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In Midnight Vote, Senate Opens Door to Giving Themselves $4,900 Pay Raise
AP | 12/08/01

Posted on 12/08/2001 8:52:29 AM PST by Bad~Rodeo

WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of Congress are on their way to a $4,900 pay raise in January as the Senate used a midnight vote to thwart lawmakers who tried to block it.

After a debate that lasted five minutes late Friday night, the Senate used a 65-33 procedural vote to defeat an effort by Sens. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., to stop the increase from taking effect. Under a 1989 law, legislators get an annual cost-of-living raise unless the House and Senate vote to block it, a mechanism that often lets the increases take effect with little notice. .

The latest boost is for 3.4 percent and will raise members' annual salaries to $150,000. .

Feingold questioned the timing of a congressional pay boost when "our economy is in a recession and hundreds of thousands of workers have been laid off." He also noted that the string of four straight budget surpluses is now expected to end. .

Fourteen of the 30 senators running for re-election next year voted against the pay raise. Two who will retire in January - Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. - voted for the increase, while a third retiree - Jesse Helms, R-N.C. - did not vote. .

Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., voted not to block the increase. .

The House has already passed legislation opening the door for the pay increase. .

The January increase will be the third congressional pay raise in the last four years. Before this period, lawmakers increased their salaries less frequently, but the political risk faded as the economy boomed and federal surpluses soared in the late 1990s. .

By tradition, the annual spending bill for the Treasury Department is the battleground for congressional pay raises. .

The final version of that bill, which lacked language blocking the pay raise, overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate this fall and was signed into law by President Bush on Nov. 12. .

Feingold was blocked from trying to stop the pay raise earlier this year. The vote Friday came as the Senate debated the defense spending bill. .


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To: VA Advogado
Fine give them at least 4 new aircraft carriers and planes and increase troop strenght so the next time our forces will not be rode to death like horses by the now many extended deployments. Unless the status quo is changed withing the next few years you will start seeing equipment failures and troop retention problems like those post Gulf War. I support them but I say give them the needed help now and afterward.
101 posted on 12/08/2001 11:12:18 AM PST by cva66snipe
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To: cva66snipe
Sadly, it isn't just the two you mentioned who sell us out.......however, the alternative is sickening. Just look at what has happened since Jeffords switched. Purity is for Ivory Soap my friend. About the only person I would not vote for is McCain.....everyone else would get a hold my nose vote if necessary. We just aren't going to get true conservatives.......look at Rudy....as a case in point....the man is so far to the left on social issues and some financial issues too....yet he cleaned up a city that many considered unmanageable. And it was a hell hole for many years prior to Rudy.
102 posted on 12/08/2001 11:16:43 AM PST by OldFriend
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To: Bad~Rodeo
VT I Jeffords Not Voting The moderate senator from Vermont couldn't even make his mind up on which way to vote. "Great Moderates in American History."
103 posted on 12/08/2001 11:19:53 AM PST by shortstop
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To: WIMom
FROM WISCONSIN: Feingold-Yea, Kohl-Nay.

Kohl's "nay" vote; how noble of the multi, multi-millionaire. I suppose when ya have that much dough, $5,000 is a drop in the bucket. This guy has got to go, he doesn't do anything for the state of Wisconsin.

Wake up Wisconsin!!!!!!!!!!

104 posted on 12/08/2001 11:28:10 AM PST by MotleyGirl70
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To: OldFriend
Sadly, it isn't just the two you mentioned who sell us out.......however, the alternative is sickening

Not really they can be replaced if the GOP hiarchy would permit as much that is the source of the GOP unwillingness to deal with it's own corruption or RINO's. Tennessee has several good conservative congressman more deserving to be senators.

One would easilly win due to name recognition and good reputation. That one is Rep. Jimmy Duncan. Another is possibly replacing our RINO governor. That one is Van Hilleary. A third has great experience on DOD issues which is Zack Wamp. I think any one of these three could unseat Fred and Bill. I also think they would get plenty of cross over votes as well.

I'll vote for a good GOP canidate. I voted for Wamp this time. Unfortunately when it came to U.S. Senator this time I did not vote as both choices were pathetic.

