Republicans blocked the normally smooth process towards Congress granting itself its annual cost-of-living increase yesterday, a move that will certainly not sadden taxpayers but will leave Representatives around $2800 lighter. The GOP ended the amicable understanding between the two parties that discouraged any challenges to COLA increases after the Democrats violated an agreement between them not to use the COLAs for the basis of political attacks:

House Democratic leaders Monday abandoned attempts to revive an annual pay raise cherished by rank and file lawmakers, a decision prompted by lingering GOP anger over last year's campaign.

Lawmakers' pay will be frozen at $165,200 for this year in a dispute fueled by the Democrats' use of the issue in last year's campaign, violating a yearslong understanding that the competing parties would not attack each other over pay raises.

At issue is the annual congressional cost of living adjustment, or COLA, under which lawmakers automatically get a pay hike unless Congress votes to block it. Democratic and Republican leaders had worked cozily for years to make sure an annual pay-related vote went smoothly.

After the last increase got approved in June for this session of Congress -- a session cannot increase its current wages -- the Democrats used the COLAs in attack ads for the midterms, scolding the Republicans for making adjustments to the cost of living while leaving the federal minimum wage alone. The argument failed to note the participation of Democratic leadership in those agreements, leaving the Republicans holding the bag for the COLAs.

In December, while still in the majority, they pushed back the new COLA, making it impossible for the Democrats to avoid responsibility for the increase. The Democrats wanted to push the COLA back a few more weeks out, in order to get the minimum-wage hike approved before Congress got its raise, but the GOP blocked that effort -- and have announced that they will not support any more increases in the Congressional wage. Without bipartisan support, the Democrats will have to drop the COLA.

None of this makes me unhappy, and I suspect many CQ readers will feel the same way. Our Representatives already make $165,000 a year, and Congressional officers make a little more than that. That's more than double the average wage of the American family, and it doesn't require adjustment to attract plenty of candidates for the jobs. Congress can stand to live within fixed means for a while, and perhaps it will inspire them to impose the same experience on the rest of the federal government.

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» 2007 Congressional COLA from Moonage Political Webdream
During the 2006 races, the Democrat National Committee ran advertisements criticizing the Republican Party for allowing annual cost of living adjustments to take effect. When in fact, most of the Democrats cherised, and voted for, COLA as well. Payback... [Read More]

Tracked on January 30, 2007 8:46 AM

» 2007 Congressional COLA from Moonage Political Webdream
During the 2006 races, the Democrat National Committee ran advertisements criticizing the Republican Party for allowing annual cost of living adjustments to take effect. When in fact, most of the Democrats cherised, and voted for, COLA as well. Payback... [Read More]

Tracked on January 30, 2007 8:48 AM

» Can You Imagine? from Hard Starboard
I think the Republicans should start playing hardball, just like the Democrats would. After the repeated smarmy business dealings revealed about Harry Reid, they should be calling for his head, just as the Democrats would were he a Republican. And th... [Read More]

Tracked on January 30, 2007 12:44 PM