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Matheson again fights automatic pay hike

Keep in mind that it is only this year's raise that he is talking about donating to charity. Last year's raise he will be keeping this year as he did with the previous year and the one before that. Matheson gets a lot of political mileage out of his annual windmill jousting by simply delaying his increases by one year. If he was truly sincere about it, he would be donating every increase he has received since he started this political grandstand. Posturing seems to be the secret to his success politically rather than actual accomplishment.

Thank you Matheson.
shuttdlrl@aol.com

'Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.. But I repeat myself.'
--Mark Twain

Where are the so called conservative who represent Utah on this one? Congressmen and Senators ought to be paying us for the "good" job they are doing.

Where was his voice and cries during the trillion dollar bailouts given to corporate america? And what about the trillons of dollars being spent to support, aid, and abet illegal foreign nationals in america? Where is Matheson's voice in making illegal foreign nationals and their employers pay taxes to government? These raises are miniscule compared to what congress and the president has done to our economy. He is being the spokes person trying to take the heat off of the real important issues with this minor squable about congressional pay. And the news media is eating it up, as usual. Whatever Matheson or any legislator donates is just a drop in the bucket to what they gain in kickbacks and special favors, a meaningless gesture. Sure, those getting these donations love it but what person or instute wouldn't? It's akin to buying votes with false intentions and should be illegal. Deception and deceiveing to avoid the real needs of the people and our economy.

It's only a couple of million. They'll just print more. Not fair, when I print my own they want to put me in jail. That is where every single member and former member of Congress belong. Failures should not be rewarded. Pensions should be rescinded, benefits cut, staff, etc. Not fair? Since when was "service" meant to be a lifestyle and a pathway to an easy life? Clean house and start over. A bunch of kindergarten kids couldn't do worse than what we've been subjected to for way too long!! Both parties are worthless and offer no true hope for the future. Now the hard part how do we do it?

This is a grandstand play by a Congressman that knows it will reap him publicity that is worth more than the few thousands he gives up. Everyone who has ever worked in Washington DC knows that Congress would never vote themselves a pay raise so they allow a commission to set the pay and it is automatic. But there are always a few who want the headlines over substance.

I want the pay for members of Congress to be commensurate with the job they are asked to do. I don't want people to shy away from running for Congress because the compensation is below what they could command in the private sector. I would suggest Mr. Matheson take a closer look at the budgets being passed in Congress and ask Ms. Pelosi to allow an open amendment process on spending bills so that every member has to take a position on the spending process. When a Senator from New York asks for $250K for a Woodstock museum why not have everyone on record supporting or opposing those funds? Nah, better to oppose the pay raise and get the fluff story in the media.

John: Why is being a good public servant grandstanding?

This is a tired, annual story that Matheson tries to get play out of.... but it's so patronizing to the voters....Big Deal that members of Congress, who have to maintain 2 households; one in their home state, and one in DC (the gov't doesn't provide housing assistance for them to do their job...unlike the military).... They already earn less than any Federal District Judge; less than Cabinet officials. How will anyone agree to run for Congress in the future unless they are personally wealthy? We have enough wealthy people in Congress who are distanced from middle class on tax policies, etc. Believe it or not, the $169,000 adjusted for cost of living and the fact that they have to maintain 2 households, etc., is really just a middle class wage. Matheson ought to focus on big picture items, like the expanding welfare state, entitlement spending which is 2/3 of all gov't spending... and the massive redistribution tax policies coming our way from Obama.

The Congress that has a worse approval rating than Bush gets a raise....because they have worked so hard for it. What a joke! Why dont they give those that are going to take the hit for the bailout a raise? They would never do something like that, right? They figure that they should keep hush, hush until it happens. Wont even take responsibility for it. What a bunch of crooks. On topics like this, our government will never do the RIGHT thing collectively.

And, what is Chaffetz's stance on this? Come on out and prove yourself on this one.......

This is a "freebie" for Matheson. He knows he can get brownie points for being so magnanimous about not supporting a COLA for Members of Congress... but also knows that it is futile and will go through anyway. He has frosting all around his mouth.....

