joining us now to debate whether that was a good idea. fox news contributor contributing editor and writer for the american conservative magazine the great jim pinkerton and ellen rattner, fox news contributor and the bureau chief for talk radio news service. welcome to you both ellen, we think of pay for something you get for performing a service. what service did congress perform that they should be paid? >> well, you know, we may not like the shut down but they were working and trying to negotiate days and days and days during their shut down. doing their own office phones because even interns couldn't work. >> oh, wow. >> i think they should get that salary. >> for answering their own phones. that's incredible. should they get bonuses they actually picked them up and answered them. >> americans should reflect on the fact that two weeks pay for a congressman is a thousand dollars. i just remind you not only is congressional approval at 10% as your poll indicated