Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

OhioChick

(23,218 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 03:36 PM Apr 2013

Holder, Kerry to Take Pay Cut

Source: Time

April 04, 2013

Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State John Kerry will join Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and President Barack Obama in taking a pay cut this year as a result of sequestration.

“The Attorney General intends to take a pay cut equivalent to the maximum amount any Justice Department employee has to take as a result of the sequestration, which is up to 14 days this fiscal year, so that those funds can go back into the Treasury,” a Justice Department official told TIME, noting Holder wishes to minimize the impact of sequestration on the department’s employees. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland announced that Kerry would give 5 percent of his salary to a charity for State employees.

On Wednesday, the White House confirmed that Obama will return $20,000 to the Treasury over the rest of the year — or 5 percent of his salary. Hagel pledged to take a pay cut equivalent to 14 furlough days. Both Hagel and Holder earn $199,700 annually and their maximum pay cut would amount to $10,750. Kerry makes $183,500 this year, according to the AP, and his donation is worth $9,175.



Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/04/holder-to-take-pay-cut/

64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Holder, Kerry to Take Pay Cut (Original Post) OhioChick Apr 2013 OP
Holder should take a 10% pay cut and give 5 back to Kerry tularetom Apr 2013 #1
I like the 100% part. He's a waste of money Autumn Apr 2013 #3
Yep, he is not worth a dime. nt awoke_in_2003 Apr 2013 #63
Eric Holder should be in the US Supreme Court and I think Kerry could afford to work for free graham4anything Apr 2013 #7
Kerry should get the same pay that Hillary did - as he is doing the same job karynnj Apr 2013 #14
What in the world does Hillary have to do with the pay cut because of the current problem? graham4anything Apr 2013 #18
Not responding to the pay cut - you said he should work for free - so the month is irrelevant karynnj Apr 2013 #25
What does Hillary have to do with this post???? Beacool Apr 2013 #49
The person I responded to is constantly attacking Kerry and then praising HRC is a pretty insincere karynnj Apr 2013 #60
Kerry is NOT one of the richest people in the world. MADem Apr 2013 #15
lol. I doubt that any pre-nup they may have- if they have one cali Apr 2013 #30
Not from the 2004 information karynnj Apr 2013 #39
No--not true--Kerry only owns half of one of their homes--the rest are Teresa's. MADem Apr 2013 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author politicasista Apr 2013 #53
Just full of the insincere flattering and inanities, aren'tcha? blm Apr 2013 #36
Actually, I am a big fan of Eric Holder, of course the gun people don't like him graham4anything Apr 2013 #42
" Or better yet take a 100% pay cut and let Obama use the money to hire someone who might actually abq e streeter Apr 2013 #10
Holder should be fired for dereliction of duty, and prosecuted Demeter Apr 2013 #59
Damn. Can't fly the servants first class to Baden Baden this year. Jakes Progress Apr 2013 #2
While I appreciate the symbolism SnowCritter Apr 2013 #4
This is all such crap... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2013 #5
Yes ... the right response would be a renewed call to raise taxes on the 1% Auggie Apr 2013 #27
Or cuts to Big Oil. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2013 #31
So, I suppose this means the House and Senate will soon be announcing Frustratedlady Apr 2013 #6
"Obama and his ilk".. like Tammy Duckworth? Sure Dems are doing it in the Cha Apr 2013 #12
What? That was tongue in cheek for what the Republicans would be saying. Frustratedlady Apr 2013 #37
Then I apologize, Frustratedlady. Cha Apr 2013 #43
Thank you. Frustratedlady Apr 2013 #44
Obama and his ilk? WTF? MADem Apr 2013 #17
That was what the Republicans were probably saying, not criticism of Obama. Frustratedlady Apr 2013 #38
Quotes and a sarcasm tag--it did sound as if you were scorning the man. nt MADem Apr 2013 #41
Sorry. I NEVER scorn Obama. eom Frustratedlady Apr 2013 #45
No problem--the written word sometimes has limitations!! MADem Apr 2013 #46
We are next RobertEarl Apr 2013 #8
These people have earned their money and so what if Cha Apr 2013 #9
I do believe Hagel is a republiCon. CokeMachine Apr 2013 #26
Yes, but he's in the Obama Admin and seems to be a reality based one. n/t Cha Apr 2013 #29
Yep -- you are probably correct CokeMachine Apr 2013 #34
wish holder would take a job cut frylock Apr 2013 #11
Holder can be replaced by an empty chair byeya Apr 2013 #16
Jeez, not another Clint Eastwood reference! AAO Apr 2013 #47
Way more important: Tammy Duckworth returns 8.4% of her pay in check to Treasury frazzled Apr 2013 #13
Amazing how the woman without feet or legs is among the first to Walk The Walk. nt MADem Apr 2013 #19
Interesting people always have an axe to grind politicasista Apr 2013 #20
I think Obama, Kerry, Hagel and Holder are leading the charge in the Executive branch, MADem Apr 2013 #22
Bingo n/t politicasista Apr 2013 #24
They are all doing the productive thing politicasista Apr 2013 #21
Huh?? frazzled Apr 2013 #23
delete n/t politicasista Apr 2013 #28
Hagel, Obama, and Kerry ARE all millionaires (a fact), and they're not in Congress frazzled Apr 2013 #32
Ok. apologies. politicasista Apr 2013 #35
Waiting for all the republicans to take pay cuts waiting..waiting...waiting................. classykaren Apr 2013 #33
I'm sorry. I would rather they all stand up for what is right and protect social security. robinlynne Apr 2013 #48
Like any of them will even notice, unlike the thousands of federal employees who are being forestpath Apr 2013 #50
+1 840high Apr 2013 #51
EXACTLY. It's nothing but lame and insulting PR. MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #52
None of these people in the Executive Branch voted FOR the Sequester. MADem Apr 2013 #54
So where is PRESIDENT OBAMA'S scorn for them? forestpath Apr 2013 #56
Haven't you been listening to him every time he talks? MADem Apr 2013 #57
He has so much scorn for them he put SS/Medicare cuts in his new budget to apprease forestpath Apr 2013 #58
$ 10,000 isn't anything to sneer at. ucrdem Apr 2013 #55
Kerry will take a pay cut... Figaro78 Apr 2013 #61
Neither he or Teresa own Heinz ketchup karynnj Apr 2013 #62
WOW! The generoousity of these guys is stunning!!!! pangaia Apr 2013 #64

