Report: Phil Gingrey gripes $172K salary

[Ptarmigan]

Report: Phil Gingrey gripes $172K salary
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/report-phil-gingrey-gripes-172k-salary-97062.html

In an argument against a special exemption allowing Hill staffers to buy health insurance, one lawmaker said he’s “stuck” making $172,000 a year, while aides will go on to make in big bucks lobbying on K Street, according to a report.

Staffers “may be 33 years old now and not making a lot of money. But in a few years they can just go to K Street…and make $500,000 a year. Meanwhile I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year,” Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) said on Wednesday, according to the National Review.

The comments, which came in a closed-door meeting of congressional Republicans, angered some of the aides in the room, which led two to relay to the National Review.

Gingrey, who’s own net worth the National Review reports, is at least $3 million, is against the special exemption that would allow Hill staffers and lawmakers to buy their insurance in the exchange markets, while still receiving a government subsidy to do so.

Boo-Hoo! I do not care about political party, but what a whiny crybaby! Congressman Gingrey is worth $3 million.

CRYBABY ALERT!

Must call the Whambulance.

[DefiantSix]

There's more to this (probably) than Politico is willing to report...

<snip>

...The comments were made at a closed-door meeting about a Republican proposal to exempt lawmakers and their staffers from a new law that would require them to take part in health care exchanges, reports the Washington Post. The National Review — one of the only outlets to fully report the story’s many details — has more about the context of the discussion:

    At issue is a requirement in the law that congressional staffers purchase their health insurance in the exchange markets. The Office of Personnel Management recently ruled that the federal government can continue providing a subsidy to use in the exchange markets, which critics such as Senator David Vitter have railed against as a special exemption from the law for Congress.

    But at a closed-door conference meeting this morning in the Capitol basement as they discussed a proposal to reverse the ruling, some lawmakers were more concerned about their own well-being.

As these leaders debated how the proposal to reverse the ruling would impact their personal finances, some congressmen expressed their concern. But when it came to Gingrey, who has sought an end to the subsidy and introduced a “No Special Treatment for Congress Act,” he wasn’t willing to simply endorse special treatment for anyone serving in Congress.

And that’s when he apparently made the contentious comment about salaries.

<snip>