The average Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) may only raise monthly benefits about $40 next January.  But the House of Representatives recently grabbed a “COLA” that will increase their monthly salaries by $275.  Never mind the $8.9 trillion budget deficit.  Despite record low approval ratings, House Members felt they deserved a raise.  Their pay will increase to $168,500 in 2007, making it the seventh straight COLA since 1998.  The Senate is very likely to follow suit.

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Many years ago our Representatives and Senators had to hold hearings and take a vote before they could raise their own salaries.  Back then Congress not surprisingly had to go for long stretches between pay raises, and on a few occasions even took a pay cut.  Ever since 1989 they’ve been able to avoid all that.

Under the system now in place, House and Senate Members automatically get a pay raise every year, unless Congress votes to reject it.  Since 1998 they’ve never done so.  That year, party leaders agreed that neither side would make or condone campaign attacks against members of the other party who support or accept the raise.

There are a few spoilsports.  Representative Jim Matheson (UT) has been defeated six years in a row in his attempt to seek a straight vote on the pay hike.  Senator Russell Feingold (WI) has for several years introduced an amendment to stop the pay raise, but each time has seen it tabled without being debated or voted on.  And last year Hurricane Katrina threw a really big monkey wrench into things.

In October, when the public was beginning to learn the full extent of the federal government’s disaster response failures, the Senate wisely decided timing was bad and agreed to kill their COLA for 2006.  But prior to recessing for Thanksgiving, Congress called a brief late-night truce during a particularly acrimonious session to assure a raise of $3,100 for 2006.

Unfortunately, these automatic pay raise shenanigans don’t receive much attention from the general media.  We believe seniors and taxpayers ought to know.  Please help us tell others.  Forward this article to a friend!

Sources:  “The Council For Citizens Against Government Waste Slams Congressional Pay Raise,” CCAGW, June 14, 2006.  “Budget To Hurt Poor People on Medicaid,” Report Says,” Robert Pear, The New York Times, January 30, 2006.  “U.S. Senate Votes To Kill Congress’ 2006 Pay Raise,” Richard Cowan, Reuters, October 18, 2005.  “Congress Helps Self To $3,100 Pay Raise,” David Espo, The Associated Press, November 18, 2005.
 

August 2006