 Says Council for Citizens Against Government Waste September 07, 2003
"Members of Congress have the only job in the country whose occupants can set their own salary without regard to performance, profit, or economic climate," CCAGW President Tom Schatz said. "Clearly, members must think that money grows on trees. With a $480 billion deficit, the escalating cost of the war in Iraq, and a stagnant economy, Congress should be curbing spending, not lining their pockets at our expense."  ©Sandy Huffaker, Cagle Cartoons Sunday - September 07, 2003 Distributed to subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons The 2.2 percent pay raise was included as part of the fiscal 2004 Transportation and Treasury Department Appropriations bill, along with a 4.1 percent raise for federal employees and military personnel. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) sought a separate vote on the congressional pay raise, but was turned down by a vote of 240-173. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill, and the President has to sign the final version before the raise takes effect. "Year after year, while millions of Americans have lost their jobs, members of Congress have rewarded themselves with more money for less work," Schatz continued. "What exactly are they rewarding themselves for? The primary purpose of Congress is to pass a budget. This year's budget was six months late, and the fiscal 2004 budget will not be completed by the start of the new year on October 1. This level of job performance would warrant termination in the private sector, not a salary increase." According to CAGW, over the past six years, members of Congress have given themselves a total of $16,700 in raises, which is 58 percent more than the $10,300 a minimum wage employee would earn during an entire year of full-time work. Other congressional perks include: free outpatient care at certain hospitals; a special $3,000 tax deduction; frequent-flyer miles from government travel; free meals and vacations from lobbyists and business groups; access to first-class gyms and tennis courts; taxpayer subsidized life and health insurance; and a special pension program. "This underserved pay raise is no surprise, as the 108th Congress has shown a voracious appetite for spending," Schatz concluded. "It goes to show how out of touch with reality politicians can be. They forget that their salaries are paid by taxpayers. Americans are being forced to tighten their belts - if they even have a job - yet members of Congress will have an extra $3,400 to do with as they please." According to CAGW, the Council
for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of
CAGW which is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
Citizens Against Government Waste is dedicated to eliminating
waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.
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