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."
An article about congressional pay that omits to mention what exactly the pay is.
Who lets these idiots publish articles?
How in the HELL did we allow these greedy bastards to increase their pay in violation of the 27th Amendment? (To wit: No pay raise until after a House election has passed.)
Could somebody PLEASE challenge the annual, automatic, cost-of-living raises given to Congress, to see what the Supreme Court thinks? (My apologies if this has already been ruled upon ... I’m not an attorney and I don’t know how to research case law.)
How many freepers got a pay raise this year?
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