Congress To Get Another Pay Raise

In 1989, the congressional salary was $89,500. Most Americans would be thrilled to make that much today. But that was also the year that Congress pulled a fast one on the American people. They passed a law that automatically gives them a "cost of living" raise each year.

They don't even have to vote on the raise. After all, that could cost them some votes. The raise just comes and they just accept it. Because of this, congressional salaries have risen to $165,200. And they are fixing to get another $4,400. That would raise their annual salary to nearly $170,000. Now that's a sweet deal!

Some congressmen think they deserve the raise because they just raised the minimum wage (it'll be a whole $7.25 a couple of years from now). How's that for bone-headed thinking? They give poor people a salary that no human can live on, and think that entitles themselves to a big raise.

I wish I could blame this one on the Republican party, but the truth is that both parties are guilty in this matter. There are a few members of both parties that are trying to stop the raise, but not many, and I suspect that their efforts will be futile. Most members of both parties will eagerly pocket the raise and act like they deserve it.

At times like this, it is easy to see why Americans have such a low opinion of Congress.