It’s not enough that rank and file members of Congress get salaries of $174,000 per year paid by we, the people, many of whom earn considerably less and struggle to make ends meet paycheck to paycheck. It’s not enough that these leeches get benefits at our expense, including health insurance and retirement benefits – much like any other federal employee – but only work about half the days of any other federal worker. Congress has averaged 138 “legislative days” per year since 2001, averaging about 18 hours of work per week.