01.28.2009 4:21 pm
Pay hikes for Congress? Move to block gains steam
Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — After the last automatic pay hike, we’re now paying rank-and-file members of Congress $174,000. Leaders get more.
That base salary jump up to a shade under $180k under an automatic raise scheduled to go into effect next year.
Are these pay raises a good idea?
More members of Congress are saying no. Bills in the past have tried to curb the automatic increases but they haven’t gotten far. This year, there are 93 sponsors on legislation that puts a halt to the 2010 hike. Those signed on include Missouri first-termer Blaine Leutkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, and John Shimkus, R-Collinsville.
Taxpayers for Common Sense is among those pushing for a temporary end to the raises and they’re offering on how voters can get their messages across.
How about we make their pay hourly, and at minimum wage? They are public servants after all, and they don’t really work all that much.
What?!!! They deserve every penny of that money. They have been doing such a wonderful job running our country.