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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[Direckshun]

I don't know if a congressional pay cut undermines the dignity of Congressmen.

It's obviously true that it undermines their effectiveness, however. The lower the pay, the less likely you're going to get topnotch, educated candidates for office, and the more vulnerable Congressmen become to the bribes offered by interest groups.

Lowering congressional pay favors interest groups more than anybody.

If you think interest groups need to run Washington more than they already are, then this is the bill for you.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I don't know if a congressional pay cut undermines the dignity of Congressmen.

It's obviously true that it undermines their effectiveness, however. The lower the pay, the less likely you're going to get topnotch, educated candidates for office, and the more vulnerable Congressmen become to the bribes offered by interest groups.

Lowering congressional pay favors interest groups more than anybody.

If you think interest groups need to run Washington more than they already are, then this is the bill for you.

Yeah, I mean look at what these "top notch" dumb ****s have acomplished this far. It would be a shame if we couldn't get more of them.

What ever happened to this being a civil service job and you did it because ou wanted to make a difference, not make a ton of money? You know, sorta like teachers and cops and what not??? Ever heard of them?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by petegz28

What ever happened to this being a civil service job and you did it because ou wanted to make a difference, not make a ton of money? You know, sorta like teachers and cops and what not??? Ever heard of them?

If you paid more to teach, more qualified folks would teach. Ditto on the police force.

The idea that Congress should be some violation of the human condition is an amusing one, but sadly it's pretty common among Drudgeniks like yourself.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

If you paid more to teach, more qualified folks would teach. Ditto on the police force.

The idea that Congress should be some violation of the human condition is an amusing one, but sadly it's pretty common among Drudgeniks like yourself.

In other words, you'll suck the congressional cock as long as they tell you too.

Meanwhile people that pay the salaries of Congress are dealing with things like, no raises, elimination of benefits, higher gas prices, higher food prices...


but by all ****ing means let's make sure the Nobles get their pay raise for ****ing up the country.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by petegz28

In other words, you'll suck the congressional cock as long as they tell you too.

Meanwhile people that pay the salaries of Congress are dealing with things like, no raises, elimination of benefits, higher gas prices, higher food prices...

but by all ****ing means let's make sure the Nobles get their pay raise for ****ing up the country.

And yet, you're happy to defend hundreds of billions in huge corporate tax loopholes as well as those for the super-wealthy.

Methinks you doth protest too much.

I'm more interested in people who don't work for us screwing us out of billions, more than I am for people who do work for us who screw us out of hundreds of thousands.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

And yet, you're happy to defend hundreds of billions in huge corporate tax loopholes as well as those for the super-wealthy.

Methinks you doth protest too much.

I'm more interested in people who don't work for us screwing us out of billions, more than I am for people who do work for us who screw us out of hundreds of thousands.

If you're more interested in people who don't work screwing us out of billions then you wouldn't be a Democrat.....JFC!

[petegz28]

BTW, Direckshun, the Democrats have not produced a budget in several years now, WTF do they deserve any kind of pay raise when they cannot do what every congress before them has done?

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

And yet, you're happy to defend hundreds of billions in huge corporate tax loopholes as well as those for the super-wealthy.

Methinks you doth protest too much.

I'm more interested in people who don't work for us screwing us out of billions, more than I am for people who do work for us who screw us out of hundreds of thousands.

The real question is do you work at all. I would be surprised if you have a job and flat out shocked if you do and it pays above poverty level~

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by petegz28

If you're more interested in people who don't work screwing us out of billions then you wouldn't be a Democrat.....

Not exactly a rebuttal to my argument.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by petegz28

BTW, Direckshun, the Democrats have not produced a budget in several years now, WTF do they deserve any kind of pay raise when they cannot do what every congress before them has done?

I would argue they deserve a cost of living increase, as does everybody.

A continuing resolution is a budget, by the way.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I would argue they deserve a cost of living increase, as does everybody.

A continuing resolution is a budget, by the way.

........are you ****ing serious?

[Direckshun]

It was just reported that Facebook received a multi-billion dollar tax break.

But yeah, those Congressmen asking for a cost-of-living increase... damn them.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

It was just reported that Facebook received a multi-billion dollar tax break.

But yeah, those Congressmen asking for a cost-of-living increase... damn them.

WTF does that have to do with anything?

[stonedstooge]

Nearly 50% of the people in Congress are lawyers. That's half the problem

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I don't know if a congressional pay cut undermines the dignity of Congressmen.

It's obviously true that it undermines their effectiveness, however. The lower the pay, the less likely you're going to get topnotch, educated candidates for office, and the more vulnerable Congressmen become to the bribes offered by interest groups.

Lowering congressional pay favors interest groups more than anybody.

If you think interest groups need to run Washington more than they already are, then this is the bill for you.

My god, this is a great point.

Since our politicians are so corrupt, we need to raise their pay so that they are less tempted.

This has all the logic of buying hookers for a rapist.