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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama Orders Pay Raise For Congress, Federal Workers, Joe Biden
As of March 27, 2013, federal employees will see a half-percent to one percent pay increase, marking the end of a pay freeze that has been in place since late 2010. Congress hasn't seen a pay raise since 2009.
According to the order, Biden's pay will increase from $225,521 to $231,900 a year, before taxes. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will see his salary increased to $224,500 and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will take home an annual pay of $194,400 after his raise.
While Obama's order made no mention of merit for such a raise, HuffPost's Amanda Terkel reported on Friday that the 112th Congress is set to end the session as the most unproductive since the 1940s, with only 219 bills passed by the body becoming law. The raise won't take place until the 113th Congress, meaning that outgoing members will see no effect from the order.
Obama ordered the raise as he continues to negotiate unsuccessfully with congressional leaders to find a deal in order to avoid the fiscal cliff at the end of the year. If no agreement is met, over $500 billion in planned tax increases and spending cuts will be implemented.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/obama-pay-raise-congress_n_2377714.html
Chris Christie might have some thoughts as to whether congress deserves a pay raise.
Mass
(27,315 posts)Anyway, the GOP leadership is paid too much, with or without raise.
elleng
(130,864 posts)NOT pay raises.
democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)Federal workers have had their pay frozen for 2 years and definitely deserve this.
I didn't realize the Vice President's pay was set by executive order. I assumed the VP's salary worked the same as the president's, where it could only be raised for the next president.
How much does the VP make anyway?
elleng
(130,864 posts)Federal pay COLAs have been frozen, NOT 'step' pay increases.
dballance
(5,756 posts)Does the President, any President, really have authority to do this? Are there some sort of federal laws already passed by congress, of which I am obviously unaware, that authorize him to do this without going through the House?
I'll admit my ignorance and laziness to not Google because I'm betting someone here knows the answer right off the top of their head.
elleng
(130,864 posts)and, as I recall as a (retired) Federal employee, President can make this decision, does it every year.
Not sure whether the others were 'pay raises' of COLAs.
Canuckistanian
(42,290 posts)How is it that the executive branch is controlling a freeze on House salaries?
dballance
(5,756 posts)They apparently gave him the authority in Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 passed last year in Sept.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
dballance
(5,756 posts)Instead you decided to be a condescending, smart ass toward me. Now I'm smiling because I made you waste your time.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
dballance
(5,756 posts)the post from the poster. That sounded like such a GOP reply. Or one of those replies where a celebrity or politician gets caught saying something racist or sexist and then tries to make like people misunderstood what they meant.
I believe any reasonable person on this board would have taken your title-only post the same way I did. Since you didn't provide any details on your thoughts I believe it was only natural to take that one-liner to imply something like "oh gees, here is another idiot who didn't read this subject the first time around and now we have to deal with that person's ignorance taking up space on the board."