Congress Pay Raise?

Esther · #1 03-03-2010, 09:19 AM

President Obama's proposed budget has a recommended increase of 2% for the annual federal employee pay raise and 2.9% for the military. The House of Representatives has voted not to award itself a pay raise in 2010 although they did just receive a 2.7% increase for the current year which works out to about $4700

source: http://www.fedsmith.com/article/1887...poses-pay.html

If they did not vote for a raise how did they get a 2.7% increase?

Esther · #2 03-03-2010, 09:24 AM

Obama issues order implementing 2010 pay raise
By Kellie Lunney klunney@govexec.com December 23, 2009 President Obama on Wednesday evening issued an executive order implementing a 2.0 pay raise for federal employees and a 3.4 percent pay raise for service members in 2010.

souce: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1209/122309.htm

MissBrattified · #3 03-03-2010, 10:58 AM

Don't most people get an annual raise based on inflation? I think I recall my husband saying he would get a 3% raise every year no matter what, and more if they felt he deserved it.

Are politician's salaries treated differently in that regard?

n david · #4 03-03-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Don't most people get an annual raise based on inflation? I think I recall my husband saying he would get a 3% raise every year no matter what, and more if they felt he deserved it.

Are politician's salaries treated differently in that regard?

Gov't workers are given "cost of living" increases every year plus other increases for merit. At least that was the case when I had a gov't job several years ago.

My current job doesn't give COL increases and it's doubtful we'll get much, if any, raise.

Esther · #5 03-03-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Don't most people get an annual raise based on inflation? I think I recall my husband saying he would get a 3% raise every year no matter what, and more if they felt he deserved it.

Are politician's salaries treated differently in that regard?

Not true. My husband works for one of the largest companies in the world and this is the first year he will get a 3% raise in over 2 years. That doesn't even keep up with inflation.

My issue with them giving themselves a raise is they didn't give the senior citizens who is in a greater need of help a raise.

MissBrattified · #6 03-03-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

Not true. My husband works for one of the largest companies in the world and this is the first year he will get a 3% raise in over 2 years. That doesn't even keep up with inflation.

My issue with them giving themselves a raise is they didn't give the senior citizens who is in a greater need of help a raise.

What's not true? Like n_david said, lots of people (including my husband and everyone else in his former company--I asked) receive cost-of-living raises every year. IOW, it's a common practice, and 3% is a common number.

If government employees receive the same type of raise annually, then that would explain the lack of vote--the vote would probably be for a salary increase in addition to that expected amount.

Now, whether they should get it or not--that's another issue. I'm just saying that it's doubtful that it was under the table; it's probably something that they get every year.

Esther · #7 03-03-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

What's not true? Like n_david said, lots of people (including my husband and everyone else in his former company--I asked) receive cost-of-living raises every year. IOW, it's a common practice, and 3% is a common number.

If government employees receive the same type of raise annually, then that would explain the lack of vote--the vote would probably be for a salary increase in addition to that expected amount.

Now, whether they should get it or not--that's another issue. I'm just saying that it's doubtful that it was under the table; it's probably something that they get every year.

"Don't most people get an annual raise based on inflation?"

Nitehawk013 · #8 03-04-2010, 06:05 AM

I'm all for the military getting raises. Politicians? Not so much. They already make near 200k a year and appear to do nothing for those of us who actually work to pay them.

If Obama was pushing to take the 2% proposed for Congress and instead tack it onto the raises for the military I would actually support it 100%. Our boys and girls in uniform deserve much much more.

Esther · #9 03-04-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I'm all for the military getting raises. Politicians? Not so much. They already make near 200k a year and appear to do nothing for those of us who actually work to pay them.

If Obama was pushing to take the 2% proposed for Congress and instead tack it onto the raises for the military I would actually support it 100%. Our boys and girls in uniform deserve much much more.

I agree.

Withdrawn · #10 03-04-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Don't most people get an annual raise based on inflation? I think I recall my husband saying he would get a 3% raise every year no matter what, and more if they felt he deserved it.

Are politician's salaries treated differently in that regard?

Nope! I know a lot of people (myself included) whose employers withheld COL or merit raises for calendar year 2009. Others I know have already been told that there will be no increases for 2010 as well. It's typically based on economic conditions. IMO, government workers should be subject to the same economic environmental conditions.