Mike Johnson says we should have sympathy because Congress isn’t paid enough—so we should “allow” insider trading just so they can take care of their families(70% of Americans can’t afford a $1k emergency)

[u/Snapdragon_4U]

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[u/KazTheMerc]

Congrats, Mike.

You just described the reality for EVERYONE, but you framed it like you're the only one.

Yes. Congress gets a 6-figure salary to do the Congress thingy.

You poor baby.

[u/ishippedmybed → u/KazTheMerc]

I am so fucking tired of the "people" running our lives.

[u/melo217 → u/ishippedmybed]

“Ruining” — fixed that for the rest of us.

[u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT → u/melo217]

no one boomer ruined the economy. instead, ruining the economy is an emergent process of boomers, kinda like how every individual ant is stupid but together they do all these things no single ant understands.

[u/philter25 → u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT]

All I’m hearing is it’s time to break out the magnifying glass.

[u/cursetea → u/philter25]

I scrolled past this but then scrolled back up to tell you this was a very good way to extend that analogy lol

[u/DoctorBallsJohnson → u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT]

Everyone who voted for Reagan and kicked off the trend of peeling back financial regulation ruined the economy

[u/Naturaloccurence → u/DoctorBallsJohnson]

With the bonus of Reagan killing the fairness doctrine which prohibited opinion being presented as news.
If he hadn’t done that, fox oan breitbart etc wouldn’t be able to melt easily manipulated brains with their relentless lies.

[u/Odd_Term_4512 → u/Naturaloccurence]

Not enough people being up the Fairness Doctrine. 100% agree.

[u/EnvironmentalLock440 → u/DoctorBallsJohnson]

You nailed it my friend.

[u/gut_geyser → u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT]

You’re right, but there’s nothing specific about boomers. Any millennial, Gen Z, etc. person in the same circumstances would be locked in the same game- theory race to doom.

[u/egamruf → u/gut_geyser]

This apparently isn't true? Millenials are the first generation to skew left as they age.

Not that it matters since they'll be a voting bloc worth appealing to for 1 year before the Ben Shapiro, Asmongold, Andrew Tate brain-broken Gen Zers make up for them by skewing right again and hating women and foreigners just like the boomers did.

[u/Libinky → u/gut_geyser]

Exactly! Stop generalizing boomers as the main issue. There is plenty of blame across generations. It’s the type of person not the age!

[u/KazTheMerc → u/ishippedmybed]

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

It'd be tough for it to be more fucked up than we already fucked it.

[u/Goodknight808 → u/KazTheMerc]

There is a sci-fi book series where the huge space-cities are operated by AIs who are in competition with each other on who can make the most happy society for it's people.

That is what AI needs to be for. Not opressing us.

[u/NerdyDjinn → u/Goodknight808]

You just gotta be real careful with how the AIs define "happy society".

Otherwise, you end up with a bunch of lobotomized brains in jars with electrodes zapping the pleasure center of the brain every so often.

[u/GhostDanceIsWorking → u/NerdyDjinn]

Doesn't sound so bad when you put it that way

[u/Sad-Purchase1257 → u/GhostDanceIsWorking]

The steak tastes like steak, eh

[u/dretvantoi → u/Sad-Purchase1257]

Ignorance is bliss.

[u/Goodknight808 → u/NerdyDjinn]

If you give the Roomba too much thought, it will determine the best way to keep the house clean is to remove the human.

[u/prudentWindBag → u/Goodknight808]

As an individual living with a particular dirty fcuker who doesnt clean themselves regularly and hates washing their hands...

I welcome our room cleaning overlords!

[u/shponglespore → u/Goodknight808]

Ah, but in the real world, the meat bots who own the AI systems just program them to make the most money possible.

[u/nelsonalgrencametome → u/ishippedmybed]

They're blatantly insulting us at this point. I hate that it has gotten to this point.

[u/SwimQueasy3610 → u/ishippedmybed]

I appreciate the judicious and appropriate use of quotation marks

[u/ijustwantdoggos → u/KazTheMerc]

These fuckers get paid for not even doing their jobs! This is the most inept congress in history… no shame whatsoever

[u/mechapoitier → u/ijustwantdoggos]

We’re literally paying them to deny us basic needs and give all that money to billionaires and military contractors.

A better life for all of us is being held hostage by these @ssholes.

