US Capitol: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uscapitolindaylight.jpg">Kevin McCoy</a>/Wikimedia Commons
Members of Congress gripe about how much time they spend asking for money. But just how much dough do they have to come up with while they’re not doing their day jobs? We did the math: Assuming they spent 40 hours a week focusing on finding funds, House members must raise, on average, $367 an hour; senators must come up with $819 an hour. Some of the most costly (and cheapest) seats on the Hill, by the hour:
10 Most expensive Senate seats
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif): $2,444/hour
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.): $2,068/hour
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.): $1,875/hour
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): $1,823/hour
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.): $1,812/hour
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): $1,749/hour
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.): $1,685/hour
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.): $1,627/hour
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas): $1,611/hour
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.): $1,573/hour
Least expensive Senate seat
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah): $143/hour
10 Most expensive House seats
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.): $3,391/hour
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio): $2,449/hour
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.): $1,636/hour
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.): $1,489/hour
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.): $1,185/hour
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.): $1,128/hour
Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.): $1,128/hour
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.): $1,013/hour
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.): $981/hour
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.): $925/hour
Least expensive House seat
Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pa.): $55/hour
Mother Jones analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Assumes 40 hours a week of fundraising, 50 weeks a year, for full term in office. Based on cost of members’ most recent election.
