House Democrats apparently believe all of their hard work chasing impeachment, collusion and obstruction claims against President Donald Trump deserve a reward.

Tone-deaf Congressional Democrats are now proposing a pay raise for themselves, lifting a nearly decade-long pay freeze that would effectively give them an extra $4,500 next year, according to The Hill.

Cost-of-living pay increases were guaranteed by a 1989 federal ethics law which was suspended by a Democratic-controlled Congress back in 2009 when salaries were at about $174,000. But now, with the House poised to vote next week on a $1 trillion spending package, 2020 funding bills could give lawmakers their first bump in salary in a decade.

The legislation would, for the first time since 2009, not include language that blocks an annual cost-of-living salary increase.

“An automatic cost of living adjustment for members of Congress is already included in federal law. There is strong bipartisan support for these modest inflation adjustments, and the Appropriations Committee is not including a provision to block the [cost-of-living adjustment] in fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills,” Evan Hollander, a spokesperson for the House Appropriations Committee, said.

“If members want to alter or eliminate the COLA, they should do so through the authorizing process — not appropriations bills,” he added.

According to The Hill:

Rank-and-file members of Congress earn $174,000 annually, while members of leadership earn more. The Speaker makes the highest salary at $223,500 while the majority and minority leaders earn $193,400. The Congressional Research Service estimated that the 2018 salary level for rank-and-file members of Congress would be $208,000 if they had received the annual cost-of-living increases. The maximum lawmaker pay adjustment for January 2020, as established under a 1989 ethics law, is 2.6 percent, or $4,500. House Democrats have also proposed giving federal workers a 3.1 percent pay raise.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, currently serving in his 20th term in Congress, is behind the pay adjustment which he clarified was not a raise, citing the cost of housing in the District of Columbia.

“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 told reporters Tuesday, according to Roll Call. “The salary that we receive is a decent salary — there’s no doubt about that. But one problem is that under the law, employees are capped. They can’t go above members of Congress. What you’ve got to understand … is that’s not only having an effect on members of Congress, it’s compressing salary structure.”

Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke out about raises for lawmakers last week and the unpopularity of the idea which then gives rise to “loopholes” in the system.

Keeping it real, the ? in the room w/ passing a lobbying ban on members requires a nearly-impossible discussion about Congressional pay. It is understandably unpopular to discuss giving Congress any raises or perks – & bc of that, there’s incentive to keep $ loopholes open. /2 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019

For ex, members of Congress have strict restrictions that most of the public don’t have. 1 case: bc of our jobs we *have* to have 2 residences & pay for it out of pocket. BUT we‘re banned from writing it off as a work expense. Boo hoo, right? Well, that incentivizes loopholes. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019

She also suggested the idea of “Congressional dorms” to offset the cost of housing.

Some people have brought up Congressional dorms – certainly a possibility. This does happen informally; lots of members live in the same building/apt. Key to any solution (dorm, stipend, w/e) is compatibility w family/spouse- many work overtime, unrecognized, to support members. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019

While Hoyer did not thank President Trump for a booming economy, he did note that the improved national picture may make the increase in lawmakers’ pay more acceptable.

“I think when times are bad, then members of Congress ought to as well. But, in times when it’s not, I think of cost of living adjustment…was a reasonable thing to do,” Hoyer said, adding however, “I don’t think there’s ever a time when people think it’s very good politically to do.”

But the idea will almost certainly run into opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby already made it clear he is not board.

“I think the American people would think that Congress ought to earn it first,” the Alabama Republican said earlier this week.

Sen. Ben Sasse unloaded a more blistering take on the idea in a statement on Tuesday.

“Instead of writing a budget or reforming our bankrupt entitlement programs, House Democrats are angling for a pay raise. These jokers couldn’t hold down a summer job at Dairy Queen pulling this kinda crap,” the Nebraska Republican said.

“These jokers couldn’t hold down a summer job at Dairy Queen.” – Senator Ben Sasse slams Congressional Democrats for asking for a pay raise. pic.twitter.com/SBDQw0cirQ — Fox & Friends First (@FoxFriendsFirst) June 5, 2019

Tennessee Rep. Mark Green echoed the sentiments as did South Carolina’s Rep. Ralph Norman and others.

Congress doesn’t need a pay raise at all. What has this Democrat-led House done other than pursue endless investigations into the president and draft kiddish legislation like the Green New Deal? Nothing. https://t.co/rKpGWYpbHp — Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) June 6, 2019

In a sane world, our salaries would be slashed — severely — until we secured the border and balanced the budget. This is a horrible idea.https://t.co/svbHtMWyJa — Rep. Ralph Norman (@RepRalphNorman) June 5, 2019

Our national debt just hit $22 trillion for the first time ever. I’ve got a job to do in Congress and it doesn’t include increasing my own pay. I just introduced an amendment to stop this and I’ll fight like tooth and nail to make sure it doesn’t happen. https://t.co/3GfZ54ZezQ — Rep. Joe Cunningham (@RepCunningham) June 7, 2019

Congress does not deserve a raise, period. It’s time for Congress to get serious and focus on solving real problems like lowering health care costs, supporting family farmers, and rebuilding our roads and bridges. That is the work we were sent to Washington to do. https://t.co/OirdNYpwva — Rep. Anthony Brindisi (@RepBrindisi) June 7, 2019

Instead of solving real issues for Americans, Democrats are focused on raising their own pay. They want MORE pay while proposing radical ideas (Green New Deal & Medicare-for-All) that will force Americans to get paid LESS. DC dysfunction at its finest. https://t.co/iFPljkDXJj — Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 5, 2019

The amazing lack of self-awareness by Democrats even proposing the idea was fodder for mockery on Twitter.

Congress wants a pay raise pic.twitter.com/DCbHiZoHLn — Dan Bongino (@dbongino) June 5, 2019

For what? These idiots wasted $35 million on a Russian collusion case the created. What they should do is pay for the $35 million outta their paychecks. https://t.co/erF4jiGR6n — Homer (@Fatkid27SJ) June 5, 2019

Can military get a $4,500 pay raise too https://t.co/AlVskqo1hA — sam ? (@sam17962027) June 7, 2019

A pay raise is about the last thing anybody in Washington deserves. https://t.co/MOcS7npZfp — Heath Mayo (@HeathMayo) June 5, 2019

They don’t need a pay raise, they need a pay cut! https://t.co/42ISRnmj4c — Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) June 5, 2019

The #LeftUnhinged Democrat Party wants to grow the Swamp and give Congress a pay-raise with Americans hard-earned tax dollars. Congress is already dysfunctional! This is Despicable! #ampFW https://t.co/LaR8wUZQa0 — FreedomWorks (@FreedomWorks) June 4, 2019