Currently the average lawmaker makes $169,300 a year, with leadership making slightly more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) makes $217,400, while the minority and majority leaders in the House and Senate make $188,100.

And that's only a fraction of the true take by these guys. Exorbitant expenses are routinely covered by operating budgets and perks. I'd be surprised if these guys buy their own groceries.

Dedicated public servants my ass. Getting a job in Congress is like getting on the gravy train for life.

This is surprising to ANYONE? There's no system of checks or balances governing this process. We're basically letting the guys with the country's checkbook write their own paychecks.

So disgusting.

Unemployment is skyrocketing, many people have felt wages drop. It is pretty scary out there.

Then these a-hole do this? Fark em all.


Whoever voted for it should be voted out next term.


/scumbags

Phil Herup: Whoever voted for it should be voted out next term.

That would be....no one.

If these corrupt asshats won't agree to term limits, it is high time we the voters do the next best thing.
Next time you have an election, think long and hard on whether the incumbent is worth campaigning against.
Unless you have one of those rare Congress-critters who are worth re-electing ... there have to be 3 or 4 between the senate and house of reps.

Phil Herup: So disgusting.

Unemployment is skyrocketing, many people have felt wages drop. It is pretty scary out there.

Then these a-hole do this? Fark em all.

At the end of the day, it is a very insignificant amount, but as a symbolic gesture, you are right, it is disgusting.

You know who else abused the public trust?

Phil Herup: So disgusting.

Unemployment is skyrocketing, many people have felt wages drop. It is pretty scary out there.

Then these a-hole do this? Fark em all.

Hey, now you know how the rest of us feel about executive compensation.

Maybe if we payed congresscritters more we'd be competitive with business and attract the best and the brightest to government positions where they can put our country back on track. We should also institute some sort of bonus plan like the options grants that c-level execs get.

There are only slightly more congress members than CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Perhaps if we paid them similarly we might attract a similar talent pool to the leadership of our nation.

It's very popular and an easy cheap shot to scold Congress for taking a pay raise. However, IIRC, the maximum salary that any government employee can make is capped by congrssional pay (not sure if it's house or senate pay scales.) So, when congress does the politically astute thing and freezes their own pay (which most will hardly notice because of their own wealth) they actually hurt some regular federal employees by capping their pay as well.

I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

bigfatdave: If these corrupt asshats won't agree to term limits, it is high time we the voters do the next best thing.
Next time you have an election, think long and hard on whether the incumbent is worth campaigning against.
Unless you have one of those rare Congress-critters who are worth re-electing ... there have to be 3 or 4 between the senate and house of reps.

Between 1984 and 2004, I always voted against the incumbant.

Originally, I did it because I figured it was impossible to judge these guys. They are mostly professional liars. I assume that any good that came from them was simply coincidental to what is in their own self interest.

Now it looks like we'll be pulling out of Iraq and hopefully I can go back to voting against the bum in there now.

Cozret: I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

Shh...

I have the popcorn all popped and ready for the outrage from the minarchists libertarians Fark Independants.

equilibrium: Phil Herup: So disgusting.

Unemployment is skyrocketing, many people have felt wages drop. It is pretty scary out there.

Then these a-hole do this? Fark em all.

Hey, now you know how the rest of us feel about executive compensation.

Maybe if we payed congresscritters more we'd be competitive with business and attract the best and the brightest to government positions where they can put our country back on track. We should also institute some sort of bonus plan like the options grants that c-level execs get.

There are only slightly more congress members than CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Perhaps if we paid them similarly we might attract a similar talent pool to the leadership of our nation.

Yeah, because that worked so well for our financial institutions and the auto industry.

These guys and gals are generally so rich that these salaries are simply a spit in their financial bucket. To get elected they had to be rich to begin with for the majority of cases.

To be honest, the cost of living in a metropolitan area these salaries are what I would consider to be decent, not extravagent.

You are not buying a really fancy place on that salary in DC, NYC, LA or Chicago. As a country we pay our sports stars MILLIONS a year to hit balls, chase each other and other silly things. Is this REALLY what we should be pissed about Congress for?

Cozret: I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

And it's not like they could vote to suspend the automatic raise either...Hey, wait a minute, they COULD!

/but didn't

jcooli09: Yeah, because that worked so well for our financial institutions and the auto industry.

Think of it as rhetorical judo.

They'll complain about it all the way to the bank.

DeadZone: And it's not like they could vote to suspend the automatic raise either...Hey, wait a minute, they COULD!

/but didn't

And the last time you turned down an automatic raise was...?

MonkeyAngst: DeadZone: And it's not like they could vote to suspend the automatic raise either...Hey, wait a minute, they COULD!

/but didn't

And the last time you turned down an automatic raise was...?

The last time I was elected.

Came here fo the term Congress-critters. Am not disappointed.

//Ranks up there with Muskrat Love.

jcooli09: MonkeyAngst: DeadZone: And it's not like they could vote to suspend the automatic raise either...Hey, wait a minute, they COULD!

/but didn't

And the last time you turned down an automatic raise was...?

This, that, and the attack ads that're going to go out on this in the next election cycle.
The last time I was elected.

BillCo: Currently the average lawmaker makes $169,300 a year, with leadership making slightly more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) makes $217,400, while the minority and majority leaders in the House and Senate make $188,100.

And that's only a fraction of the true take by these guys. Exorbitant expenses are routinely covered by operating budgets and perks. I'd be surprised if these guys buy their own groceries.

