Why would Congress feel that they deserve a $3,400 per year "cost-of living" raise?

Question

(they already make roughly $155,000) ,yet not find it necessary to increase the minimum wage (At $5.15 per hour, a worker who works 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,712 per year)?
http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/agencies/a/raise4congress.htm
http://www.al.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-9/1150228460173230.xml&storylist=washington
"The minimum wage is lower than it has been at any time since 1956," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "Congress' refusal to raise the minimum wage shows an utter disrespect for millions of Americans who work hard every day and still struggle to meet even the most basic needs."

wtrbryvtfire, uh, no.

Answer 1

Because EVERYONE thinks they deserve a $3,400 cost of living raise. They're just the only ones who can make it happen.

Answer 2

Comparing the wages of Congress and the minimum wage is a red herring. Here is why.

The Tenth Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Only states can set the minimum wage. Congress cannot do that. They never have and they never will. It would be unconstitutional for them to do that.

I live in a state with one of the highest minimum wages in the country. $8.00 per hr. But the cost of living is higher here than anywhere else in the country except for Connecticut and Washington D.C. Which is probably why Congress voted themselves a cost of living raise.

Answer 3

they are worried that minority workers would be paid the same as the rest of america including the illegals what 20,000,000. workers from mexico and new laws to give them rights . a true increase in minimum wage would result in the rich paying out at $1.00 dollar an hour over 20,000,000 dollars an hour and 160,000,000 million a day thats 800,000,000 million a week and 5,000,000,000 billion annualy and who wants to give mexico 5,000,000,000.00 a year cause they would just send it home right. see you have to look at in the right way like republicans do .be happy with your job and pay your rent and eat and enjoy life republicans try to keep whites better paid then minoritys so you do not have to live around them .the same job i do mexicans are paid a third of what i make.if that.
YOU realy have to ask a silly question most government employes get 'cost of living raises' this keeps all the governments workers voting for them without republicans in office all government workers suffer.and that is over one third of all workers so the raise in pay is just there way of remaining as one of the people get that they want to appear to be like everyone else when we all know they are not but the people who vote for them beleive inwhats fair is fair and they need raises too.

Answer 4

I agree, no pay raise!!

I just called my 2 Senators in opposition and congressman.

I also called Cong Howard McKeon

His number is 202 225 1956

Answer 5

must be Bush's fault? The libbies blame everything else on him. But, isn't the Congress controlled by the Democrats?

Answer 6

They don't have to feel they deserve it. If you could set your own wages you would do the same thing. I've never met anyone who says they get paid too much

Answer 7

It is very expensive to live in Washington, DC.

Answer 8

why not?why did bush feel the rich needed another big tax break?

Answer 9

They did it the old fashioned way they earned it.

Answer 10

it was due to there last beer party. it coast to much we the [public has to pay for the overexspending