Source? This just happened? How big was the raise?
My understanding was that the last congressional raise was in January (about $4000. My raises are bigger than that.) and that actually congress decided not to have a raise in 2010 due to the economy. Additionally, isn't there a bill on the floor to end the "automatic" cost-of-living adjustments that occur every year? I believe they also skipped raises in 2007.
January is already "in" the current crisis when the "bailouts" and "stimuli" packages were being discussed.
It is just as fucking unseemly for congress to take ANY raise when the economy is so f-d as it is for AIG to pay out bonus, or GM execs to fly in private jets.
OK, well, first of all, January is not "the other night" and a $4000 raise is not the same as million dollar bonuses and flying in private jets. Also, it wasn't "voted for", it was an automatic cost-of-living adjustment that goes into effect every year (they voted this into law in the 90's I think).
Just saying.
It's all about perception. The raise was 4700 and it's on top of a 169,300 salary.
Meanwhile national unemployment is near 9% the last I heard.