Posted on 10/24/2005 6:43:28 AM PDT by Cagey
WASHINGTON -- Squeamish lawmakers wrestling with federal spending cuts to pay for hurricane disasters and the war in Iraq are squirming about whether to give themselves a pay raise.
Senators, about half of whom are millionaires, were eager last week to show their willingness to make a sacrifice by voting overwhelmingly to freeze their own salaries -- and those of their House colleagues.
But House members, whose personal wealth tends to be much more modest, don't share that enthusiasm.
The pay raise, which automatically kicks in unless it is blocked, would give a 1.9 percent boost to annual salaries for rank-and-file lawmakers, an increase of $3,100, to $165,200.
"Most of our members are not individuals of great resources, they're families trying to send kids to college," said House Republican Leader Roy Blunt, R-Mo., defending his support for a pay raise.
"Most members of Congress probably have more debt after they've been in Congress for a few years then they had when they came to Congress," Blunt said, adding that keeping residences in two places is costly.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also backs the raise.
The Senate included the pay freeze as part of a spending bill that covers federal salaries, but the House has not included the freeze in its version.
The real battle will come next month when a House-Senate conference meets behind closed doors to resolve differences between the two bills.
Members of Congress have accepted cost-of-living increases in seven of the past eight years. They last turned down a raise in 1998.
Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who is a relative pauper in the Senate with a reported net worth of $257,000, said the 92-6 vote in the Senate for the pay freeze shows members realize "this isn't the year for the Senate to give itself a pay raise." In 2003 and 2002, Feingold failed to freeze pay raises when he couldn't gather enough votes.
If members boost their salaries "it sends a really bad message in a really tough time," Feingold said.
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a co-sponsor of the pay freeze, estimated it would save the federal treasury a small amount of money -- $2 million out of a targeted $50 billion in cuts, but he said it has symbolic value.
"If members have made their sacrifice, there's more of an impetus to find the rest of the money," he said.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who opposes the pay raise and whose personal wealth is listed on Senate disclosure forms as more than $13 million, said the conference committee "has become a black hole" where legislation disappears anonymously behind closed doors.
Clinton said House members reluctant to freeze congressional pay are "demonstrating they don't know what's going on in America."
"People can't pay gas prices, can't pay tuition, can't pay for health care," she said. "Why should we be giving ourselves a pay increase?"
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who says he "always wanted to be" part of the millionaire's club but has never qualified, said the overwhelming Senate support for the pay freeze "is another indicator that we are getting serious about controlling federal spending."
Hanging over the pay raise debate is a new Gallup Poll showing that Congress gets only a 29 percent public approval rating, one year before congressional elections.
I would've been fired.
Oh wait. I was. Maybe we need to fire some of our congressmen, BEGINNING WITH MINE (Etheridge-D).
You beat me to it. A pay cut is really what they deserve.
I suspect that they won't be able to reach an agreement and will get a raise anyway.
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
"Most members of Congress probably have more debt after they've been in Congress for a few years then they had when they came to Congress," Blunt said, adding that keeping residences in two places is costly.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also backs the raise.
SPARE ME!!! These guys won't be happy till we are all begging in the streets!
""Most of our members are not individuals of great resources, they're families trying to send kids to college," said House Republican Leader Roy Blunt, R-Mo., defending his support for a pay raise."
At $160,000, this moron makes a hell lot more than me. He needs a pay cut. If he's that worried about his salary, then he can find a job in the private sector. Some Republican.
Good. I think these guys deserve it. hell, give them double what they make now, or triple it even. what sacrafice, what fortitude, the best of the best and even when the.........BWAHAHAHAHAHA...sorry, couldnt keep a straight face :)
Maybe they could apply for FEMA housing....they are walking disasters anyway
How about we give them a pay raise when they cut enough spending to get our budget back in the black.
Do they make NO demands on themselves? Don't they know how to economize? All they have to do is talk to any TAXPAYER, and they will get all the information about economizing and retrenching they need.
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
Hillary is worth $13 million?
Looks like investing in cattle and kissing terrorists pays good bucks. Or is it the other way around?
Most crows would blush under these circumstances but our congress-critters mull over when, rather than whether, they can `jack' their paychecks.
Nice work if you can get it: great benefits, but short for 'walkin' around' money? Well heck, just vote yourself a raise!
27th Amendment, US Constitution
While Hamilton (Fed. # 67) had their number way back when:
http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/federalist
""Most of our members are not individuals of great resources, they're families trying to send kids to college," said House Republican Leader Roy Blunt, R-Mo., defending his support for a pay raise.""
A). Most of them are very well off and Congress is filled with Kerry's, and Bill Frist's who are worth a fortune.
B). When was the last time you ever heard of someone who was poor being in congress?
C). 160k is an income most Americans can only dream of.
Well, shucky-darns, most of the constituents are the same. Why don't you ask us if we can afford to give you guys a pay raise?
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
Do they also get paid for the speaking engagements?
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
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