Will the Baracks Need to go on a Bugdet?

One part of his income that is not reported is his per deim that he gets for every day he is in Washington, DC. Also remember that Senators and Congress men get a raise unless the majority votes not to accept it. It is interesting to note what some representives receive in expences each year. One example was a Congressman from Alaska who's district includes the Alution Islands receives the IRS mileage from Washington DC to the furthest point in his district. He would be paid over $3600, each time he returns to Alaska, A first class round trip ticket costs around, $1575.00. Each trip home he makes over $2,000, the difference between his flight and the mileage paid. Congressmen get 15 or more paid trips home each year. I don't think any politician is going to need to go on a budget any time soon.

Well, I doubt whether they will need a serious budget. Then again, some of these high living people have very high expectations & a high living style. I'm sorry I don't always reply to your poilitcal discussions. Although I have heard of the poloiticians you write about, being from Australia, I don't usually know enough to respond with something useful.

I did not realize being an administrator is paid more than almost every polititian in Canada or that being a part-time director pays so well.Of course I have to ask where the other 500,000 they receive comes from.

Of course the argument will be made that people of a certain visibility and prominence require that higher income to live up to the expectations of their lofty positions. I could happily be dropped down to that level any year you pick, and I could get a lot of pleasure from it, as well as be able to do a lot of good for others.

I didn't know specifically, but that is one of my biggest pet peeves. ALL of the politicians who are in congress earn very large salaries. And all of the politicians who run for the presidency are very wealthy! They are so far removed from us "ordinary" folk...that there is no way they could ever relate to us or understand what we need.

I had a feeling they were pretty well off, most politicians are. It kind of makes me feel good that she is the bigger source of income than he is(book deal aside). And I don't know if I would consider them "wealthy" by political standards, look at how much the Clintons are worth, or the Bushs', John Kerry, etc...I have a feeling Obama is on the low end of the totem pole. It's still a good income, but there are millions of people who make a lot more.

Oh Mrs. Obama and I shop together at Aldi's food store so I think they'll do fine on this horribly reduced income! LOL Sheesh... give me a break! Once again, a factor that shows where the money really is and it's NOT in my pocket or yours!!!!! Unfortunately I don't think he's even close to being "alone" in this outrageous income level and I would venture to guess most all of those running for presidential election would be right there if not higher then them!

Didnt ya know that they have to be rich now to run for pres. Not like back when Lincoln ran

Oh what a shame, but I suppose they will find a way to survive.....good grief. I wish I could have what they pay in taxes, I'm sure their tax bill is a lot more than I make in a whole year. I would not be inclined to judge a person by their income, I am more apt to judge them by what they do with their income....This is one of the reasons I really detest politicians, the poor people being ruled by the rich people that don't have a clue what the average person has to go through.