GOP congressman snaps at constituents who reminded him that they pay his salary. His response was arrogant and dismissive. It is the attitude that may ensure he is defeated in 2018.
GOP Congressman thinks he pays himself
GOP Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) stunning statement to his constituents at a town hall in Oklahoman will come back to haunt him. The opposition is likely cueing the ads already.
“I come to address two things,” the congressman said. “One of you said you pay for me to do thus. Bull crap, I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to, through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go.”
“Pays you to go where?” a constituent objected.
“This is a service for me, not a career,” Mullin replied. “And I thank God this is not how I make my living.”
“Oh please, then don’t run,” shouted constituent.
One must not allow the congressman to get away with such a statement. Granted, he is a businessman whose companies pay a lot of taxes. He acts as if the taxes he pays just come back to him as his political salary. Mullin forgets that the roads he drives on, the air traffic control that brings his plane in successfully, the education of his employees and all the other public infrastructure are paid for by us all. Most importantly, our society, its defense and the excess labor of those who work for him afford him his disproportional wealth.
It is important to note that even as Republicans love to speak out avidly about President Obama’s stimulus package, they were happy to take the cash.
Mullin’s plumbing business, which was inherited from his father, accepted contracts totaling approximately $370,000 of government funds from that program.
The unwarranted arrogance and disregard of reality astounds.