Cannon explained "it's hard work" for aides to stick with a lame duck through the sunset of his political life (all that sobbing and teeth gnashing), "and we paid them what was available, consistent with what would enhance their careers."

After losing to Jason Chaffetez, Cannon's nine top employees saw their pay jump by more than a third. Press secretary Omar Rachid had his pay shoot up more than 70 percent, which is odd since no one wanted to talk to Cannon anymore.

Had self-proclaimed fiscal conservative Cannon not handed out the lavish raises and bonuses, the left over staff money would have gone toward paying off the national debt.