Senate Approves Pay Increase for Itself

WASHINGTON - For the fifth straight year, members of Congress will see a jump in their paychecks in 2004, with election-year salaries rising from the current $154,700 to about $158,000.

I would really like a job there. Maybe I'll run for office, then vote a raise for myself. This is an example though, of politics gone wrong, how can they do this and sleep at night, while they contemplate their raises, while their 'constituants' struggle to pay their bills!

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/2003102 3/ap_on_go_co/senate_pay_raise

How can Congress give itself a $3,400 pay raise while nearly 9 million people are unemployed, and 2 million have been out of work for more than half a year," Feingold asked.

Three thumbs down ..

What kind of law did they pass, that gives them a raise automatically, and without merit for performance, unless they vote to exempt themselves from it ?! and only one senetor did this?

[Edited on 23-10-2003 by smirkley]

The bunch of bastards!

Why do they need another $3900 per yer? Isn't the government supposedly directing it's funds into Iraq right now? I didn't know Iraq was in the pocket of Senators and Congressmen

Didnt they just do this a couple of years ago? That's pretty sad...

But when I asked my political science teacher why they have such huge pay checks for performing a duty to their community he said because you want upstanding individuals who would otherwise be paid a lot if they worked for a corporation somewhere. You have to give them some encouragement or incentive to get them to leave their corporate job.

Personally I think its BS, I know alot of people who would do a great job representing the people who make no where near that kind of money. And could this have come at any worse of a time? HELLO!!! BUDGET'S IN THE RED?!?!

With the latest increase, he said, members will have received five consecutive pay hikes totaling more than $21,000.

"This is not a pay raise. This is an increase that's required by law," said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.

"I think that our representatives of government deserve a pay raise consistent with the work that we've produced," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

How can it be required by law, AND consistant with the work that they have produced !!

make it 4 thumbs down ..

If their pay raises were consistent with the work they produce, the USAF would be "Shock and Awe"-ing their homes right now.

congress: does anyone object to the pay increase of our salaries?

(silence)

congress: rock on then...

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those bastards, government jobs should be just like any other job. 10$ an hour, tops!

now i know you'll say that they have "tough" jobs, but why dont the real heroes ie; firefighters/teachers etc, get paid the big bucks, i mean really!

Do I get to vote on my own raise...are they automatic every year? are they performance based?

No, No, Yes

which i am not but im sure they have one...
compounding this increase an investing it in persay a defense firm would yield very rich results...
the buisness of politics coming to light to the masses...

at least these slaves of america arent getting lynched like my anscestors did...

Originally posted by smirkley
WASHINGTON - For the fifth straight year, members of Congress will see a jump in their paychecks in 2004, with election-year salaries rising from the current $154,700 to about $158,000.

I would really like a job there. Maybe I'll run for office, then vote a raise for myself. This is an example though, of politics gone wrong, how can they do this and sleep at night, while they contemplate their raises, while their 'constituants' struggle to pay their bills!

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/2003102 3/ap_on_go_co/senate_pay_raise

How can Congress give itself a $3,400 pay raise while nearly 9 million people are unemployed, and 2 million have been out of work for more than half a year," Feingold asked.

Three thumbs down ..

What kind of law did they pass, that gives them a raise automatically, and without merit for performance, unless they vote to exempt themselves from it ?! and only one senetor did this?

[Edited on 23-10-2003 by smirkley]

Damn what a bunch of bull# this is. Once I read the title I kinda laughed because it's funny they did this. But now that you think about it, those are some money hungry sons a bitches who must have a damn good job to be able to give yourself a raise.

Throw the bums out, and call up a new bill, for a pay DECREASE. Any who don't vote for it...throw them out too!

Bad timing...but then, the current Administration has raised bad timing to an all time high...

Here is a senator who is running for president...

edwards.senate.gov...

Did he vote for the people, or his campaign?

In pushing for the law, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., himself a lawyer, argued that some members of his profession forgot they were working for the shareholders who own a corporation and "not their pal, the CEO."

Who are the shareholders of the country ?!

His trial-lawyer millions helped launch his political career just seven years ago. A political novice who had not even voted in every election or could remember whether he originally registered as a Republican or a Democrat, Edwards decided that his first attempt at public office would be to run for the US Senate. In his primary, he spent $3.2 million dollars. He claimed he would be �a people�s senator, someone who speaks for all the people of North Carolina, not the special interests.� In the general election, Edwards spent over $6 million of his own money to defeat one term incumbent, Lauch Faircloth 51%-47%.

www.cse.org...

Lets see if I understand this clearly...
In his primary, he spent $3.2 million dollars.
for a job that pays only a paultry $150K+ per year.

I am confused about this. (sarcasm!)

from insite...

But when I asked my political science teacher why they have such huge pay checks for performing a duty to their community he said because you want upstanding individuals who would otherwise be paid a lot if they worked for a corporation somewhere. You have to give them some encouragement or incentive to get them to leave their corporate job.

Maybe your teacher needs to rethink the average motive of a senator, at least in this example !

.

Good to see with the economy in the $hithole these bastards still find money from somewhere to give themselves a raise.

Didn't I just read the other day, that there is a bunch of money missing from some rebuild fund for Iraq ?

hmmmm could it be... maybe we just found some of it

Originally posted by elevatedone
Didn't I just read the other day, that there is a bunch of money missing from some rebuild fund for Iraq ?

hmmmm could it be... maybe we just found some of it

LMAO!!! Wouldn't surprise me one bit.