So....Congressional pay has been "frozen" since 2009.
That's true. SALARY has been frozen since then, but the perks of the office haven't been touched.
THAT salary is more than three times what the average American earns.
And truthfully, it's hard to be sympathetic to a group of persons whose average net worth far
exceeds that of most Americans.
But for reasons no one ever manages to explain, Congresspersons always seem to emerge from
public service far richer than when they began. In Soviet Russia, a concept came about that
persists to this day - earnings or living "nalevo" (on the side, or literally, on the left) - perks
you gain which have nothing to do with pay, like free dachas in the country or memberships
to exclusive clubs. The joke was - and is - to say "let him live on his salary". TECHNICALLY,
Vladimir Putin makes about what *I* make - but - no, not *really*. Same thing is true, here.
We just hide it better.