Posted on 05/19/2015 10:32:31 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
Most members of Congress make $174,000 a year. Two senior House Democrats say lawmakers deserve a raise.
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Tuesday that he’s concerned that static congressional salaries — the pay level has remained the same since 2009 — will dissuade all but the uber-wealthy from serving in Congress.
“This will be the seventh year in a row that we have not done a cost-of-living adjustment….I think it was appropriate at the time of the recession,” Hoyer said. “But to continue that on, we will dictate that the only people who can serve are the rich and I don’t think that’s what the Founding Fathers had in mind.”
Hoyer also raised the concern at a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday morning, saying he planned to speak with Speaker John Boehner about unfreezing cost-of-living increases for members of Congress, according to sources in attendance. Hoyer, whose suburban Washington district includes many federal workers, is also concerned about small or non-existent cost-of-living-increases for many federal employees.
While most members avoid complaining about their $174,000-a-year salary to avoid looking politically aloof, Hoyer is not alone in arguing that lawmakers need cost-of-living raises just like private-sector employees.
Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) also pushed this week for bigger paychecks for members, arguing that the salary doesn’t cover the cost of maintaining two homes, one in D.C. and another back home.
“Members deserve to be paid, staff deserves to be paid and the cost of living here is causing serious problems for people who are not wealthy to serve in this institution,” the Florida Democrat said at a Rules Committee meeting.
Former Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia, a Democrat, also championed pay increases for members before he left Congress last year.
Congress needs to fire itself for malfeasance.
Alcee Hastings? Well, when you have the moral high ground you can ask for anything...
No Steny, most politicians need to hung for treason.
The COLA adjustment for DC is huge. I did a case a few years ago where the dad, my client, lived there. It practically cut the child support in half for mom who lived in the midwest.
As they continue to print more money and spend like mad men! We are nothing to them!
These people make me ill.
None at all or
Let them match what they authorize for the military pay raises!
“Hoyer: Members of Congress deserve a raise”
Raise them with our collective foot.
Between what they profit from the inside knowledge, what they steal, they deserve much less than they currently get.
now ... which one of you folks clamped down on congresscritters stealing of your money .... just go away ... Let ‘em congresscritters steal all that is possible from ya ... Okay?
How bout term limits and reduced sessions?
Seriously, raises are normally only given out for performance. Congress has delegated all of its work to bureaucrats and the president, so why do they need a raise?
Tie their pay to the average real wage of the U.S. citizen. Top it off with a bonus for increased equity of the citizenry.
Then we’ll see what their worth. Does anyone here know of any business where the employees vote themselves a raise? That’s another little feedback mechanism we need for these grifters.
Gentlemen, you are in Washington to represent and serve us. You are not there to get filthy rich on our backs.
Boehner & McConnell should be in prison, not getting a raise.
-PJ
The only raise they need is an increase in the minimum jail time given when convicted of malfeasance in office
Funding Obamacare and an illegal amnesty is treason.
Most of them deserve free housing, three meals, and an hour in the exercise yard every day.
Seppuku, Steny.
It’s the only way ...
$174,000 a year?
Nearly 3X my annual. A$$holes......................
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