Dedicated public servants my ass. Getting a job in Congress is like getting on the gravy train for life.

Don't forget they also get lifetime health insurance (which is why they don't care if the rest of us have coverage and McCain had no concerns for pre-existing conditions)

jcooli09

Yeah, because that worked so well for our financial institutions and the auto industry.

This.

Now this is Change we can believe in!

FTFA: Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), anon-partisan group.

Anonymous delivers.

Congress's salary should be tied to the minimum wage. That would fix things real quick.

I'm actually in favor of a robust taxpayer-funded compensation package for our lawmakers. The less they need to seek out other sources of income to maintain comfortable lifestyles under difficult circumstances (usually maintaining two residences, high travel, high cost of living, high demand job), the better.

I wasn't even aware that they were paid by anyone but lobbyists. I'm sure the bribes make their salary look small in comparison. Ahh well, the land of the greedy and selfish eh?

Scumbags. Everyone of them.

redpanda2: I'm actually in favor of a robust taxpayer-funded compensation package for our lawmakers. The less they need to seek out other sources of income to maintain comfortable lifestyles under difficult circumstances (usually maintaining two residences, high travel, high cost of living, high demand job), the better.

Greed has no limits.

This has gotten to the point where the American people need to take a page or two out of Greece's playbook.

/brb, Dancing With the Stars is on.

So how is this Pelosi/Reid Congress working out for us?

Have to agree with earlier post, this is small in the grand scheme of things, but still feels like congress is saying "Fark You" to the rest of us...

Who was it that said, "Sending me into politics is like sending a virgin into a house of ill repute"?

or even better, Twain, "Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

Nemo's Brother: Now this is Change we can believe in!

Damn, if only we'd elected a good conservative to stop this nonsense!



Link (new window)

"A new state commission says the Alaska governor ought to get a $25,000 a year raise.

The members are appointed by the governor -- with two selected from lists recommended by legislative leaders."

Now that's A Leader We Can Believe in Reform, Peace, Prosperity Country First!

Robert Paulsen: This is surprising to ANYONE? There's no system of checks or balances governing this process.

Yes there is. It's called the 27th Amendment.

bigfatdave: If these corrupt asshats won't agree to term limits, it is high time we the voters do the next best thing.
Next time you have an election, think long and hard on whether the incumbent is worth campaigning against.
Unless you have one of those rare Congress-critters who are worth re-electing ... there have to be 3 or 4 between the senate and house of reps.

There are these funny built in term limits. They're called elections. Even before the redundant term limits were available, we've always had the ability to remove elected leaders by several means, not least of which is VOTING THEM OUT!

/Hate term limits
//If you don't like em, just vote em out

Khryswhy: There are these funny built in term limits. They're called elections. Even before the redundant term limits were available, we've always had the ability to remove elected leaders by several means, not least of which is VOTING THEM OUT!

/Hate term limits
//If you don't like em, just vote em out

I agree to some extent but when congress has a dismal approval rating yet a 90% re-election rate, something isnt right. I doubt all those people are that happy with their guy and pissed off with everyone else in congress.

BraveNewCheneyWorld: Greed has no limits.


It does up the ante for lobbyists though in order to get the attention of a lawmaker.

Posted in another thread last night. Finding it appropriate to post again.

Cozret: I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

Convenient that past Congresses set up the system that way, eh?

GoldSpider: Cozret: I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

Convenient that past Congresses set up the system that way, eh?

Convenient that we didn't vote out past Congresses.

fosborb: GoldSpider: Cozret: I'm guessing people don't know how automatic things work? It's not like they voted themselves a raise.

Convenient that past Congresses set up the system that way, eh?

Convenient that we didn't vote out past Congresses.

Convenient that things are just so convenient!

But keep REelecting the SAME crooks, folks.

/farking tards

They know the people won't actually DO anything about it. Talking about doing something and actually doing something aren't the same thing. The Sheeple will re-elect them next election anyone. Nothing will change until shiat burns.

Talon: Convenient that things are just so convenient!

Takes one to know one!

/ Swish

bigfatdave:
If these corrupt asshats won't agree to term limits, it is high time we the voters do the next best thing.
Next time you have an election, think long and hard on whether the incumbent is worth campaigning against.
Unless you have one of those rare Congress-critters who are worth re-electing ... there have to be 3 or 4 between the senate and house of reps.

Khryswhy:
There are these funny built in term limits. They're called elections. Even before the redundant term limits were available, we've always had the ability to remove elected leaders by several means, not least of which is VOTING THEM OUT!
/Hate term limits
//If you don't like em, just vote em out

That's what I was advocating.
Don't just biatch on the 'net, get out of mom's basement and campaign for a candidate you can actually support.

bigfatdave: Don't just biatch on the 'net, get out of mom's (sic) basement and campaign for a candidate you can actually support.

When one actually comes around, let us know.

bigfatdave: bigfatdave:

Don't just biatch on the 'net, get out of mom's basement and campaign for a candidate you can actually support.

The problem I see is that even if we voted them out, their replacement would probably be just as bad if not worse. Also would voting for someone else even help? They could just rig it. Also I seem to remember a recent issue of a senate seat being sold or something to that effect. I already think of the house of reps and the senate as being filled with a bunch of crooks. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in thinking that.

Congress is the only "working" folks who get to give themselves a raise every year.