On November 1, 2011, I wrote an email to some senators. The entire email is contained on this blog. On November 4, 2011, I received this email response from Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R).
Dear Friend: Thank you for taking the time to write me. I have received your letter and I value your input, which is why I will personally read your letter. Please allow me time to review your correspondence to ensure you receive an accurate, detailed and thoughtful response to your inquiry. It may take at least 30 days or as many as 60 days to reply due to the heavy volume of mail that I receive. I appreciate your patience as you await my response. If this matter is time sensitive, please contact my office at (202)224-5754 and my staff is ready and happy to assist you. Sincerely, Tom Coburn, M.D. U.S. Senator
I did not send a letter. I sent an email. Senators make a starting salary of $174,000 annually when they are first elected. Every year, members of congress get an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), unless they vote it down, which adjusts their pay according to inflation. In June of 2003, at least 40 of the then-senators were millionaires. This money comes from your taxes. Senators worked 151 days in 2001 (about 5 months), and they were scheduled to meet 137 days in 2009 (about 4 1/2 months).
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate
http://ask.yahoo.com/20010503.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2009/07/recess.html
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