Democrats and liberal websites are trying to paint Wisconsin Republican Rep. Sean Duffy as out of touch after the lawmaker--and former Real World cast member--claimed to be struggling on his $174,000 a year salary.
"Poor Hollywood Sean Duffy. He only makes four times the median family income in Wisconsin," state Democratic party chairman Mike Tate said in a statement Tuesday. "Has Sean Duffy ever been in the Real World?" askedliberal site Blogging Blue.
Outrage on the left this week was sparked by reports Duffy had complained at a town hall meeting that he has to "drive a used minivan," pays too much for health care, has "more debt than all of you" and struggles to pay his bills--all on $174,000 a year.
A constituent pointed out that $174,000 is three times his own salary.
Duffy said he resigned as Ashland County District Attorney before campaigning for seven months during which time he collected no paycheck. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says that's not so. "He took a taxpayer funded salary as District Attorney for the majority of [his] campaign for Congress," the committee said in a release Tuesday. Additionally, "Duffy reimbursed himself over ten thousand dollars for everything from mileage to miscellaneous expense" while on the campaign trail, the DCCC claims.
But OpenSecrets deems Duffy's minimum net worth at $-837,984 and his maximum net worth at $2,995. Duffy's personal financial disclosure statement filed in May 2010 revealed he and his wife, author Rachel Campos-Duffy, earned $154,000 in 2009 and in the first half of 2010, Duffy and his wife reported earning $35,200. His reported liabilities total between $430,005 to $950,000. Duffy is due to file his next financial disclosure in May of this year.
Duffy has made personal belt-tightening moves in Washington. He's one of several members who have decided to sleep in their offices--a decision he said was based on cost, but also helps prompt him to be at home in Wisconsin.
A Duffy aide told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Tuesday that the congressman wasn't complaining, he was relating to his constituents.
"Our nation faces a real fiscal crisis and Congressman Duffy is committed to working with his colleagues in the House to face these challenges head on, not score cheap political points," Duffy spokesman Daniel Son told the newspaper.
As far as cutting his own salary (proposals for which are currently being offered in Congress) Duffy responded by saying that he supports across-the-board cuts for all public employees.
(Screenshot of Duffy via Polk County GOP video)
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