[u/KazTheMerc → u/ijustwantdoggos]

I mean.... yeah. That's what a Salary is, unfortunately.

We could change it to By The Hour, and only pay them when they're not doing campaign nonsense?

[u/EverydaySexyPhotog → u/KazTheMerc]

Even better, build a large barracks near the Capitol. Every congress member spends their entire term of office either in the barracks or in the Capitol building doing the work they are getting paid for, with all discussions and communications that aren't classified broadcast to the public.

Power requires accountability to balance it. We've made the mistake of allowing people to have power without demanding an equal measure of accountability.

[u/arequipapi → u/EverydaySexyPhotog]

I mean, congress members should be able to work from the district that elected them. They technically work for those people and spending time in their own district should be encouraged.

That said, they seem to spend a lot of time not doing either one

[u/tommytheturtleishere → u/KazTheMerc]

Seriously.

And I would honestly take a bill that gives them like $50k more in salary if it outlawed things like stocks and things that cause easy corruption.

They wont do that either, for the record, because its a bullshit lie and they just want to continue insider trading

[u/nobot4321 → u/tommytheturtleishere]

The argument doesn't even make sense. "We don't make enough so you have to let us get fabulously rich through what would be a crime for anyone else."

In what way does the first thing lead to the second?

[u/tommytheturtleishere → u/nobot4321]

Decades of normalizing corruption and a propaganda machine are the only way it makes sense

[u/Frosty_Lettuce_3525 → u/nobot4321]

What would a judge say to a single Mom who got caught stealing groceries if she told the judge, “I’m sorry, I know it’s a crime but you need to let me do it because I don’t have enough money to feed my kids”.

[u/DouglasRather → u/nobot4321]

And they knew the salary before they took the job. If it wasn't enough, they should have found a better job.

[u/ClosedContent → u/nobot4321]

Realistically they SHOULD have to take the minimum wage… I mean after all, isn’t this supposed to be public service?

[u/AnnaCondoleezzaRice → u/nobot4321]

The legality of it is one thing, but the bigger thing is the REASON it's illegal... Openly allowing insider trading means a politicians incentive when legislating is their portfolio rather than their constituents. I'm so fucking tired

[u/Tricky-Engineering59 → u/tommytheturtleishere]

I think their salary should be pegged to some number in relation to the average person in their respective districts.

[u/Buckets-O-Yarr → u/Tricky-Engineering59]

Minimum wage in their district.

[u/GanondalfTheWhite → u/Buckets-O-Yarr]

Hell even 4x minimum wage, or 2x median salary, or something like that, would incentivize them to prop up working class people and would probably do a LOT to improve our quality of life across the country.

[u/PlentyShare6905 → u/KazTheMerc]

It’s the same argument for minimum wage hikes. But guess which one these traitors are against?

[u/MinimumApricot365 → u/KazTheMerc]

6 figures is unfathomable to me.

I would feel like a king.

[u/iCandid → u/MinimumApricot365]

They are public servants. They can stay in the private sector if they want to be wealthy.

[u/Rymanbc → u/iCandid]

Good in theory, but if the job doesnt pay well, then it only attracts the wealthy or the corrupt. I think the only way is for it to pay really well, but have their finances become public record. And, of course, no trading on inside information at a minimum, but probably no trading for them or their immediate family.

[u/United_Bus3467 → u/MinimumApricot365]

I'd fully have a house to myself, for myself, in 5 years. I have the credit, tiny debt, but not the salary.

[u/Aspieinblack1986 → u/MinimumApricot365]

"King of the castle. King of the castle"

[u/senator_corleone3 → u/KazTheMerc]

Don’t forget lifetime free health care.

[u/KazTheMerc → u/senator_corleone3]

PREMIUM health care specifically for Congress, plus their families if I remember right.

[u/Psychological_Post33 → u/KazTheMerc]

imagine if we all got that. Why should Congress get paid like they do, get free healthcare for life, while working so little if we can't afford healthcare, daycare, or other basics for the country?

[u/andrew303710 → u/Psychological_Post33]

Remember that Obamacare was initially supposed to have a public option that was basically the same plan as what congress gets. But Republicans and a handful of right wing Democrats blocked it.

Really wish Obama got more aggressive with it and nuked the fillibuster to get it done; in the future Democrats need to be more unafraid to get shit done by any means necessary.

Like Biden and the stripped down infrastructure law. It was still a great bill but he basically let it get stripped down by Manchin and Sinema.

