Iraqi MPs make $120,0000 per year, plus $10,000 per month benefits.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

And, they haven't had a quorum since October, 2006. Nice work if you can get it.

This is from an Iraqi blogger who is less than thrilled with American style "democracy".

http://www.healingiraq.blogspot.com/

No Quorum for Months
Iraqi Parliament has failed to reach quorum since October 2006. Understandably, it's hard to attend parliamentary sessions when you live in the Green Zone, or the Rashid Hotel, or Amman, or Dubai, or London. MP Adnan Al-Pachachi, who spoke from Dubai, complained that their salaries can only afford 20 security guards, while they need at least 40 to make it from the Baghdad Airport to the Green Zone. I wonder how many security guards Pachachi would need if he were to venture on the streets of Baghdad, which he probably hasn't seen in decades.

Funny, too, that he would complain about the salary. Iraqi members of parliament receive up to $120,000 in salaries and benefits, or about $10,000 a month, plus the additional salaries of 20 security guards - which most MPs choose to pocket instead. Actually, the first bill Iraqi MPs (of all sects and ethnicities) passed unanimously was the one in which they defined their salaries, privileges and benefits. That session was conveniently closed to the media. Perhaps you should also know that the average salary for a civil servant in Iraq is $150. A day labourer would make less than half of that. And you would be considered quite well-to-do if your salary is $400 or $500.

Shame. And this is what they call a "democratically-elected government."

***

Meanwhile, Iraqi refugees are piling up in Jordan and Syria, except they are regarded as tourists, since Jordan is worried about the consequences of the word "refugee." Soon, Iraqis might not even have that luxury. I often tell my family to come up with a plan to leave as soon as possible before Syria - the last remaining outlet for Iraqis fresh out of the country - decides to close its borders as well when it becomes too much of a strain.

[gratuitous]

1. I wonder if the MPs are actually being paid?

It's one thing to say they're entitled to a salary, something else to actually be getting paid that salary. And while I would do quite a bit for $120,000 a year, I'd have to say that I value my life a little higher than that, and MPs are real targets for all kinds of factions in Iraq. And Adnan Al-Pachachi probably has more reason to fear for his life than your typical Iraqi MP.

[hobbit709]

2. I wonder how much

they were getting paid under Saddam?