BS: But they have done such a good job!

Subject: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: GUEST,beardedbruce
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 03:33 PM

Is this what is meant by "pay for performance"?


With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise
By Jordy Yager
Posted: 12/17/08 05:41 PM [ET]

A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.

Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.


"As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. "This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter."

However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.

Still, Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Congress should have taken the rare step of freezing its pay, as lawmakers did in 2000.

"Look at the way the economy is and how most people aren't counting on a holiday bonus or a pay raise — they're just happy to have gainful employment," said Ellis. "But you have the lawmakers who are set up and ready to get their next installment of a pay raise and go happily along their way."

Member raises are often characterized as examples of wasteful spending, especially when many constituents and businesses in members' districts are in financial despair.

Rep. Harry Mitchell, a first-term Democrat from Arizona, sponsored legislation earlier this year that would have prevented the automatic pay adjustments from kicking in for members next year. But the bill, which attracted 34 cosponsors, failed to make it out of committee.

"They don't even go through the front door. They have it set up so that it's wired so that you actually have to undo the pay raise rather than vote for a pay raise," Ellis said.

Freezing congressional salaries is hardly a new idea on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers have floated similar proposals in every year dating back to 1995, and long before that. Though the concept of forgoing a raise has attracted some support from more senior members, it is most popular with freshman lawmakers, who are often most vulnerable.

In 2006, after the Republican-led Senate rejected an increase to the minimum wage, Democrats, who had just come to power in the House with a slew of freshmen, vowed to block their own pay raise until the wage increase was passed. The minimum wage was eventually increased and lawmakers received their automatic pay hike.

In the beginning days of 1789, Congress was paid only $6 a day, which would be about $75 daily by modern standards. But by 1965 members were receiving $30,000 a year, which is the modern equivalent of about $195,000.

Currently the average lawmaker makes $169,300 a year, with leadership making slightly more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) makes $217,400, while the minority and majority leaders in the House and Senate make $188,100.

Ellis said that while freezing the pay increase would be a step in the right direction, it would be better to have it set up so that members would have to take action, and vote, for a pay raise and deal with the consequences, rather than get one automatically.

"It is probably never going to be politically popular to raise Congress's salary," he said. "I don't think you're going to find taxpayers saying, 'Yeah I think I should pay my congressman more'."

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:53 PM

Should take my suggestion and make 'em live in their home district and telecommute to work. Set THEIR pay and benefits at the prevailing rates for their district and require a biennial vote to increase it. Retirement would be handled the same way and include Social Security.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 12:33 AM

'However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.'
This seems to suggest that the social security recipients will receive $9400 in increases next year! Lucky them!

Lies, bloody lies, and statistics.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 12:46 AM

Gurney, when you say only half as much as those on SS. I get SS & got just under a 5% raise this yr but 5% of what? Their 1% is far more than if I got 10%.
They should be freezing in hell before they get another aise, fact is they ought to turn some of it over to their favorite charities, the poor!They ought to suffer with the same health ins as we the common folk have to suffer with until they raise OUR standards. When they plug along with the rest of US we'll see our lot improve.

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 03:36 AM

Barry, I didn't say it, it was in the original article. I merely expressed cynicism at the way it was phrased.
As a pensioner myself, in a different country, I'm well aware of percentage rises favouring the wealthy. In years gone by, we had here a set dollar amount as 'Cost of Living' raises. The last one was $7+, I got it, the Prime Minister got it, pensioners got it, everyone got it. How could you find a fairer system.
The government stopped it, substituting a percentage raise, which benefits the richer people, as you point out, and the difference is by now startling.
The government in question was our National Party, equivalent to your Republican Party.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 03:48 AM

"telecommute"
WTF???????????
You watch too much Star-Trek! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 09:33 AM

I'm visualizing 435 congressmen on speaker phones...an ugly thought.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 10:22 AM

I'm visualizing a new nationwide fiber backbone that would also allow the public to "sit in" on public committee meetings and things.