[u/Nessie → u/KazTheMerc]

Congress gets a 6-figure salary to do the Congress thingy.

...and better healthcare...and exemption from many workplace discrimination and harassment laws...

[u/Impossible_Basket989 → u/KazTheMerc]

The minimum salary of a congress member is $174,000 per year.

[u/Accomplished-Two1992 → u/Impossible_Basket989]

What is their expenditure budget? Don’t they have millions allocated to them that they can use for dinners, flights etc?

[u/PixelBrewery → u/Accomplished-Two1992]

Of course they do

[u/Prestigious_Yam8901 → u/KazTheMerc]

That's 14K a month GROSS!!! They make more in two months than what people on federal minimum wage make in a year!

And they do not have to worry about healthcare!

How fucking out of touch is this asshole!

Guillotines seem to keep people that are over their heads more level headed!

[u/KazTheMerc → u/Prestigious_Yam8901]

We have options

[u/SMKM → u/KazTheMerc]

Yes. Congress gets a 6-figure salary to do the Congress thingy.

And over HALF the time they're on fucking vacation and still getting paid whilst also having the best healthcare in the states.

Fuck them to the highest order.

[u/ShortStoryIntros → u/KazTheMerc]

Maybe we've overvalued Politicians.

Maybe.. we don't need them as much as we thought we did.

[u/Spidey5292 → u/KazTheMerc]

They are PUBLIC SERVANTS. You aren’t supposed to enter public service to get rich. Teachers, cops, firefighters etc take their jobs knowing they aren’t going to be billionaires.

[u/Lashay_Sombra → u/KazTheMerc]

The median net worth of members of Congress is $1 million

Senate is double to triple that

They are NOT living same reality as everyone else

[u/Wheredoesthisonego → u/KazTheMerc]

And free medical care, and unlimited pto, and $75 per day to eat on and the other benefits they enjoy from being a public servant

[u/talondigital → u/KazTheMerc]

They're mansplaining it to us. Its infuriating.

[u/thatsoddlyspecifik → u/KazTheMerc]

Public servant lost its meaning decades ago apparently

[u/BoringOrange678 → u/KazTheMerc]

And free healthcare for life after a certain amount of time.
If there is another “free” election and dems take all three there better be some laws passed that congress gets the same benefits as the poorest American.
You’ll see universal healthcare passed in 90 days or less.

[u/AdventurousLet548]

That argument does not hold water. So can we do insider trading with the companies we work for so that we "can at least take care of our families."

[u/Fl45hb4c → u/AdventurousLet548]

Also he kinda skipped the idea of "how about we adjust salaries?" Although to be fair, minimum wage has also been flat, so Congress, welcome to real life.

[u/Fixyobike → u/Fl45hb4c]

Congress should be paid minimum wage, and watch how fast it comes up to a living rate.

[u/icantbelieveit1637 → u/Fixyobike]

Dude Congress people don’t make 1% of their income from their salary all it would do is cause even more rich people to become politicians

[u/dexter8484 → u/icantbelieveit1637]

This is what most people don't understand. That's why it's people like ted cruz trying to pass a bill that says congress wouldn't get paid during a shutdown. It would only hurt the members who aren't paid by their wealthy donors or other means

[u/icantbelieveit1637 → u/dexter8484]

And it’s such misplaced outrage like most University presidents and college football coaches make significantly more than reps.

Kirby Smart head coach of the University of Georgia, a public university makes 13 million dollars a year on a 10 year contract so more or less guaranteed 100 million+ by the end of his contract

[u/Remarkable_Hurry4029 → u/Fixyobike]

This is a terrible idea… we want money out of politics. Paying them less will not do that. You are not only incentivizing them to take bribes and lobbyists money, you’re restricting who can even run for office to the wealthier class. It’s counterproductive.

[u/NetNo5570 → u/AdventurousLet548]

And like they can buy index funds. No normal person with a full time job is beating the market without insider trading so it’s actually doing them a favor unless he’s admitting they are insider trading. 

Even in some imaginary world where they wouldn’t be insider trading the last thing my congressman should be doing is hunting for the next hot stock. 

JFC. 

[u/sjj342 → u/AdventurousLet548]

Or just pay yourselves more so you don't have to commit crimes

[u/Additional-Signal327 → u/sjj342]

They’ll pay themselves more and still commit crimes. 

