The House and Senate returned last week after a one week recess for Thanksgiving. Once again, negotiations over the fiscal cliff consumed most of Washington’s energy though there was no action on the floor on the issue. And after another week of negotiations, lawmakers are no closer to a deal. In fact, Republicans dismissed a White House plan last week that would have raised taxes, increased spending for infrastructure and raised the debt limit.

What you paid

Last week taxpayers spent roughly $100 million on Congress.

Salaries of Members of Congress and their allowances/week:

Speaker of the House: $223,500/52 = $4,299

House and Senate Majority and Minority Leaders: ($193,400/52) x 4 = $14,877

Other Representatives and Senators: ($174,000/52) x 530 = $1,773,462

Average weekly budget for all House offices: ($1,446,009/52) x 435 = $2,096,421

Average weekly budget for all Senate offices: ($3,409,093/52) x 100 = $6,555,958

Non-salary money allocated for Congress: $4.656 billion/52 = $89,538,462

What you got

The House voted to pass three bills that would cost taxpayers at least $1 million over 10 years:

• H.R. 6429, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program. SAVINGS: $2.186 billion over 10 years
• H.R. 915, Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act. COST: $10 million over 10 years
• H.R. 5997, Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act. COST: Unknown

The Senate rejected the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 and began debate on a bill to authorize defense spending for FY 2013.