> Plus so many of them already have cushy incomes by time they are in office, being a representative is really the cherry on top the cake.
Right, but I think the argument behind paying them more is that you shouldn't have to already have a cushy job to become a representative. We complain on here from time to time about how representatives don't understand technology, but it's no surprise when most folks who understand technology would be taking a pay cut to become a representative. Same with fields like medicine and management.
It’s the bennies and perks of being a representative that outweigh making $200k/yr. Plus so many of them already have cushy incomes by time they are in office, being a representative is really the cherry on top the cake.