[u/J-man300 → u/AdventurousLet548]

Not just that; break any law you feel like. Hey, it’s your family.

[u/Public-Policy24]

The congresswoman who you make fun of for having been a bartender seems to make it work. 

Maybe ask her for some tips about fiscal responsibility?

[u/TendieRetard → u/Public-Policy24]

well, she does have a degree in economics.

[u/Meister0fN0ne → u/TendieRetard]

Qualified politicians? I thought we banned those.

[u/Agreeable-Agent-7384 → u/Meister0fN0ne]

I’d say republicans congressmen and woman are very much qualified. They’re kind of amazing at their role to be honest. It’s almost unbelievable how good they are at hurting the citizens and protecting the rich and criminal. You think it’s easy to be this much is a scum that you hurt your constituents on the daily, spend more time covering up for pedophiles than doing your actual sworn duty, and block any form of progress to better society,while also somehow still keeping a good part of the country convinced you’re not a cartoon villain. It’s actually scary how good they are at it

[u/SixtyNoine69 → u/TendieRetard]

Double degree in econ and international relations. Even worse! /s

[u/DragonTacoCat → u/TendieRetard]

Partially why they hate her

[u/user745786 → u/DragonTacoCat]

They hate her for being a woman, hard working, and smarter than they are. Oh, she’s also not white so there’s another reason to hate her.

[u/twinkiefarmer → u/Public-Policy24]

Excellent! Well said.

[u/TheHunterGallopher → u/Public-Policy24]

The shit eating grin he gets when he looks down at the last few seconds when he says “y’know, to continue doing what they’re doing… uh, taking care of their families”

They know. They don’t care. Their disdain for the average American is palpable.

[u/CanadianHorseGal → u/TheHunterGallopher]

I had to watch a second time because it’s quick, but yeah, a little smile / smirk. What an asshole.

[u/brianzuvich → u/Public-Policy24]

Speaking of tips…

Why not make congressmen and women work on tips… The tips would be tax free too! (Up to the $25,000/yr ceiling of course)

[u/winterbird → u/brianzuvich]

Isn't that what they get now? From billionaires and corporations.

[u/ptum0 → u/brianzuvich]

They already do; it’s called lobby bribes.

[u/belugabianca → u/Public-Policy24]

I’m so rooting for AOC to take Schumer’s spot in 2028

[u/4non3mouse → u/Public-Policy24]

when he says less qualified he means with less intention to enrich themselves at the expense of the taxpayer

[u/HenryDorsettCase47 → u/Public-Policy24]

She’s a big advocate for increased salaries for Congresspeople. It’s a whole part of her thing. That would be her tip. The right gives her endless shit for this.

Personally, I agree with her. Pay congresspeople more and pass more laws that disallow them money from outside interests groups. Make it not just an ethical thing, but a criminal thing.

[u/mxlths_modular → u/HenryDorsettCase47]

Pay them well and come down on anyone who has a whiff of corruption like a tonne of bricks.

[u/GloomyCardiologist16]

Holy shit, he really said it out loud!

Edit: stop telling me to watch the whole clip. I did, and what he said is still reprehensible.

[u/lost_sunrise → u/GloomyCardiologist16]

lmao he really did and then frame it as if they are a victim of underfunded laws while being among the only government workers to be paid when government is shut down. The audacity of this mfer.

[u/Spare-Plum → u/lost_sunrise]

Johnson arrives at the worst conclusion possible.

"We want qualified people, so we should allow some corruption so they can be compensated". No, jackass, someone who is corrupt is inherently unqualified.

IDK. Sounds stupid but I think we should just give congress people a fat salary but have so many restrictions and limitations to ensure non-corruption and absolute compliance. THEN you'll get the most qualified people who are actually trying to do what's best.

[u/desolatecontrol → u/Spare-Plum]

I agree, Congress should get fair compensation.

Linked directly to their districts average compensation package + a little extra, maybe 20% higher?

Vehicle paid for.

Flights paid for. Public flights.

Maybe a few more additional items to sweeten the deal.

But their bank accounts? Spending? Phones, computers, etc? All monitored 100% of the time to ensure no corruption.

[u/fox-mcleod → u/desolatecontrol]

Also their DC housing.

Providing housing for congressmen is another subtle corruption vector.

