House lawmakers accept $3,300 pay hike

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Despite record low approval ratings, House lawmakers Tuesday embraced a $3,300 pay raise that will increase their salaries to $168,500.

The 2 percent cost-of-living raise would be the seventh straight for members of the House and Senate.

Lawmakers easily squelched a bid by Rep. Jim Matheson (news, bio, voting record), D-Utah, to get a direct vote to block the COLA, which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it.

In the early days of GOP control of Congress, lawmakers routinely denied themselves the annual COLA. Last year, the Senate voted 92-6 to deny the raise but quietly surrendered the position in House-Senate talks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_go_co/congress_pay_raise

[Omaha Steve]

1. no raise in the minimum wage for the working poor

Surprised?

[Skink]

2. Help em fill up the SUV'S this summer.

[ast_liberal2008]

3. I love how it says 'accept'

Like " we really didn't want it, but I guess we'll take it if we offer it to ourselves."

[Charlie Brown]

4. I could be mistaken, but isn't this unconstitutional?

The 27th Amendment:

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Originally authored by James Madison, no less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-seventh_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

[wordpix2]

15. another law broken by the repukes? Oh, no, that just can't be! (sarcasm)

I am really getting f*$*ing sick of this s*it. :grr:

[OneTwentyoNine]

17. That old rag? We quit using that as a qualifier several years ago...n/t

[onehandle]

5. Hooray for the future millionaire lobbyists!

$3,300 is chump change.

[sutz12]

6. Not when you're unemployed, it ain't nt

[onehandle]

19. Chump change to future millionaire lobbyists. nt

[Judi Lynn]

7. Why can't the name of the original sponsor of each attempt to affect

their own salaries be published? Voters put them in office to serve at the pay level in place at that time. The American public supplies their salaries and other perks. Why should the voters not make ALL decisions about their salaries, anyway?

Why can't we know which people are opening the cookie jar each time? It really IS our business.

[Robb]

14. Check the article

It's actually awarded automatically, unless they vote to block it.

(snip)

Lawmakers easily squelched a bid by Rep. Jim Matheson (news, bio, voting record), D-Utah, to get a direct vote to block the COLA, which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it.

(snip)

But by a 249-167 vote, the House rejected Matheson's procedural attempt to get a direct vote on the pay raise.

...I'd expect that would be a vote with a record, but those numbers look hauntingly familiar. :(

[Divine Discontent]

8. son of a bitches....

tired of this being a government by the people for the rich, instead of what it was intended to be, meanwhile my neighbors think I'm looney for paying attention to the shit that bush & congress shove down our throat...


I don't sound bitter do I?


www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[catnhatnh]

9. Liars and thieves....

Already many multiples past what real citizens make they claim a "mere" 2% cost of living...$3300 dollars-or close to 33% of what a minimum wage worker makes...if the lawmakers cut their wages by 80% they would have an idea of what "normal" americans know-living on wages sucks.....

[jseankil]

10. What assholes. $165,200 just wasn't doing it huh? /nm

nm

[wordpix2]

16. no, because they HAVE to keep two homes. Like all those who travel for

a living HAVE to have. :puke:

[corporatemedia]

11. $3,300 is almost ONE THIRD of what a minimum wage worker earns per year.nt

[AzDar]

12. Sign o' the times.. a pay increase for what may possibly be the

worst Congress EVER!

[CRK7376]

13. Wish I could get

a $3,300 pay raise. Jerks....oh I forgot they have to maintain two residences and fly back and forth all the time and take long vacations....

[OneTwentyoNine]

18. Dems should try and run a Minimum wage bill through again....

Only this time up the wage even more. Of course it won't pass but at least they'd be left with plenty of ammo.

[hollowdweller]

20. Dems should try to tie congressional raises to min wage.

[mvd]

24. Agreed

That's good strategy. :thumbsup:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Right on!

I like the way you think! :yourock:

[soothsayer]

21. goes nicely with the improved pension plan (you get it earlier now)

or rather, have to serve for fewer years than previously required

above the law bastards

[drhilarius]

22. Phew, thank goodness they got more money for their bang-up job...

now I need to get some rest, I have to go sell some plasma tomorrow to pay my frickin' power bill.

[Virginia Dare]

23. Makes perfect sense...

now they will reinvest that money back into the economy, and we'll all reap the benefits!

:freak:

[Deja Q]

26. K&R