tularetom

(23,664 posts)
1. Holder should take a 10% pay cut and give 5 back to Kerry
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 03:44 PM
Apr 2013

Or better yet take a 100% pay cut and let Obama use the money to hire someone who might actually prosecute war criminals and Wall Street fraudmeisters.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
7. Eric Holder should be in the US Supreme Court and I think Kerry could afford to work for free
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:04 PM
Apr 2013
Kerry is one of the richest people in the world after all.

Holder would be a worthy replacement for the seat of Thurgood Marshall.

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
14. Kerry should get the same pay that Hillary did - as he is doing the same job
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:54 PM
Apr 2013

The Clintons are as wealthy as John Kerry is. (Teresa's money is not his.) If he should be working for free, then she should have as well.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
18. What in the world does Hillary have to do with the pay cut because of the current problem?
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:09 PM
Apr 2013

You can't blame Hillary for anything anymore, why would you want to?
(including if anything happens in Korea, it is 100% on Kerry's watch and what he said yesterday doesn't sound so good for peace). Enough with the Hillary bashing, this is April.
And Hillary will be President in 2017 and 2021.

And I wrote a smilie, that makes it a joke!

but this symbolic paycut is 100% on Kerry's watch, and has absolutely NOTHING to do with Hillary at all. She has been retired since January. Last I looked this was April.

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
25. Not responding to the pay cut - you said he should work for free - so the month is irrelevant
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:53 PM
Apr 2013

That's why I used the PAST TENSE with regard to HRC. The economy was in WORSE shape in 2009. My point is there are two things you CONSTANTLY do. 1) attack Kerry 2) irrationally praise Clinton to a point you embarrass HRC supporters.

This blamed Hillary for nothing - just saying that if wealthy people should work for free - that should apply to more than Kerry. If this is Hillary bashing, your post was Kerry bashing - as it said nothing about her you didn't say of Kerry.

As to North Korea, Kerry has said nothing that is not standard American policy. Not to mention, using your logic ends up in the RW world where every negative thing done by OTHER COUNTRIES is the fault of the SOS. They speak that way speaking of Benghazi. It is unfair and ridiculous in BOTH cases.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
49. What does Hillary have to do with this post????
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 10:28 PM
Apr 2013

Or is attacking Hillary a reflex with some of you?