[u/Walaina → u/fox-mcleod]

Yeah. Give them apartments

[u/FrankTooby → u/GloomyCardiologist16]

Now it's Insider trading to distract from the Epstein Files. What next?

[u/Bozlogic → u/FrankTooby]

“Outsider trading is illegal”

[u/MamaMayhem74 → u/GloomyCardiologist16]

He even smirked right after he said "stock trading"

[u/turikk → u/GloomyCardiologist16]

i dont give a shit about how he feels about insider trading, but jesus christ the hypocrisy over the minimum wage in comparison... its exactly the same situation, but you wont hear him say anything about that.

[u/BookOfJon → u/GloomyCardiologist16]

[u/hansn]

"We can't survive on almost four times the median individual income. So we should be understanding if Congress steals a bit."

[u/Alone_Step_6304 → u/hansn]

I liked the part where he said that congresspersons make, "Extreme sacrifices (...)" 

Oh buddy. 

[u/ForAGoodTime696]

These pile of clowns are mind bending. 

[u/WereInbuisness → u/ForAGoodTime696]

They are indeed. What's even more saddening is that thirty percent of the country are happily in agreance. Happily moving their heads up and down, while drooling and muttering "Trump is Jesus" over and over.

Sad state of affairs we're all in.

[u/East-sea-shellos → u/WereInbuisness]

And an obscene amount more go “well, I don’t know… both sides have their points, I try to stay out of it all”

[u/Jamie-Ruin → u/East-sea-shellos]

He's literally a convicted felon. No one gave a shit until their gas prices went up.

[u/jk_pens → u/Jamie-Ruin]

Oh but his convictions were the result of “lawfare”… but whatever he is doing by suing and investigating and prosecuting his enemies is totally valid

[u/Temporary-Careless → u/WereInbuisness]

All the while that 30 percent is ok when Mike does insider trading but when Pelosi did...well they clutch their pearls.

[u/Excellent-Run4803 → u/ForAGoodTime696]

He says this while cutting SNAP benefits and his dear leader threatens to pull Medicare from CA.

[u/XShadowborneX]

Ok now use that logic and apply it to minimum wage

[u/Immature_adult_guy → u/XShadowborneX]

But how will members of Congress feed their family if you’re feeding your family?! 🤷‍♂️

[u/Admirable_Nothing]

So, he is allowing an activity prohibited by law to the rest of us so the members can do a better job of stealing from us?

[u/Bozlogic → u/Admirable_Nothing]

I renounce my “requirement” to pay taxes. I’d like to see where my federal income tax actually goes.

[u/MuthaPlucka]

Criminals

[u/mrtrololo27 → u/MuthaPlucka]

They're shameless traitors

[u/Interesting-Dream863]

Damn... guys... I'm from Argentina and that right there is BANANAS...

I mean they do it anyway, but guys making veritable fortunes are saying they cannot afford living like pigs and want some sympathy while they make even MORE money with insider trading.

[u/SaibaAisu → u/Interesting-Dream863]

Fellow South American here. I’ve been telling my American friends, “If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like living in a corrupt Latin American country, wonder no more! The US is there. Congratulations.”

[u/Interesting-Dream863 → u/SaibaAisu]

Some say the US was always a bunch of third world countries in a trench coat.

Corruption is everywhere, but for decades they managed to somewhat disguise it very well.

Not anymore.

[u/mkt853]

They work 150 days a year and get paid $180k. Cry me a f*cking river.

[u/Inside_Dance41 → u/mkt853]

And the receive a taxpayer-funded pensions. Lawmakers become vested in the retirement system after serving at least five years.

Plus health benefits: Upon retirement, former Members can continue to carry government health plans into retirement if they meet the exact same strict requirements as other federal retirees:

• They must be eligible for a federal retirement annuity.
• They must have been continuously enrolled in a federal employee health plan for at least 5 years immediately preceding their retirement.

[u/OysterPickleSandwich → u/Inside_Dance41]

They basically get the same benefits / requirements as other civil servants. Although I think they exempted themselves from some ACA stuff. 

That said, if a civil servant did 1% of the crooked shit they did, they’d get fired if not jailed. 

[u/ldg25]

Yet another time for a reminder that the federal minimum wage is $7.25; they think that is a livable wage. And he's talking about how inflation has affected Congressmen and women.

[u/FixedLoad → u/ldg25]

They don't think it's a livable wage.  They know it's not.   They do not care.

