Congress gets a New Year’s raise

[Robbien]

Source: Ocala

OCALA — The U.S. economy is in recession, 10.3 million Americans are unemployed and jobs are being shed at a rate unseen since the Nixon administration. Home prices are cratering at a record pace, while foreclosures have hit record heights, and this holiday season was the worst in four decades as consumer confidence hit an all-time low.

And it’s all expected to get worse in 2009.

But don’t worry: Congress is taken care of.

Today, Congress — which has an approval rating of about 20 percent, actually up a few percentage points from the summer — receives a 2.8 percent raise.

That translates to a $4,700 increase to the base congressional salary of $169,300 a year.

The raise will cost taxpayers $2.5 million next year.

Read more: http://www.ocala.com/article/20090101/NEWS/812310285/1001/NEWS01?Title=Congress_gets_a_New_Year_s_raise

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And still they have their hands out to the lobbyists.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. $4700 is about a fourth of my total wages for last year

I still say that the pay for Congress should be the median income here in the US. I've heard others argue that that would mean poor people couldn't run for office, or that it would open the doors to corruption. You can provide government housing for the Congresspeople, and it would amount to less money than their current pay, and take care of the "cost of living" problem that they say would keep poor folks from running. As for corruption--as you say in your OP, salary apparently has nothing to do with it.

[iamjoy]

4. The Problem With That

the problem with not paying our elected officials well is these people are often smarter than the average bear and if government salaries aren't high enough, the best and brightest won't go into government, but the private sector where they can make more.

Or so the argument goes.

The counterpoint to that is that campaigns often cost more than an elected official's salary. It is the formidable cost (financial and otherwise) that prevents average joes and jills from running for office. On the other hand, look at the people who leave public office because they can make more int he private sector.

I think what it really comes down to is that all debate points aside, so many of the people in Congress are already millionaires, they certainly don't need to be sucking off of taxpayers who can barely make ends meet.

[ixion]

7. uh, the "best and brightest" steer clear of government

to be sure.

[iamjoy]

12. OK - Point Taken

the really smart ones aren't going into government anyway.

Congress deals with some pretty complex issues that affect hundred of millions (well, often billions) of people. I think we need people with greater than average intelligence. People with greater than average intelligence are often going to be successful and make more money. Of course, there are also ones who did not get wealthy because they are smart and/or hardworking, but inherited it. In either case, only a sense of service and devotion to country or a realization they can use their position in public office to accrue greater wealth will lead them into government (which is clever, but not smart). Sadly, we get more of the latter than the former. Of course, we also have the ones who may not care so much about money, but have huge egos.

So, maybe you're right - we really don't get the best and brightest, because so few really go into government out of sacrifice or love of country.

Oh, and if you think we don't need people with greater than average intelligence, you only have to look at who has been in the White House for the past 8 years... And if you think we never get ones who are really smart, I point to Bill Clinton. Of course, while "brightest" may fit I think for him it was largely about ego.

[NutmegYankee]

19. No. Some of the best and brightest go to the Civil Service.

They know they can make more in private sector, but they value stability and the chance to do something for the greater good beyond paying shareholders.

[ixion]

24. the greater good

...

...

:rofl:

We'll have to respectfully disagree. I have never once met someone at the top of their game in government work. It has a reputation for being a place for burn-outs, wanna-bes and control freaks.

[NutmegYankee]

25. You're joking right?

You actually think every Government employee is worthless? You seriously buy into that Reagan bullshit story?

I do know some very talented people in the Civil Service. It's a shame you don't.

[ixion]

27. where do you think the phrase "good enough for government work" came from?

seriously, I've met folks working at all levels of govt over the years, from local to fed, and never have I met one that I considered top of their game.

[NutmegYankee]

31. Met in what capacity?

The highly talented ones are often hidden behind the scenes doing the work versus greeting the public, which is unfortunately where Gov. seems to stick the idiots. I know very talented engineers and scientists working in labs and at other facilities who don't get seen by the average person because they don't interact with the public.

[ixion]

38. fair enough...

there's probably a few scientists tucked away, but the vast sea that is the government employment pool is most certainly not composed of the best and the brightest.

By 'met' I meant either working with directly, knowing personally, or those you meet in your every day encounters.

[Lorien]

37. I consider Kuncinich to be one of the best and the brightest

we need to attract more of his kind into office, and higher wages IS NOT the way to do this. I've seen what money does to people and the way they view their jobs first hand. Many years ago I worked for a large animation studio that hadn't had a huge hit in decades. We artists all made regular middle class incomes working there, and our focus was ENTIRELY on making the best films that we could. We cared deeply about telling better stories, creating better animation, painting better backgrounds, etc. We were passionate about what we did for a living, and it wasn't because of what we were being paid.

Skip ahead a few years. We have THREE huge blockbusters in a row. One nearly wins an Oscar for best picture, another is the biggest grossing animated film in history, raking in close to a billion dollars worldwide. The studio heads reward themselves with massive bonuses. A feud develops between the top film executive and the company CEO, so the film executive leaves and starts his own studio. He offers our artists million dollar signing bonuses to jump ship. All of a sudden everyone has a six figure income, many with an additional million in the bank. Some artists are making up to 15k A WEEK! And what happens? Everyone focuses on the money; who has more, how they can get more than the next guy, what everyone is driving, how big the homes are...the artists and the management forget about art, story, animation and background paintings. They no longer love their jobs, they love wealth. They don't care about being great at what they were trained to do, they only care that they have MORE than the guy in the office next to them.

This is human nature. It's what happens when an otherwise well meaning person becomes one of the "nouveau riche", and it's the very reason why politicians SHOULD NOT be given an excessive income to do their jobs. Let them have a regular middle class income so that they focus on what they were trained for,what they should be passionate about- and not on their investments and the new pool installation.

