House Passes Bill Funding Security Enhancements at Capitol by One Vote - WSJ

The families of the late Reps. Ron Wright (R., Texas) and Alcee L. Hastings (D., Fla.) would get $348,000 in death gratuities if the bill became law. Neither congressman died in connection with Jan. 6, but such payments are customary to the families of Congress members who died in office.

Why are the taxpayers acting like a life insurance company for a certain class of federal officials who die in office?

I’ve never heard of such a thing. But that price tag…