MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

Opinion
Feb. 27, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Pay freeze

Prior to engaging in their spending orgy (see above), the Democratic House leadership did one thing right: They allowed a vote on a congressional pay freeze.

House members, who make $174,000 a year and just received a 2.7 percent cost-of-living increase for 2009, overwhelmingly embraced the proposal, voting 398-24 to forgo their automatic pay hikes in 2010.

Most Popular Stories
  • J.C. WATTS: Bad dog food for the Democrats
  • EDITORIAL: Leaving Las Vegas -- alone
  • VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: Exposing the 'secure our borders' lie
  • LETTERS: President delivers another blow to Las Vegas
  • THOMAS MITCHELL: The audacity of hypocrisy
  • LETTERS: Mayor doesn't deserve to be labeled a 'racist'
  • LETTERS: Death of Yucca Mountain not worth a news release?
  • LETTERS: Suspend sports, reorganize district to save money
  • EDITORIAL: Hiking permits
  • LETTERS: Yucca Mountain presents an opportunity




    • "I appreciate the fact that we are going to eliminate the pay raise," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas. "We should not be getting a raise in a time like this."

    Indeed. But regardless of whether we're in tough economic times or not, it's an insult to all Americans to argue that members of Congress need a "cost of living" raise every year in order to be able to afford milk or orange juice at the corner market.

    And it's even more of an insult that Congress has set up a system under which annual pay hikes kick in automatically, shielding our senators and representatives from ever having to go on the record in support of raising their own pay -- in blatant violation of the 27th Amendment.

    Wednesday's move was just and proper. But if members of Congress really want to make a statement, they will repeal the 1989 law greasing the automatic COLAs and hold an open debate and vote every time they think they deserve more money.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 16 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Carmen wrote on June 22, 2009 07:19 AM: You want to freeze our pay increase but meanwhile you are inceasing everything around us, e.g., taxes, transportation, bridges, food, water, electricity, If you freeze our increase, how will we pay everything that you are increasing around us? Stop increasing everything above and I am sure that people wouldn't mind not receiving an increase for one year. If not, you will have more people that cannot pay their rent, bills, etc and going on Welfare or Homeless.


    Tackle1 wrote on February 27, 2009 04:23 PM: The Federal Reserve is comprised of 12 Federal Reserve Banks. Each Bank is governed by its own Board of Directors. The Federal Reserve Act, passed by Congress, created the Federal Reserve System. So although it technically is not part of the federal government, it was created by an act of Congress and is funded, almost entirely, on the interest it accrues from the Treasury securities that it maintains on its balance sheet.

    Technically, Federal Reserve Banks are private but in reality they're instruments of the Federal government funded by U.S. taxpayers through the interest payments made on the US debt not owned by private investors.


    Kent wrote on February 27, 2009 02:13 PM: I do not believe how many times I have to write this, but here I go again: READ THE ARTICLE FIRST! t wants everyone to email Sen. Reid and ask him how he voted on this pay cut suspension. Clearly, only the House voted on this matter. It might also help to learn the structure of the three branches of government.


    Patch wrote on February 27, 2009 02:04 PM: I don't care how much a goverment worker makes while they are working. But after they retire, they should not hold the tax payer responsible for their retirement money, and their medical coverage. When a person does not work, and lives off other working pesons' taxes, that is just another form of welfare. Patch


    Shawn wrote on February 27, 2009 12:40 PM: How about each Congressman, Senator and state legislator take a pay cut equal to the unemployment in their state?


    HELENWEILS wrote on February 27, 2009 09:26 AM: But Nancy Peeloser still has her big jet to fly her family around in.


    Rothschild wrote on February 27, 2009 09:22 AM: Let me issue and control a Nation's money and I care not who makes its laws.


    the federal reserve is not a government agency, it is a private corporation wrote on February 27, 2009 08:47 AM:
    http://www.5min.com/Video/How-the-Federal-Reserve-Created-the-US-Recession-39529721


    98% CORRUPT wrote on February 27, 2009 08:38 AM: We have the most CORRUPT government in our history. It's been bad before, many times, but today is the superfluous of corruption. Government and the Federal Reserve have created ALL economic crises this country has been through. Government perpetuates the crises and now we have a President who really has no clue at all about the realities of the American situation. The first thing this corrupt government must do is to ABOLISH all wage taxes. This provides instant economic stimulation and the added benefit is getting the corrupt politician out of your pocket and off your back. Refuse to be an O-bambi Tax Slave. Never forget he IS coming after your wallet, no matter what your "income" level.


    Wayne wrote on February 27, 2009 08:35 AM: "We have the best politicians money can buy." Will Rogers, humorist


    Read All Comments