The $1.5 trillion omnibus bill has plenty of inflationary spending, and the honorable members of the legislature didn’t leave themselves out.
As part of the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill released Wednesday, the $5.9 billion fiscal 2022 Legislative Branch funding portion would substantially boost the office budgets of House members to pay staff more…
This legislation would provide $774.4 million for the Members Representational Allowance, known as the MRA, which funds the House office budgets for lawmakers, including staffer salaries. This $134.4 million, or 21 percent, boost over the previous fiscal year marks the largest increase in the MRA appropriation since it was authorized in 1996, according to a bill summary by the House Appropriations Committee. For paid interns in member and leadership offices, the House would get $18.2 million.
It’s not technically a pay hike for congressmembers, but, in particular House members, are notorious for putting family members on the payroll. And for using staffers to run their errands and handle assorted personal projects for them.
In August, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced staffers’ salaries could exceed those of lawmakers. Members in both the House and Senate, with the exception of leadership, make an annual salary of $174,000. Staffers can make up to $199,300.
That’s convenient since it can act as a pay hike without the negative press.
MRAs tend to be between $1.2 and $1.4 million. A massive MRA increase has all sorts of political and potentially personal benefits. It’s also completely indefensible during an economic crisis.
House Dem leaders are cheering the disgusting pork sandwich as a victory for diversity.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), released the following statement this morning on the inclusion of a 21% increase in Member Representational Allowance (MRA) funding in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus legislation.
Leader Hoyer and Chair Jeffries have long advocated for this increase to the MRA in order to ensure that Members, leaders, and committees can attract and retain the best and brightest to help them serve the American people while promoting a more diverse workforce.
Is there any obscenity that can’t be justified in the name of diversity?
“We join in thanking Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger as well as the Members on the Appropriation Committee for producing a bipartisan omnibus package that includes this increase in office budgets so that Congressional staff pay can be a priority and enhance this institution’s ability to deliver For the People.”
For the People.
Ask not what Congress can do for you, ask what you can do for Congress.
somehistory says
Highway robbery in the form of kings increasing taxes on the poor people they are under oath to *serve and protect.*
Because, even though they print as much money as they please, their salaries come from the people who are actually working to take care of themselves and families. Larger and larger chunks go to fund the high-living of these federal moochers.
Infidel says
At some point, we need a constitutional amendment that the salaries of any one branch of government can only be authored and approved by the other 2. In other words, Congress can’t write their own salaries: only the Executive and Judiciary can. Similarly, the Judiciary would get paid by the other 2 branches, and so would the Executive
CogitoErgoSum says
We have the best and the brightest working for us in the federal government? You see what I mean about them all being a bunch of liars.
Keys says
I wonder what the Pspinstress Psaki makes plus benefits?
Enough to make a person keep lying?
gravenimage says
Americans Can’t Afford Gas, Congress Just Gave Itself a 21% Raise
…………
Out of touch doesn’t even begin to describe this…
Infidel says
Contrast that w/ President Trump, who every quarter would donate his salary to one department of the administration or the other
Marilyn Griffin says
Yesterday, I read an article about these monies for paying the staff of congress members more. That article also pointed out that the Democrats are pushing to hire staff and interns that are NOT USA citizens. For me, this is more critical to the best interests of America, Americans and the future if both than the increase in money. Something is terribly wrong when our representatives in congress elected by thd American voters need to be prevented from hiring non-citizens/citizens of foreign nations to serve in their offices, all of it including their offices, the very building, all staff and expenses, their salaries, etc, are paid for not by non-citizens living in our country but by Americans who pay income taxes. Yet, this bunch of unscrupulous politicians will force Americans to pay the salaries of foreign non-citizens hired, INSTEAD OF AMERICANS, to work in the offices of these sorry folks who are SUPPOSED to be Americans representing ONLY the interests of actual AMERICANS. I will never again vote for a democrat for any office at any level. They have made it very clear that the only Americans they represent are themselves and the ultra rich families/corporations that help them gain power and purse. To hell with everyone one of them, and the other party isn’t much better.
abu taleb says
Both the Democrat and Republic congress members must be very happy about it. Greed is not bounded by parties.
libertyORdeath says
So despite the record inflation, record gas prices, and record low approval of congress, they spit in the face of American taxpayers by rewarding themselves???
All this after 2 years of lockdowns, school closures, illegal mandates, the worst American military surrender since Vietnam, record illegal immigration, record number of overdose deaths, funding of Palestinial, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and soon to be Iranian terrorists, and illegal changes to our elections.
This will not stop until WE REFUSE to allow it to continue. We must also begin to work with our brothers and sisters across the world to defeat globalism once and for all. Our America first party should start working with the true conservatives in Canada, the AfD in Germany, Hungarian and Polish conservatives ,as well as in the UK and the rest of Europe. Only a concerted effort can break the chains of the globalist order.
The Standup Philosopher says
The crap discussed in this article is just one example of what the founders feared would happen. An Article V Convention of States is the ONLY way to begin to roll this back as constitutional amendments to do so will NEVER originate in Congress.
James says
Congress i going to slam the American people and give its self the largest raise in history, while they are on top of the pay scale.Politicians are supposed to de PUBLIC Servants. What gives them the right to stomp on the American people?
HHH says
Just curious what these swamp rats are gonna do when all the working people migrate to other countries?