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Ann Kirkpatrick calls for Congressional pay cut

jamesrage

jamesrage

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I hope she is successful.5% is better that nothing. I already emailed my congressman asking him to support it.


Ann Kirkpatrick calls for Congressional pay cut - Phoenix Business Journal:

U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., says Congress should cut its pay. Her bill calls for the first cut to congressional salaries since 1933 when the U.S. economy was in the Great Depression.

“The leadership of both parties have ignored the voices of the people for decades. Now we are facing some of the most difficult economic times in generations, and I am sending a message to Washington politicians that the people have had enough,” said Kirkpatrick. “When Congress was working to end the Great Depression, they cut their salaries – why haven’t we taken that same basic step.”

Kirkpatrick’s bill would impose a 5 percent or $8,700 cut to the $174,000 annual salaries of U.S. House and Senate members. Congress did not give itself a $4,700 cost of living raise last year, but is considering a raise this year.
 
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jamesrage said:
I hope she is successful.5% is better that nothing. I already emailed my congressman asking him to support it.


Ann Kirkpatrick calls for Congressional pay cut - Phoenix Business Journal:

U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., says Congress should cut its pay. Her bill calls for the first cut to congressional salaries since 1933 when the U.S. economy was in the Great Depression.

“The leadership of both parties have ignored the voices of the people for decades. Now we are facing some of the most difficult economic times in generations, and I am sending a message to Washington politicians that the people have had enough,” said Kirkpatrick. “When Congress was working to end the Great Depression, they cut their salaries – why haven’t we taken that same basic step.”

Kirkpatrick’s bill would impose a 5 percent or $8,700 cut to the $174,000 annual salaries of U.S. House and Senate members. Congress did not give itself a $4,700 cost of living raise last year, but is considering a raise this year.
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I agree. I also agree with Scott Brown's recommendation that federal employees do NOT get a raise next year. Difficult times calls for no pay raises.
 
This is the second story I have read today where it looks like everyone can come together and support something. It is a lovely reminder that people from both sides can come together as one every once and while.
 
The paycuts should be permanent and form the baseline for next year's pay cuts. Congressional pay should be cut by 5% each year the Misery Index is greater than 8.0.

An indidivual Congressman's pay should be cut when unemployment in his district increases during his term.

Pay for Performance, a stinking evil Capitalist idea.

Edit: Also, one of the arguments in favor of such huge Congressional paychecks is that "well, gee, the Honorable Gentleman has to carry the costs of keeping two residences, on in his home district and on in Washington DC.

So clearly the federal government has to stop destroying old housing projects in the DC area and assigning one of them to the Congressmen, who can then chose to live under one of the fine laws they've passed. Then we cut their pay, and if they wish to maintain a different residence in the DC area, they can use their own money, just like everyone else who has a job and maintains two homes.

And...since participation in government was supposed to be a temporary matter, after which the citizen statesman went home to resume his business, there should be NO pensions for elected officials.
 
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i actually could entertain something like this.
 
jamesrage said:
I hope she is successful.5% is better that nothing. I already emailed my congressman asking him to support it.


Ann Kirkpatrick calls for Congressional pay cut - Phoenix Business Journal:

U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., says Congress should cut its pay. Her bill calls for the first cut to congressional salaries since 1933 when the U.S. economy was in the Great Depression.

“The leadership of both parties have ignored the voices of the people for decades. Now we are facing some of the most difficult economic times in generations, and I am sending a message to Washington politicians that the people have had enough,” said Kirkpatrick. “When Congress was working to end the Great Depression, they cut their salaries – why haven’t we taken that same basic step.”

Kirkpatrick’s bill would impose a 5 percent or $8,700 cut to the $174,000 annual salaries of U.S. House and Senate members. Congress did not give itself a $4,700 cost of living raise last year, but is considering a raise this year.
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i haven't had a raise in 2 years, and i'm not responsible for the state of the economy.
 
I'll take Congressmen obeying the Constitution, showing integrity for their jobs, and the installation of true oversight well before any pay cut. Pay cuts are superficial things which won't save us money and since most people in Congress are rich; doesn't really matter to them anyway.
 
Ikari said:
I'll take Congressmen obeying the Constitution, showing integrity for their jobs, and the installation of true oversight well before any pay cut. Pay cuts are superficial things which won't save us money and since most people in Congress are rich; doesn't really matter to them anyway.
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If that is true then they all should be on board for a pay cut and quit voting themselves pay raises.
 
Ikari said:
I'll take Congressmen obeying the Constitution, showing integrity for their jobs, and the installation of true oversight well before any pay cut. Pay cuts are superficial things which won't save us money and since most people in Congress are rich; doesn't really matter to them anyway.
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$8700 times 435 Congress things adds up to 3.8 million dollars.

