So if I take a “leave of absence” you’ll double my salary?

Taking one for the team never paid so well.

While being a member of Congress might do wonders to your ego, it doesn’t necessarily benefit your wallet – at least compared to the salaries some of your staffers might be making. [Ethical cleansing, $ubcription]

Today’s Roll Call reports that while some Hill staffers complain about their ridiculously low salary, it’s clear, that sometimes, being a Hiller is very lucrative.

‘Continuing a tradition that comes with each election cycle, a small number of top congressional staffers will likely earn more than the members they work for this year . . . generally by taking a brief hiatus from their congressional duties (along with a small cut in congressional pay) and diving into a lucrative stint on the campaign,’ reports Roll Call’s Paul Singer.

Among the one’s making their boss’ jealous [and the ones who should be paying for your drinks each night]

Steven Paikowsky, who served as her chief of the staff at the time, took a pay cut from about $156,000 in 2005 to about $107,000 in 2006, went on part-time status in the Congresswoman’s office and earned an additional $171,500 as a campaign consultant for Wasserman Schultz and other candidates.
…
Eric Johnson, chief of staff for Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), earned about $149,000 in Congressional pay in 2006, according to payroll records compiled by LegiStorm. He also earned $62,000 in campaign income that year, for about $50,000 more in earnings than Wexler.
…
Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), earned about $96,000 in Congressional salary in 2006 and then took a leave of absence and earned an additional $85,000 working on the unsuccessful Senate re-election campaign of former Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.).
…
Beecher Frasier, chief of staff for Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), earned about $88,000 in Congressional salary in 2006 and then took a leave of absence and earned $101,000 working on the unsuccessful Senate campaign of former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.);
…
Sherry Brown, state director for Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), earned about $90,000 from the Senate office in 2006 before taking leave and earning $132,000 from Lieberman’s campaign.
…
Chris Riley, chief of staff to Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) returned $93,000 to Deal’s campaign earlier this month after being alerted by Roll Call that he exceeded income limits for several years.

*Editorial Note: We by no means here at FDC feel sorry for Members of Congress and the amount of money they make. We recognize that they make plenty of money, paid by you, the tax-payer. But, remember, a lot of these members do maintain multiple households both here and back in their districts. And some, as we’ve learned, juggle multiple families.

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