House members get $3,300 pay raise... Min. wage raise uncertain

[npincus]

Charming. Many of the millionaire servants of The People in our Congress eagerly lap up their automatic pay increases, then deny those at the other end of the pay scale a chance to make a living wage. How about automatic increases in minimum wage instead, and have Congressional pay raises put on the ballot? That's right, tie Congress' pay raises with performance. If our Representatives want to spend their time debating gay marriage amendments and Terry Schiavo's cerebral cortex, let's vote on whether or not they deserve a pay raise.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003059851_watch14.html

WASHINGTON — Despite record low approval ratings, House lawmakers Tuesday embraced a $3,300 pay raise that would increase their salaries to $168,500.

The 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) would be the seventh straight for members of the House and Senate. Lawmakers easily squelched an attempt by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to get a direct vote to block the increase, which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it.

In the early days of GOP control of Congress, lawmakers routinely denied themselves the annual COLA.



http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/13/news/economy/minwage.reut/?cnn=yes

A U.S. House of Representatives panel Tuesday voted to raise the U.S. minimum wage in increments to $7.25 an hour by Jan. 1, 2009.

<snip>

But the legislation faces many hurdles, including possible efforts by Republican leaders to have the proposal stricken from the legislation, according to Republican and Democratic aides.

<snip>

Opponents, using House rules, could argue that this change in law should not be attached to annual spending bills, such as the measure approved by the House Appropriations Committee.

For the last several years, Democrats have been pushing to raise the minimum wage, which has been static since 1997. Republicans have blocked the move, claiming it would discourage hiring of low-skilled workers and hurt the economy

[napi21]

1. ALL the Dems should refuse the raise, then use this as a campaign issue

for 06 & 08! I'm ositive the majority of the Country hates this auto pay raise BS, and if you're already making $165,000, is it really a big sacrifice to turn dow $3,000?

Talk about a winning issue!!!!!!

[BlueCollar]

4. agreed...n/t

[Nickster]

2. Pay raise? What is this term that you speak of? n/t

[npincus]

3. yeah, right.

I haven't had one in over a year.

[WePurrsevere]

5. I want every darn one of those hypocrites to try living for 1 year on ONLY

federal minimum wage or the average Social Security Disability benefit while living in the northern most parts of this country... I especially would like to see how they make in the early Winter when they inflation has chewed up all of the increase given the previous January by June or so.

All this and they get no extra help or benefits... not even any "welfare" since they take so much joy in cutting benefits to the lower income/poor in order to give breaks to their rich cronies and finance an unjust war..

[jackster]

6. I can't find anything to tell me who voted against this....

does anyone have any links yet?

I want to know who voted and how!

[napi21]

10. I don't think there was a vote. The Pubs won't let it come to the floor

so theres no record of who voted FOR IT! They've been doing it that way for a long time!!!! Then they just claim it's automatic and "they can't help it!"

[jackster]

11. there was a "procedural vote" only but

shouldn't there be a record somewhere?

[nealmhughes]

7. Another good reason for my suggestion of a $10 per ball tax

on tennis and golf balls, that is $10 on each ball!

[npincus]

8. LOL

the crocodiles in Florida golf courses would be well-fed.

[NJ Democrats]

9. Why?

Why do they need another $3300? Their jobs pay a lot as it is already, and they are all rich. There is no need for them to get more.