Over a two year congressional term, that's $7.6 million.

Take what savings you can get, then push harder for more.

Cut enough of a Congressman's salary, and he'll start cutting government programs.
 
I thought Kirkpatrick was dead. How disappointing.
 
Scarecrow Akhbar said:
$8700 times 435 Congress things adds up to 3.8 million dollars.

Over a two year congressional term, that's $7.6 million.

Take what savings you can get, then push harder for more.

Cut enough of a Congressman's salary, and he'll start cutting government programs.
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Pfft, 7.6 million over 2 years. That's not even noticeable on our budget or debt. Let me know when you get to at least 100 billion, then we're starting to have a 1% or so effect.
 
Ikari said:
Pfft, 7.6 million over 2 years. That's not even noticeable on our budget or debt. Let me know when you get to at least 100 billion, then we're starting to have a 1% or so effect.
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I am sure that the total pay of all the politicians in office is chump change compared to the budget, But 7.6 million dollars is still a lot of money
 
jamesrage said:
I am sure that the total pay of all the politicians in office is chump change compared to the budget, But 7.6 million dollars is still a lot of money
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It's a lot of money to us normal folk. But it doesn't do anything on the scale of our GDP or debt.
 
soccerboy22 said:
This is the second story I have read today where it looks like everyone can come together and support something. It is a lovely reminder that people from both sides can come together as one every once and while.
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Yes, really it is, except for Congress - I wonder if both sides there will really come together on this? :lol:
 
Ikari said:
It's a lot of money to us normal folk. But it doesn't do anything on the scale of our GDP or debt.
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It is still $7.6 million less.Seems only reasonable that if cuts are being made then so should their salaries be cut as well.
 
Dream on, asking a Politician to raise his/her snout from the public trough!

Aint gonna happen.
 
jamesrage said:
It is still $7.6 million less.Seems only reasonable that if cuts are being made then so should their salaries be cut as well.
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While that part may seem reasonable, it's still not even a drop in the bucked. It's maybe a few water molecules in the bucket.
 
Ikari said:
While that part may seem reasonable, it's still not even a drop in the bucked. It's maybe a few water molecules in the bucket.
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I agree....
What they EARN ( or get paid by the taxpayer, earn is a stretch) is only a drop in the bucket, it is what they STEAL that is the bigger issue....
 
jamesrage said:
I hope she is successful.5% is better that nothing. I already emailed my congressman asking him to support it.
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it only seems fair that congress should be impacted by the same conditions facing everyone else right now...
 
jujuman13 said:
Dream on, asking a Politician to raise his/her snout from the public trough!

Aint gonna happen.
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By proposing them, though, she puts them in the position of looking even more obviously greedy than they already do, or taking the same cost-saving measures that some of their constituents are. It becomes a matter of principle, and an ethical test.
 
Ikari said:
While that part may seem reasonable, it's still not even a drop in the bucked. It's maybe a few water molecules in the bucket.
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Just because it is few molecules in a bucket of water does not mean I want it wasted or that somehow it is not significant.Those few molecules can go to fund something else or go towards paying off the debt. Should money be wasted just because it is a drop in the bucket,should people get tax payer money to study cockroaches,cocaine in monkeys, gays in south American bars , why balls sometimes itch for no reason or some other frivolous project?
 
There is nothing whatever frivolous about itchy balls, as anyone who possesses a pair will tell you.
 
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Is Kirkpatrick the congresswoman that is nicknamed "The Desert Rose"?


Ikari said:
I'll take Congressmen obeying the Constitution, showing integrity for their jobs, and the installation of true oversight well before any pay cut. Pay cuts are superficial things which won't save us money and since most people in Congress are rich; doesn't really matter to them anyway.
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NYC's Bloomberg only takes $1 in pay since he still is major share holder of Bloomberg media.
 
jamesrage said:
Just because it is few molecules in a bucket of water does not mean I want it wasted or that somehow it is not significant.Those few molecules can go to fund something else or go towards paying off the debt. Should money be wasted just because it is a drop in the bucket,should people get tax payer money to study cockroaches,cocaine in monkeys, gays in south American bars , why balls sometimes itch for no reason or some other frivolous project?
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You're not even going to make a noticeable scratch in the deficit with 7 million dollars. Government is on a completely different scale than individuals are. I would rather focus on things which can make a bigger impact before I worry about 7 million dollars over 2 years.
 
soccerboy22 said:
it looks like everyone can come together and support something.
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Probably the whole nation can get behind this. Let's see.. 99% of voters vs. congress. I wonder who will win?

:taxpayer_grabbing_ankles:
 
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