Tag Page Unpaid

I'm Handling SNAP Complaints While Starving Myself

I'm a 23-year-old Congressional staffer. I am working 18-hour days. My job is to answer the flood of angry calls from constituents—mostly about their SNAP benefits being cut. I have to reassure them over and over that "the Congressman is working hard on this." The truth: I'm not getting paid either. My boss (the Congressman) still gets his salary; it's constitutionally protected. But me, his $30k-a-year staff assistant, I'm in the exact same boat as the people calling about SNAP. I don't know how I'm making rent. I am working for the very institution causing the problem, and I am a victim of it at the same time. How am I supposed to believe in this system? #CongressionalStaffer #CapitolHill #Unpaid