There may be need for an intervention in Congress after Rep. John Fleming, a Louisiana Republican, admitted to what appears an eating disorder. Fleming went on television to denounce Obama’s plans to tax the wealthy and explained how he really does not have a lot of income left over from earning $6.3 million a year from his string of Subway and UPS businesses. He insists that after paying taxes, salaries, and support for his businesses, he only takes home $600,000 — of which $200,000 goes to food for his family. Fleming is the father of four adult children and lives alone with his wife.
That is a lot of food. $547.95 a day. That would allow $182.65 for breakfast, $182.65 for lunch, and $182.65 for dinner. A shrimp po-boy at Copelands of New Orleans is $9.99. That would mean that Fleming could consume over 18 po-boys every night. At 414 calories a po-boy, that comes to 7452 calories just for dinner. No wonder he is the chair of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs. His rate of consumption alone threatens the sea and forest stock of available consumable creatures.
In fairness to Fleming, he could have meant all of his expenses in “feeding his family” given his svelte image on the House website.
Source: Business Insider
Roco, I think if everyone is not invested in Social Security they will eventually get rid of it. If it is means tested, then it will be viewed as welfare and we know how people in this country are viewed who are on welfare. Means testing would mean the end to Social Security as we know it.
Roco,
There is some meat (thought provoking ideals) in your statement about…. I recall an Aunt that got about 70K a year in Trust dividends…this was in the 60’s…She was always waiting for her SS Check….
I think the SS fund should be repaid in total….but what does it matter if it is bonds or cash or its equivalents….The value should be the same including the ROI….
I think that most people are consumption oriented and they wait til the last minute to realize they have nothing saved…So, if your thought on this is voluntary contributions…Not for it….
Please define who is we should pitch in and help…..
AY:
if SS had been left alone and not spent and not used to buy whatever type of bonds they buy, I would be all for it. SS should not be a debt item but an asset that is making money. That would be a real retirement account for people. But it has been corrupted and needs to go or be completely overhauled.
The 15% that people dont get should be given to them to do with what they want and if they choose not to invest it for their retirement? Well why is that my concern? If they dont make enough to save enough for retirement maybe we as a society could pitch in and help.
SS should be means tested anyway and only the neediest should get it.
I don’t know…I liked the references to 3’s….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/19/mark-cuban-taxes-buffett-rule-obama_n_970266.html Mark Cuban does not share this congressman’s view.
eniobob,
The only job this guy created was his accountant.
We must be kind remember he is who the Repubs are talking about a “job creator”.
He keeps his accounts busy squeezing every green drop of ink out the bills that come through his “job creating”hands.
Mike A.,
You hit the nail on the head. This Teapublican is just protecting his own. I would not even believe his figures. The idea that it cost over $200,000 to “feed” his family is nonsense.
The Congressman claims a mere $600K of spendable income. If the Bush tax cuts were gone and assuming no qualifying deductions, he’d pay 3% on the amount above $250K which amounts to $350K. His additional tax burden would be about $10.5K. I’m having a very difficult time giving a rip about this guy’s misfortune of requiring the unfathomable belt tightening to adjust his food budget down to $189.5K per year.
Poor fellow. I hope Rep. Fleming ends up eating his words.
I do not quite understand why this guy and his wife have a 200K food budget. Certainly, if Feed the Children can feed third world children for 80 cents a day, then this guy should change the way he eats.
He must be doing all his grocery shopping at the whole paycheck in Georgetown.
Roco,
If the way Corporations are allowed to not pay SS Payroll tax…Guess what…it will be a self fulfilling prophesy…So you all may just get your way….
But if…all things being equal…and things were/are paid like they were proposed to be….in 3 years it was estimated that there would be 1.5 trillion in the SS reserve….But leave it to someone that wants to destroy it to do this….
If you have not read…one of the issues with the Post Office Retirement….I seem to recall that it is over funded….where is Michael Milliken when you need him…
I believe that income tax rates should be lowered for everyone and that people making under say $50,000 per year should pay neither payroll tax nor income tax.
The payroll tax is especially hard on those just starting out. And we are long past the point where anyone believes that SS is a viable retirement plan.
The Administration continues to permit the Republican Party to frame the debate over income tax rates. In reality, Republicans are opposed to the very notion of a progressive income tax. They simply do not believe that tax rates should climb with income levels. My view is that a majority of Americans believe that income tax rates should be progressive. Therefore, Democrats ought to drive home that point in these arguments.
I wonder if he can use the Employee discount at Subway…But then again, I wonder if more folks are employed or the ones that are in his area were paid better if his income would increase….Hmmmmm…..
I can only assume he eats lots of caviar and scrambled bald eagle eggs for breakfast. I wonder what’s for lunch and dinner?
Rep. Fleming won’t live long, eating like that. In order to save his life, we’d better tax the lard out of him.
it should be $547.95/day.
If he goes out a lot, that might not be unreasonable. And think of those poor restaurants who will not be getting his business. Then think of those poor waiters [the ones who are middle class] being denied good tips and the busboys and the bartenders and the dishwashers and the cooks losing their jobs because this guy isnt going to eat out as much.
And then think about all of the people the busboys, waiters, cooks and bartenders do business with that arent going to have as much business if this rich guy cuts back on his yearly meal plan.
The rich guy isnt going to be hurt at all, he will just eat steak and lobster and drink champagne at home. It will be the workers who are the ones getting the shaft from an increase in the tax on the wealthy. The wealthy will just change their habits, maybe hire a personal chef. So one person will benefit while hundreds will suffer. That doesnt seem like a very good plan to me.
But what if he is a big tipper?
Actually when I skimmed the story yesterday I read it as $200k for all his expenses so that he only had $400,000 left over at the end of the year. See that is so much worse for him – poor man only had 10 times in surplus income what the average American makes every year.