KTH: Should members of Congress get a pay cut?
Pain from forced spending cuts is a week away and lawmakers are preparing their aides for the fallout that could hit them like other government workers.
"We've actually budgeted with a 10% cut in mind," Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, told CNN last week.
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Florida, reorganized his office in December.
"We had to let people go then because we were anticipating at least a 16% cut," he said.
But members of Congress, the very people who voted to put the automatic spending cuts in place, won't see any change to their annual salary of $174,000.
Why?
Because Congress can only change its pay by passing a law to do so.
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Post by: Dana Bash Filed under: Congress • Economy • Keeping Them Honest |
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They should figure the actual number of days spent in session and then deduct that from their paychecks until they accomplish a budget. It is only congress at fault for the shape America is in they voted for every dollar being wasted.
I think the staff of Congress should be cut. These staff workers are earning over $100,000 per year. I wonder how much money we would save if each office in Congress and the Senate how to lose one staff worker. Or maybe more... Just saying.
They should definitely receive a pay cut. If I did my job as poorly as they do and was as uncooperative and unwilling to work with my colleagues, I would have been fired.
Not just a pay cut, they should be paid minimum wage as it is now!
Pay them minimum wage. If they think people can live on it then why don't they live on it as well?
You bet they should take a pay cut... The members of Congress have created this financial mess and the previous messes that has damaged a larger portion of our economy and done very little to clean it up. They have created these self induced crisis after crisis and the American public has been the ones to suffer under their own blatant mismanagement. Their actions have been short term bandaids with out any long term cure. It is time for members of congress to feel the pinch...
Should congress take a pay cut? YES! Why should the rest of us suffer pay cuts while they sit in Washington acting like the fat cats in the city. While we are at it, get rid of ALL of them and start over with a newer, fresher, younger congress and term limits. No automatic pay increases or voting for pay increases.
you got it!!! they get paid more than they are worth to begin with. If we were talking about a business, and cut were going to happen or go out of business, you know payroll would be cut. CUT THEIR PAY!!!!!!!!
Ah, the body that has created so much mistrust, doesn't know how to cooperate and give and take, and is full of secrets and lies should take a huge salary cut and whip themselves. I'll believe it when I see it.
No!! I was raised on the principle of you get paid when you work, you get paid when you are productive. This Congress has been called the least effective congress ever, right? I say fire all of them and create a two year limit on the service. This should be a public service not a right to rote there on their fat and over privileged asses. Thank you for allowing me to express my frustrations.
I agree with you 1000%
Yes they should take a cut. In addition to the salary cuts I feel they should not be receiving per diem. They ran for office and decided to be where the job is...then it is their cost. I find it funny that so many people in government (Congress and the Senate) receive such great benefits...free medical for life and retirement after a 4 or 6 year term? hmmm...something just doesn't add up especially when these same people are deciding the fate of MY Social Security and My Medicare! They all need to get jerked back into reality.
Congress should receive NO PAY if they enact spending cuts at this crucial moment in our country's economic development. First of all, they are elected civil servants and if they can't do their jobs, they should receive no pay. Additionally, most congressmen and congresswomen are already financially secure and really don't NEED their paycheck's.
Quite frankly, if the Congress is only in session for 135 days this calendar year, why should we pay them nearly $180,000 a year? If we have a part-time Congress we should have part-time commensurate pay! Congress has already given itself a 3% raise in the last couple of months. When does the oath of office to represent their district kick in here? Raising campaign funds is not part of the job description and it seems that and obfuscation is the only thing we are getting from a do-nothing Congress. Please do yourselves a favor and pass legislation that prevents Congress members from raising campaign funds outside district
boundaries.
Absolutely they should take a pay cut. They work for us. When did they forget this. Really radical, members of congress should not make any more money then the lowest paid worker in America, Maybe then they would fight for higher wages,