Current members of Congress receive $174,000 annually, on average. This includes a very expansive selection in health and retirement benefits, including pension.
As they are the only body of workers who can vote on a pay increase for themselves, Congress' benefits as representatives of the American people are a distorted image of the what the average American person earns.
Since 1990, their pay has increased by $76,000. In light of the fact that Congress recently earned only a 9% approval rating from the people they represent, we the people question was validates such a gross increase to their salary. The time is now to dramatically scale back their pay and their ability to increase said pay. Pay them only while in session, or normalize their pay, along the lines of a nurse or teacher.