NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't recall seeing this one around here in the past few weeks. If it was posted already then my bad!

http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2008/12/18/vice-president-congress-get-pay-raise-in-2009/



WASHINGTON - The economy is in tatters and job losses abound, but there are pay raises to be had in these trying times.

You just have to get elected.

Joe Biden, who will become vice president on Jan. 20, will receive a salary of $227,300 — $6,200 more than predecessor Dick Cheney. Close behind is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will get a $6,100 jump to $223,500.

Senators and members of Congress will get a $4,700 increase, bringing their salaries up to $174,000. House and Senate leaders’ salaries will rise to $193,400 from $188,100.

President George W. Bush issued an executive order on Thursday to provide the annual cost-of-living increase. ”Every year the president issues this in December or January and it takes place in the first applicable pay period after Jan. 1,” White House spokesman Carlton Carroll said.

The government increases pale compared with huge year-end Wall Street bonuses that can rocket the recipient into the millionaire category.


Its the usual case of the rich getting richer. Do you think the Congress should be able to get a pay raise without the public voting on it? I personally think that should be the case.

I don't recall seeing this one around here in the past few weeks. If it was posted already then my bad!

http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2008/12/18/vice-president-congress-get-pay-raise-in-2009/



Its the usual case of the rich getting richer. Do you think the Congress should be able to get a pay raise without the public voting on it? I personally think that should be the case.

This is what happens when you give people the power to give themselves a raise...

I think the public should vote on it, and when I get elected Senator I will do anything in my power to make it possible.

Hey now! It's a free market donchuano!. If you don't pay the exorbitant wages, you can't acquire and keep talent! Wait...what?

They aren't stupid. If the public had to vote on their wages, they wouldn't ever see anymore money and if fact would see pay cuts.

The same for companies. Most executives don't want the share holders deciding the packages and yet everything is supposedly done for the shareholders....

But hey they have all that stress, blah blah blah right?

They aren't stupid. If the public had to vote on their wages, they wouldn't ever see anymore money and if fact would see pay cuts.


This is why you couldn't have people vote for it. They'd just cut it every time they got the chance.

Realistically decide some sort of inflation measure, lock it in stone and link it to that. Best way.

I wonder if I can decide to give myself a pay-raise.....

Most of them should be in prison. Never mind pay raises. But as long as the bumsuckers continue to worship at the two party altar we are stuck.

This is what happens when you give people the power to give themselves a raise...
Or rather the power to give themselves an automatic raise every year without having to vote on it.

Their raises are about the same percentage as their approval ratings!

This is what happens when you give people the power to give themselves a raise...

It's what happens when the same twits continue to get reelected.

Congress can't give themselves a pay raise. That's unconstitutional. They can only vote for a pay raise for the next session. The fact that they get re-elected and thus can benefit from the pay raise they voted for is the will of the people.

3% Wage increase? Why thats about the same as the rate of inflation! How dare they end up with the same amount of effective money!

3% Wage increase? Why thats about the same as the rate of inflation! How dare they end up with the same amount of effective money!

We aren't guaranteed a COL increase so why should they?

we dont have national votes. there is no mechanism for the people to vote for a raise for congress.

I think these congress people should put their salary towards the National Debt instead of their own bank accounts.

I wonder if I can decide to give myself a pay-raise.....

Sure, when you start your own country and print your own money. Also collect taxes from a bunch of suckers.

Congress can't give themselves a pay raise. That's unconstitutional. They can only vote for a pay raise for the next session. The fact that they get re-elected and thus can benefit from the pay raise they voted for is the will of the people.

*sigh*

Once again you let technicalities like "the truth" or "the law" get in the way of perfectly good ranting. :mad:

EDIT: I suppose you think the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is in some way relevant:

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

*sigh*

Once again you let technicalities like "the truth" or "the law" get in the way of perfectly good ranting. :mad:

EDIT: I suppose you think the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is in some way relevant:

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
oh pffft

like any votes for or against any congressman based on a modest pay raise.

they in effect vote themselves raises since they are mostly all returned to office if they choose to run again.

So they got a cost of living adjustment, just like Social Security recipients and other government employees. Considering those salaries are nothing more than token compensation for many members of Congress, it's not that big a deal.

I have nothing to comment when it comes to comparing Biden salery to Cheney's.

Biden doesn't have a corporation to go back to after this.
That and he is the poorest Senator on average.

Congress can't give themselves a pay raise. That's unconstitutional. They can only vote for a pay raise for the next session. The fact that they get re-elected and thus can benefit from the pay raise they voted for is the will of the people.

You've been reading the Constitution again, haven't you? You've been warned about that! *smacks Neo's hand with a newspaper*

EDIT: Aw, man, TCT beat me to it.

So the speaker of the House only makes 4,000 less than the VP? Interesting.

