"House Members Seek $4,400 Pay Raise" with a 14% approval rating in polls they give themselves a

[in_cog_ni_to]

a raise? What a bunch of Einsteins!:eyes:


House Members Seek $4,400 Pay Raise
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

57 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Despite low approval ratings and hard feelings from last year's elections, Democrats and Republicans in the House are reaching out for an approximately $4,400 pay raise that would increase their salaries to almost $170,000.

The cost-of-living raise endorsed Wednesday evening gets lawmakers back on track for automatic pay raises after a fight between the parties last year and again in January killed the pay increase due this year. That was the first interruption of the annual congressional pay boost in seven years.

The blowup came after Democrats last year fulfilled a campaign promise to deny themselves more pay until Congress raised the minimum wage. Delays in the minimum wage bill cost every lawmaker about $3,100 this year.

On a 244-181 vote Wednesday, Democrats and Republicans alike killed a bid by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Lee Terry, R-Neb., to get a direct vote to block the COLA, which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it. The Senate has not indicated when it will deal with a similar measure.<snip>

<snip>"I don't think this is the right time for members of Congress to be allowing the pay raise to go through without even an up-or-down vote," said Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. "We need to show the American people we are willing to make some sacrifices ... that we recognize there's a struggle for some in today's economy."<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/06/28/701539.html

[Justyce]

1. This is ridiculous... I'm speechless.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. They are not seeking it; it will happen automatically unless it is rejected

The end-run around the 27th Amendment.

[Solly Mack]

3. ...

...

[Vinca]

4. Oh good. An "automatically awarded" raise for nothing.

Absolutely nothing. I've got to consider running for Congress.

[slick8790]

5. Go Congress!

Giving yourself a raise! You sure do have your finger on the pulse of the American public. I'm sure it'll do wonders for your approval.

[taught_me_patience]

6. It's only 2.6%

Seems pretty low to me considering inflation.

[slick8790]

7. That's not the point.

Why do they need a raise? More importantly, if they do need one, why should they get one? What have they done to deserve a pay raise?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Alcee hastings citing a $90 per month rent increase

Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., held a notice of a $90-per-month rent increase in his hand during the vote. He said his rent for a one-bedroom Washington apartment is several hundred dollars more a month than the mortgage on his three-bedroom house in Florida.

more: http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002542012.html

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. They don't deserve to make $1650.00 A DAY! IF they work the same # of days as the 109th Congress did

that's how much money they'll make. They are NOT worth $1650.00 A DAY! The 109th Congress made $1603.00 A DAY for doing absolutely NOTHING except destroying our country. OK...say they decide to work 150 days in the 110th Congress (which they will NEVER DO), they will still make $1133.00 A DAY @ a salary of $170,000.00 freakin' dollars. NONE of them are worth that amount of money...not a one.

The 109th Congress worked a total of 103 days. That's seven days fewer than the infamous "Do-Nothing Congress" of 1948.