11 Jul 2006 Should Congressmen Make $850,000?

Should members of Congress be paid $850,000 per year?

According to Roll Call, after adjustments are made for inflation, they essentially did in 1873:

Relative to per capita income, 1873 was the highest point Congressional salaries ever reached. According to Economic History Services, the $7,500 wage would be roughly equivalent to $850,000 today. At the time it was about 40 times per capita GDP.

The rumor is true. They clearly didn’t have blogs — or talk radio — in 1873.