June 28, 2007

Surprise! Bipartisan Consensus!

Pundits constantly remind us that American politics is more polarized than ever. The politicians of both parties increasingly resort to hard-line negotiating tactics rather than attempt to find common ground for agreement on behalf of the American people. Anger and bitterness, usually blamed on bloggers and talk radio, keep the two tribes of Washington politics from conducting positive work on public policy.

Poppycock, says I. Rubbish! Our boys and girls in Washington can come to bipartisan consensus ... when it benefits themselves:

Despite low approval ratings and hard feelings from last year's elections, Democrats and Republicans in the House are reaching out for an approximately $4,400 pay raise that would increase their salaries to almost $170,000.

The cost-of-living raise endorsed Wednesday evening gets lawmakers back on track for automatic pay raises after a fight between the parties last year and again in January killed the pay increase due this year. That was the first interruption of the annual congressional pay boost in seven years.

The blowup came after Democrats last year fulfilled a campaign promise to deny themselves more pay until Congress raised the minimum wage. Delays in the minimum wage bill cost every lawmaker about $3,100 this year.

On a 244-181 vote Wednesday, Democrats and Republicans alike killed a bid by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Lee Terry, R-Neb., to get a direct vote to block the COLA, which is automatically awarded unless lawmakers vote to block it. The Senate has not indicated when it will deal with a similar measure.

How about that for a bipartisan consensus? Congress managed to come together to ensure positive public policy for the American people -- well, okay, 535 of them, but they're still Americans, right?

They're going to get their 2.6% cost-of-living adjusment. Coincidentally, that may also be their approval rating by the end of this session.

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Comments (5)

Posted by Lew | June 28, 2007 8:41 AM

They still manage to hold on desperately to the archaic notion that going to Washington takes them out of our sight. Its amazing, simply amazing.

In an increasingly transparent world, they still think there is such a thing as "behind closed doors".

Posted by Scott Malensek | June 28, 2007 9:23 AM

Disgusting.

The Do-nothing Congress of 2007 believes it's done enough to get another $4400 a year.

Man, this ticks me off to no end.

Posted by Anthony (Los Angeles) | June 28, 2007 9:57 AM

Delays in the minimum wage bill cost every lawmaker about $3,100 this year.

Aw, poor babies!

Posted by ERNurse | June 28, 2007 11:36 PM

"They still manage to hold on desperately to the archaic notion that going to Washington takes them out of our sight."

Piaget called it "preoperational egocentrism." The basic premise is that the infant at that stage of development believes that if he cannot see you, you must not be able to see him.

Congress ignores the American people. They shut their eyes tightly, clap their hands over their ears and scream, "La la la! You aren't there!"

Well, we are here. And we are watching and listening.

Congress, thy name is Mud.

Posted by Cd | June 29, 2007 8:59 AM

This is fiscal irresponsibility in its highest form given the MULTI-BILLION dollar war raging. Congress led us into this quagmire without doing an adequate, independent investigation, blindly relying on known liars. Congress gets payed plenty more than most of Americans, who work harder. No more pay to Congress until the war is OVER, OVER.