Congress' New Raise Scrutinized
by Ana Radelat - Shreveport Times (excerpt)

WASHINGTON — The Congress that will gavel in at noon Tuesday will benefit from a $4,700 annual pay raise, even before it does a minute's worth of work. The latest 2.8 percent wage increase U.S. lawmakers automatically receive every year will raise the average congressional salary of $169,300 to $174,000 and has provoked scorn from those seeking to cut federal spending.

Some lawmakers — including a few from Louisiana — think it's a bad time to get a pay raise because Americans are losing jobs and the economy is faltering.

Rep.-elect John Fleming, R-Minden, said he would back any effort to roll back the increase. He said he campaigned against it because he does not think performance last year should be rewarded with fatter paychecks. "It's not so much that we're in an economic downturn, but that there's some responsibility for that downturn in Congress. It sat by while the problems mounted." If there's no way to stop the pay raise, Fleming said he'd "probably give it to a charity."

Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, said he also would forgo a pay raise if given the opportunity. "It's the timing and the (economic) uncertainty. I think it would be good for us to just say no."

Some lawmakers say they need the pay increases to keep up with rises in the cost of living, especially in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers also say their jobs require them to pay for two residences, one in Washington and one in their home state, stressing family budgets. Congressional rules require any attempt to roll back the pay raise start in the House of Representatives.

If the House ever approves a bill to eliminate the pay raise, Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, is ready to take up the issue in the Senate, said his spokesman, Joel DiGrado. "Sen. Vitter does not support Congress giving itself a raise and plans to author legislation as well as support any effort to stop it." Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, said she would support an effort to end the automatic pay increases and "probably" would back legislation sponsored by Vitter.

Congress voted to raise its pay automatically to try to avoid the type of furor that occurred last spring, when the Louisiana Legislature voted to raise its annual base salary of $16,800 to $37,500. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal was criticized when he said he would do nothing about the Legislature's action, but public pressure prompted him to veto the raise.