In Midnight Vote, Senate Opens Door to Giving Themselves $4,900 Pay Raise

AP | 12/08/01

[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. .

[Rowdee]

I can see it now......

"CONGRESS MIRED DOWN IN PIG SHIT"

[jwh_Denver]

annual salaries to $150,000

Don't worry, they'll spend at least a billion for every penny for the raise they gave themselves. See? No worries or tears.

[willyboyishere]

Thanks---I wasn't aware it only went into effect in '03. This makes the amendment relatively toothless, since by the time the next elections roll around, the voters will have forgotten about it---never seems to have been that big a campaign issue anyway

[DAGO]

GIVE IT TO THEM,MY BACK IS BROAD!!!

COMRADE DAGOSAVITCH
COMMUNIST AGENT
OCCUPIED USSA

[rockfish59]

well, that's something to look forward to.
if it makes d'@$$hole squirm, all the more better!

[rockfish59]

no, from my pension fund which is in excess of a billion dollars!
they just raised our medical coverage from $25,000 max to $500,000!!
doesn't sound like they're hurting to me.
so i'm sure they could afford to give me an extra $1-200 a month, which would be a big help.

[VA Advogado]

You are the man. Its nice to see someone else trying to slap some sense into some of the pebble brains on this thread.

[cmotormac44]

you are nuts---my 'cost of living' from SS came to 2.6% for next year--then my medical insurance went up $28 monthly -more than the lousy increase is--Hope you get old fast and your 401, etc is in a failed company like Enron

[cmotormac44]

and most dentists are WORTH more than the garbage in the Senate-

[VA Advogado]

you are nuts---my 'cost of living' from SS came to 2.6% for next year--then my medical insurance went up $28 monthly -more than the lousy increase is--Hope you get old fast and your 401, etc is in a failed company like Enron

If I had my way you would have to get off the government nipple and have to pay for your own damn health insurance you leach.

[VA Advogado]

you are nuts---my 'cost of living' from SS came to 2.6% for next year--then my medical insurance went up $28 monthly -more than the lousy increase is--Hope you get old fast and your 401, etc is in a failed company like Enron

You better hope someone with my mindset doesn't get to congress. I'll have you working your sorry excuse of a butt until your 85 years old.

[cmotormac44]

I do pay for my own health insurance, you piece of crap-you sound like a demonRat lover-

[Republic of Texas]

In the age of 24 hr news channels, why do they think this will go by unnoticed?

[VA Advogado]

I do pay for my own health insurance, you piece of crap-you sound like a demonRat lover-

Well then stop complaining about it going up more than your SS COLA. If you're not using government insurance they're not even related. And please stop calling me names. Lets try to be civil here. You can be wrong and still leave this conversation with dignity.

[cmotormac44]

well, I am 80 now, turdbrain, so I won't have long to go under your system --my shipmates and I knew we were protecting the rights of trash like you to spout your filth when we were at Normandy but we did it anyway--cheers

[VA Advogado]

I am sorry for being so harsh with you. I have a great deal of respect for your generation. I have to be honest with myself and what I stated is how I feel, but I do owe you more respect than I showed you.

[cmotormac44]

and all of this started because one person didn't know what the 'cost of living' was this year--at least what the 'senators and reps' based the working folks raises on--forget it and I thank you for your kindness--guess we are all a bit uptight--cheers

[nunya bidness]

No matter. When the debate moves to considering paying more to the thiefs because it will attract better congresscritters we've lost all hope.

It still amazes me to see people talk about our money being confiscated at gunpoint to support more theft by "better" politicians. Truly a fascinating twist of logic.

Davey Crockett would have a heart attack if he heard this exchange.

[BigBillLee]

Personally, I'm happy to see them getting their money above the table.