I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

lassie11

Our politicians in Canada are not supposed to take gifts from lobbyists - although there are some loopholes, there is outrage in most circles when it appears that a politician has made any financial gain at all from a lobbyist or interest group.  The point is that politicians ought not to bought.

crazy4carrots

I think it's called legalized bribery in the U.S. 

Bren-2007

http://www.legalizedbribery.com/

Legalized Bribery - National politicians in the US have created and institutionalized a system where they can legally receive money from a special interest business or group or lobbyist (who represents a group or business) that is actively involved with influencing those same politicians. Those that contribute BIG money to political campaigns want and expect their politicians to enact legislation that favors the business or group that provided the money (or help in some other way). In the US, we live under a political system that not only allows, but encourages, legalized bribery.

Bren-2007

And it just got worse after the recent High Court decision that allows corporations to donate as individuals.

Anonymous

With sincerety: You girls can sit here all day and complain about this stuff or you can work to help change it. I suggest you join a local Tea Party...they get things done. For example: NOVEMBER 2010. 

Bren-2007

Laura .. bawahahaha!  Good one.

Medigal

Laura:  What makes you think that just because we post our complains here that many of us aren't doing things to try to make changes?  As for the Tea Party, it's not my style of doing things.  I am not for all of the things they are proposing and not especially for their possible presidential candidate.  They have done a lot of good but it's not "my" party at this time.  Hope "you" are doing your public duty for your country tho.

rosemary-b

Clicked on the legalized bribery link and I don't understand what I saw. There was no info on either House member I clicked on, probably because they were not reelcted but the info on both Senators was the same I think, I also think it was in Latin. Very stange.

crazy4carrots

rosemary-b:  I think the website must be updating all the info.  As with hard copy (newspapers etc.) when the info isn't available, the "space"is taken up with non-words, some of which are actually Latin but in no particular order!

Anonymous

I'm observing what is going on on the floor of Congress.  Boehner is shaking hands and tearing up.  I really like to see a man who is sensitive, who has worked hard to get where he has gotten and that goes for women too.  People say this is a double standard that men can cry and women shouldn't that are in office because it could show the woman is weak.  I don't think so.  People can't stand to hear Palin speak...her voice, ya know...I suppose that's a double standard too...her voice isn't "serious" enough.  I happen to like her "cheery" voice and like Boehner's sensitivity.  I also love Bush's sensitivity toward our military and our country.  He loved/loves both.

otter

FYI:  Dave Barry's 2010 Year in Review...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/01/v-fullstory/1992746/dave-barrys-2010-year-in-review.html

Do not have food or liquids in your mouth as you read it, unless you're prepared to clean your screen and keyboard.  I think he manages to slander everyone (which is usually a good thing). 

I do plan to post something about the on-again, off-again, on-again, and now off-again, Medicare coverage for end-of-life discussions with physicians.  Yes, it's off again, according to an article in yesterday's NYT:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/health/policy/05health.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

<sigh>  Just when I was starting to think it was a good idea....

otter

Bren-2007

Also watching the swearing in .. so far it's as exciting as watching paint dry.  The roll call is endless.  And they're only up to the "C's" so far.

Waiting for Boehner and Pelosi to be sworn in though.

rosemary-b

linda

Thank you. It makes sense they would update the site today.

otter

Can I say this here?  I really am a moderate, independent, Libertarian at heart, etc., etc., and I suppose I should admit that I've voted for a few Republican candidates in the recent past (but not in November 2010 because we were out of town).  Nevertheless, ... IMHO:

1) Sarah Palin, bless her heart, has a voice that reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard. (Does anyone know what that sounds like, anymore?)

2) John Boehner's crying makes my skin crawl.  Maybe I'm being sexist, but honestly, for me it wouldn't matter whether it was a man or a woman standing there, weeping about, ... weeping about what?  What should I think about a Congressperson -- of either gender -- who repeatedly gets all teary-eyed and weepy when discussing his/her job?  Really, I don't think tears are any more appropriate at those times than, well, ... laughter.  What if a Congressperson broke out with laughter each time he/she was questioned about business being undertaken in the House?

