People spend large sums of their own money, plus a year or two of their own time working for free, to get elected to Congress. It seems the job is desirable enough on its own terms that a salary increase isn’t going to make a difference. Similarly for ambassadorships, which are the only type of appointed job where you’re routinely allowed to do this. It seems to me the inherent desirability of the jobs is high enough that more salary is not going to attract better people.
People spend large sums of their own money, plus a year or two of their own time working for free, to get elected to Congress. It seems the job is desirable enough on its own terms that a salary increase isn’t going to make a difference. Similarly for ambassadorships, which are the only type of appointed job where you’re routinely allowed to do this. It seems to me the inherent desirability of the jobs is high enough that more salary is not going to attract better people.