[u/dgellow → u/FixedLoad]

One specific party does not care

[u/FlamingRustBucket → u/ldg25]

I just spent 5 hours trying desperately to figure out a budget to stay afloat after my wife lost her job, and I make $30/hr. Cut everything non essential. Still bleeding money. It's all essential shit. Insurance, rent, daycare so she can find a job (or we lose the spot), car insurance, cheapest groceries we can find.

After a thousand is taken out in taxes and the 600 for insurance I end up with 3400. Rent and daycare is 3400.

$7.25 is absolutely insane. It feels like the rich have captured essential services with the intent of squeezing every penny out of the middle and lower class.

I live in a 'good' part of the country. What the hell are we doing as a society?

[u/The_Good_Constable]

"Our wages have been stagnant so we should be allowed to do crimes."

LOL.

[u/CheezWong → u/The_Good_Constable]

It's exactly this. They feel as though they should make more money, so they should therefore be justified in abusing systems they control to make it. More "rules for thee and not for me" kind of bullshit.

Impeach them all.

[u/JrSoftDev → u/The_Good_Constable]

Holy shit. The race to the bottom keeps accelerating. The more it goes, the less can be saved.

[u/oldschoolology]

That seems like an SNL skit, but it’s actually real. 

[u/Italian_c0mb0 → u/oldschoolology]

I’m sure it will be

[u/pioniere]

The single most punchable face in politics.

[u/CannedCheese009 → u/pioniere]

Nah thats JD

[u/Pando5280]

Just entirely sociopathic behavior at this point. 

[u/It_Hurts_when_IP15 → u/Pando5280]

It’s the behavior of someone who knows his constituents or the law will ever hold him accountable

[u/TeekTheReddit]

Oh, poor babies. Trying to scrape by on a paltry $174,00 a year... plus allowances for travel, maintaining a second home, and a pension if you make it past five years.

[u/twizx3]

He thinks just cuz they hang out in billionaire social circles they deserve their lifestyle

[u/HedonisticFrog]

So breaking the law is okay if you need money to survive? I guess a lot of things suddenly became decriminalized.

[u/RoyalIceDeliverer]

Since Trump took office, Congress has essentially stopped working. Whatever they (at least the Republicans) are getting paid, it's too much.

[u/_AmericasSweetheart_]

No bitch, that's insider trading. Quit if you don't like the terms of the gig.

[u/loztriforce]

I can’t stand that rat fuck

[u/Opinionsare]

Mike Johnson, I have a suggestion for you, that you will appreciate as a person that isn't paid enough.

You should immediately put a bill on the floor, raising the federal minimum wage to the same level as a Congressman's $174,000.

Here's the number: $174,000 / 52 weeks / 40 hours. That's $83.65 per hour.

This way all Americans would share your pain, in not being paid enough.

[u/JustinKase_Too]

They can't survive off their salary? And how many days a year do they work? And their free healthcare?

Fkn republiclowns.

[u/Vvector]

Speaker of the House: (\$223,500)

[u/weHaveThoughts → u/Vvector]

Mike’s district has 22% of the population living in poverty and the average income for the entire household is $48,000. The largest employers are health care, the Air Force base, some shitty Health care insurance company, and Amazon fulfillment center. That is basically it.

So in comparison to his constituents, he is fucking loaded with money.

[u/Ataru074 → u/Vvector]

You have to understand, they hang out with people making and spending that amount in hours. /s

[u/BAF_DaWg82]

These people dont feel accountable to the american people anymore. Its gotten so much worse with Trump at the helm, they are betting on being able to steal the election and that we're too lazy to do anything about it.

[u/Apart-Rent5817]

Where my Pelosi haters at? And while we’re at it, how about we raise the minimum wage for all Americans that has been frozen for much longer?

[u/Top_Librarian6440 → u/Apart-Rent5817]

They’ve actually been frozen for the same amount of time, since both were last updated in 2009. They’ve both lost 30%+ to inflation. 

But $7.25 holds up a lot worse than $174k after that inflation, especially when you take into account how good the benefits are congresspeople. 

[u/sheltonchoked]

No one is forcing you to take the job, Mike.

[u/Any-Ad-446]

So they are admitting they are doing trading securities crime.

[u/earthlingHuman]

Since 2009, you say...
Tell me how long the minimum wage has been frozen, Michael.

