28 June 2007

They Voted For...Themselves?

U.S. Reps. Nick Rahall, D-3rd, and Alan Mollohan, D-1st, both voted to increase Congressional pay by about $4,400, to nearly $170,000 annually, according to The Associated Press.

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, voted against the necessarily procedural question in the 244-181 roll call.

As AP reports, "Democrats and Republicans alike killed a bid by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Lee Terry, R-Neb., to get a direct vote to block the (cost of living allowance) _ , which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it. "

AP also reports that the annual increase stalled the previous two years, partly because of partisan squabbling and partly because "Democrats last year fulfilled a campaign promise to deny themselves a pay hike until Congress raised the minimum wage. Delays in the minimum wage bill cost every lawmaker about $3,100 this year."

1 comment:

Jess said...

In the "real world" that would never fly--voting for your own pay raise?

If that were the case we'd ALL be millionaires by now!

I noticed when ABC news reported it this morning, they included Bush's salary is $400,000. They neglected to say that he declines his presidential salary. Can we say the same for the others in Congress whose investments earn them millions on the side?

Ok rant over!

Jess