$174,000. That's how much they 'earn' on top of other benefits. The average american citizen's salary? $41,211. They make more than triple the citizens they are supposed to serve.
They receive $40,000 each for office furniture. Why do they need new office furniture? They spend as much on office furniture as most people make in a year. This is just the tip of the iceberg. For a more thorough, and infuriating, description of how Congress has fun with our hard earned money, here's the link for the full run down:
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid='0E%2C*PL%5B%3D%23P...
They get all this, and still cannot properly do their jobs. I say we either see them take a serious budget cut to themselves, or we (their bosses!) fire them.
Serving is an honor not a reward.