House Democrats believe that those in Congress deserve a raise of $4,500 to make the base pay $174,000.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer acknowledged the pay raise will face opposition by the Republican-controlled Senate, which led him to admit that America has a strong economy under President Donald Trump.

Shocking, right? From Bloomberg:

He said that while he supported congressional belt-tightening during the recession, the strong economy helps make the case for an increase now. “I don’t think there’s ever a time when people think it’s very good politically to do,” he said. “In this present climate, where the president says we have one of the best economies in the entire history of the world, I don’t know.”

I guess when the Democrats want something they will admit that the economy has grown stronger under Trump.

Hoyer wants a pay raise in Congress due to the cost of living in Washington, DC. I have an idea! How about limiting time in DC and not making politics a career so you don’t have to stay very long.

Anyway, Congress has not received a pay raise since 2010 because the Democrat-majority House “decided it was politically prudent for lawmakers to agree to live through the 2010 election year without any change in their $174,000 annual salaries.”

Roll Call reported:

House appropriators released their Financial Services fiscal 2020 spending bill earlier this week, striking a provision that blocked members or Congress from receiving an increase in pay that Republicans included in previous Legislative Branch spending bills. The salary for rank-and-file House and Senate lawmakers is $174,000, but those with official leadership titles and responsibilities make more. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, whose leadership title brings his income up to $193,400, said he supports the move. “That was taken to court; the court ruled it was not a pay raise, it was an adjustment on an annual basis for inflation,” the Maryland Democrat said Tuesday during a pen-and-pad briefing with reporters. Hoyer said that if it was, in fact, a pay raise, it would not be able to take effect until the next Congress. He cited the cost of housing in the District of Columbia as well as provisions that prevent staff from earning more than a member as two reasons to allow the pay increase to move forward.

Hoyer admitted that Congress receives “a decent salary.” He also said the pay raise would help Congressional members raise salaries within their offices.

Senate Republicans have already voiced opposition to the pay raise. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said he believes the American people “would think that Congress ought to earn it first.”

Republican Sen. John Kennedy (LA) chairs the Appropriations Financial Services subcommittee admitted the legislation would not likely pass if the Senate brings it to a vote.

I agree with Shelby. If they polled me, I would say no. But you all know how I feel about the government!

Plus, aren’t quite a few of these Congressional members independently wealthy without their Congressional salary? The latest stats for this comes from 2018. I noticed a few that do not have a lot of money, but man. Of those that still serve in Congress, I found a lot that are worth enough that they do not need a raise.

Dig into your own pockets to pay your staff.



