Each US Senator & Representatives make at least $174k (2011) a year, so right at $100 Million. Their staff makes a total of almost $600 Million. So, we pay these 2 gov entities over $700 Million a year. 47% of Congress Members, are millionaires. A status shared by only 1% of Americans.
From 1789-1855, they were given $6-8 per day in session, that's about $75 in today's money. I think we should go back to the per-day amount, or at the very minimum, restructure their pay. On just this branch of government, the US taxpayers spend almost a billion dollars a year.
During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin considered proposing that elected government officials not be paid for their service. Other Founding Fathers, however, decided otherwise.