[Blue_Tires]

43. crazy story, but one that repeats over and over

[riverdeep]

42. What they do is the revolving door.

They work in an industry. They come into government for favorable regulation of that business or create laws that favorably impact that business. Then go back to the industry which welcomes them with open arms and wads of cash.

[ixion]

5. indeed... there should be nothing glamourous, powerful or profitable in being a member of Congress

it should be like jury duty. Something you do to fulfill a civil service, not a (lucrative) career path.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. That's the way it was at first

It was looked on as a civic duty, even if it cost the officeholder money.

[Lifetimedem]

34. Amen!

[Historic NY]

2. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't even get a dollar....

their one week check is more than my monthly retirement ck.

[Riley18]

3. Florida teachers who earned national certification took a 10% cut this year,

and next year the other 10% will be cut. Our colleges are unable to squeeze in all the students who want an education because their funding has been drastically cut. These are just two examples of the gross mismanagement of our congressional leaders, and yet they get a nice raise. It really is disgusting! That is $4,700 for the BASE salary. I suppose they get more money for each term in office. In other words, most of them will get an even larger amount from taxpayers.

[dglow]

16. Shameful Crooks

Our federal representatives are a shameful cabal of crooks. They opened the floodgates to allow manufacturers to take their operations off-shore, putting millions of Americans out of work. Free trade agreements are a total joke. This is the ONLY country that abides by these agreements. Our exported products are taxed with value-added-tax schemes abroad, while imports here are welcomed tax free. Now these stinking congressmen give themselves a raise while the standard of living sinks for their constituents. Ben Franklin predicted the Republic would last only 200 years and warned at the signing of the Constitution that the experiment in democratic rule would fall to corruption. He was right! Without a strong mnaufacturing base, the middle class vanishes and we will become another Mexico. Yet Obama brags that he too is a FREE TRADE SUPPORTER.

The only answer is a massive tax revolt by the people. We have no other weapon against the fascists.

[2Design]

6. this bullshit has been going on since repukes took over congress EVERY YEAR and

no one seems to notice that these people want to stay in these jobs because nothing else pays so well with benefits in the usa

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. IIrc, these raises have been automatic for 15-20 years.

They got tired of the PR arising from voting themselves a raise. They still take a PR hit but it is not nearly as bad as had they voted for it.

Filed under: What's good for us is not necessarily good for you.

[Robbien]

11. The article points out that Congress can vote to stop the automatic raise for themselves

as it has done many times in the past.

The article also points out that there is a bill currently sitting in Congress to suspend automatic raises for Congress in any year where the country is running a deficit. That bill of course is being ignored by almost all the critters.

[nancyr]

9. They're all shameless.

They've all been a party to the ruination of the country. For this they give themselves a pay-raise?
If they had any honor they would resign.

[MercutioATC]

13. Pssst...you forgot about locality pay...

They should get about a 4.6% increase with the locality adjustment.

[NutmegYankee]

22. I don't think Congress gets that.

I believe that is only for Civil Service employees in select cities.

[MercutioATC]

30. Perhaps not. I wasn't certain.

[Wizard777]

14. Now all the bailedout CEO's will want a 2% raise too.

[ohio2007]

15. they also voted themselves a 99% opinion poll raise

[ryanmuegge]

17. They don't deserve shit. Fuck them.

No wonder this country is a fucking joke.

[fascisthunter]

18. for what? For Screwing us and Giving Criminals a Clean Break?

What a shitty corrupt government we have... we pay our taxes so these pricks can give themselves a raise. How disgusting...

[Pharlo]

20. Is there any way to take this OUT of Congress' hands?

Such as a national referendum?

I'm seriously asking. Is it possible to put a national referendum on the ballot of the next national election which limits congressional pay/perks?

[ohio2007]

21. sheeple have short term memories

it will all go down the memory hole as stooges will hit the campaign trails to get their local american idiots re elected


could always move to Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emlxaSJbQAE&feature=related

[judesedit]

23. Disgusting

That is really f-ed up. Here we can hardly pay our mortgages and they are rewarding themselves for a job poorly done. We should squawk and squawk until their increase is undone. No way do they deserve a raise. They're already paid way too much for what they fail to do. And pay increases should be an issue we vote on.

[acmavm]

26. OMG!! Grandma Nancy got something passed!

[99 Percent Sure]

28. We should play a game called "Which Congress Critter Do YOU think

Deserves a Pay Increase?"

My democratic congressional rep, Xavier Becerra of the 31st Los Angeles district, is the only one I can come up with. Boxer, Pelosi, Waters, Watson shouldn't get a fecal dime.

[Pin Ball]

29. Well, at least we can fire members of Congress.

On the other hand, a typical government worker can never be fired.

[NutmegYankee]

32. Actually they can.

Federal rules require only two unsatisfactory evaluations before an employee can be fired.

[Pin Ball]

36. Yes, they can, but it hardly ever happens.

[EFerrari]

39. Congress has a higher return rate than the Politburo did. n/t

[SOS]

33. The lackeys who passed the bankruptcy bill are getting a raise.

Perfect.

And Goldman Sachs is now in the process of handing out $6.9 billion in bonuses to all but their top seven executives (who will get their cash in 2010).

To the DUers on this thread: How was your raise/bonus this year?

[harmonicon]

35. you have got to be fucking kidding me

[timtom]

40. F***ing Shameful!!

[riverdeep]

41. How about making it performance oriented?

If you get the economy going, decent jobs being created, you know- the things you said you were going to do- you get a raise. If it goes down, so does your salary. It's called incentive.