Members of the House and Their Possible Recently Inflated Salaries.
Picture this, it’s a typical Tuesday evening. Samantha, an experienced kindergarten teacher with that has been in her profession for 10+ years, sits down to calculate her monthly bills. Samantha just received her paycheck, and despite the long hours and emotional labor her job demands, it’s not much different from what she earned a decade ago. That very day, headlines splash across the news: “Members of the House and There Recently Inflated Salaries!” Samantha thinks about the new shoes her son needs and the ever-increasing rent. She can’t help but wonder, where’s the balance? Additionally, this raises the question of “Are members of the house of representative receiving a compensation that is over inflated?”. Through the following story I will explain how my data analysis work answers this question.
While salaries are a necessary and often beneficial component of any profession, they can also be indicative of underlying systemic issues. Teachers, for example, enter their field driven by a passion to make a difference and benefit future generations. They not only impart knowledge but also mold the characters and aspirations of their students. Yet, despite their invaluable contributions, their compensation often doesn’t reflect the magnitude of their impact. On the other end of the spectrum, Members of the House of Representatives also venture into public service with the intention of making meaningful contributions. However, the recent surges in their salaries that were uncovered by my personal data analysis raises questions. While it’s reasonable to ensure that our elected officials are compensated fairly, the disparity in wage hikes compared to other public servants, like teachers, is stark. The question that begs to be asked is, why does a representative receive such a substantial wage increase when a teacher, who lays the foundation for individuals to dream of roles like those in the House, doesn’t? The symbiotic relationship between educators and public servants is much like the age-old conundrum of the chicken and the egg. One cannot exist without the precedent of the other.
This line graph illustrates the annual expenditure trends across various categories from the year 2012 to 2022.
In my analysis of the data related to the compensation of personnel in the House of Representatives, it was observed that there was a notable upward trend in the remuneration over the years. Using the dataset provided, the year-on-year percentage increase in compensation was computed. One of the most striking findings was the 14.14% increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, which indicates a substantial rise in the compensation for that year. This wasn’t the only noticeable raise, in 2019, members of the house of representative received an average annual paying increase of over 9%, 3 times the United States inflation rate.
Based on my data, I observed a notable uptick in the compensation rates for members of the House of Representatives. This rise, especially when compared against the inflation rate, underscores the increasing remuneration for those in political positions. On the other hand, elementary school teachers, who play a crucial role in shaping the future of the nation, see a more modest wage evolution. On average, a teacher’s salary in the U.S. increases annually by about 2% to 3%. This increment, though consistent, often merely keeps pace with the inflation rate, ensuring their purchasing power remains relatively constant. In contrast, the more substantial hikes in the compensation for House members highlight a disparity in wage adjustments between these two essential professions. This difference emphasizes the need for a more equitable approach to wage increments across all sectors, ensuring that educators are justly rewarded for their significant contributions to society.
In conclusion, based on my data analysis I presented and the findings I derived from the House Expenditure Dataset located at House Office Expenditure Data, Members of the House of Representatives have experienced significant wage hikes, surpassing inflation rates and greatly outpacing the modest increases teachers receive. Given the information, it can be argued that the compensation for House members appears over-inflated, especially when compared to other public servants like educators. Moreover, the reason an individual decides to work in booth of the fields is to make a positive impact on society in the United States.