We have the technology to do it. And thousands of people across the US telecommute to work every day, some from one coast to the other. Heck, one company I know of even has telecommuting employees in Canada -- and just consider all those people in Bangalore support centers.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 12:19 PM

I wouldn't trade their stress for any amount of money. I don't like the seeming inequities, but they have to be some of the most stressed, work-obsessed people around.

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 01:08 PM

Until recently I didn't realize how little Alaskan legislators are paid. It is true that they are not full time employees but just about every year they meet in Special Sessions later in the year which make it difficult to maintain another job.

The body that oversees them is now recommending a pay raise for them and a lot of Alaskans are objecting.

Juneau Empire, December 19, 2008:

"Even with the pay raises proposed by the commission, compensation for elected representatives will still be modest.

"The commission recommended boosting legislative salaries from $24,012 to $50,400, but eliminating "long-term per diem," pay for daily work outside sessions that previously boosted salaries. The amounts vary, but the change would increase pay for all legislators, while also leveling it.

"The other three members of the commission all have a history with the Legislature. It includes two former Senate presidents, Rick Halford and Mike Miller, and Gordon Harrison of Juneau, former director of the Legislative Research Agency.

"The commission also proposed a raise for Gov. Sarah Palin, from $125,000 to $150,000, and leveling pay of Palin's Cabinet members at $135,000.

"Commission Chairman Halford said the total of the proposed raises would be a relatively small amount, about a couple of hundred thousand dollars.

"The average legislative pay would go to $63,900 with the adoption of the new pay scale and the inclusion of short-term per diem during sessions.

"That's a good start, but is that enough to get good people to run for office," asked Jason Brune, executive director of the Resource Development Council, a pro-industry activist group.

http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/paydiem105032000.htm

LEGISLATOR SALARY

Here are some facts about Legislators' salaries:

Salaries are set by statute at $24,012 per year - the same level they received since the Legislature froze its own salary in 1991;
In 1996, the Legislature removed itself from the State salary schedule eliminating them from any cost-of-living raises enjoyed by other state employees;
Legislators are not eligible for the 3.5% annual merit increases received by State employees;
Legislators have not had a salary increase in over nine years;
Legislators pay for their health care cost increase that went into effect July 1, 1999 for most state employees;
Legislators do not receive leave benefits enjoyed by State employees.
LEGISLATOR PER DIEM

Here are some facts about legislative per diems:

Session per diem is tied to the federal per diem rate which is set by the Department of Defense for Alaska and is NOT raised or lowered by the Legislature;
Per diem is a reimbursement for expenses, NOT salary;
Most Legislators must pay to maintain two homes during session;
Since January 16, 1995, legislative session per diem has risen five times and dropped five times;
Overall the per diem has increased just $10.00 for non-Juneau Legislators and $7.50 for Juneau Legislators (SEE CHART BELOW).
   

01/16/95 113.25 151.00
03/01/95 111.00 -2.25 148.00 -3.00
04/30/95 120.00 +9.00 160.00 +12.00
01/08/96 111.00 -9.00 148.00 +12.00
03/01/96 118.50 +7.50 158.00 +10.00
05/01/96 128.25 +9.75 171.00 +13.00
01/13/97 118.50 -9.75 158.00 -13.00
02/01/97 126.00 +7.50 168.00 +10.00
03/01/98 120.75 -5.25 161.00 -7.00
03/01/99 129.75 +9.00 173.00 +12.00
01/01/00 120.75 -9.00 161.00 -12.00


NET OVERALL CHANGE + 7.50 +10.00


***************************************
What are YOUR legislators paid? I'm curious.

Eb

Subject: RE: BS: But they have done such a good job!
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 06:08 PM

Kat, I agree, but it is Horses for Courses. If they are driven, or insensitive, it is the job for them!
I would hate to be a nurse, or a social worker among the very improvident, but those are admirable people.