Paul, Mitchell Continue Efforts To Block Congressional Pay Raise
January 8th, 2009 | by John Pape | Published in News | 10 Comments
U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) and Ron Paul (R-TX) announced yesterday they will continue their bipartisan efforts to block an automatic pay raise for Congress, and have introduced legislation to block the nearly $4,700 raise scheduled to take effect next year.
Paul, whose congressional district includes parts of Fort Bend County and much of Cinco Ranch, said turning down the raise would demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
“Turning down our automatic pay increase this year is the least Congress could do to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and solidarity with our constituents in these tough economic times,” Paul said. “Much more needs to be done to reduce the size and expense of government, but passing this legislation would be a start.”
Mitchell, whose district includes the eastern and northeastern suburbs of Phoenix, called the idea of Congress accepting the raise “unconscionable.”
“We’re in the midst of a recession, and our elected leaders need to do the right thing,” Mitchell said. “For Congress to give itself a pay raise at a time when so many hardworking Americans are suffering is unconscionable.”
If the Mitchell-Paul legislation becomes law, members of Congress would forgo their anticipated 2010 pay raise. That, proponents say, would save taxpayers an estimated $2.5 million.
Mitchell and Paul introduced similar legislation last year to block the 2009 pay raise. H.R. 5087 earned 34 bipartisan co-sponsors.
The new legislation, H.R. 156, introduced yesterday has already garnered 57 co-sponsors, including another Katy-area congressman, Republican Michael McCaul.
In 1989, Congress passed a law that provides lawmakers with an automatic pay raise every January unless they vote specifically to reject the raise.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm (#)
What I can not understand is how any FULL TIME ELECTED OFFICIAL can VOTE themselves a raise. I been all over this nation and was NEVER able to get RAISES LIKE THESE CORRUPT FULL TIME ELECTED OFFICIALS DO!!!! Is not that
A “CONFLICT OF INTEREST”????????
Should not the voters have the POWER to deside if said is “EARNED” and not just a GIVEN????? After all THEY, THESE CORRUPT FULL TIME ELECTED OFFICIALS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BANKRUPTTING THIS NATION????!!!!!
Even our own county Eleced official gave themselves a 5 figure pay increase and all we got out of it was an 20 MILLION DOLLAR UNNECCESSARY INCREASE EXPENCE IN THE JAIL!!!!
It goes to show you:
The more they Have the more they Want!
The more they Want the more they TAKE!
The more they Take the LESS they GIVE!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:42 pm (#)
You said it Bill! Why didn’t the president in ‘89 veto this one? It’s good to see Mitchell & Paul working to stop this. Maybe they should work to amend the ‘89 act to place these on the ballot.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am (#)
In 1989 the Dem led congress passed a bill eliminating honoraria
“(4) In November 1989, the Senate and House approved a pay raise and ethics bill setting different salaries and regulations on honoraria for the two bodies. For House members, it provided a 7.9 percent pay increase in February 1990 and a 25 percent raise a year later to $120,750. A House ban on receiving honoraria took effect in 1991 at the same time as the 25 percent pay hike.
In its November 1989 vote, the Senate adopted a 9.7 percent increase (to $98,400) to take effect on February 1, 1990, and turned down the 25 percent raise in 1991. Instead, it permitted senators to receive some honoraria, although reducing the amount somewhat, from $35,800 to $26,568 in 1990. In 1991 both houses received a 3.6-percent cost-of-living increase.
(5) In July 1991, the Senate voted to raise senators salaries to $125,100 the same level as the House and adopted a ban on honoraria.”
January 9th, 2009 at 3:23 pm (#)
What stuns me is that ANYBODY is actually surprised by this behavior.
The same people who say they are horrified by the acts of our “representatives” seem to vote the same gang of thieves back in every time.
Then - they vote to hand over even MORE power to these leaches (because the news man assures us it’s all for our own good, and there will be horrific consequences unless we act IMMEDIATELY).
Anybody who still trusts our government to do what’s right for us and not what’s right for “them and theirs” has obviously been asleep for centuries.
“This time it will be different”
Sorry - fool me 17,786 times, shame on you, fool me 17,787 times, shame on me.
I bet this bill doesn’t even see daylight - let alone get passed by either house.
January 10th, 2009 at 9:36 am (#)
yeah i agree with cowboy bill completely. this is just completely ridiculous, why can’t they have the people just vote on something like this like with proposition 8 in California. i guess it’s not really the most important thing in the world seeing how politicians can just take “campaign contributions” in exchange for favors anyways but it’s still messed up.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:11 am (#)
This is the pattern up and down the political spectrum and when someone gets in office, or tries to, that might rock the special interest vote, they attack and deride them. Just look at our own commissioners court. Why are they and most of the larger city councils hiring legislative lobbyist on our dime? Often these lobbyist push for bills that work to the average residents disadvantage like the opposition to appraisal caps. Why would I, or anyone, want their tax dollars going to that?
January 11th, 2009 at 9:43 am (#)
Say Midnight!
Wishing for a “Miracle on Morton Street” next Christmas? In our “fast paced world” everyone lives in– it’s nice to share a smiling face we recognize! A rare accomplishment, if you asked me…so she did. She asked me. Kind of like “lucky spokes” moving in my Republican direction. I’m happy to oblige your thoughts…..
January 11th, 2009 at 10:34 am (#)
Kat_Princess…
LIVE on the 111th Congressional floor!
This morning I am speaking with:
“Something Feral”: Public employees, or privileged aristocracy”? You decide:
http://feralis.blogspot.com/2009/01/public-employees-or-privileged.html
January 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm (#)
I would like to know if there is a petition to sign concerning this matter. In the meantime, I will be writing my congressmen(woman) expressing my opinion that this should not be done and will further anger their constituents! Vote them out if they vote “yes” for a pay raise!
January 12th, 2009 at 6:58 am (#)
Me too fed-up. I would like to sign up also. In this economy congress giving themselves a raise is a complete farse!