Shortly after making the case for raising lawmaker salaries at a Rules Committee hearing Monday, Rep. Alcee L. Hastings reaffirmed his remarks outside the House chamber, saying members “need to take into consideration their concerns and their families and the cost of living.”

“We’re entering our seventh year without a pay raise,” Hastings said. “Now I think we’ve proved to the American public we’re responsible and I know it has impacted me personally … we have more than 50 members, probably as many as 75 or more, living in their offices. OK. They’re not there because of any other reason than that they can’t afford it. Now if people want us in sackcloths and ashes, then they’re going to get what they rightly deserve as representation.”