Some Politicians Think Its Wrong to Take a Pay Raise in Economic Meltdown … Rep. Jim Matheson Says its Unconscionable

Some one in Congress has a heart and a brain …

I guess we should real reassured that there are one or two politicians who think it is entirely wrong to take a pay raise in the teeth of an economic meltdown as people lose their homes, income and jobs. That is correct, Congress will get an automatic pay raise, yet say nothing to prevent it from occurring. “We the People” are down-sized as politicians “super-size” their salaries at our expense. As if most politicians are not burden enough on the tax payers, we have selfish politicians telling others what their pay should be while they increase their own. How could anyone in good conscience accept a pay raise?

How simple could it be for Congress to have a simple vote to state that they will not take a pay raise. While they are at it, why don;t they further help the American tax payer and take a pay cut. These are the same people who rail on CEO’s for being paid bonuses and stock options for doing nothing. What exactly has Congress done lately that has benefited the country? Hmm?

Despite the country’s economic meltdown, Congress is about to receive an automatic $4,700 pay raise on Thursday — a 2.8 percent increase over the current $169,300 salary for most members.

Rep. Jim Matheson says that is unconscionable, and he’s vowing to renew his annual fight to stop such automatic raises. He says the bad economy might just help him win this year, and a government watchdog group is joining his battle to say the raise is a bad idea in such times.

“In a situation where there aren’t many people in this country who are seeing their salaries go up, and in fact a lot of people are losing their jobs, the notion that Congress should be having an automatic pay raise without even a vote just doesn’t pass the smell test,” Matheson said earlier this month.

Agreeing is Tom Schantz, president of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste — which also issued a call for Congress to stop its automatic pay raise.

“While thousands of Americans are facing layoffs and downsizing, Congress should be mortified to accept a raise,” Schantz said.