Democrats block pay raise for Congress, Cheney

[jgraz]

Democrats to delay pay increase to congress, senate, Cheney

House Democrats will bring a minimum wage increase bill before the floor at the start of the 110th congress that will block pay increases for themselves--and Vice President Dick Cheney--RAW STORY has learned.

It is expected to become law barring presidential veto.

The bill is planned as part of a series of legislative steps taken by the House leadership to fulfill a promise to block congressional cost of living adjustments until the minimum wage has been lifted. The wage has not been raised since an increase signed by President Bill Clinton took effect on September 1, 1997.

To do this, Democrats have placed a resolution into the continuing appropriations bill—to be debated in session tonight—that synchronizes the scheduled salary increase of $3,300 per year for congresspeople and senators with all other federal government funding, which will be appropriated in February after the Democrats have been in power for over a month.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Democrats_to_delay_pay_increase_to_1208.html

First the five-day work week, now this. Is it just my imagination or are congressional Dems actually playing smart politics for once?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. way to go!

How can the 'pubs counter this? Even their own base is disgusted with their not working and getting huge salaries!

[SCDem]

2. I think it's brilliant!

And I think Nancy Pelosi is wonderful!

Quick the bickering and name calling that the Republicans have been leading with and rather work on it on the Floor. I think it's great. Let's see if we hear any "Straight up or down vote" from the Republicans now.

I think the Dems are playing smart!

[ComerPerro]

3. next we are going to hear from Repigs that Dems are putting a cunch on families

just like how they claimed Dems hated the family by shortening the recess

[jgraz]

4. Bring it on

These losers got nothin -- I love seeing them try to argue against shit that 99% of the country's in favor of.

[Zenlitened]

5. Sweeet!

:applause:

[Beetwasher]

6. I Wish They Would DOCK Cheney's Pay

Can't they go one step further and dock his pay?

Man oh man, that's gotta chap Cheney's ass! LOL! First Pelosi takes his office on the hill and now this! They are really trying to provoke him I think! :rofl:

I hope it works and they really piss him off and he gets so pissed he does something really, really stupid.

[struggle4progress]

16. Y'know, they MIGHT just be able to dock Cheney's pay: the Constitution

forbids raising or lowering the President's salary, during his term; similarly, the salaries of judges cannot be decreased during their tenure; and there are some constitutional limitations on changes to the salaries of Senators and Representatives.

But .. I don't see the Vice-President's salaries mentioned.

[liberal N proud]

7. Government working For the People!"

[tridim]

8. The only thing that would be better is if..

They CUT their pay until we're out of Iraq, but I'll take this too. The public will love it.

[TlalocW]

9. Where's that whiny congress critter from Georgia

Who was all upset about having to work five days a week, and the new schedule proves that democrats hate families? Shouldn't he be out whining about this?

TlalocW

[CurtEastPoint]

13. That smarmy mofo wrote an op ed response this morning in the Atlanta paper...waah!

Jack Kingston states what he did all that time he WASN'T in DC...

(condensed..boring blah blah shit)

And goes on to tell what they DID and DIDN'T do in DC

"Republicans, my party, lost the majority for a number of reasons — scandals, spending, "the bridge to nowhere," Iraq and history — but the primary reason is that we didn't deliver. We didn't resolve issues from immigration reform, permanent tax relief and tax simplification, health care affordability, fuel independence, etc. When we were in Washington, we spent our time naming post offices and bridges.

We did not lose the majority because we were home listening to or speaking with our constituents. We lost it because we didn't make good use of the time when we were in Washington."

[jgraz]

10. How about permanently indexing their pay to the minimum wage?

And make it only one-way -- i.e. the minimum wage can rise independently, but congressional pay can never go up without a proportional minimum wage rise.

There probably would be some weird consequence of this, but it seems like a pretty good idea to me.

[aquart]

11. I like it. It smacks of justice and fair play.

Are we going to have any of that now?

[jgraz]

12. Can't have that -- Ideas support by 80% of the people are too far out of the mainstream

[dogday]

14. Damn, making them work and with no raise

Sounds like the common people's work rules... Good for them....

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Can't wait to hear Cheney complaining about the financial hardship it will cause him

John Kennedy and his brother donated their government salaries to charity. Sadly those days are long gone.

[onethatcares]

17. I just emailed Bill Nelson of Florida

and since he's a DINO, I thought I'd like to hear what he thought of this measure. This reply is gonna be gobbledegook of the first order. If I get a reply.