House votes to give itself a raise

[Stravo]

House votes to give itself pay raise
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 Posted: 9:12 AM EDT (1312 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- With little debate, House lawmakers on Tuesday included themselves as part of a pay raise that all federal employees will receive next year.

The cost-of-living raise would be the sixth straight for members of the House and Senate, boosting the salaries of lawmakers, now $158,100, by about $4,000 in the new calendar year.

The civil servant COLA is part of an $89.9 billion Transportation and Treasury Department spending bill that the House is expected to pass Wednesday. The Senate has yet to take up the legislation.

The measure stipulates that civil servants get raises of 3.5 percent, the same as military personnel will receive next year. Under a complicated formula, that translates to 2.5 percent for members of Congress.

Like last year, the only House member to speak out against the automatic raise was Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. "Now is not the time for members of Congress to be voting themselves a pay raise," he said. "Let us send a signal to the American people that we recognize their struggle in America's economy."

But by a 235-170 vote, the House rejected Matheson's procedural attempt to get a direct vote on the pay raise. In 1989, Congress decided to make annual cost-of-living pay increases automatic unless the lawmakers voted otherwise.

The pay raise would also apply to the vice president -- who is president of the Senate -- congressional leaders and Supreme Court justices.

This year, Vice President Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Chief Justice William Rehnquist receive $203,000. Associate justices get $194,300 and House and Senate party leaders get $175,700.

President Bush's salary of $400,000 is unaffected by the legislation.

Maybe its because I live in NYC or the career path I'm in but considering what they do I don't think they make THAT much. I mean you certainly won't be living high on the hog with some of those salaries in NYC.

Still, I do believe this is sending the wrong signal but I can't recall the last time the House voted against giving itself a raise.

I'm also a little miffed that Government workers across the board are getting the same COLA increase as the soldiers. You would think that if anyone deserves to be shown some extra attention or appreciation it would be our men in uniform and not the local beauracrats or mailmen.

[Darth Wong]

If our elected officials cannot continue to give themselves raises whenever they want, the terrorists have already won.

But seriously, I don't see why government officials' salaries should be made comparable to executive pay. They already have most of their expenses paid for them, after all.

[Master of Ossus]

I've always wished that there was a non-monetary way to tempt the best and brightest away from business and towards the legislature. Sadly there isn't, and they don't make anywhere near enough to do it monetarily. I'm not real happy that they gave themselves a pay raise, since it will do virtually nothing as an incentive, but I guess it's good that the few people who are legislators and don't have millions will be able to live a little better.

[Lusankya]

Being a politician's a shit job, and they actually work quite hard for their money. Sure their expenses are paid, but the job involves long trips away from home and if you're not from the capital originally, then you either have to move your family or stay away from them whenever parliament/congress is in session.

I certainly wouldn't want to do their job. As much as I like the idea, The cost of being a politician seem much too high for my liking.

[Sebastin]

How much of their expenses do american politicians get paid anyway? just curious.

In germany, the chancellor has to pay rent for his official residence (about 2000 euro/month). It´s one of the reasons why schröder doesn´t use it.

[Glocksman]

They don't get housing provided for them.
Maintaining two houses is expensive (especially if one is in DC) if you're not already wealthy.
My Congressman literally sleeps in his office when he's in Washington in order to avoid the expense of a 2nd home.

[Darth Wong]

They don't get housing provided for them.
Maintaining two houses is expensive (especially if one is in DC) if you're not already wealthy.
My Congressman literally sleeps in his office when he's in Washington in order to avoid the expense of a 2nd home.

Congressmen are too good for apartments?

[aerius]

Congressmen are too good for apartments?

Makes it too hard to have a mistress from what I'm told...

[Talon Karrde]

If our elected officials cannot continue to give themselves raises whenever they want, the terrorists have already won.

But seriously, I don't see why government officials' salaries should be made comparable to executive pay. They already have most of their expenses paid for them, after all.

What would the alternative be? Put it on a general ballot to be voted on by the population?

[RedImperator]

I actually don't begrudge them this. Most Congressmen work their asses off (in the desk job sense, of course). P.J. O'Rourke had a pretty good chapter about a day in the life of a congressman in Parliament of Whores. 12 and 14 hour days, plus weekly commutes back to their home district, are pretty typical. Hell, my boss makes six digits and he spends at least one work day a week on the golf course.

[Darth Wong]

Why is the avarice of typical modern corporate fatcats a justification for anything?

[RedImperator]

Why is the avarice of typical modern corporate fatcats a justification for anything?

Are you referring to my boss? He's hardly a fatcat--I was under the impression fatcats aren't routinely reamed up one side and down the other by the regional vice president--and about a third of his income, I'd guess, is bonuses and incentives from sales. I was just pointing out that for the work they do, a low six figure income is reasonable for a congressman, to go by private industry's standards. If we were paying them the kind of salaries you see at the top of the heap in some companies, you'd be looking at seven or eight digits before the decimal point.

[Iceberg]

Yes, there's a major hurricane all set to annihilate a major metropolitan area, and Congress is voting itself a raise. This is of course the right time.

[Glocksman]

They don't get housing provided for them.
Maintaining two houses is expensive (especially if one is in DC) if you're not already wealthy.
My Congressman literally sleeps in his office when he's in Washington in order to avoid the expense of a 2nd home.

Congressmen are too good for apartments?

My understanding is that he's making payments on a house back here and is sending a couple of his kids to college. He's an engineer by profession, btw.

It's not like you can get a decent apartment in the DC area on the cheap.

[Soontir C'boath]

I'm also a little miffed that Government workers across the board are getting the same COLA increase as the soldiers. You would think that if anyone deserves to be shown some extra attention or appreciation it would be our men in uniform and not the local beauracrats or mailmen.

Mailwomen too, my mother is one of those people that sort the mail to make sure your bills goes to your home.
Perhaps one day all mail through Manhatten will be rerouted to Staten Island

I do agree that the soldiers should get higher pay but perhaps in the "hazard" section. They are Federal employees just like the rest. To give them higher raises in their regular income will spell inequality for the others.

[Durandal]

They don't get housing provided for them.
Maintaining two houses is expensive (especially if one is in DC) if you're not already wealthy.
My Congressman literally sleeps in his office when he's in Washington in order to avoid the expense of a 2nd home.

Hell, some sleep at the DC YMCA.