105 posted on 12/08/2001 11:28:23 AM PST by cva66snipe
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To: shortstop
VT I Jeffords Not Voting The moderate senator from Vermont couldn't even make his mind up on which way to vote. "Great Moderates in American History."

Jeffords is out on his book tour.

106 posted on 12/08/2001 11:29:57 AM PST by VA Advogado
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To: John H K
At some point people need to grow up about the congressional salary issue. Doesn't look like it will ever happen. There are dentists making more than Senators.

Uhh Congress is'nt full time. They spend alot of time in recess.

107 posted on 12/08/2001 11:36:26 AM PST by rottweiller_inc
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To: VA Advogado
I just voted myself a pay raise.... when can I expect the check?
108 posted on 12/08/2001 11:37:14 AM PST by SCalGal
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To: WIMom
Yea votes in my state, Miller & (yuk!) Cleland.

As for Jeffords, he has done a lot of Not Voting . Well, maybe this and one other issue, The Helms Admendment. Just one of those things or is there a reason? Anyone know?

109 posted on 12/08/2001 11:39:02 AM PST by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: SCalGal
Trouble Maker...L~
110 posted on 12/08/2001 11:41:52 AM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: VA Advogado
In theory I agree with you. But in reality, there are many in this country who will not only just a raise this year, they will not get paychecks. Regardless of what side of the aisle, I do think it is the job of Congress to set an example and to lead. Especially during a time of National Crisis.

It gives the appearance of not being willing to do without or to make sacrifices. Perhaps it is not a fair expectation, but it is just one more example of our leaders not leading us.

111 posted on 12/08/2001 11:44:25 AM PST by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: shortstop
Guess it's immoral or politically incorrect to vote your conscience??
112 posted on 12/08/2001 11:53:49 AM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: Protect the Bill of Rights
THIS Flags for YOU,


113 posted on 12/08/2001 11:55:21 AM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: Bad~Rodeo
gee whilakers! i live on $780 a month from my union pension and haven't had a raise in over 3 years.
why don't they ask me how i do it?

i sure do wish i could vote myself a raise.
bitching to the union doesn't seem to do any damned good.

how about another tax rebate, dubya?

114 posted on 12/08/2001 12:04:10 PM PST by rockfish59
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To: Temple Owl
Ewwwww....YOU SAID 2- 4 LETTER WORDS. TERM LIMITS. Kennedy will NOT LIKE You.


115 posted on 12/08/2001 12:11:27 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: rockfish59
It's in the works for 2k2. S~
116 posted on 12/08/2001 12:12:59 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: Bad~Rodeo
$150,000

You gotta be kidding - any senior associate at an investment bank or law firm in NY makes more. No wonder these guys have to find other sources of income.
117 posted on 12/08/2001 12:13:22 PM PST by Economist_MA
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To: Economist_MA
Are you implying Kick-backs?
118 posted on 12/08/2001 12:14:39 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo
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To: Bad~Rodeo
No, not really - even though that is certainly a possibility. I guess speaking engagements at $20k a pop etc. could well be interpreted as such if given to companies or associations with business before congress.
119 posted on 12/08/2001 12:17:40 PM PST by Economist_MA
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To: Bad~Rodeo; Rowdee; seattlesue; redrock; Mercuria; Uncle Bill; HAMMERDOWN; vinylsidingman...
Bless these humble servants, for all the hardships they endure, and the sacrifices they make, in their patriotic service to the country. {sniff, sniff, sniff}

(BTW, what's that stench?)


There's a bill circulating around Congress called the Enumerated Powers Act. This bill, if it became law, would require bill sponsors to cite the section of our Constitution which authorizes or legitimizes their legislation. The Constitution does, after all, specifically set the powers of the federal government, reserving all other power and authority to the people and the states.

Now, there's an appropriations bill out there which includes a half-million-dollar allocation for federal research into how to remove the stink from pig poop. Wouldn't you love to see the congressman who put that appropriations request in the hopper cite the section of our Constitution that sets forth removing the stench from pig crap as a legitimate function of the federal government?...

—Neil Boortz
July 11, 2001




The Enumerated Powers Act: A Constitutional Filter
(Still accepting sponsors)
120 posted on 12/08/2001 12:19:50 PM PST by Benighted
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