Did you know that you, the taxpayer, pay the salaries and benefits for 2.5 million federal workers? That ain't all !!!!

Editor's preface: The included article is a good collection of information as to who makes what in congress. What is not mentioned is the fact that IN ADDITION to the annual salaries of House and Senate members, each is given nearly $2 million per year to run their offices, buy pencils and such. None of these congress people account for the funds unless and until they get caught for spending the money for immoral pursuits or using the funds to bribe others --- that sort of thing and the taxpayer is on the hook for these Congressional expenses - none of which are counted against the budget deficit; that's $2 million multiplied by the 535 House and Senate politicians. Additionally, federal employees earn - on average - $83,000 per year for doing the same work as in the private sector, with a pay average of $41,000. More than all this, government workers in the Obama Administration have been given the highest of priorities, Obama adding government employees at a faster rate than at anytime in American history. While the nation is suffering at a near 10% unemployment rate, the District of Columbia with its chief employer being the Federal Government has the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 5.3%. The taxpayer foots the bill for 2.6 million federal workers (87% of which vote Democrat), 3 million members of the armed forces and Pentagon staff and millions and millions of state and county employees. --- jds

As an update to the above, today, 2/11/09, FoxNews has reported that 60% of the population is employed by government at some level. This scenario is not sustainable if the rate of increase is not amended or reversed AND the nation becomes a robust producer of goods sold to populations outside this county. If we cannot import foreign money, we are destined to become the largest third-world nation in the history of mankind.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By Joe Schoffstall

West front of U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP photo)

(CNSNews.com) -- A Rasmussen Reports poll shows that 58 percent of Americans support cutting the size of the government workforce to reduce the deficit, while 22 percent oppose the idea and 19 percent are “not sure.”

The Feb. 5 poll also found that 51 percent support cutting pay for non-military government employees, while 32 percent opposed the idea and 17 percent are not sure.

Roughly three-fifths of Americans (59 percent) believe government workers earn more money than the average taxpayer, according to the poll, while 15 percent believe that they do not, and 26 percent are undecided.

Rank-and-file representatives in the U.S. House receive an annual salary of $174,000, while the Speaker of the House receives $223,000. The majority and minority leaders both claim $193,400 a year.

The rank-and-file senator also makes $174,000 a year while the Majority Party Leader and Minority Party Leader in the Senate both take in $194,400, in 2010.

As for staffers, limits are placed on how much money they can make. As of 2007, the maximum salary for a staffer in a member’s office was $156,000, while committee staffers may be eligible for a slightly higher salary.