Senator urges Obama to rescind pay raise for Congress

FoxNews.com

Washington – Republican Sen. Rob Portman is urging President
Obama to rescind a recent executive order granting pay increases
to Congress and other federal officials, saying the move doesn't
exactly jibe with the country's debt crisis.

Obama signed an executive order last week that will lift a ban on
pay freezes for federal employees.

Rank-and-file members of Congress would all see a $900 bump next
year-- up from $174,000. Congressional leaders will receive a slightly
higher raise, with the House speaker receiving a $1,100 salary increase
to $224,600. The top two Senate leaders will see pay rise $1,000, to
$194,400.

Vice President Biden, meanwhile, will see his pay increase from $225,521
last year to $231,900 after his raise goes into effect March 27, 2013.

But the pat on the back came as a surprise to some, given the lack of progress
all year toward a deal to head off the looming fiscal crisis -- which includes
$600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts. Even if that is resolved, Washington
has still done relatively little to address the more than $16 trillion debt.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., introduced legislation Monday that would
rescind the pay raises.

“I am calling on my colleagues in the House and Senate to rescind President
Obama’s executive order that gives members of Congress a pay raise," she
said in a statement. "This executive order was not requested by Congress and
we should reject it. We have a spending problem in our country and we should
be looking for areas to cut spending. At a time when families across the
country are cutting back we should not increase government spending and add
to the debt burden by giving members of Congress a pay raise. We need to begin
with ourselves and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort.”

Portman said now is not the time for bigger salaries in Washington -- at least
not until the country can deal aggressively with its debt and deficit problems.

"At a time when our country is facing record debt and trillion-dollar deficits,
the last thing Washington should do is reward itself with a pay increase," the
Ohio senator said. "I am calling on President Obama to withdraw his recent
executive order raising federal salaries -- including for members of Congress.
Until a long-term deficit reduction agreement is reached, we should not
consider increasing the pay for Congress."

Obama also OK'd raises for circuit and district court judges.

One thing the last minute deal did was rescind those raises, if it passes the House.

If.

Anyone making odds on that?

I think they'll vote it down personally.

I think 400k is a reasonable amount to pay more taxes, but I haven't heard what cuts they made to balance that with. Probably not enough, plus some republicans are clinging to their no new taxes pledge.

I got 4 to 1 against!

It passed.
Guess Barry can now afford to go on another vacation and bring along his buds.
That poverty stricken Congress can relax a bit now they can afford some more beans and rice.

And PILES AND PILES OF COCAINE!

Can we vote them all out of office now? Pretty please? I can't do it by myself....