Congress Adds to Our National Debt

American's continue to experience job losses as the new year enters its second month. Those of us who are among the 2.6 million who lost jobs in 2008 have discovered how a slow economy has made searching for a new job extremely difficult. As layoffs continue to plaque the U.S. workplace, those searching for jobs have had to accept lower paying jobs, part time positions or become creative to find jobs outside their comfort zone. Americans are a resourceful lot when we have to be. With an unemployment rate now at 7.2% and expected to go higher in the coming months, we continue to look to Washington to at least look like they feel our pain. We hope they are trying to do everything in their power to help all of us recover from irresponsible mistakes made at our expense. The question is, do they understand what it's like to still be searching for a job with no prospects on the horizon? Can Congress feel the pain of constituents who make minimum wage or those of middle class workers trying to replace a 60 or 70 thousand dollar yearly income with a much lower income.

President Obama announced a pay freeze for top aides working in his administration for the duration of the economic mess we are in. Some refreshing news from our leadership even if it's nothing more than giving a perception of understanding what we are going through. It's only right for government to tighten their belts along with the people when times are tough.

Congress, on the other hand, doesn't have the same sense of perception. At a time when pennies are being pinched and non essentials are cut from household budgets, Congress doesn't seem to get it.

Congressional leaders are gearing up for a heated discussion over the new stimulus proposal to hopefully stimulate our economy. A heated discussion is fine. Tax dollars should always be spent wisely. What's wasteful to one group may not be wasteful to another. Since we all pay into a communal pot, the responsibility for use of our tax dollars are in the hands of our leaders. Months or even years can pass as money is allocated for projects benefiting shared interests. Not everyone can or will be pleased by choices made by Congress.

There are only two reason why Congress will work at break neck speed in bi-partisan agreement and both are in concert with their own political prosperity. Passing any bill demanded by the American people when we join together in protest and allowing a cost of living pay increase for themselves to take effect each year. The fact they refused to stop this year's increase with a bi-partisan vote and allowed it to continue in economic turmoil is telling in itself. Even as we are cutting back, Congress is moving forward and rewarding themselves for what they consider to be a job well done. Maybe we should be the ones to determine that.

The pay raise took effect January 1, 2009, as it does every year with no fanfare. We are only reminded of this yearly event by angry organizations who, to no avail, try to get the word out via newspapers and Internet. Most people don't pay attention and that's what Congress is counting on.

The annual pay raise is $4,700. Increasing their yearly salary from $169,300 to this year's $174,000. Wouldn't it be nice if we could increase our salaries with the snap of a finger each year? How many bosses would go for that? Congress is elected by us to do a job for us. Shouldn't it be our decision to award a pay increase for a job well done? After all, we are their employer. $4,700 is around half a year's salary for a minimum wage worker.

Members of Congress, especially Republicans, have had no qualms in demanding auto workers accept pay and benefit cuts to help the struggling auto industry. Most workers in an economic crisis are more than willing to do whatever is necessary to help their company stay in business. Is Congress as willing to help America stay in business by reducing their pay during this crisis? Apparently not.

If our leaders were held to the same scrutiny as most employees under a companies job evaluation, our leaders would be the first to receive pink slips. They give themselves pay raises without regard to job performance, the burden to tax payers looking at a historical national debt or economic conditions that dictate cuts by us as they continue to enjoy profitable raises at our expense.

Automatic cost of living pay raises were included in an ethics bill in 1989. They can vote to not allow the increase to kick in, but that didn't happen this year. So as Congress continues to ask the American people to brace for an economic tsunami that could be on our horizon, we can see Congress not taking their own advice.

It will now cost tax payers an additional 2.5 million dollars to pay the salaries of 535 people who have shown a selfish disregard for millions of people trying to stay current with winter heating bills that have increased since last winter and are higher still because of an arctic deep freeze that swept across the land. That 2.5 million dollars would go a long way to help ease the burden of worried tax payers who are also trying to maintain financial obligations with falling incomes.

There are some members of Congress who do reject their pay raises at times. It's not expected that Congress should not receive a raise in pay, but a little empathy in hard times would be nice. Most will take this year's increase to the bank with no remorse.