Arthur Silber - June 29, 2005

Arrogant SOBs

June 29th, 2005

Story:

The House on Tuesday agreed to a $3,100 pay raise for Congress next year—to $165,200—after defeating an effort to roll it back.

In a 263-152 vote, the House blocked a bid by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to force an up-or-down vote on the pay raise. Instead, lawmakers will automatically receive the raise—officially a cost of living adjustment—as provided for in a 1989 law that barred them from pocketing big speaking fees in exchange for an annual COLA.

Matheson was the only one of 434 House members to speak out against the 1.9 percent COLA, which will raise members’ salaries in January.

Hopeful Signs: Conservatives AND Liberals Just Say No
June 29th, 2005

I see some hopeful signs dotting the landscape. There is, of course, the growing disenchantment of the American public with Bush’s catastrophic folly in Iraq. I have further thoughts on that and the subject deserves lengthier treatment, so more on Iraq later.