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
60. The person I responded to is constantly attacking Kerry and then praising HRC is a pretty insincere
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 06:32 PM
Apr 2013

way. There are many here - you included who are excellent advocates of HRC - That poster seems to just want to stir up trouble.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
15. Kerry is NOT one of the richest people in the world.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:04 PM
Apr 2013

His WIFE is. He comes from a family with more "tone" than cash.

You think when she dies--and if he outlives her--he's on easy street?

Hell no--I'll bet that pre-nup makes Old Ironsides look like a paper boat!

He'll never starve, but he's no where close to being one of the richest people in the world--that only applies when you have control of the cash.

He's a bit like John McCain in that regard--rich wife, who controls the purse strings.

In both cases, the lion's share of any money that passes on to relatives (as opposed to charities and foundations) will go to CHILDREN.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
30. lol. I doubt that any pre-nup they may have- if they have one
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:02 PM
Apr 2013

deems death as breaking of the contract. I don't even think you could include it legally. And sure he's a 1%er. Furthermore, it's a good bet that their real estate, except for her PA pad, is jointly held. Outside of that, they own homes in Idaho, Boston, Georgetown and Nantucket.

Kerry had about as privileged a childhood as you could get- from summering at the Forbes family estate in France, Les Essarts and the private family island, Naushon off the MA coast, to attending the poshest and most prestigious prep schools. No, his parents didn't have as much money as most of the family, but he grew up in a rarefied atmosphere.

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
39. Not from the 2004 information
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:40 PM
Apr 2013

Kerry is half owner of the Boston property, but none of the others. The reason for the pre nup is to insure that the assets left by John Heinz go to his children. (The prenup does cover death.)

Kerry was very privileged, but he also spent most of his adult live in public service. Until he married Teresa, he was among the poorer Senators. He did inherit money from his mother and at her death became a beneficiary of the Forbes trust.

He himself has always spoken of having a privileged background.

He will not inherit the bulk of Teresa's estate - her kids will, but he will never have a money problem even if he does nothing after being SoS.

Personally, he is likely no richer than Hagel, the Clintons or Obama. (In Obama's case, even if he is not wealthy now, he will be when he is out of office. With his writing ability and story, his Presidential memoirs may be the most interesting in decades.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
40. No--not true--Kerry only owns half of one of their homes--the rest are Teresa's.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:51 PM
Apr 2013

Don't believe me--ask our friends at Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/homes.asp

John and/or Teresa Kerry do own several valuable properties in the U.S., including:
A five-story, twelve-room brownstone townhouse (with six fireplaces, a rooftop deck, and an elevator) in Boston's Beacon Hill. This home is John Kerry's main residence and was assessed at a value of $6.6 million in 2003
A nine-room colonial home on a 90-acre family farm in Fox Chapel near Pittsburgh. This home is Teresa Kerry's longtime residence, where she lived while was married to John Heinz and where she raised her three children. It is valued at $3.7 million.
A ski/vacation home located near the banks of the Big Wood River in Ketchum, Idaho, fashioned from a reassembled barn originally built in England in 1485 and brought to Idaho by Teresa Heinz Kerry's late husband. It was purchased for $4.9 million in 1988.
A three-story, five-bedroom waterfront estate near the Brant Point Lighthouse in Nantucket's harbor, where John and Teresa Kerry were married in 1995. The beachfront property is valued at $9.1 million.
A 23-room townhouse in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., valued at $4.7 million.

The aggregate value of these five homes is roughly $29 million, but the claim that John Kerry "owns" all of these properties is problematic. John and Teresa Kerry signed a prenuptial agreement and have kept their premarital assets separate. The Boston townhouse (which John Kerry mortgaged in 2003 to finance his presidential bid) is the only one of these homes that they own as a couple; the other four belonged to Teresa before her 1995 marriage to John Kerry, and some of them are even still listed under the name of her late husband.


John Kerry has zero control over the Heinz fortune (or the Heinz real estate). Even if she dies.

I'm sure he'd be permitted to live in the manner to which he has become accustomed, but I'm also sure that he can't spend anything from John Heinz's fortune unless she specifically authorizes it.

He's not "poor" by a long shot--he's probably worth a couple of hundred million. But that pales in comparison to the Heinz empire. That's the point I'm making, here.