The current system was set up so that congressional pay would be de-politicized. I want my congressional representative and Senators working for me, not some lobbiest or fat-cat donor. This system keeps their pay consistant with the broader job market. They could vote to delay the raise due to current circumstances. That would be a much more rational response that attacking the current system that improved many worse problems.

When are the people going to take a stand? We all get angry aabout this but we never do anything about it. There is strength in numbers. Why do we keep voting in the same people? Every single person in Congress and the Senate that were up for election should have been voted out this last time but we saw people under criminal investigation that were running neck and neck with newcomers. WAKE UP AMERICA and vote with your brain instead of a party line. We NEED to clean house and write letters letting the current Congressmen and Senators know we are watching every vote they make.

I agree 100% with surprised. They should take all of their benefits away. If they have trouble paying for two houses, too bad. They should rent a 1 room apartment in Washington or better yet sleep in their office.

With the economy the shape as it is, they should be ashamed of any pay raise and vote to forget that this year.

After all, people are losing their jobs, and the rest certainly are not getting pay raises if they are lucky to hold on to their job. And notice.....the majority of them are Democrats and have no problem getting theirs.

Isn't Matheson the one who donates his entire salary to charity? Not just the pay raise, but the whole salary.

To Utah Rose, by taking their benefits and pay away, you are ensuring that NO ONE except RICH individuals will EVER be able to serve in Congress. Either that or they will be much more subject to bribes from lobbyists.

Most of these guys have actually taken a pay cut to serve in Congress. They need to be compensated because they actually do work very hard and MOST of them do a good job.

Having said all of that, the Democrats have done a lousy job these last two years and I think it would be funny, if it weren't so tragic, that the American people returned them to power. Apparently everyone doesn't understand how the power structure works in Washington.

Matheson's refusal to take the payraise is just a lot of grandstanding. It really is just a drop in the bucket, but it does seem to convince a lot of people here in Utah that he's a conservative.

Just bear in mind--If he were a conservative, he wouldn't be a Democrat. Just ask him who he's voting for for Speaker. When you voted for Jim Matheson, you voted for NANCY PELOSI.

Spoc...your misinformed. Matheson has given his payraise to charity every year he has been in office. I live in Southern Utah and have been watching donating his raise to charity for years. Too bad the Republicans in congress don't donate their payraise to congress!

RE:Cats | 9:59 a.m. Dec. 29, 2008

Sounds like you have bought into the classic engineered argument used by politicians to justify there lavish pay and benefits.

"To Utah Rose, by taking their benefits and pay away, you are ensuring that NO ONE except RICH individuals will EVER be able to serve in Congress."

I have never made more than 75k in one year. I'm 31 years old and have a wife and children. I would be happy to do this job for a two to four year stint for 75k and no benefits. I can think of at least 10 others in my situation who would do the same.

"Either that or they will be much more subject to bribes from lobbyists."

Are you kidding? Last I checked, almost every headline about some major fraud in business or government has involved very rich people. I don't think your statement holds any weight. The amount of money a man makes is of no relevance if he has real integrity.

I agree with Matheson. In fact, should not our politicians here in Utah take a the dame route? Every year they take more and more away from Public Employees but keep their free benefits, and perks How is that fair?

RE: Surprised | 7:08 a.m. Dec. 29, 2008

Its not as hard as you might think to come up with a plan. In fact, the biggest piece is there. We just need to get back to it. The hard part is getting the support from the apathetic people in this country that tend to have a short attention span. Here's a rough version of the plan:

1. Change over 1/2 of congress and 1/3 of the senate in one election year with those we know will support us. Their goal for the next two years is to gridlock the government until the next election cycle to maintain the status quo.

2. Two years later we change out the other half of congress, another 1/3 of the senate and the white house. Now its time to get to work.

3. Pass an amendment to the constitution that clearly defines what our founding fathers meant by "promoting the general welfare and providing for the common defense." Then eliminate all departments, branches, committees, programs and their associated funding. This will include almost every existing department. Appoint a committee to equitably distribute all assets of eliminated programs and departments to the states.