House seeks to give itself a pay raise

mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
edited June 2007 in A Moving Train
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070628/D8Q1QF4O0.html

Let me ask this question. Since when does an employee give themselves a pay raise. With Congress' approval rating in the dumbs do these people actually believe that they deserve more money.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    mammasan wrote:
    http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070628/D8Q1QF4O0.html

    Let me ask this question. Since when does an employee give themselves a pay raise. With Congress' approval rating in the dumbs do these people actually believe that they deserve more money.

    I do not think they should have the ability to give themselves a pay raise. I guess this shows that it really does not matter who controls congress - nothing of any importance will get accomplished.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • spiral outspiral out Posts: 1,052
    They deserve a pay rise as they work so hard. Haven't they been giving themselves genorous payrises for years!
    Keep on rockin in the free world!!!!

    The economy has polarized to the point where the wealthiest 10% now own 85% of the nation’s wealth. Never before have the bottom 90% been so highly indebted, so dependent on the wealthy.
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    spiral out wrote:
    They deserve a pay rise as they work so hard. Haven't they been giving themselves genorous payrises for years!


    Last year was the first time in 7 years that they didn't give themselves a raise. I wish I had the ability to just decide to give myself a raise every year.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    Hey, at least they are discussing it and voting on it out in the open. The asshole PA legislature pulled a middle of the night move a couple of years ago to give themselves a raise and caused A LOT of backlash.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • spiral outspiral out Posts: 1,052
    mammasan wrote:
    Last year was the first time in 7 years that they didn't give themselves a raise. I wish I had the ability to just decide to give myself a raise every year.

    Don't we all, they must get a ton of benefits to, they certainly do here in england. It makes mad thinking about all the little perks they give themselves.

    Here they don't just have one car they have two or three and i have actually heard of some who claim benefits too.
    Keep on rockin in the free world!!!!

    The economy has polarized to the point where the wealthiest 10% now own 85% of the nation’s wealth. Never before have the bottom 90% been so highly indebted, so dependent on the wealthy.
  • jeffbrjeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    I would prefer it if they gave themselves pink slips.

    Their approval rating is currently at 24% according to Gallup. About where the old congress was last year. So much for reform. What a bunch of douchebags, dem & rep.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    jeffbr wrote:
    I would prefer it if they gave themselves pink slips.

    Their approval rating is currently at 24% according to Gallup. About where the old congress was last year. So much for reform. What a bunch of douchebags, dem & rep.

    Allow me to explain how our federal government works. To begin with, by the federal government I mean Democrats and Republicans working together. And the only thing dumber than a Democrat or a Republican is when those pricks work together. You see, in our two-party system, the Democrats are the party of no ideas and the Republicans are the party of bad ideas. It usually goes something like this. A Republican will stand up in Congress and say, "I've got a really bad idea." And a Democrat will immediately jump to his feet and declare, "And I can make it shittier."

    -Lewis Black
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    They should just set whatever salary is appropriate now (which of course they would inflate, but this should work in theory) and then give cost of living adjustments from here out.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • surferdudesurferdude Posts: 2,057
    Good for them. Seriously. I would not want the job for a second. Everyone you deal with thinks you're an asshole and on the take. Yo are on the clock basically 24 hours a day. You have to compete for your job every 4 years and usually spend a chunk of your own money in an attempt to keep your job.

    There's no career path, and you can't count on long-term employment. When you change careers you're coming from a job where everyone thinks you're an asshole, not the best networking situation or makes prospective new employers itching to hire you.
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    surferdude wrote:
    ... You have to compete for your job every 4 years and ...

    Actually, every two years.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • surferdudesurferdude Posts: 2,057
    Uncle Leo wrote:
    Actually, every two years.
    Even worse. Compare that with a unionized autoworker.
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    surferdude wrote:
    Good for them. Seriously. I would not want the job for a second. Everyone you deal with thinks you're an asshole and on the take. Yo are on the clock basically 24 hours a day. You have to compete for your job every 4 years and usually spend a chunk of your own money in an attempt to keep your job.

    There's no career path, and you can't count on long-term employment. When you change careers you're coming from a job where everyone thinks you're an asshole, not the best networking situation or makes prospective new employers itching to hire you.

    No career path? I'm willing to bet between lobbyists, board members and other awarded political jobs, former representatives get paid more after they leave office.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • surferdudesurferdude Posts: 2,057
    No career path? I'm willing to bet between lobbyists, board members and other awarded political jobs, former representatives get paid more after they leave office.
    Have you checked out the average education levels of these people. Most of them are taking pay cuts to do the job.
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    surferdude wrote:
    Have you checked out the average education levels of these people. Most of them are taking pay cuts to do the job.

    But it's an investment for bigger and better things... I don't see reps struggling to make ends meet and either they are lifetime members with all of the payoffs and power that comes with that, or serve for a couple of terms and make a lot more money afterwards then they would before hand.

    Say I am an ordinary physician making $500k a year (totally made that number up so I don't know how realistic that even is). I decide to run for office and make $170k a year plus free travel, car allowance, campaign expenses, etc. for 6 years.... You don;t think that there will be countless insurance or pharmaceutical companies, or lobbying associations lining up for my experience and connections?
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • floyd1975floyd1975 Posts: 1,350
    This will be a good way to spend those monstrous tax increases they are trying to pass.
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    But it's an investment for bigger and better things... I don't see reps struggling to make ends meet and either they are lifetime members with all of the payoffs and power that comes with that, or serve for a couple of terms and make a lot more money afterwards then they would before hand.

    Say I am an ordinary physician making $500k a year (totally made that number up so I don't know how realistic that even is). I decide to run for office and make $170k a year plus free travel, car allowance, campaign expenses, etc. for 6 years.... You don;t think that there will be countless insurance or pharmaceutical companies, or lobbying associations lining up for my experience and connections?

    A lot of politicians end up working for corporations, as lobbyists, or go off to academia once they are no longer in office.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • Bwalker545Bwalker545 Posts: 162
    Wait the election year is over and suddenly Dems want the raises they didnt get last year? Who would have thunk it....
    "Almost unconsciously he traced with his finger in the dust on the table: 2+2=5" 1984
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    Magus wrote:
    Wait the election year is over and suddenly Dems want the raises they didnt get last year? Who would have thunk it....

    Good one, blame the Dems for what both parties are doing...

    It's not just the Dems wanting the pay raise... Between the two parties they basically rigged the vote so it seemed like a balanced move.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    Good one, blame the Dems for what both parties are doing...

    It's not just the Dems wanting the pay raise... Between the two parties they basically rigged the vote so it seemed like a balanced move.

    Yes. Something that truely can bring handshaking across the aisle. Good for them.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
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