He isn't the janitor's kid, but in the circles where he travels, he's most definitely a Lord Grantham. The Missus is the heiress (as a consequence of her marriage to the love of her life, Mister Heinz) and that money is sheltered for the Heinz children.

Response to MADem (Reply #40)

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
42. Actually, I am a big fan of Eric Holder, of course the gun people don't like him
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 07:00 PM
Apr 2013

as Jim Nabors would say
Surprise Surprise Surprise

Eric does get persecuted and harassed doing the job he was hired for, same as the illustrious Janet Reno got smeared all the time. (Hope she reappears in public during the election and after the election if she wants to reemerge in a Governmental job.
she did a great job,(except of course to the delusional conspiracy theorists like Tim McV. who blamed her for the self-suicide of the people in that compound.

abq e streeter

(7,658 posts)
10. " Or better yet take a 100% pay cut and let Obama use the money to hire someone who might actually
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:14 PM
Apr 2013

prosecute war criminals and Wall Street fraudmeisters."
Got that right. The guy is useless...on a good day....(compared to the bad days when he sends his goons out to bust medical MJ clinics)

SnowCritter

(808 posts)
4. While I appreciate the symbolism
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:00 PM
Apr 2013

I don't think this is going to really hurt any of them financially - at least not like the sequester hurts the rank and file government workers.

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
5. This is all such crap...
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:02 PM
Apr 2013

It's a response to idiot right wingers out there saying the number one thing that should be cut is the salaries of people in Washington.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
6. So, I suppose this means the House and Senate will soon be announcing
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:03 PM
Apr 2013

ain't no way in hell we're going to participate. Obama and his ilk are just grandstanding.

Cha

(295,899 posts)
12. "Obama and his ilk".. like Tammy Duckworth? Sure Dems are doing it in the
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:18 PM
Apr 2013

government to bring attention to it but don't expect the Cons to join in.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022614430

President Obama is in good company and no way in hell are they "grandstanding" as you so cynically put it.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
37. What? That was tongue in cheek for what the Republicans would be saying.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:30 PM
Apr 2013

I will be VERY surprised if Republicans forfeit part of their salary.

Good grief. Lighten up.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
17. Obama and his ilk? WTF?
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:08 PM
Apr 2013

Obama's "ilk" are members of the Democratic Party; liberals, progressives--that's the "ilk" he hangs with....

Paging Doctor Freud--your slip is showing!

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ilk

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
38. That was what the Republicans were probably saying, not criticism of Obama.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:33 PM
Apr 2013

Good heavens, I'm one of the last who would criticize him. I should have put in quotes, I guess, as coming from the Republicans as a reason why the Republicans probably won't contribute part of their salary.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
46. No problem--the written word sometimes has limitations!!
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 07:33 PM
Apr 2013


I don't always say what I really mean, either! Thank heaven for "Edit!"
 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
8. We are next
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:04 PM
Apr 2013

They will soon be asking us to take a pay cut. "Look" they'll say "we have taken a pay cut, and as a good liberal you should follow us over the..."

If not a direct pay cut it will be a cut in benefits or something.

Cha

(295,899 posts)
9. These people have earned their money and so what if
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:13 PM
Apr 2013

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:00 PM - Edit history (1)

it's not going to hurt them to give back to the treasury. It's still better than them doing nothing about it.

I appreciate what they're doing symbolically to recognize that the goprick club is hurting American people with their bullshit greed. Are there any republiCons doing this? I thought not.

So whine away about the Democrats doing this.. Tammy Duckworth is among them.. it's starting a trend.

 

CokeMachine

(1,018 posts)
26. I do believe Hagel is a republiCon.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:56 PM
Apr 2013

From Wiki.

Chuck Hagel
United States Secretary of Defense
Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel is an American politician who is the 24th and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving since 2013.
He served as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 1997 to 2009.
Born: October 4, 1946 (age 66), North Platte
Party: Republican Party

 

CokeMachine

(1,018 posts)
34. Yep -- you are probably correct
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:10 PM
Apr 2013

but I'll have to give him some more time until I truly trust him. He was a republican senator afterall. Time will tell -- I'm hoping for the best.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
13. Way more important: Tammy Duckworth returns 8.4% of her pay in check to Treasury
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 04:54 PM
Apr 2013

She said she'd do it if sequestration happened, and she cut the check today. The reason it's important is that (a) she's the first member of Congress to do so, and (b) unlike all these millionaire men, she probably can't afford it, especially because she has to maintain a home in her district and now in Washington, too.

