Why can Congress raise their own pay?

Question

Shouldn't their boss be the one who gives them a pay raise? Our boss gives us a pay raise, so it doesn't make sense that they can raise their own pay when the average worker can not. Since, by the constitution, the people elect them, thus like the boss, shouldn't the people be allowed to choose their pay?

Answer 1

It DOES say in the U.S. Constitution that Congress cannot raise THEIR OWN pay! Specifically, it says (the 27th Amendment) that when Congress has passed a bill to raise their own compensation for their services, the compensation cannot take effect until after an intervening election. In other words, the members of THIS Congress (the 109th Congress elected in 2004) can vote to raise the pay of the members of the NEXT Congress (the 110th Congress who will be elected next month).

Of course, a very large number of the members of this Congress will be re-elected, but you can do something to any Congressman who votes for a pay raise and then runs for re-election. You can vote to deny them re-election!

Answer 2

They don't raise their own pay. A previous Republican Congress decided the best way to handle pay raises was to have them automatically take effect every new Congress. We've let government become not by the people or for the people. They're for the Corporations.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, it is not written in the Constitution because the Founding Fathers believed Congress wouldn't SCREW OVER THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

We should be the ones who give out pay raises to Congress, but Congress would rewrite the law anyway...

Answer 4

It's a misnomer. It wasn't a raise. It was a cost of living increase.

Many employers SHOULD give cost of living increases to their staff in addition to raises based on performance, but they don't because the Republican Party has been too busy ensuring that many of our jobs are outsourced overseas to save corporations big money. Those employers no longer have a workforce that would fight for such things... their new workforce consists of 30 illegal Hispanics living in the same house using the same social security number, who are willing to work for $2.00/hr. under the table.

Go figure.

Answer 5

You are the boss. Fire them. But be careful which ones you fire. Some want more taxes from you. Some think we can crawl into our own little shells.

And since YOU are the BOSS, better get with your fellow bosses and get educated REALLY QUICK.

'Cuz you da man!
(or da Woman!)

Answer 6

Because, for many of our congressmen, if pay raises were based on merit, they would barely rate receiving minimum wage.

Answer 7

Yep.. Your right.. The fastest bill ever to pass in congress.. Yup.. When they gave themselves a raise..

Answer 8

They are the holy chosen ones.

Guided by god.

naw.....because they suck. Out of control.

Raises for themselves but "conservative values" for everyone else.

Answer 9

Unholy bunch of bastards.