CNS:
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) will continue to collect his $174,000 taxpayer-funded salary without interruption while he is taking a leave of absence to seek “professional treatment,” according to the House Administration Committee, which has oversight over the congressional payroll.
In a 365-day year, a congressman’s $174,000 annual salary works out to $476.71 per day.
Weiner announced Saturday through a spokeswoman that he would be taking a leave of absence from his duties in the House of Representatives.
“Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person,” said spokeswoman Risa Heller.
I was tempted to say that getting paid nearly $500 a day to stay away from Congress is yet another example of fiscal irresponsibility and government irresponsibility — complete with a rail against paying farmers not to grow, or paying postal workers to sit idly in a quiet room — but then I remembered that Weiner is a big spending, big government, entitlement-seeking leftist Democrat, and so it occurred to me that the $500 we as tax payers are shelling out for each day he’s away is probably a solid investment toward keeping the government smaller and more fiscally sane.
So, there’s that.
Of course, keeping him away and not paying him makes the most fiscal sense. But beggars can’t be choosers, right?
Has he actually requested a leave of absence yet?
It is not like you get in trouble or fired for not showing up. You just don’t show up.
Bill him $499.00 a day in “carrying charges”
Weiner, pulling for you 365 days a year!
another weiner:
upton needs primaried
link
At a bit under $100,000,000/year in salaries, we’d save a crapload of money paying them all to go home and leave us the fuck alone.
(That number leaves out benefits, staff, etc.)
Hasn’t Weiner done enough focusing?
I suggest we build a large cage and put a billion dollars in it.
Then, in order for Senators and Congressmen to get paid, put them in the cage and tell them winner takes all.
Forget to mention the hungry lions that will be released shortly after the brawl starts.
License as a pay per view event and televise world wide. (have to get the billion dollars somehow)
Hey, Patrick Kennedy made a whole Congressional career out of doing stupid things with women and being in rehab.
174…!!! For a Rep?
How the hell did that happen? Last time I checked (admittedly two-plus years ago during the ’08 campaign’s “250-plus K tax hike” talk), Senators were taking “only” 169K.
I thought Washington has been telling us there has been no inflation.
Ughh.
I must say I rather liked it that when Romney was our governor here is Mass he didn’t take a salary. Or he took $1 or something.
Schwarzenegger didn’t take a salary either I don’t think.
Still didn’t like him being governor though.
Obama is not liking all this Weiner wiener talk all the time.
Obama calls for Weiner to go.
Tick tock, tick tock.
Obama wants a weiner to go?
Reggie must be driving that convertible again.