Pelosi: Congressional pay cut undermines dignity of the job

[petegz28]

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that she opposes a cut in congressional pay because it would diminish the dignity of lawmakers' jobs.

"I don't think we should do it; I think we should respect the work we do," Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol. "I think it's necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded."

The comments were made in the context of the looming sequester, which would force across-the-board cuts affecting most federal offices, including Congress. With lawmakers nowhere near a deal to avert those cuts, federal agencies are bracing for ways to absorb them with minimum damage to programs and personnel.

Pelosi, whose husband is a wealthy real-estate developer, was quick to note that a cut in her own pay would be far less significant than that for both staffers and less wealthy members of Congress.

"It's a hard question to ask me because most of my colleagues are the breadwinners in their families," she said. "A pay cut to me doesn't mean as much."

She also emphasized that Congress should do everything it can to preclude such decisions by preventing the sequester cuts from taking effect at all.

"A sequester should be out of the question," she said.

Still, with the clock ticking down to March 1 – and with both chambers of Congress out of town next week – the chances of reaching a deal are growing slimmer. With that in mind, some lawmakers say they're hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

"We are, in fact, obviously contemplating a sequester," Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said this week. "Obviously we are going to take a cut, like everybody else, and we will have to accommodate that."


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[driver2]

I just used Pelosi and Reid as examples because they are most visable and well known!
Even Cosmo line might recognize who they are.

AND! I in know way exempted the Republicans from this suggestion.
All US Senators and Representatives their staffs' and perks should be paid for by the people who elected them!

Who knows, maybe the voters will start paying attention to who they're voting for!

As for the stupid comment Cosmoline S M D !

[Deberg_1990]

Too lazy to do the research, but has Congress always been well paid in relation to average US worker salaries since its inception?

Anyhow, Pelosi comments just seem out of touch and arrogant /self inflated opinion of their job titles.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by driver2

I just used Pelosi and Reid as examples because they are most visable and well known!
Even Cosmo line might recognize who they are.

AND! I in know way exempted the Republicans from this suggestion.
All US Senators and Representatives their staffs' and perks should be paid for by the people who elected them!

Who knows, maybe the voters will start paying attention to who they're voting for!

As for the stupid comment Cosmoline S M D !

Still being stupid. What does that mean? Maybe the people of California and Nevada won't elect someone from California who has to take long, expensive flights back to their homes and districts?

The people of Virginia are so much smarter--they always elect people who live nearby DC. Why don't the other states think of doing that? Moron.

[BigChiefTablet]

What makes her think congress has any dignity left?

[WhiteWhale]

Maybe they could just cut their pay to the rate it was at BEFORE the recession started.

You know, the same time most of us had to deal with less. We're the ones being punished for incompetent leadership.

Anyone who buys that she's concerned about those beneath her are adorably naive.

[KC_Lee]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

The problem of them being a burden on the tax payer. The noob referenced the money grubbing Reid and Pelosi as being the problem as if McCain doesn't fly back and forth.

Perhaps this is due to the demagoguery that Reid and Pelosi continually spew in regards to taxes and income?

In other words, do not castigate people in higher income brackets and then have the gall to complain about the dignity of ones job in relation to their pay.

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

Perhaps this is due to the demagoguery that Reid and Pelosi continually spew in regards to taxes and income?

In other words, do not castigate people in higher income brackets and then have the gall to complain about the dignity of ones job in relation to their pay.

They pay taxes just like you.

[Iowanian]

Let them keep their salary.

Cut the lifetime salary and benefits, and make them accept the same insurance and benefit package of the average federal employee.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

They pay taxes just like you.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Let them keep their salary.

Cut the lifetime salary and benefits, and make them accept the same insurance and benefit package of the average federal employee.

How dare you talk this way about our ruling class~

[KC_Lee]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

They pay taxes just like you.

Yeah so, what does that have to do with anything? Never said they did not pay taxes like everyone else.

[Otter]

I used to look down on the Salem Witch Trials until witches were proven to be real.

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

Yeah so, what does that have to do with anything? Never said they did pay taxes like everyone else.

No, you were just saying they are demagogues, talking about taxing the rich while they are the rich. So what? You think it'd look better if they were poor and talking about taxing the rich?

You have a point that this is a Democratic problem though. I'm always hearing Republican Congressmen saying they get paid too much and are always moving to lower their own pay/benefits.

[KC_Lee]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

No, you were just saying they are demagogues, talking about taxing the rich while they are the rich. So what? You think it'd look better if they were poor and talking about taxing the rich?

You have a point that this is a Democratic problem though. I'm always hearing Republican Congressmen saying they get paid too much and are always moving to lower their own pay/benefits.

So this is just a D vs. R thing for you, got it.

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

So this is just a D vs. R thing for you, got it.

No, it's not. I think you'll find people both left and right that would enjoy seeing congress enjoy less.

The funny thing is that driver2 didn't originally acknowledge any republicans in his "they're scum" rant, my post was pointing that out and in his reply he agreed both sides are at fault. Meanwhile you were riding your high horse like you're the only one seeing this is a bipartisan problem.