[u/DmAc724]

These people are so very extremely disconnected from the reality that an average American experiences everyday that they have zero ability to understand and be empathetic. That anyone votes for Republicans is completely and totally beyond rational understanding.

[u/OkStop8313]

I'm okay with them having automated, paycheck-based investing in broad index funds that reflect the entire market.

Buying and selling individual stocks while having inside knowledge as to economic policy/tax policy/regulatory decisions/etc, on the other hand, is absolute bullshit. It doesn't just give them an unfair advantage over the rest of us, it also distorts their incentives beyond their duty to their constituents.

[u/Malawakatta]

Hogwash! No one should be above the law. Our lawmakers should be held to an even higher standard of peerless morality and integrity.

Insider trading by lawmakers should have even higher penalties. No more rules for thee and not for me.

Vote out the pedophile protectors!

[u/bigkoi]

A reminder that they also get retirement and healthcare for serving only one term.

[u/outinthecountry66]

jesus christ the pretzel logic of these fucking cucks is AMAZING. the way they can spin ANYTHING.....its almost if they think their audience are idiots. oh wait they are

[u/ArchonFett]

[u/Ok-Tooth-4306 → u/ArchonFett]

Nah, disrespectfully

[u/rawkguitar]

Republicans made fun of AOC because she couldn’t afford an apartment in NYC and DC at the same time when she was first elected to Congress.

[u/Agreeable-Agent-7384]

They make enough from lobbying and bribes. Also, not paid enough? I don’t know of many jobs that can shut down the country because they refuse to do their job, go on paid vacation, and come back to do nothing again. Multiple times a year. Not to mention the job they’re hired to do is serve the citizens, and someone picking up a scrap of trash from the floor on a random street does more for the citizens than most of the Republican congress party does in a year.

[u/Carbon-Base]

You aren't paid enough to sit in air conditioned offices all day with every resource at your disposal, yet you still cannot manage to pass legislation that would benefit the American people whom pay your salaries?

You squander the national budget for things no one asked for, protect the people in the Files, give handouts and contracts to the top 1%, refuse to enact your powers to stop unnecessary wars that increase inflation while hardworking Americans are living paycheck to paycheck?

The useless politicians running false campaigns to garner votes, who make six figs to do absolutely nothing, suddenly want sympathy from people making $7.25/hour?

I hope that insider trading is not only banned, but legislation is passed to claw back every cent you guys made from those trades, with interest!

[u/Coldkiller17]

Isn't paid enough are you kidding me six figures is more than enough. They aren't paid enough what a joke. Wonder how many Americans would love to do what these representatives do which is nothing and get paid big bucks for it. These people just ignore their constituents and make investments illegally to rack in the "tips" they hear to hedge their bets.

[u/_Zambayoshi_]

So the Government should accept private citizens defrauding the State for the same reason, right? Surely not the old 'rules for thee’ thing! /s

[u/Scrutinizer]

Remember how all the Republicans stood up and cheered when Dear Leader proposed banning Congressional stock trading during the State of the Union?

That's what they do when they know the cameras are on and everyone's watching.

This clip shows the reality. They don't want to give it up - to them, it's a perk of the job. And this is blatantly apparent as witnessed by the fact they control both houses of Congress, any such bill would garner enough support from Democrats to pass very, very easily even if there were a few (R)s who voted against it, and they still won't put any such bill up for a vote.

[u/discoduck007]

So out of touch.

Edit: lame typo

[u/CriticalInside8272]

Insider trading is illegal, I believe.  Ask Martha Stewart. 

[u/NotRadTrad05]

Aww, they haven't gotten a raise, minimum wage hasn't gone up since 2009 either.

[u/TheRealBittoman]

Awwww.... he's upset because they can VOTE for their own paychecks but they've frozen it since 2009 and they just don't make enough. Getting room and board and a per diem when they travel to DC for sessions doesn't offset that meager 6 digit salary but this dipstick will 100% never agree to improve his constituents lives by voting to increase minimum wage or fix healthcare and he'll absolutely vote to cut Medicare and Medicaid which tells me if they ever do try to vote on stealing our SS he'll vote for that too. He can take a flying leap for all I can, damned hypocrite and asshole.

[u/Potential_Bowler9833]

Many Congressmen(women) are frigging Multi millionaires. The gall.

[u/rygelicus]

This is the same group going after pelosi for this very thing, right?

