H.R. 581-elimination of automatic pay adjustments for members of Congress

[York_Curmudgeon]

This discharge petition has a few signatures, but I am doubtful that it will make it out of the kettle. Should this bill be passed for this year to freeze Congressional pay? In this time of a recession and middle class families cutting back, should Congress critters continue to add more money to their already plush incomes?

 

[UtahBill]

This discharge petition has a few signatures, but I am doubtful that it will make it out of the kettle. Should this bill be passed for this year to freeze Congressional pay? In this time of a recession and middle class families cutting back, should Congress critters continue to add more money to their already plush incomes?

I have suggested a few times that congressional pay be indexed to minimum wage. If their raises are automatic, so should minimum wage be automatic, and the same percentage.

 

[York_Curmudgeon]

I like that idea, or even requiring their pay to not exceed a certain percentage over the minimum wage.

 

[obvious Child]

I have suggested a few times that congressional pay be indexed to minimum wage. If their raises are automatic, so should minimum wage be automatic, and the same percentage.

Eh. I say every 4 years we let the voters decide how much they should get paid. Put it on the general ballot. Have an range that gets voted on. Like $50k~$75k, $75k~100k, $100k~$125K, and up to $200k.

After all, they are our employees. Why shouldn't we set their pay?

 

[Oftencold]

This discharge petition has a few signatures, but I am doubtful that it will make it out of the kettle. Should this bill be passed for this year to freeze Congressional pay? In this time of a recession and middle class families cutting back, should Congress critters continue to add more money to their already plush incomes?

Congress should work for minimum wage and tips.

 

[obvious Child]

Congress should work for minimum wage and tips.

But then you risk even more serious corruption. Think lobbying is bad now? Wait till Congressmen are taking huge amounts of money from corporations just to get by.

 

[Arch Enemy]

Personally, I think we should put all of congress' pay into a bank account where I am the only one with access. But that's just a personal thing ye know. Im slightly sickened that some congress people can afford call-girls while I cannot afford a call to my girl.

 

[TheNextEra]

Congress should work for minimum wage and tips.

That would just encourage even MORE corruption. Those "tips" would be from lobbying groups.

However, I do believe they shouldn't be able to "vote" themselves a raise.

 

[akyron]

Congress should work for minimum wage and tips.

They already work for tips.

University of California $1,385,675
Goldman Sachs $980,945
Microsoft Corp $806,299
Harvard University $793,460
Google Inc $790,564
Citigroup Inc $657,268
JPMorgan Chase & Co $650,758
Stanford University $580,904
Sidley Austin LLP $574,938
Time Warner $547,951
National Amusements Inc $541,251
WilmerHale $524,292
UBS AG $522,019
IBM Corp $518,557
Skadden, Arps et al $510,274
Columbia University $503,566
Morgan Stanley $490,873
US Government $479,956
General Electric $479,454
Latham & Watkins $467,311


Top Contributors

Top Industries Giving to Members of Congress, 2010 Cycle

 

[Vader]

They already work for tips.

University of California $1,385,675
Goldman Sachs $980,945
Microsoft Corp $806,299
Harvard University $793,460
Google Inc $790,564
Citigroup Inc $657,268
JPMorgan Chase & Co $650,758
Stanford University $580,904
Sidley Austin LLP $574,938
Time Warner $547,951
National Amusements Inc $541,251
WilmerHale $524,292
UBS AG $522,019
IBM Corp $518,557
Skadden, Arps et al $510,274
Columbia University $503,566
Morgan Stanley $490,873
US Government $479,956
General Electric $479,454
Latham & Watkins $467,311


Top Contributors

Top Industries Giving to Members of Congress, 2010 Cycle

That type of funding should be outlawed.

Congress doesn't need to be taking bribes from big business.

 

[York_Curmudgeon]

A discharge petition will rarely work and in this instance, I don't think it will ever leave the starting line. This might be the best argument for instituting a national initiative/referendum process by creating a constitutional amendment.

 

[jamesrage]

This discharge petition has a few signatures, but I am doubtful that it will make it out of the kettle. Should this bill be passed for this year to freeze Congressional pay? In this time of a recession and middle class families cutting back, should Congress critters continue to add more money to their already plush incomes?

I think pay increases unless voted on by the people should be banned.There should be no automatic pay increase period, no other employees in the country get a automatic pay increase why should politicians aka our employees get automatic pay raises?. If you wanted a raise you would have ask your boss for one and explain to him why you feel you deserve a raise and it should be that way for politicians too. Once or twice a year with their own money they should tell us why they deserve a raise. This whole oh wait until their term expire to fire them is a load of crap. The reason it is a load of crap because most people have forgotten. When a soldier ****s up(if its not too bad) they give him a article 15,demote his ass, have him work extra duty and give him a reduction in pay. Since those in office can not easily be fired there should be some other means to make sure they straighten their act such as voting on their pay once or twice a year.

When a company is facing tough times they cut employee pay, look at American airlines. Yeah I realize they pay and benefits of all the politicians combined together is still chump change, its still a **** load of money that can be spent on other things. Just because its chump change compared to something is is no reason to waste.


These are not CEOs they are ****en civil servants they are no better than the policeman, fireman, soldier/marine, teacher or some other individual who works for the public good on the tax payer dime. IF you want to get rich then stay in the private sector.


When a employee ****s up he is either fired, demoted and pay reduced or some other form of punishment.

 

[akyron]

When a employee ****s up he is either fired, demoted and pay reduced or some other form of punishment.

Geez what should happen to congress?

 

[TheNextEra]

That type of funding should be outlawed.

Congress doesn't need to be taking bribes from big business.

As much as I disagree with these companies donating this much, there is a simple thing called no taxation without representation.

These companies have just as much right to donate as do private citizens since they pay taxes yes?

 

[TheNextEra]

When a employee ****s up he is either fired, demoted and pay reduced or some other form of punishment.

And an election is held to take care of that. It's the people's fault for not getting rid of these people, blame them.

 

[akyron]

And an election is held to take care of that. It's the people's fault for not getting rid of these people, blame them.

term limits period.

 

[jamesrage]

As much as I disagree with these companies donating this much, there is a simple thing called no taxation without representation.

These companies have just as much right to donate as do private citizens since they pay taxes yes?

If this was a normal job where someone can be fired on the spot you might have a point. However since we have to wait 2-6 years your point is not applicable. Decreasing or increasing their pay once or twice a year is a sure way to get elected officials to straighten up and do the will of the people.

 

[akyron]

Decreasing or increasing their pay once or twice a year is a sure way to get elected officials to straighten up and do the will of the people.

I am no so sure. So what if you get a 5k paycut if you are getting 100k under the table or in "campaign contributions"


$90,000 found in congressman's freezer

"In a news conference last week, Jefferson said he was innocent and that he would remain in office while he fights any charges."

Oft-delayed trial of William Jefferson finally about to begin

"We got to motivate him real good," Jefferson said, according to a Justice Department transcript. "He's got a lot of people to pay off."

"And while the government engaged in a sting -- having Mody deliver $100,000 in FBI cash in a transaction videotaped by the government -- Jefferson's legal team suggests the former congressman had no intention of turning the money over to Abubakar. "


"Did I make mistakes in judgment along the way that I now deeply regret? Yes," Jefferson said after pleading innocent to the government's indictment in June 2007. "But did I sell my office or trade official acts for money? Absolutely not. This case involved private business activities and not official acts."




He still does not get it.