Just another example of political class privilege.
The Senate handbook says that upon the death of a senator who had been serving in office, “in the next appropriations bill, an item will be inserted for a gratuity to be paid to the widow(er) or other next- of-kin, in the amount of one-year’s compensation.”
Raise your hand if your company will pay your next of kin a year’s salary as a gratuity if you die. (This is on top of whatever insurance you have.)
Yeah, me neither.
I imagine many of these little privileges came into being during those boom times when the money was flowing and not one cared enough to notice. Now people are starting to go “wait, what?” Who knows if anything will actually get done about it…
Um… not here…
Actually, the city that employs me will do that for my wife if I bite it. Her newspaper also carries a one-year-salary insurance plan on her with me as a beneficiary.
I bet that it’s insurance to in your case, Whitebread. The Senate thing is clearly not insurance.
The city is self-insured for such things, so I’m willing to bet that any differences are paperwork formalities. Besides, an entity as large as the FedGov would be wasting money by not self-insuring.
In the case of the Senate it’s an actual bill voted and signed into law and paid directly from the taxpayers.
No insurance, self or otherwise, involved.
It’s not their money, it’s ours. It’s one of the ultimate millionaires clubs and they’re getting one list run at the taxpayer trough even in death.
Alan, sometimes one can use their Privileges to ones advantages. Here’s an example: Because Congress Critters MUST have a home in their District ( or State for the Senate), plus they MUST have a home in D.C Metro, they receive a nice chunk of change to maintain 2 houses. Those of us who served in the Navy on FBM Submarines (“Boomers”) got the same deal. Since we had 2 complete crews, but only one Sub (Blue Crew and Gold Crew), those Subs whose crew was in “Off Crew” Status, back in our home port, and if NO Adequate Housing existed, could rent or buy a place off Base and get the same benefit. Since there were never enough Married Quarters around, many families were able to stay together during Off Crew because of Congress. But us Single guys always had enough Barracks available (Damn It!). Funny thing is, the President and the Veep, since they are Provided Housing, do Not get that benefit. Yes, the Government picks up the tab for the Secret Service, and if there’s space available, they’ll build something for them, Communications, etc. But the actual Property/Home? The President pays for that. Now, if you had a Ranch like Bush or Reagan, you’ve got room. But since Obama doesn’t have that big a house back in Chicago, this could be one reason he doesn’t go back there too often. Remember the brouhaha when Bill and Hillary had to go House Hunting? Those idiots had lived in Taxpayer Housing for so long they didn’t know what home ownership was. There are other Benefits out there that some Federal People can take advantage of, like the Dry Cleaning Tax Break I used for my uniforms ( again a Congress Critter bennie), but you REALLY have to dig for them. Still doesn’t excuse the fact that most of them need to be voted out and sent to Prison for Theft.
Rep. David Crockett addressed this very issue in “Not Yours to Give”. Read it here: http://www.juntosociety.com/patriotism/inytg.html
I say pay ’em IF they agree to be lobotomized or chemically castrated and their children removed to foster care and re-education. People who have been Senators should not produce any offspring.
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