Moran Says $174,000 Per Year for Members of Congress Is 'Underpaid'

Congressman Jim Moran (D-8th) tells CQ Roll Call that members of Congress are underpaid. 

“I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid,” said Moran, according to CQ Roll Call, which published its story Thursday afternoon. “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.”

Members of Congress make $174,000 per year. Moran announced in January his retirement from Congress, after 23 years of working on Capitol Hill.
As a retired member of Congress, Moran will continue to receive up to 80 percent of his salary. 

Moran said he plans to highlight the injustice by introducing an amendment to Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan’s spending blueprint next week, Roll Call reported.

The average annual salary in the United States is about $46,440, according to the Department of Labor Statistics.

Reaction on Twitter included these comments:

• NBC's Chuck Todd: "The only folks that can afford the two homes are the wealthy and if Congress stays underpaid, it will only attract the wealthy as candidates."
• MSNBC's Luke Russert: "...don't forget, there's a sizable number who shack up in their offices. My idea: make the old page dorm a members dorm."
• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Salena Zito: "Classic Disconnect: Virginia Democrat Rep. James Moran says Members Can’t Afford to Live Decently in D.C."