Congress says increasing salary would lessen 'polarization' as new reimbursement system for House members kicks in

Without a pay raise since 2009, U.S. House members are set to take advantage of new reimbursement rules that will allow them to write off living expenses while in Washington, D.C.

Lawmakers gave some rather interesting reasoning behind their rule changes, first announced in the end-of-2022 report.

"The personal benefits of winning a seat in Congress have also decreased," the justification began. "Members of Congress last received a pay increase in January 2009, when their salary was increased 2.8% to $174,000. While $174,000 is much more than the median household income, members must also maintain homes in both their districts and in Washington, D.C, which ranks in the top ten most expensive U.S. cities for renters," it continued.

As the New York Post pointed out, that salary is more than triple the average salary in the United States and higher than what 93% of Americans earn. In 2023, there will be 117 working days in session.

House members are able to claim reimbursement of $258 per night for lodging and $79 per day for meals in D.C.

"Unlike their counterparts in the executive branch and private sector, members do not receive a per diem or reimbursement for their out-of-pocket living expenses when they are at work in Washington," the congressional report added.

The report then argued that by making political office more profitable, it could decrease "polarization."

"While members are understandably reluctant to raise their own salaries, there is some evidence to suggest that paying lawmakers better salaries has the effect of decreasing polarization in legislatures," the report attempted to explain. "For example, a study focused on state legislatures found that when lawmaker salaries are raised, 'there is a corresponding decrease in how polarized the set of people who run for office is.' More candidates are willing to run for office if they see public service as an economically viable career."

The reported cited a 2019 Washington Post article reviewing a book that argued raising congressional salaries would lessen polarization because "extreme people" are more likely to run for office.

"A moderate candidate might look at the opposition and say, gosh, I don’t particularly like what this person stands for, but running is super hard and I’d rather not quit my job. A more extreme person might look at the same opposition and say, wow, that person is anathema to me, I can’t bear the thought of being represented by that person. Even though it’s hard for me to run, I have to do it," author Andrew Hall wrote.

The report used the same graph from Hall's book to indicate falling salaries.

While the New York Post reported that the new rules will not require the submission of receipts, Fox News reported more recently that receipts are indeed required.

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