Posted on 02/03/2010 3:46:53 AM PST by IbJensen
Washington (CNSNews.com) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) rejected the idea of continuing a congressional pay freeze until Congress can balance the budget, saying that it would take “a long time” until the budget might be balanced – too long, he said, for Congress to go without a pay raise.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing, Hoyer explained that Congress had already frozen its pay by rejecting a cost of living increase. However, extending that freeze was too much for Hoyer to support.
CNSNews.com: Are you willing to continue the freeze on congressional pay beyond this year and until the budget gets balanced?
Hoyer: “I’m sure that Congress will be willing to consider it. First of all, as you know, in order for there to be a pay raise, you need to have a vote. Cost of living adjustments are perceived differently by the courts and by the law. So you’re really talking about cost of living adjustments. We froze the cost of living adjustments this year, and I’m sure we’ll consider that again.
CNSNews.com: But do you support it?
Hoyer: I’ve not been a big supporter of it, if you’re talking about in terms of freezing until we balance the budget – that’s a long time. I think that that’s further ahead than I want to plan.
While drafting the budget last year, Congress froze its annual cost of living increase for 2010 but will – by law – receive it in 2011 and every year after, unless Congress votes to stop the increase each year or to stop the automatic increases permanently.
According to the Office of Management and Budget, the federal deficit resulting from President Obama’s 2011 budget will be approximately $1.3 trillion in 2011 and result in a total of $6 trillion in deficits over 10 years.
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Loading... Loading... T Carrington (6 hours ago)
The real rate of unempl is 17%; bizs are adjusting. My co is doing well,but folks are losing their jobs, benefits cut/copays up, my salary frozen indefinitely & my 30+ year pension cut six figures. At least we produce something, incl billions in tax revenues. Last I checked, the US Govt (which has expanded >100K employees in '09, + 100K '10 budget)doesn't produce anything--unless, of course, you include duplicitous, costly and burdensome regulations and taxes that weigh down the productive sector. In the business world, we'd call the government the "denominator" (it takes away but doesn't add anything). Recall Sarbannes-Oxley, the ridiculous kneejerk reaction to the mere $1 billion Enron scandal. Of course, when the scandal is on the government side--Fannie/Fred--they do nothing or leave the $1.3 TRILLION debt off the books(aka fraud!). As much as I don't like tossing the good out with the bad, we have to remove the entitlement mentality by throwing the bums out in Nov. Bye Bye! Taliesin319 (7 hours ago)
On any given day in our lives we have all worked ten times harder than this packet of excrement. This clown better have a good pair of treainers cause he's going to be job hunting. Oh where are the serial killers when you need them. liberty76 (7 hours ago)
Oh yeah, good idea. While America sees record deficits, record debt and the highest unemployment since Jimmah Carta and congress will again in the space of a year, line their pockets!? What pigs. See ya in November! katleroy (7 hours ago)
This man is either the most disconnected politician, or just an a**. It appears with the major uprising as shown in recent elections that he is the latter. Congress has done NOTHING to stem the tsunami of unemployed Americans, and yet he is griping about his pay. After the mess they have all created they should be paying us. Especially since so many of the Dems think taxes are something only the little guy pays. God, I pray that MD is listening... WE must get rid of ALL career politicians. They surely do NOT represent the values of "We The People". roxkid (9 hours ago)
Social Security recipients were told that there is to be no COLA this year because the cost of living did not increase over last year. cappicola (9 hours ago)
"I’ve not been a big supporter of it, if you’re talking about in terms of freezing until we balance the budget – that’s a long time. I think that that’s further ahead than I want to plan." ........... I can't wait wait for the first partisan "meatball" in MSM to rise up in vocal support of a pay raise for Steny Hoyer or any politician for that matter. Talk about jogging briskly, straight into the bowels of h*e*l*l without your aloe vera sunscreen! But, as always, Steny comes across as the Congressional Buffoon, in perfect contrast to The Wicked Botoxed Witch. annie60 (10 hours ago)
Hey Steny Hoyer, people with your attitude represent the "Better then Thou" government representatives, of which there are many at this time. It would do your heart and soul good to get down in the ditches with us - you don't have a clue how Obama and your team have kicked Americans to the curb. As far as I'm concerned, you can quit playing on your jets, hitch hike, eat PBJ sandwiches and help our Nation return to its once strong foundation. If you thinnk I'm going to lose any sleep if you don't get a raise or cost of living perk, you're wrong. tallyho (11 hours ago)
If anything these clowns should be taking a pay cut? Since when do they deserve an automatic pay hike for just showing up? These ungrateful cretans are the problem to all the nations woes? This government has lost its way, stifles private enterprise and robs more of our inalienable rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." Hardnox (11 hours ago)
So please tell us why the good folks in Maryland keep voting this sorry excuse for a representative in office over and over again? tallyho (11 hours ago)
If anything these clowns should be taking a pay cut? Since when do they deserve an automatic paycut for just showing up? These ungrateful cretans are the problem to all the nations woes? This government has lost its way, stifles private enterprise and robs more of our inalienable rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
It has become all too clear that America can no longer afford this Congress or this experiment in seeing how quickly an imbecilic Marxist can ruin the nation forever!
