http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30846.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30846.html

That kind of post compensation should be banned. I don't mind giving former Congresspeople access to the health care plan, or giving them free passes to the building, etc. - cheap little stuff that says "thank you". But $40,000 a month doesn't say "thank you", it says something else inappropriate for this forum. That's half a million a year for a job he doesn't do, at all. Hell, the annual salary for these guys was less than half that, he's actually making much MORE money, effectively, than he was in office. That is f***ed up.

 

 

That kind of post compensation should be banned. I don't mind giving former Congresspeople access to the health care plan, or giving them free passes to the building, etc. - cheap little stuff that says "thank you". But $40,000 a month doesn't say "thank you", it says something else inappropriate for this forum. That's half a million a year for a job he doesn't do, at all. Hell, the annual salary for these guys was less than half that, he's actually making much MORE money, effectively, than he was in office. That is f***ed up.

 

We do the same thing for ex-Presidents and VPs, including pay for life and protection for life.

We do the same thing for ex-Presidents and VPs, including pay for life and protection for life.

 

And I'm fine with that because they are big ambassadors for the country and symbols of our democracy, and more than that, there is only a handful of them around, usually.

 

Speakers of the house...not as big a symbol.

We do the same thing for ex-Presidents and VPs, including pay for life and protection for life.

As bmags said, not really the same, in my eyes. And Presidential compensation is half that anyway, and the protection aspect is something different and necessary. Here, we are talking about a House Speaker, and we're not just paying his health care, we're paying half a million a year in official benefits as if he still worked for the government. AND he's a lobbyist, with that income.

 

yeah presidents and vp's are a different story.

 

wonder if the majority leader from the senate gets this as well?

also, i'll add the fact that i live in Cong Hastert's district.

 

Currently the seat is held by a moderate Democrat.

Dennis Hastert's son (Johnny DUI) is looking to take back the seat.

FYI we don't give Presidents lifetime secrete service protection any more, starting with Bush. It's only 10 years now I think.

FYI we don't give Presidents lifetime secrete service protection any more, starting with Bush. It's only 10 years now I think.

I'm pretty sure it's the opposite of what you said. All presidents starting with Bush 43 get lifetime protection.

Congress passed legislation in 1994 stating that presidents who enter office after January 1, 1997 will receive Secret Service protection for 10 years after leaving office. Presidents who entered office prior to January 1, 1997 will continue to receive lifetime protection (Treasury Department Appropriations Act, 1995: Pub.L. 103-329).

 

Shoot, if there's anyone who needs lifetime secret service protection, it will be Bush and Obama for 2 totally different reasons.

I thought there was a change to that just recently? Either the outgoing Bush admin. made changes or the incoming Obama admin. did it.