WASHINGTON, D.C. April 7 (DPI) – An outgoing U.S. congressman told a Capitol Hill publication last week that he and his colleagues are underpaid — as they collect a $174,000 annual salary as well as lifetime health and retirement benefits unavailable to other Americans.

Predictably, reader comments on WashingtonPost.com and elsewhere unleashed a justifiable fury. It’s not the first time a congressman has cried poor – such insensitive and tin-ear public remarks were not uncommon in the mid 1970s, when congressional salaries were $44,600 annually.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaries_of_members_of_the_United_States_Congress But the timing of 10-term Virginia Democrat Jim Moran’s comments – Congress has been paralyzed and ineffective for years, and its poll ratings have never been lower — suggest a new level of ignorance among Washington’s political class. Moran, who is not seeking re-election, said the following to a reporter of Roll Call, a Capitol Hill publication:

“I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid. I understand that it’s widely felt that they underperform, but the fact is that this is the board of directors for the largest economic entity in the world.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/04/congressman-members-of-congress-are-underpaid/ Moran’s suggestion that Congress is the steward of the American economy is a new, post-2008 worldview – and probably shared by many of his colleagues who are career politicians. But that view is obviously dangerous and misguided, and suggest that many in Washington enjoy the city’s influence and growing control of the US economy and private sector. Readers, meanwhile, were appalled:

Congress is nuts if they think that doing nothing warrants more than $174,000 per year….. For proof that Congress is out of touch with the people, look no further.

Is this guy working for the Republicans? I can’t think of too many more inflammatory statements he could have made given the present political/economic situation in this country. Obviously, he’s a smooth politician–maybe that’s why he’s not running again. Congressional salaries are public information so he must have known what his would be before he sought office. It may be inadequate to live “decently” in DC, but to those rank and file workers who make minimum wage, his statement is beyond offensive. I don’t doubt that a lot of Congress members can make more in the private sector; that’s why there needs to be a strong desire to serve the public in each and every candidate. There are also a lot of perks that go with the job and the market value of having been in office is incalculable. The job’s not good enough for you, Moran? I would say you’re not good enough for the job. Just do your party a favor and go QUIETLY.

Moran has lost his damn mind. He needs to go home. You are elected to Congress to make a difference in your constituents lives not to become a millionaire. Congressmen//women have all kinds of benefits and perks as it is, they don’t need anymore.Live like the rest of us. On food stamps or a check once a month. Nobody told you to keep marrying people and think the taxpayer is suppose to pay for your Alimony and Child Support. You are a nut.