, etc., just salaries for Republican Congressmen/Women. That is what they have been paid for doing nothing. Blocking legislation over ideological issues because they cannot or will not separate church and state. They even paid themselves to shutdown the government. I actually believe they have done more harm than good since Obama got elected. How is this possible? Why are they allowed to shirk their duties? What is so wrong about affordable health care for everyone? What is so wrong about a minimum wage increase? If they are so concerned about immigration, then why don’t they do something about it? We have paid them while they chased after non-issue scandals. We paid them so that they could sling slime at the current president praying that something sticks, while ignoring the war criminals of their party from their previous presidency. They will not protect women, either in boardroom or bedroom. I for one am tired of their hubris and I want our money back.
What could I do with $227,592,000? Maybe 227 elementary schools could be given a million apiece to upgrade their tech rooms. Maybe 458 elementary schools could be given half a million each to upgrade their tech rooms. There are a multitude of things that could have been done with that quarter of a billion dollars. Things that could have benefited the people of this country rather than the arrogant egos of antiquated misogynist thinkers.
Thank you for your time.
The googled websites where I found the numbers are as follows: (I did the math)
www.nolabels.org
www.history.gov/Institution