A $6,600 pay raise for members of Congress is buried within the 1,574-page spending bill released Tuesday evening. The raise, tied to a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), has sparked bipartisan backlash as families across the nation face soaring inflation.
Lawmakers currently earn $174,000 annually, with higher salaries for leadership. If passed, this would be the first congressional pay raise since 2009. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has pledged to vote against the bill, saying, “Congress should focus on raising Americans’ wages, not its own.”
NEW🚨: Vivek Ramaswamy rips Speaker Johnson's funding bill, says the government is trying to waste your money without telling you.
Here is what's inside:
– Pay raises for members of Congress.
– Expansion of their federal health benefits.
– Opening up a new stadium in… pic.twitter.com/grkeelNoeY— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) December 18, 2024
Republican lawmakers shared Golden’s sentiment, with Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) lambasting the bill on X. “Can’t make this stuff up,” Crane wrote, adding his intent to vote against the measure. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) criticized the raise as unwarranted, saying, “Seems hypocritical to increase salaries for ‘sausage making.’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent such raises in the future, calling for accountability from Congress. “The people deserve better,” he posted on X.
Congress has done nothing to deserve a pay raise – SHUT IT DOWN!
— SazzygirlinCali (@RjbRocklin) December 18, 2024
With this pork filled bill, Congress has once again shown its intent to abuse us, trying to sneak through a 40% pay raise for themselves while funding questionable projects, all under the pressure of holiday deadlines.
This might just be their last attempt to exploit their power… pic.twitter.com/EYFpmgq8zq
— LilHumansBigImpact (@BigImpactHumans) December 18, 2024
The CR, intended to prevent a government shutdown, temporarily extends funding through March 2025. Critics argue the bill contains numerous unrelated provisions, including an option for lawmakers to opt out of Obamacare.