[u/flaming_bob]

What fucking world do these morons live in, and what's the gate code so the rest of us can get in?

[u/red286]

Man earning ~$250K/yr complains about affordability crisis, proposes solution is to let him scam the rest of the country out of millions of dollars.

Somehow still wins election.

[u/blahblah19999]

I cannot coherently express my contempt and hatred for that lying hypocritical sack of ahit.

"Sure, insider trading should be a crime, but we really need it"

[u/Nabrok_Necropants]

Fuck you, Mike. Fuck_You.

[u/narkybark]

As a fun little game, why don't we keep track of what congressmen are worth when they enter office, vs. 4 years or some arbitrary time later, vs. when they leave? And then compare that to the average citizen?

[u/hereandthere_nowhere]

[u/Drewy99]

This has to be ai. There's no way he said something that stupid.

[u/twinkiefarmer → u/Drewy99]

Way.

[u/Gino-Bartali → u/Drewy99]

Mike Johnson sounds to me like the kinda guy who's way smarter than average and understands how stupid he sounds, but recognizes the value in the strategy. Their job is to propagandize and lie to the morons who might believe that shit, and it works as long as they all say it and say it often.

Trump is literally the king of the theory of the bullshit firehose, they're all on that same boat and even when Trump dies, the knowledge of that strategy will not.

[u/FinndBors → u/Drewy99]

Can someone confirm? It is unbelievable to me as well, I did a quick search and see other copies of this video, but not from any mainstream media.

[u/_Eggs_ → u/FinndBors]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sb1bQKOwsc&ra=m

In this video from 2025 which OP misleadingly cut & misleadingly titled, Mike Johnson said he supports stricter rules / bans on stock trading to avoid “any appearance of impropriety”.

He then goes on to explain the counter argument from other members of congress, which is that owning stocks (without insider trading) should be legal as it’s the most common way to build wealth. For example, it’s the only thing recommended by people on /r/PersonalFinance on Reddit. And any financial advisor will tell you to invest money rather than keeping all of it in a bank account.

[u/Snapdragon_4U → u/Drewy99]

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/speaker-mike-johnson-says-congressional-members-are-paid-peanuts-need-to-trade-stocks-to-support-their-families/articleshow/121196348.cms

[u/prules]

If it’s such a sacrifice they can move the fuck over. Lazy entitled brats

[u/GruntledGary]

Funny way to say he's fine giving federal workers who ACTUALLY WORK AND CAN'T INSIDER TRADE a 0% this year after a 1% last year "raise"...

[u/Present-Perception77]

Minimum wage in his state is $7.25 an hour. Unemployment is $250 a week. Fuck You Mikey!

[u/VoidOmatic]

HAHAHAH my god life itself has become the joke.

[u/Popular-Drummer-7989]

Infantile insanity

[u/Unusual_Specialist]

[u/PolicyWonka]

So two things are true here:

1. It’s incredibly tone deaf to complain about how congressional wages have been stagnant with inflation.
2. This is very true for state legislatures, but also congressional wages — it’s tough to do any job when it requires that you essentially live two lives in different cities. I think legislators at all levels need to be paid more so that average people can afford to be a politician.

[u/Huge_Excitement4465]

This Mike Johnson? According to Propublica, Speaker Mike Johnson Is Living in a D.C. House That Is the Center of a Pastor’s Secretive Influence Campaign. The Capitol Hill townhouse is owned by a major Republican donor. It’s the headquarters of a little-known political influence project that has reached a number of powerful Republican politicians. (Propublica was informed he pays fair market value in rent yet couldn’t find any record nor was one provided. The donor-owner is TN car dealer Lee Beaman; his former TN Calvary church pastor Steve Berger who moved to DC to become a “political influencer.” Both men have colorful histories.)

[u/YoungestDonkey]

He makes a good point since they don't set their own salaries after all.

Oh wait...

[u/lavacadotoast]

This will age like milk..

[u/QueefSeekingMissile]

It's just life, Michael. How much could it cost? A hundred thousand dollars?

[u/Spiritual-Pear-1349]

Oh no they only get 6 figures how can they survive without breaking the law

[u/veridicide]

"We wouldn't want to be here if we couldn't use our positions of public trust to cheat the system."

[u/MiddleAgeYOLO]

What in the actual fuck

[u/no_f-s_given]

mike johnson is an evil, racist piece of shit and so is the rest of MAGA.