‘Two Americas’ reflected in White House pay. Rove gets $2,800 cost-of-living wage hike

[MagickMuffin]

National Journal reports that Karl Rove and other senior Bush aides received a $2,800 cost-of-living wage hike in the past year to earn a top pay rate of $168,000. Meanwhile, the lower-income staffers have experienced a salary decline:

Those at the bottom of the White House staff pay scale — the young people answering phones and responding to the president’s mail, for example — are experiencing a pay cut for the same duties because of inflation as they remain stuck at a $30,000 pay floor, which has been the pay basement for at least the past three years.

The Economic Policy Institute writes, “Due to higher inflation and slightly slower wage growth, both the real (i.e., inflation-adjusted) hourly and weekly earnings of most workers have been falling for the past few months. … Hourly and weekly wages for the 80% of the workforce holding non-managerial jobs are trending down so far this year.”



How do you like that?!?!?


edit to add link: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/30/two-americas-reflected-in-white-house-pay/

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

1. It pisses me off that we (American taxpayers) have to foot the bill

for that POS. He's nothing but a political hack. Let the RNC pay his goddamn salary instead of us.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Agree completely! Taxpyers shouldn't have to foot the bill for political "advice"

for ANY President. Let the Party do that.

[Bitwit1234]

6. You got that right. I resent paying his salary.

I don't understand why we have to pay the salary for an employee that is trying to destroy our party, our country, and our way of life, by stealing elections and forging votes.

[taught_me_patience]

2. That's only a 1.7% pay raise

well below inflation. I see nothing wrong with it. Most staffers are there for the resume benefit, not the pay anyway.

[MagickMuffin]

4. So, you're just FINE with paying Rove's salary

even though he has politicized the whole government to benefit the GOP.

Sheesh, I for one do NOT like paying his salary.


$2,800 cost-of-living wage hike in the past year to earn a top pay rate of $168,000.

Those at the bottom of the White House staff pay scale — the young people answering phones and responding to the president’s mail, for example — are experiencing a pay cut for the same duties because of inflation as they remain stuck at a $30,000 pay floor

Apparently you don't have a problem with Rove's increase while the grunt workers get a pay cut:shrug:


Are you working for Rove???:rofl:

[taught_me_patience]

7. He's a member of the cabnet and doing work

he should be paid. I don't like paying the salaries of any of the Bush cabal, but I'm able to seperate my emotions from realities. People should be paid for work done and pay increases should be in line with inflation (at least). A 1.7% increase does not even match inflation and 168k is not a lot of money. I don't believe that most of the grunt workers are there to make a career in what they are doing. They are using the job as a stepping stone to better things. They should get a similar pay raise (1.7% or $510), but they can easily jump to another position and get much higher raise than that.

[tyedyeto]

10. Member of the Cabinet?

http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2006/0711nj1.htm

From July 2006 White House salaries with position:

Rove, Karl C. Assistant to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor $165,200

Never have I ever heard of an assistant to the President being a Cabinet position.

If you can provide details stating otherwise, please post them.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. I'd bet that Rove and the rest of them get bonuses too

I'd never heard of bonuses for government appointees until Bush's term, but I guess I was living in a bubble because I'm sure that... Clinton did it. :P But seriously, bonuses for Government appointees shouldn't be allowed, IMO. You either serve at the pleasure of President supposedly in service to your country, or you don't! Working toward bonuses can bring on some very shady shenanigans and take a hit on the morale of the career people.

[Thothmes]

8. Two Americas

An earlier thread made mention of Congress possibly raising their pay. Now that is feeding oats to a dead horse.

[Lisa]

9. as a Canadian, I feel that the American people should receive $2800 each ...

... just for having to live in the same country as Rove and his ilk.

Just my opinion.

[tyedyeto]

11. Here, here! n/t

[SoCalDem]

12. Hey.. have you SEEN the price increases in kitten tartare lately?

[Lisa]

13. and don't get me started on the price of pressed duckling!

[dkofos]

14. Keeping the *ush crime family out of the execution chamber is tough work.

[bdamomma]

15. they are playing us for fools this has got to stop.