Obama Orders Pay Raise For Congress, Federal Workers, Joe Biden

[Ridge]

President Barack Obama gave a New Year's gift to returning members of Congress, federal workers and Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, signing an executive order calling for an end to a years-long pay freeze.

As of March 27, 2013, federal employees will see a half-percent to one percent pay increase, marking the end of a pay freeze that has been in place since late 2010. Congress hasn't seen a pay raise since 2009.

According to the order, Biden's pay will increase from $225,521 to $231,900 a year, before taxes. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will see his salary increased to $224,500 and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will take home an annual pay of $194,400 after his raise.

While Obama's order made no mention of merit for such a raise, HuffPost's Amanda Terkel reported on Friday that the 112th Congress is set to end the session as the most unproductive since the 1940s, with only 219 bills passed by the body becoming law. The raise won't take place until the 113th Congress, meaning that outgoing members will see no effect from the order.

Obama ordered the raise as he continues to negotiate unsuccessfully with congressional leaders to find a deal in order to avoid the fiscal cliff at the end of the year. If no agreement is met, over $500 billion in planned tax increases and spending cuts will be implemented.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...p_ref=politics

[blacklabel]

While Obama's order made no mention of merit for such a raise, HuffPost's Amanda Terkel reported on Friday that the 112th Congress is set to end the session as the most unproductive since the 1940s, with only 219 bills passed by the body becoming law.

How do we get that to zero laws being passed?

[Sharpienads]

How do we get that to zero laws being passed?

Yeah, no sh*t. Unless they are laws repealing other laws.

Where does POTUS get the authority to give congress a pay raise?

[Troublco]

I don't quite understand the correlation between number of laws passed and productivity. Simply creating new laws doesn't necessarily equate to progress.

Hell, with our lawmakers, I'd say it's the other way.

[stevelkinevil]

The gall these people have at a time when this country is well and truly financially screwed to give themselves a raise? repulsive.

[patrick0685]

i know it wont be a popular option, but most of the federal workers dont make what the ass clowns in congress make.

[Kraven251]

This disgusts me on a level that I didn't think possible. I think that federal workers deserve an option for a raise, while I don't think the Congress deserves a damn thing. If anything they need to be giving something back. As for the VP...wtf.

As well how can executive order give a pay raise to Congress, I am rusty on the Constitution in that regard, but I thought that was something that had to be voted on.

[hammer03]

I think the EO was just lifting the raise freeze. That's what I got out of it anyway.


I do think Congress should be making something around the national average wage, or the average income in their home district, something like that. Most of them are already well-to-do, they don't need several hundred thousand dollars a year in pay...

[Kraven251]

I think the EO was just lifting the raise freeze. That's what I got out of it anyway.


I do think Congress should be making something around the national average wage, or the average income in their home district, something like that. Most of them are already well-to-do, they don't need several hundred thousand dollars a year in pay...

That isn't the half of it, the retirement package and the insurance for them and their spouse ...look that up, it will make you want to puke.

[Ah Pook]

Wow! A whole .05%. The govt. workers probably deserve it. The VP and Congress, not so much.