RantCrush Top 5: June 28, 2017

Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz thinks U.S. taxpayers should pay an extra $16 million a year to fund a monthly housing subsidy for members of Congress. He said that having a monthly allowance for housing would allow lawmakers to do a better job, as Washington D.C is one of the most expensive cities to live in. “A $2,500 housing allowance would be appropriate and a real help to have at least a decent quality of life in Washington,” he said. Representatives already make $174,000 a year. With the proposed added stipends, they would make roughly $200,000 a year, all financed by taxpayer money.

I’m sure minimum wage workers making $7.25 an hour because of Chaffetz and the rest of the GOP are sympathetic to this struggle https://t.co/axtrDKUhH3

— David Beard (@dwbeard) June 27, 2017

If one of Chaffetz’s constituents said this, he’d call them moochers and tell them to work harder and stop expecting a government handout. https://t.co/hSAkfAwfCl

— Dennis Mersereau (@wxdam) June 27, 2017

A lot of people were outraged by Chaffetz’s suggestion, considering that Republicans are currently trying to pass a health care bill that would seriously cut Medicaid for poor and disabled people, and the fact that Chaffetz once told constituents that they could afford health care if they didn’t buy “the new iPhone they just love.”

Congressmen proposing that citizens go without cellphones so they can afford basic healthcare do not understand the world we live in.

— Patrick Thornton (@pwthornton) March 7, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.