When did serving in congress become a career anyway?

Auto pay raises are outrageous. Aren’t there also lifetime benefits and pensions?

In the big picture the amount is trivial but VERY symbolic of the mindset of entitlement and do what I say, not what I do mentality among our ElectedElite.

Obama should work for $1 a year to instill some confidence by walking a little of his talk. He’s going to make $100s of millions after his gig anyway.

The thought of Harry Reid makes me feel physically ill.

Keep up the good work and please urge your colleagues to remember what conservatism is when you get back in the majority as well.

Good luck with that Senator. You may even succeed. I am happy to see that on occasion our guys can even work with [some] Democrats to subvert the left’s larger agendas.

I hope your common sense amendment passes Senator Vitter. I’ll be watching closely.

I also hope that Senator Sessions’ 5-year E-Verify amendment passes. As you know, this is a great way to protect American workers — especially with the terrible unemployment numbers that came out today.

Also, thank you for protecting American workers by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Good luck in 2010 and I’ll be supporting you.

Rather than have us repeat them…. one such Diary I suggest is (current): Jeff Emanuel: [Republican] Leaders Reach Across Aisle Pledge To Support Obama IF He Will Attempt To Fulfill Promises Of Responsibility … while it says “HOUSE” it relates to Republicans regardless of Office or even if they are just Conservative Pundits.

At least someone is trying to mind the till.
I think pay raises should be voted on by the taxpayers during every Presidential election.
If the Senate is doing a good job being the steward of the nation’s treasury then it should be no problem.
I also think it might be a nice symbolic gesture if legislators actually took a pay cut in the spirit of all this sacrifice that our new President wants so much for all of us to share.
It would sort of make me feel like we are all in this together and I’m not just one of the serfs serving my king.

Here is another thought. Introduce an amendment that repeals only Republican earmarks. This would show that the call by many Republicans to eliminate earmarks is not only genuine as opposed to political theatre, but that R’s are so genuine in their concern over reckless spending that they are willing to sacrifice their pet projects even with the knowledge that they do not have the power to get a quid pro quo from the D’s.

If Dems vote down the amendment or keep it from debate, they are simply protecting their ego’s and should get hammered for it. If they vote for it and keep their own earmarks, then it hurts them immeasurably, it hurts President Obama and suddenly Senate Republican’s have integrity, humility, and will have taken the first real step to helping America since Obama took office, as they would be doing what Obama pretended he was going to do.

Of course, Republican’s would actually have to give up their earmarks.

you might want to consider letting this one slide. Having a little extra pocket money might help you hire some better call girls next time…. Woo for the party of family values, … and Prostitution.

Let’s see. David Vitter didn’t mention how he was going to slay the “massive omnibus spending bill” by removing earmarks. Or just earmarks. Might that be because he’s Number 6 on the list of senators who sponsor, solo or with others, earmarks? Let’s see, ‘ol Sen. Vitter wants to spend $249 M (142 earmarks) with his friends and $ 4 million (16 earmarks) on his own. Go here for the facts:

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=2049&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS

To paraphrase Paul Begala, if memory serves, about Bill Clinton’s use of executive orders, “Stroke of a pen. Spend millions of dollars of other people’s money for special interests. Pretty cool.”

Pretty disgusting, and pretty much another example of how our “conservative” Republicans in Congress cede the moral high ground (except for Tom Coburn, John McCain and Jim DeMint on this issue, and kudos to them).

I wish Vitter would hold himself to the standards set by Coburn, McCain and DeMint as to earmarks. Along with the rest of the Republican members of Congress. Talk about a pipe dream.

(in a Harry met Sally tone). I’ve always wondered about the overfocus on earmarks. Yeah waste sucks, period, but earmarks just give a particular states congresscritter control over where the waste goes rather than that states leg and governor. We have to stop fighting over minor crap and face the real issues

(in a Harry met Sally tone). I’ve always wondered about the overfocus on earmarks. Yeah waste sucks, period, but earmarks just give a particular states congresscritter control over where the waste goes rather than that states leg and governor. We have to stop fighting over minor crap and face the real issues

Members of Congress shouldn’t be paid at all. It should be a part-time civic duty commitment. Let them all have full-time real jobs (like running a damn business!) that pay for their lifestyles and ruin the country on the side.