Archive for January 4, 2009
Is A $4700 Pay Raise Justified?
By Bob Steiner
For those of you not in the know,  the U.S. Congress has just given itself a pay raise. Through December 31st the average congressional  pay was just under $170,000. Effective January 1st this amount has been raised to $174,700, an increase of $4700.  It should also be noted that our elected representatives are also eligible to other funds through the generous expense accounts that go with working on Capitol Hill. I know the cost of living in the District of Columbia is high, but at this time I believe some discussion on the overall compensation paid out to these elected officials is in the public interest.
Ostensibly, this recent increase was an “automatic” cost of living adjustment, which the government computers factor in each year based on various economic information. Still, at a time when I see a major employer closing in Moriarty, retail stores, and automobile plants shutting their doors, I find the “timing” of this increase to be in particularly bad taste. When asked about this raise, I know our legislators will say they really had no choice on the matter. “The Computer did it.” So what can they do? I might suggest that each “person” could donate the amount of his/her raise back to one of the welfare organizations in our area. I am quite skeptical in believing that this will actually happen. Still, I think this would be the “right” thing to do, especially in view of the economic turmoil we are experiencing at this time. On the other hand, perhaps I am being too cynical. Just maybe our elected “persons” have been working hard for their constituents and actually merit an increase in pay. Let’s take just a few minutes and try to review some of the political “successes” of the past few years. Since it seems to be one of the major issues of our daily lives, just what has the congress done to improve the economy?
Mr. Obama May Have To Forget, Ol’ What’s His Name
by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)
Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
Word from today’s New York Times informs that Governor Bill Richardson has removed himself from further consideration or confirmation for President-Elect Obama’s Secretary of Commerce position. »» Mr. Obama May Have To Forget, Ol’ What’s His Name
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