Raises are for employees who do exemplary work. Ask yourself, Stenny, do you really think you qualify?
And this is the idiot who says Americans need jobs so we can pay taxes.
We’re dairy cows to these idiots.
Spoken like a true elitist. Clearly, Hoyer is completely out of touch with the pulse of the American voters. Considering that 10%+ of the workforce is out of work, 18%+ if you count underemployed and those who have quit looking for work, this rejection of a Congressional pay freeze will go over like a turd in the punch bowl. With the track record of the Dims over the past 3 years with Hoyer as the #2 Democrat in the House, he'd better be far more worried about keeping his job come November, not whether or not he and his cronies will get another undeserved pay raise....
I don’t know where Steny is coming from. He appears to think that the Congress is working with people who need to get paid.
I dont see what they need with any salary at all. Steny has certainly never done anyhing else but politics and made plenty. With all the money they get from lobbyists and all the insider information and not paying their taxes, what do they need with money.
Dont ever try to tell me that they spend millions to get their jobs for that paltry salary. Most of them are millionaores and that money didnt come from salary.
Who do these clowns thing they are? Certainly not Statesmen.
Put all Congress on Social Security pay-level benefits. The maximum per individual is about $17,000 per year -regardless of contributions by employer & employee.
Hey Hoyer!
No COLA in 2010.
Pay for travel out of pocket.
Medical care - same as Medicare - pay your premiums,copays, deductible & coinsurance.
Pay for your own food and housing.
I agree with him on this one. I am for cutting their pay completely as well as eliminating their expense accounts and the salaries of all they employ.
Then I want their assets ceased and sold and the proceeds applied to pay off the debt.
I also want the same done to all former members of Congress and all the employees of the Executive Branch including present and former Presidents, Vice President and their families!
Same goes for the Judicial Branch!
“too long, he said, for Congress to go without a pay raise.”
Will a pig’s head fit in a guillotine?
That is a perfect analogy. And once one sees this FACT, the rationale for the urge to enact "immigration reform" becomes clear. "Immigration reform" is a means to increase the size of the herd.
Welcome to the feedlot.
Congressional pay increases should be on par with that of the rest of the federal workforce, better yet the military. Let’s see if Nanny and Mr Hoyer can survive on a 1.4% increase.
Moooo ..... http://www.cowswithguns.com/
LOL I thought about the fight for bovine freedom as soon as I wrote the feedlot comment.
Now bring on the chickens in choppers.
I think the desired result of reduced federal government is achieved if NONE of them get increases on borrowed money, including the military. One reason the feds are able to obtain so much support is that they pay well to those who join their club.
And should there be a concern about maintaining a military, note that Congress has the authority to issue United States Notes, outside of the system of borrowing money into existence. Congress has the authority to create interest free money any time it wants to.
Cut their pay to $1.00 a day. Out this they have to pay travel expenses, and everything else. You think they would think differently. The demanded bankers and wall street take a $1.00. They need to do the same. Cot the politicians staff by 50%. Cut the US government by 50% of staff. Having observed state employess, work 2 hours 15 minute break work 2 hours 1 hour lunch work 2 hours 15 minute break work thirty minutes more go home 6 hours paid for 8. but the productivity is basically 4 hours of work performed the last 2 hours they just sit there and do nothing, but complain that they ate two much at lunch or their worried about their children. if they are not married, worried about when they are going to get something on the go. In Madison, Wi they were more concerned about benefits for their partner than performing a job. Acted more like a dog in heat. Oddly enough the people with disabilities, CP, deaf and others employed worked harder and were more productive. One lady in particular, she was elated that she was moving from Social Security disability to being gainfully employed at 32 hours a week. She was employed for 32 hours a week and would work 32 hours in her job. So she could not hear, but be damned if she was going to get caught up in the typical governmental mentality, getting paid to sit and do nothing.
Get Congress off the federal payroll first and foremost.
The States should fund their own representatives.
As it is, Congress knows that it works for the Federal Government and not for the States and home districts.
Make them more accountable to the States on a day to day basis instead of every 2-6 years and you’ll see changes.
Show me the MOOOOOOOOOOOO lah.
This jerk is scary! If, by some miracle, Pelosi isn’t relected, he wants to be speaker???? WHAT???
His dumbest statement is that a raise needs to be voted on! Now...please tell me...if the seniors were to be approached with the idea that they were in line for a raise but it has to be voted on, can you imagine seniors voting ‘no thanks’? Does anyone really believe congress will vote on a raise and say ‘no thanks’! If it is offered to them they will have a 100% yes vote. What a jerk! And he is complaining that congress did not get a COLA and can’t go along with no raises. Hey....us seniors didn’t get a COLA either and no chance in heck that we will ever get a raise! Give me a break!!!
Good, I’m not either. I’m for cutting it and their staff.
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