The passage of federal legislation last week that establishes a database of federal contracts and earmarks, accessible by the public through the Internet, overshadowed the creation of another recently launched Web site that lists salary information of Congressional staff members.

According to a report Sept. 27 in The Washington Post, the unveiling of LegiStorm (http://www.legistorm.com/) created such “intense interest” among Capitol Hill workers, wannabes, and watchdogs that it temporarily shut down the Web site’s servers.

But what do North Carolina’s senators and representatives pay their staffs? The answers may surprise, as the most generous congressmen aren’t consistently those with the party in power (Republicans). More relevant, but again not consistently, is the length of time a member has been in Congress — those with shorter tenures generally pay less, although they may not necessarily have smaller staffs.

The most generous boss: Sixth District Republican Rep. Howard Coble, who paid his staff of 20 more than $754,000 during the nine-month period ending March 31, 2006 — the most recent figures available to LegiStorm. The Web site has only posted quarterly figures for the period from July 1, 2005 until the end of March 2006 for House members. For Senate staff, LegiStorm listed payroll figures for the one-year period from April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006. The figures do not include pay for the congressmen themselves.

Despite having the highest payroll in dollars, Coble had the second-least number of employees paid for the time frame. Only Eighth District Rep. Robin Hayes, also a Republican, paid fewer staff members: 18. Hayes had the third-lowest payroll among North Carolina’s delegation, at $596,944.

After Coble, Seventh District Democrat Mike McIntyre had the second-highest paid staff — at $734,373 — with 25 employees. The Ninth District’s Sue Myrick, a Republican, paid $720,906 to her 23 staffers, while the 13th District’s Brad Miller — only in his second term — had the fourth-highest payroll, at $709,103. LegiStorm listed a staff of 25 for Miller. Those four congressmen’s staffs were the only ones paid more than $700,000 during the nine-month period measured.

As for the most frugal House members, 10th District Congressman Patrick McHenry paid his staff of 27 — tied among the N.C. delegation for most employees paid — only $496,003. The Fifth District’s Virginia Foxx, also a Republican, paid $539,050 to her staff of 25. Both McHenry and Foxx are in their first terms.

Not all the staffers that were reported worked the entire period measured.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Sen. Richard Burr, both Republicans, employ much larger staffs than House members. Dole’s office team of 60 was paid just over $2.1 million for the full year that LegiStorm reported. Burr paid his 52 employees $1.93 million during the same period.

Washington, D.C. was ranked sixth highest in 2005 among U.S. cities for its cost of living index, by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association.

NC Congressional Delegation’s Office Pay & Employees

SENATE 4/1/05-3/31/06

Burr, $1,931,260.35, 52 staffers
Dole, $2,117,133.48, 60 staffers
TOTAL, $4,048,393.83, 112 staffers

HOUSE 7/1/05-3/31/06

McHenry, $496,002.98, 27 staffers
Foxx, $539,049.58, 25 staffers
Hayes, $596,944.54, 18 staffers
Taylor, $636,589.56, 27 staffers
Etheridge, $646,212.99, 22 staffers
Jones, $676,766.62, 27 staffers
Butterfield, $678,950.52, 23 staffers
Price, $684,240.39, 27 staffers
Watt, $698,611.51, 26 staffers
Miller, $709,103.03, 25 staffers
Myrick, $720,905.84, 23 staffers
McIntyre, $734,373.50, 25 staffers
Coble, $754,647.54, 20 staffers
TOTAL, $8,572,398.60, 315 staffers

Paul Chesser is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.