[posimoka]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...eo.php?ref=fpb

Oh these guys are beautiful, the gift that keeps on giving, gee how much do the public employee's make that you just stripped collective bargaining from??? my guess a lot less than 174K, what a jerk.

The median household income there was $50,520 in 2008, according to Census data.

At a town hall meeting in Polk County, Wisconsin earlier this year, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) was asked whether he'd vote to cut his $174,000 annual salary. Duffy sort of hedged, and went on to talk about how $174,000 really isn't that much for his family of seven to live on. Then he went on to say he supports cutting compensation for all public employees, along the lines of what Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has proposed for the Badger State.

The whole thing was caught on tape, and it was posted to the Polk County GOP's blog, along with several other clips from the town hall. Then just that clip where Duffy talks about his salary was taken down and removed from the internet by the county party because, an official said, the YouTube clip "was being republished without our consent."

Here's what Duffy says about his salary:

I can guarantee you, or most of you, I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you. With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high on the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now. Would it be easier for me if I get more paychecks? Maybe, but at this point I'm not living high on the hog.

Duffy also said that he pays more in health care costs and retirement savings than he did when he was a district attorney before he ran for Congress. That said, Duffy said he'd support the idea of "public employees across the board" taking a compensation cut.

[Karensmith]

http://investmentwatchblog.com/obama...tively-modest/

Obama calls Gibbs $174,000 salary ‘relatively modest’…

January 7th, 2011

Perhaps it was the long flight back from Hawaii. But President Obama’s first full day back on the job suggested a slight case of tone deafness.

In bidding a sort-of farewell to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, he noted the “relatively modest pay” for which Gibbs has labored.

In fact, he earns $172,200 in a nation where the average family income hovers around $55,000, unemployment is high, record foreclosures persist and wages for most folks are at best stagnant.

But implicit in Gibbs’ departure is the desire to slow down, recharge and earn a lot more money, especially after an arduous several years where he’s been on call 24/7. He’s hired an esteemed lawyer-agent, Robert Barnett, and is expected to hit the very lucrative speaking tour universe exploited by Washington insiders, including high-profile journalists.

It’s a world in which a one-hour appearance can bring more than many Americans earn in a year, with the elite in the roughly $50,000 to $75,000 range. You offer a few benign inside anecdotes, take some questions and then get taken back by limo to the airport and a seat in first-class (assuming your deal doesn’t include a private jet, as is the case for some journalists I know).

For sure, working at a high level in the capital brings contact with many who exit government to rake in huge sums. It’s why so few high-ranking Senate and House members return home after retirement or defeat. There’s just too much money to be made in Washington, often as a shameless influence peddler.

[arindiruppya]

The difference here, Brad, is that Gibbs doesn't walk around with a feedbag stuffed with thousands and thousands of special interest dollars. Nobody is buying his vote on anything.

[soipguibbom]

Duffy is being paid money to ignore his constituents, and therefore is not doing his job. I'm sure a business-savvy person like you Reg would call for such an employee's firing if he worked for you.

And is he really crying about not being able to support a family of seven? Doesn't the GOP maintain that many welfare families should be more responsible about the size of their families? Why are you supporting him Sidewinder? If you believe all the rhetoric, shouldn't you be admonishing this man for creating his own troubles?