A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.
Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.
“As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain,” said Daniel O’Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. “This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”
However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.
QUESTION: Since Pres Bush’s approval rating is higher than the Dems’ Congress’….should he not only get a raise as well, but get a bigger one?
They’ve done this every year in the past decade with the only exception being 2000, Scott. This is the only issue where bipartisanship flourishes…. taking care of themselves.
Personally, I’d love to send them all pink slips.
Amen MataHarley. This is downright disgusting. And the pity is that so many of the American people do not see this for what it is and vote these SOB’s out. They just keep putting the same fools in year after year. No small wonder we are in such a mess in this nation. I really do not think that the majority of the American people are aware that THEY are the government and need to keep tight reins on what is going on. They are more concerned with who is who in hollywood as opposed to what is happening in DC. I am frustrated to the hilt
We are on the same page. I am disgusted with Congress overall.
ok, there were 3 bills submitted to stop the pay raise, one from a democrat with 34 co-sponsors (24 democrats and 10 republicans) and two republican bills with no co-sponsors.
Total democrats on the record against the pay raise = 25
Total republicans on the record against the pay raise = 12
Personally I am against any “automatic” pay raises for government employees and elected officials.
They can thank whatever God or Gods they worship that their pay isn’t based on performance.
On the same page as Hard Right.
Hello. Knock knock. Anybody home inside your collective brains?
Shamelessly tacky move of the year, deliberative body category.
John Edwards gets the Newt Gingrich Trophy, for most shameless cheating on a wife with breast cancer.
Will have to consider other, end of the year awards.
- LW/HB
Yet another reason not to like Newt. Thanks for reminding me of that Larry.
OT: Hurl Alert—Report: Obama Team Planning Iranian Outreach Post
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/19/report-obama-team-planning-iranian-outreach-post/
blast, the pay raises aren’t automatic. They have to vote it in via statute, and they do.
Here’s a record of the Senate’s pay raises from 1789 to 2008.
I believe they have an automatic cost of living adjustment, but not sure.
Mata, the increase they are getting this year (in my world that is a pay raise) is a “cost of living adjustment” and it is automatic.
Allow me to correct my dyslexic info above. Congress *does* get pay raises automatically, and must introduce legislation to freeze it, per a PRNewswire appearing on Yahoo news”. So I had it wrong… Flew thru The Hill story Scott linked too fast, I guess. So much for my multitasking abilities today.
You’re correct, blast. It *is* a payraise and not a cost of living adjustment…. unless payraises are just considered cost of living adjustment in their views.
And it’s still deplorable. How about that? A rare moment of unity on an issue by both sides of the comment aisle on FA.
Mata, I am with you 100%, I kinda don’t like the tenor of this post’s title though, very partisan and not productive on fighting the essence of the problem – which you pointed out previously is totally bi-partisan. So you in effect were always right as it should be huh…
Off topic, but would some FA writer, “allowed” to initiate new topics for discussion, consider starting one on the so-called “conscience rule?”
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/post/2008/12/60218954/1
Mata note: Reading up on it now, Larry… have to run out for some biz errands but will do so later today.
Truthfully, I’d take a do nothing Congress over an active one. The DN congress screws up the country less.
HardRight: You sure nailed that one….I too would prefer a DN Congress over these screwballs
Great to have government jobs! LOSERS!
THEY SHOULD ALL BE TAKEN OUT AND HANGED FOR TREASON!
WOW! Way to go Sarah. Nothing like the Congress idiots. Read this:
Sarah Palin REFUSES $25,000 pay hike
JUNEAU, Alaska, Dec. 18 (UPI) — Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said she would refuse a $25,000 pay raise during her current term as Alaska governor.
A state commission recommended boosting the governor’s pay to $150,000 from $125,000.
The five-member state Officers Compensation Commission, created by the state Legislature, also said legislators needed more money, along with the lieutenant governor and government department heads, the Anchorage Daily News reported. If the commission pushes ahead with a pay raise, Palin will not accept the money, spokesman Bill McAllister said.
“Her view is, it’s just not appropriate to accept a pay raise in the middle of the term,” he told the newspaper. Palin’s term ends in 2010.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2150981/posts
In spite of the fact that Congress has only a 9% approval rating, they have given themselves a raise. While ordinary Americans are struggling to make ends meet, Congress continues to live the good life. They just don’t get it. Some Republicans tried to block the raise, but they failed.
Hey, Americans…does anyone else feel they need or deserve $4700 right now? I know I do.
Ahhh, the Democrats’ Congress+CHANGE=they get $4700 and you and I do not.
The Congressional pay thing has always been a problem with Americans. You see, being a Congressman was never intended to be a full-time or paid position, but a volunteer position. Something one did along with their usual occupation. Compensation for serving did not exist prior to 1789:
http://www.heritage.org/Research/GovernmentReform/bg744.cfm
Congress now gets their pay raises unless they vote it down and they are the only government entity which establishes it’s own wages and benefits. Such pay raises are not subject to cost of living.
Our military, on the other hand, only gets a cost of living increase in salaries, IF Congress votes for it and IF the president signs off on the bill. These increases are not guaranteed and these military cost of living increases are set by legislation at a percentage rate estimated/figured below actual annual cost of living increases nationally. There have been times when no military pay raises were awarded or the percentage was reduced. During WWI, military wages were comparable to those doing similar work in the private sector. Hence, the very reason we now have military members who qualify for welfare and food stamps.