Do members of Congress have mental problems? That's what Jon Stewart wants to know.

"The Daily Show" host posed that question Wednesday night to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., as the two discussed the liberal senator's legislative wish list.

While discussing mandatory paid leave and the minimum wage, Gillibrand bemoaned her fellow lawmakers for having a lack of empathy on the issues.

"The issue is, people in Congress are in a bubble and they don't have a lot of empathy for regular working families," Gillibrand said.

Referring to this alleged lack of empathy, Stewart asked, "Is it pathological though? Do you think they have mental problems?"

Gillibrand disagreed, saying lawmakers are instead saddled with strong amounts of cynicism.

"I think it's cynicism, personally. And what we see on the paid leave issue is, most members of Congress are extremely affluent," she said. "They don't know what it is like to not have any childcare at home or to not be able to take time off if someone in your family is ill."

And while Gillibrand's comments weren't targeted against Republicans specifically, her response opened the door for Stewart to mock the conservative belief of self-reliance.

"But they earned it on their own, like only they have earned it. They've earned it," Stewart said. "All you have to do is pick yourself up out of poverty and despair and then you could be in the Senate and if I give you food stamps, that's going to send a very bad message to you, that you get to eat."

Stewart wasn't done there. He wanted to know if those beliefs have ever made Gillibrand want to punch her fellow lawmakers.

"Do you ever — you don't have to answer this. Do you ever punch anybody? Like you're just in their office and be just be like oh, I'm so sorry. I have to deck you."