GOP Blocks Congress Members' Cost-of-Living Increase

By Randy Hall - CNSNews.com: After being pounded by Democrats last year for accepting pay increases while not boosting the minimum wage, Republican congressmen Tuesday returned the favor by preventing an annual 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from taking effect this year." There will be no COLA adjustment," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Tuesday after GOP members of Congress, led by House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), promised to block the annual $2,800 pay hike.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) "ran their own ads attacking [Republican] members on this," Blunt explained. "Because of that, their members are going to suffer in terms of not being able to have a COLA." Blunt said that Democrats broke the agreement after last year's pay raise-related vote had already taken place. As a result, federal lawmakers' salaries will stay at $165,200 for the year instead of receiving - an increase of $2,800.

---

Tags: congress, Congressional pay To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!