Congress will be in session for a total of 126 days during the upcoming 2013 session. That works out to 10.5 days a month. At a salary of $174,000 per year for members of congress, $193,400 for party leaders and $223,500 for speaker of the house, that works out to $1,380 per day for a representative, $1,532 per day for a party leader, and $1,774 per day for the speaker of the house. They also receive health care and retirement benefits, and are fully vested after 5 years.
They should be mandated by law to be in session for at least 40 weeks per year, which works out to 200 days per year, which is still less than the average american worker. Additionally, government business should be completed before adjourning for the year.