WHAT?

Roman Around ^ | 21 December 2008 | Andrew Roman

[andrew roman]

From the "You've got to be (expleteive) idding me" file ...

The Congress of the United States of America, which (if you weren't aware) is controlled by Democrats, did precisely what any responsibly conscientious legislative body should do in the midst of a sweeping economic crisis ... they gave themselves a pay raise.

Jordy Yager from The Hill writes:

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.”

But don't feel too angry.

If you knew how much your lawmakers were sacrificing here, you'd think twice before hurling your poison arrows at them.

The raise is only 2.8%.

Are you aware that this pay increase is only half as big as the Social Security cost of living adjustment for next year?

Poor babies.

So back off.

Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Congress should have taken the rare step of freezing its pay, as lawmakers did in 2000.

“Look at the way the economy is and how most people aren’t counting on a holiday bonus or a pay raise — they’re just happy to have gainful employment,” said Ellis. “But you have the lawmakers who are set up and ready to get their next installment of a pay raise and go happily along their way.”

The answer is "no."

There is no shame on Capital Hill.

In other news, liberals are pretty much always wrong.

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[JoanneSD]

I called my congress critters and shamed them for taking a pay raise with the economy so bad.. and them expecting CEO’s to give up their salaries, and go by mule train where ever they go and Miss nancy has her own private plane, that carries every one she wants...we all know congress has no shame, I hope every one calls their greedy reps....I also had to remind them their increase was half of what I get in social security.. after my generous raise...that I am grateful for..