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Congress Helps Self to $3,100 Pay Raise
Associated Press (via Washington Post) ^ | 11/18/2005 | David Espo

Posted on 11/18/2005 9:22:44 PM PST by xrp

Congress Helps Self to $3,100 Pay Raise

By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
Friday, November 18, 2005; 11:44 PM

WASHINGTON -- The Republican-controlled Congress helped itself to a $3,100 pay raise on Friday, then postponed work on bills to curb spending on social programs and cut taxes in favor of a two-week vacation.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption
KEYWORDS: 109th; incentive
I just sent this letter to my Congressman regarding this (feel free to copy/plagarize to suit your Congressman's needs):

I was delighted to see on the front page of moore.house.gov about your concern for where the taxpayer money is spent.

In light of this, I was very concerned when I read the Washington Post and discovered that you members of Congress have voted yourselves a $3100 pay raise.

I don't think Congress has been doing its job -- for a few decades now, by failing to deliver a balanced budget, with the exception of random surpluses now and then. Congress controls spending...or rather is supposed to control spending. Congress hasn't been doing a very good job of it.

How can Congress justify giving themselves a pay raise when they aren't doing their job? In the private sector, if you don't do your job, you get fired or get no raise.

Congressman Moore, I would like to see if you would introduce a bill in the House that would make Congressional pay incentive based. I propose that this bill make Congressmen and Senators wage employees who have to "clock in" and "clock out" on a timeclock and are paid the minimum hourly rate of $2.13/hr, like waiters and waitresses at restaurants. This would free you all up to ask for tips when you do your job well, also known as balancing the budget. So, if your constituents feel that you're doing an excellent job, you could make some great money!

In addition, can you explain to me why it took about 200 years of the existance of the United States as a Republic for the federal budget to hit $1 trillion dollars (1787 to late 1980s) yet in less than 20 years, we've managed to tack on another $1.6 trillion+ to the money that the federal government either forcibly takes from the taxpayers or borrows so that it will have to forcibly take even more money from the taxpayers of tomorrow?

I would like to hear your thoughts on these topics.

Thank you for your representation!

xrp

1 posted on 11/18/2005 9:22:44 PM PST by xrp
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To: xrp

Oh, thank God! I was worried that some of my Congressmen weren't going to have enough to eat this holiday season.


2 posted on 11/18/2005 9:24:28 PM PST by Publius Valerius
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To: xrp

Bastards...


3 posted on 11/18/2005 9:24:34 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (JOE WILSON IS A MUTHAFAKING LIAR)
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To: xrp

Does the president have to approve this?


4 posted on 11/18/2005 9:26:56 PM PST by CindyDawg
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Maybe its time for some civil un rest


5 posted on 11/18/2005 9:27:39 PM PST by al baby (Father of the beeber)
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To: xrp

Congress is out of session? The Republic is safe, if only for a few days.


6 posted on 11/18/2005 9:28:59 PM PST by thoughtomator (Democrats think 1984 is an instruction manual)
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To: xrp

We the people deserve better damnit!


7 posted on 11/18/2005 9:30:50 PM PST by 38special (You're welcome.)
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To: xrp

A 2% pay raise? Wow! I made 4% and thought that was low.

My son just got a 40% raise!! He now makes $8.50 an hour!


8 posted on 11/18/2005 9:34:55 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: xrp
IIRC, Congress set this scam up so they do not have to vote. Congress cannot raise its own salary, only the salary of the next Congress. They formed a commission designed to establish salaries. Congress has to act in order to stop themselves from automatically receiving the raises the commission recommends.

Naturally, they rarely get around to voting the raises down. Darn their luck.

10 posted on 11/18/2005 9:58:33 PM PST by Nomorjer Kinov
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To: xrp

Why doesn't those who were outraged over the profits of the oil companies set up a fund and send money back to the consumers who are having to pay high gasoline prices...

Lets have hearings!!!


11 posted on 11/18/2005 10:37:23 PM PST by KoRn
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To: xrp
Just out of curiosity, I wonder if any previous stories in the WaPo about earlier pay raises began, "The Democrat-controlled Congress helped itself to a pay raise..."

Ah, journalistic objectivity! As rare as caviar from the Loch Ness Monster!

12 posted on 11/18/2005 10:59:42 PM PST by HHFi
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To: xrp
man, where do i sign up to be a congressman?

as far as Congressional pay being incentive based, i think it should work in reverse.. for every new law they make, they should take a pay cut
13 posted on 11/19/2005 2:37:57 AM PST by wafflehouse (the hell you say!)
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To: xrp

"The Republican-controlled Congress helped itself..."

Oh, yeah -- if it were Democrat-controlled, this wouldn't have happened? Ok, let's see the roll call vote.

Continual cheap partisan shots aside, NONE of these bastards deserve a damned additional cent, based on a 'pay-for-performance' standard.


14 posted on 11/19/2005 3:22:30 AM PST by DJ Frisat
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To: xrp

I have never understood how this ploy does not violate the XXVII Ammendment to the US Constitution.


15 posted on 11/19/2005 6:02:14 AM PST by ops33 (Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant)
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