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MONEY
Congress does not need more of it

Congress is planning to give itself a cost-of-living pay raise of $5,000 this year, despite the dwindling economy and the recession. This would make members’ salaries $155,000; more than three times the median household money income of $41,994 in 1999, according to the U.S Census Bureau Web site.

If America’s average household can get by on $41,994, members of Congress can get by on $150,000.

According to Monday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram, lawmakers cut their pay during the Great Depression and froze it during World War II. Today, however, Congress is not as concerned about the country’s economic well-being.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Flower Mound, said in the Star-Telegram he does not oppose the pay raise because “members of the House of Representatives work very hard doing the people’s business, getting things done for people and, like everybody else, their families feel a need for a cost-of-living adjustment.”

The average household is not getting much of a cost-of-living adjustment right now.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said in the Star-Telegram she will vote against the pay raise, because she doesn’t believe this is the right time or circumstance, and the spokesman for Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside Beach, said Paul always votes against pay raises because he thinks Congress spends too much.

The National Taxpayers Union estimated salary growth for domestic private industries in 1990-1999 grew 40 percent, while congressional salaries rose 57 percent.

This is unacceptable in times of economic prosperity, and even more so right now.