In recent weeks, Republican and Democratic leaders have been attempting to give Congress a pay raise after a decade-long freeze. The optics of it are awful, especially with election season upon us and the left trying their best to behave.
From Liberty Nation:
Life seems to be getting more expensive in the swamp. It’s so unfriendly to the wallet that some politicians might end their showboating and reveal their true colors to constituents by demanding more of their money. Some lawmakers believe they deserve more than $174,000 a year. Considering congressional approval is near historic lows, these elephants and donkeys need to go back to the circus and study how to deliver better jokes.
Each year for the last decade, Congress overwhelmingly has voted to reject an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). If lawmakers had accepted these annual pay hikes, salaries would be more than $200,000 now; the most recent increase would have totaled $4,000. Indeed Congress is entitled to a pay raise as part of a 30-year-old reform measure, but, as Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) succinctly put it, taking it “would be as popular as the plague.” Instead, these men and women put on some good old political theater and portray themselves as martyrs.
But some senior leaders are more open to the idea. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), reportedly “a key force” behind this push, feels that “salaries should not limit those who can serve their country, either as a member of Congress or as congressional staff.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) revealed that “I’ve got members who are leaving over this.”
The topic has risen to the surface because the annual appropriations process has commenced. Typically, this is when the COLA is killed, but Democrats have decided this time not to eliminate the hike when drafting the legislative branch spending bill. However, aides warn that the inflation adjustment could be kiboshed later or in separate legislation.
Everyone apparently accepts the premise that agreeing to a pay raise would be poor optics. Hoyer thinks the GOP fears the political fallout, while Democrats, particularly freshmen and -women seeking re-election, would like to avoid the issue to ensure they stay in power.
So, after some political calculations and the Dems unable to risk any momentum and seats in 2020, the plan for a pay hike was tossed in the waste bin.
Good riddance!
Considering their track record, these representatives and senators shouldn’t even get a salary. Maybe a stipend, but even that is generous.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) disagrees. She is outraged that the plan was scrapped, going on a Twitter tirade.
One such tweet was this:
Members of Congress often vote to cut or keep their allowances low.
It’s a superficial gesture, bc keeping Congressional pay low is what creates the desperation + impetus for good, experienced staff to flee to lobbyist jobs.
Raising staffer pay helps get money out of politics. https://t.co/G98KyAF0Hv
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 13, 2019
But her concept falls apart by asking this question: What salary is enough to prevent this corruption? Should these officials make $1 million a year? $5 million? $25 million? What amount of money would stop politicians from participating in insider trading and taking advantage of loopholes?
Plus, that tweet she references, it is easy to be generous with somebody else’s money.
Besides, what makes her think she’s worth those wages? Just because she’s pretty, it doesn’t mean she is worth the six-figure salary she presently receives.
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