And people want the US to have government-run free health-care and all the other European programs that kinda sound very similar to real-world Communism. This is why we need smaller government. The government has too much power. We need to try REAL conservativism. I said real. Not the Republican liberalism that O'Reily preaches. I'm talking small-government conservativism.

If a congressman does not want the job for the money then they will want it for the power... Which is worse?

They can have a pay raise as soon as they do something that doesn't screw the country over.

They can have a pay raise as soon as they do something that doesn't screw the country over.
too late, they got it today.

too late, they got it today.

Fudgemuffins...

Quick, everyone, next election we must vote the current Congress out and put ourselves in! Just ignore the fact I'm not legally old enogh to be in the House!

And people want the US to have government-run free health-care and all the other European programs that kinda sound very similar to real-world Communism. This is why we need smaller government. The government has too much power. We need to try REAL conservativism. I said real. Not the Republican liberalism that O'Reily preaches. I'm talking small-government conservativism.
*giggles*

Are there any other jobs where people can give THEMSELVES a raise? o.o

Are there any other jobs where people can give THEMSELVES a raise? o.o

Law, anything self employed, CEOs

Law, anything self employed, CEOs
Ah, I didn't know that, thanks.

Congressmen are radically underpaid and its actually a really serious problem. First off, Congressmen must run two complete households, one in Washington and another in their home State. $150,000 a year doesnt come close to cutting it.

500+ people control Trillions in spending. If we paid each congressmen a million or two, it would represent a tiny tiny fraction of the budget, certainly a far less % then professional money managers get to do the same job. This would benefit the public in many ways. First, if congressmen are well paid, this reduces the time needed to run around the country fundraising and gives them more time to do their actual job, and it reduces the likelyhood of bribes and other financial influences. It will also attract real talent to the job if its well compensated. You get what you pay for.

I think the public should vote on it, and when I get elected Senator I will do anything in my power to make it possible.
we dont HAVE national votes.

Congressmen are radically underpaid and its actually a really serious problem. First off, Congressmen must run two complete households, one in Washington and another in their home State. $150,000 a year doesnt come close to cutting it.

500+ people control Trillions in spending. If we paid each congressmen a million or two, it would represent a tiny tiny fraction of the budget, certainly a far less % then professional money managers get to do the same job. This would benefit the public in many ways. First, if congressmen are well paid, this reduces the time needed to run around the country fundraising and gives them more time to do their actual job, and it reduces the likelyhood of bribes and other financial influences. It will also attract real talent to the job if its well compensated. You get what you pay for.
they dont run 2 complete households any more.

when hastert was speaker, he shared an apartment with his chief of staff to save money

(i kept waiting to hear that he was gay but i guess it really was just to save money)

Law, anything self employed, CEOs

a CEO can't give himself a raise, at all. It has to be board approved. Likewise anyone self employed as DBA can't give himself a "raise" since he is simply paid as profit.

a CEO can't give himself a raise, at all. It has to be board approved. Likewise anyone self employed as DBA can't give himself a "raise" since he is simply paid as profit.

But the CEO can give the Board a raise in which the Board will return the favor.
-------

Maybe the pay raise will cut down in lobbyst bribes.

But the CEO can give the Board a raise in which the Board will return the favor.

Again, not really, Board salaries are typically set in either the articles of incorporation or the corporate bylaws. Which can be amended by various standards, which are often articulated...in the articles of incorporation or the corporate bylaws.

we dont HAVE national votes.

The I guess each state can dcide what to pay Senators :)

And people want the US to have government-run free health-care and all the other European programs that kinda sound very similar to real-world Communism. This is why we need smaller government. The government has too much power. We need to try REAL conservativism. I said real. Not the Republican liberalism that O'Reily preaches. I'm talking small-government conservativism.

What does free health care have to do with the price of apples in Singapore?

Are there any other jobs where people can give THEMSELVES a raise? o.o

Try reading the thread. Congress can't give itself a pay raise either.

*smacks Neo's hand with a newspaper*

if I didn't know any better I'd think you liked that.

Again, not really, Board salaries are typically set in either the articles of incorporation or the corporate bylaws. Which can be amended by various standards, which are often articulated...in the articles of incorporation or the corporate bylaws.

Realistically, too, the compensation is usually nominal compared to the value of the directors' stakes in the company or the wealth they've accumulated that allowed them to get in to that position in the first place. I highly doubt any board of directors would be comprised of people who were financially dependent on their board membership.

Of course, there are times when the CEO and chairman of the board are combined, which might explain why GM has had such appallingly bad management and is nearly bankrupt...

Sad thing is that this was passed over 10 years ago. The house and senate have to both vote to stop a pay raise.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/agencies/a/raise4congress.htm

Of course, we can always build some military style barracks or housing for them to stay in. That way, they would not have to maintain 2 homes. We provide barracks for our military, why not for our federal legislators?