Posted on 04/09/2011 12:40:59 AM PDT by John Semmens
While various segments of the federal government face defunding in the event of a government shutdown, Congressional pay won’t be affected. In an effort to deflect political repercussions, several members of Congress (including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio) have sworn to forgo their paychecks for the duration of any shutdown, Representative Linda Sánchez (D-Calif) won’t be one of them.
“I can’t afford to go one day without my salary,” Sánchez declared. “Like most Americans, I live paycheck-to-paycheck. I have a two-year-old son. I have expenses. I need this money. Voters who elected me gave me a right to this money. I won’t give up a single cent of what I’m entitled to as long as I’m here.”
Sánchez’s annual salary is $174,000. On top of this she also receives generous allowances for job-related expenses (office and staff, travel, mailings), health insurance superior to that of most Americans, and a retirement package that is the envy of every working man and woman. The median household income of her constituents is around $46,000. About 9% of her constituents are currently unemployed.
In related news, even though a possible federal government shutdown might include suspending the paychecks of US military forces around the globe, US Army General Carter Ham told Congress that the Obama Administration is considering sending ground troops to Libya. Rebels fighting Dictator Qaddafi’s forces complain that “America’s ‘humanitarian bombing’ is not doing enough to help us destroy this enemy of Allah.”
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http://constitutionclub.org/2011/04/08/semi-news-a-satirical-look-at-recent-news-5/
Satire but well spiced with truth. Nothing affects congressional pay except a vote to raise it.
Not one member of the Good Old Boy club is going to denied a pay check other wise they would have to explain where the freezer money came from.
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