German members of parliament collectively reported €10.6 million in income from outside employment. The figures reveal a wide range of supplemental earnings among MPs. This disclosure has ignited a debate regarding the ethics and transparency of such outside income. Critics argue the current discussion is unproductive and needs refocusing. The reported amounts vary significantly between individual parliamentarians, suggesting diverse sources and levels of additional income. The issue raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the allocation of public representatives’ time and focus. A more nuanced conversation about these earnings is being called for.