Rep. Sean Duffy: I'm Struggling on $174K a Year

Wisconsin Republican Sean Duffy is taking some heat from liberal blogs like Think Progress over an exchange at a town hall meeting last week, in which he assured constituents that his $174,000 salary wasn't all that great. A constituent told Duffy that his wife, a teacher, was being asked to take a pay cut, and asked how much Duffy made, and if he'd take a cut. In reply, Duffy spent several minutes complaining about his federal benefits, which he says "don't even compare" to the "gold plated" ones he earned as a Wisconsin DA.

Duffy then revealed his $174,000 salary, adding, "I didn't vote on that." The constituent sputtered, "that's three times—that's three of my family's—that's three times what I make." Duffy reiterated that he didn't vote for that salary, but added, "I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you. ... I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high off the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to pay my bills right now." Of course, if mortgage payments are so weighing on Duffy, Think Progress recommends he sell his second home. (More Sean Duffy stories.)