Congress votes self another raise they haven't earned

[Generic Other]

WASHINGTON (June 13) - Despite record low approval ratings, House lawmakers Tuesday embraced a $3,300 pay raise that will increase their salaries to $168,500.

The 2 percent cost-of-living raise would be the seventh straight for members of the House and Senate.

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060613193509990009&ncid=NWS00010000000001

98% of respondents in aol poll think they do not deserve a raise.

[neoblues]

1. Rubbing Our Faces In It...

Very few people will ever even hear about it, but Congress knows there's nothing we can do about it, and that even if we could, we can't remember long enough to complain at the next election (at which time we're still helpless since we have no viable alternative choices of candidates).

Americans need a Constitutional Amendment setting up a mechanism by which Citizens can call for a referendum (as often as desired) the results of which would reverse or replace any decision, bill, law, referendum, act or action taken by any branch of government. That way we can let our government handle the day to day business, but actually be able to control our government and override our so-called "representatives" decisions. Until we have it, we don't have any real power. With modern technology, it's certainly doable (remember, the current system was set up for circumstances necessitated by the technology of the day: horses and buggys and sailboats)(we actually having things like aero-planes, tell-e-phones and inter-nets now; time to update the government).

[Doctor_J]

2. Remember in 94 when Limpballs was bashing the Dem

Congress for voting itself a pay raise? It would be so nice to have some media presence.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. Fucking Disgusting! Sorry asses won't even allow us to have the

same health care insurance that they have, that we are forced to pay for, btw! Great health care insurance, vacation package and retirement! Great job, if you can get it. :grr:

[sandnsea]

4. Remember Army saying everybody gets COL raises

Yeah, he said that back in 2002. I think we should use this to push for cost of living raises attached to the minimum wage. This is just bullshit, workers will never be treated fairly unless it's legislated.

[_testify_]

6. GMTA!

Linking them would be the only way to justify this shit.

[_testify_]

5. Congressional payraises ought to be linked to

the federal minimum wage. A 2% increase for Congress would have increased the min wage from 5.15 to 5.25. If we go back to 1997, when minimum wage was made 5.15/hr, it would be $6.28/hr. Doesn't seem like much... unless you make 5.15/hr.

[Generic Other]

9. That's a great idea

Eventually minimum wage would be decent living wage.

[ComerPerro]

7. this is the kind of thing RWers blame on "politicians"

and not on Republicans

[Rex]

8. They don't work for us. Not since at least 2000.

If they worked for us, WE would decide when they get a raise. Unfortunately our Republic doesn't work that way. To bad it costs millions of dollars to run for office.

[The Revolution]

10. Disgusting

Making over $150k and and they vote themselves a pay raise. :mad:

Meanwhile, they won't even consider raising the minimum wage, doing anything about out of control health care and energy costs, or doing anything for the working class at all. Absolutely disgusting.

[AngryOldDem]

11. And meanwhile, the proposal to raise the minimum wage....

...has already been met with opposition. Or so I've heard.

Go figure.