Aug 25, 2011
Representative Southerland Complains about his $174,000 Congressional Salary: “Not so Much”
Representative Southerland Complains about his $174,000 Congressional Salary: “Not so Much”
During a town hall meeting yesterday, Representative Steve Southerland (FL-02) complained that his $174,000 a year salary was “not so much” even though his salary is nearly four times more than a typical Florida family or a local police officer’s salary.
“It’s unbelievable how far out of touch Representative Steve Southerland is with Florida families if he thinks his $174,000 salary is not so much,” said Adam Hodge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “While he’s complaining about only making $174,000, his constituents are struggling to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head or find a job.”
Southerland went on to tell his constituents that “this job doesn’t mean that much to me” and claimed his salary “would not seem so high” given that “they’re shooting at us.”
Background:
Typical Florida Family Earned $44,500 in 2009. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income was $ 44,755 in 2009. [US Census Bureau Fast Facts, accessed 8/25/11]
Typical Tallahassee Police Patrol Earned $45,081. The median police patrol officer’s salary was $45,081 in Tallahassee, Florida 32308. [Salary.com, accessed 8/25/11]
Southerland Said $174,000 Salary “Not So Much.” “U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland told retirees Wednesday that serving in Congress is a great honor and privilege, but not cushy job with lavish insurance and pension benefits that many disgruntled taxpayers seem to think it is. He said his $174,000 salary is not so much […] He added that ‘if you took the hours that I work and divided it into my pay,’ the $174,000 salary would not seem so high.” [Florida Capital News, 8/25/11]
Southerland’s Previous Salary Was $91,000. For calendar year 2010, Southerland reported making $91,917 from Southerland Funeral Homes and Forethought Life Insurance Company. [2011 Southerland Personal Financial Disclosure, filled 6/3/11]
Southerland Voted to End Medicare. Southerland voted for the House Republican budget. “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills,” wrote the Wall Street Journal. [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]
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