The suburban Chicago Daily Herald reported that Duckworth told constituents at a roundtable discussion on Wednesday morning that she had written a $1,218 check to the Treasury and would be sending it later that day.

According to Duckworth's staff, $1,218 constitutes 8.4 percent of the congresswoman's monthly pay. She specifically chose the 8.4 percent rate to reflect the average percentage cut that most discretionary programs are facing due to the sequester.

Duckworth said she moved forward with her decision despite reservations expressed by Democratic House leaders.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/04/tammy-duckworth-salary_n_3016083.html

politicasista

(14,128 posts)
20. Interesting people always have an axe to grind
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:38 PM
Apr 2013

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:16 PM - Edit history (1)

with people like Kerry, guess people just have grudges. Not healthy.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
22. I think Obama, Kerry, Hagel and Holder are leading the charge in the Executive branch,
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:45 PM
Apr 2013

And Tammy is "stepping" up in the legislative branch. It's all good, they're all a solid "ilk" of people I would like to associate myself with.

I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for Bonehead to take the plunge, though.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
23. Huh??
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:49 PM
Apr 2013

Wow, you sure read a lot into things. I did not single out Kerry: I spoke of all three men together. And it IS still more important that a Congressperson, who has the ability to stop this sequester, has made a statement.

Get the chip off your shoulder. I believe even an apology is due.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
32. Hagel, Obama, and Kerry ARE all millionaires (a fact), and they're not in Congress
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:07 PM
Apr 2013

I don't care if they're millionaires. It's just that 5% of their salary is not a tremendous impetus for members of Congress to feel the heat (and they won't feel the heat themselves).

This thread is not about Kerry exclusively—it's about the sequester, and how to end it. And I did not even mention Kerry's name. I'm glad he's joined the others in this symbolic act. People are ragging on Eric Holder here like he was the devil. Why don't you spend some time worrying about those posts?

And let's not start the "Free Republic" game; that's not considered kosher on this site.

politicasista

(14,128 posts)
35. Ok. apologies.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:13 PM
Apr 2013

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2013, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Don't like the Holder comments either, but it speculating about the Kerrys pre-nup sounds Faux news' The Five show and FR.

Peace.

robinlynne

(15,481 posts)
48. I'm sorry. I would rather they all stand up for what is right and protect social security.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 08:12 PM
Apr 2013

(not aimed at Kerry, more at the others.)

 

forestpath

(3,102 posts)
50. Like any of them will even notice, unlike the thousands of federal employees who are being
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 11:16 PM
Apr 2013

screwed over.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
54. None of these people in the Executive Branch voted FOR the Sequester.
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 12:39 AM
Apr 2013

Why not reserve a little scorn for the Republicans over in CONGRESS who think it's such a swell idea?

MADem

(135,425 posts)
57. Haven't you been listening to him every time he talks?
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 02:17 AM
Apr 2013

You don't think abrogation of his own salary is an expression of scorn for the Republicans who allowed this shit to happen?

You have some homework to do if you want to be up to speed on this issue.

 

forestpath

(3,102 posts)
58. He has so much scorn for them he put SS/Medicare cuts in his new budget to apprease
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 02:32 AM
Apr 2013

them. Yeah that's some scorn all right.

Take your own advice about homework.

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
55. $ 10,000 isn't anything to sneer at.
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 01:07 AM
Apr 2013

I see Hagel and Kerry making a serious gesture of solidarity with working people, also making it clear that they're not profiting from the sequester (with the implication that the GOP is) and have a personal interest in resolving it.

I've shared a waiting room with working people who perceived the sequester as an attack on their lives by DC pols, and when Obama spoke up on CNN the afternoon the sequester kicked in to sympathize with Capitol Hill janitors losing part of their income it really resonated with them. I mean it REALLY resonated. So I wouldn't discount the power of a gesture and this is a good one.

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
62. Neither he or Teresa own Heinz ketchup
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:19 AM
Apr 2013

whether you are aware of that or not, your post sounds like a typical RW post anywhere - and they consider themselves clever!

the fact is this was a no win situation for SOS Kerry once Obama led on this. He could follow - and have all this snark as he is wealthy - or he could ignore the lead and then be singled out for having not done it. Of course it will not affect his standard of living - even if he weren't working the hours that he obviously is.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Holder, Kerry to Take Pay...