3) And, finally, IMHO, this week's firing of play-by-play announcer Ron Franklin by ESPN was justified (http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/ron-franklin-insults-female-reporter-yanked-off-air-29388).  He referred to fellow sportscaster Jeannine Edwards as "sweetheart" (not "sweetcakes", as was originally reported):  "Why don’t you leave this to the boys, sweet[heart]”; and when she told him not to call her that because she didn't appreciate being talked to like that, he responded, "Okay, then, a**hole."

Life goes on.

otter

[Edited for brevity, which is always difficult for me, and to take out some self-evident examples.  I might come back and edit it further if I think for awhile about Shirley's comments.  But, maybe not.]

Anonymous

Nice you know your opinion and also why you have that opinion.

Mine is....this man came from a poor family (yeah, lots of people do), has 11 siblings, was a small business man, and, IMMHO, is thankful that he lives in this country that gave him the opportunities that he has so enjoyed.  As we go forward I hope we see a humble man that will follow the constitution and listen to the American people who have elected this new Congress.

I'm listening to him right now...he said he's starting by cutting Congress's own budget.  The democrats DO NOT look happy.

As far as Sarah's voice...to each their own.  The problem is...that's the voice that God gave her. 

crazy4carrots

Otter -- Thanks for your Dave Barry post!  His syndicated column used to run in one of our Toronto papers, and DH and I looked forward to it every weekend.  Love his humour!

As for Franklin at ESPN -- from sweetheart to a**hole in less than 30 seconds!  Well, I guess he showed who really was the latter!

Enjoyful

Hmmm well, I'd like to see how many raises the Republicans gave their own staffers over the past few years.  Does that 5% cut really mean much if their overall staff expenses have gone up by 15%?

E

Bren-2007

I thought Pelosi was very gracious in her speech .. and I'm so proud of Boehner that he got through his speech with no crying!!

Bren

crazy4carrots

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/20/politics/main7168200.shtml

E, there's your answer! (sorry, I just can't seem to make it linkable).

I'm amazed at all the discretionary powers congressmen have given themselves over the years.  

Enjoyful

Thank you, Linda! 

pip57

I was cracking up at Dave Barry's year in review.  Thanks.

Bren-2007

Otter .. thanks for the link .. Dave Barry is a hoot!

Bren-2007

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/20/politics/main7168200.shtml

Linda .. here is your link .. and now it's linkable.

"(AP)  For a guy who insists that federal bureaucrats make too much money, incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sure doesn't mind handing out handsome government raises of his own.

Cantor, the Virginia Republican who has led the GOP charge this year to freeze federal salaries, has boosted his congressional office's payroll by 81 percent since coming to Congress in 2001 - about 8 percent per year through 2009. When he became minority whip last year, the office's personnel expenses went up by at least 16 percent.

Firebrand Republican Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has for months pushed legislation to freeze what she calls "unconscionable" federal salaries. Meanwhile, her own payroll jumped 16 percent between 2007, when she came to Congress, and 2009."

Wow!  Anyone else get an 8% raise every year since 2001.  Amazing.

Bachman's jumped 16% in two years.

"Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said his boss deserves credit for recognizing the issue now and working to address it. "

Cantor just now figured this out.  Unbelievable.

BarbaraA

Bren and all my friends, it is not just Reps. They ALL do it.

Speaker of House costs up 62%
Also standing out is the 62 percent increase that took effect for the Speaker of the House after Democrat Nancy Pelosi took over the position in January 2007. Funding for the office went from $2.9 million in fiscal 2007, the last budget controlled by House Republicans, to $4.7 million in fiscal 2008, the first budget affected by the Democratic takeover of the House.

    Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said the increase reflected the consolidation of several leadership tasks in Pelosi's office that were managed by other House leaders when Republicans were in power. Still, the funding for all House leadership offices increased from $21.09 million to $23.64 million between those years.

http://capitolnewsconnection.org/news/congress-operating-costs-skyrocket

Anonymous

You do realize that those are payroll numbers (the total they pay all of their staff) and not their paycheck (what they take home) numbers?   

So if they started with a minimal staff as a freshman congressman/congresswoman and found that they needed to add a few more staff members to adequately handle the workload, it would show up as an increase in the payroll even if no one on the staff got a raise. 

This is one of those situations where someone who starts out with a bloated staff and doesn't need to add anyone appears fiscally responsible whether or not they are in reality.

Bren-2007

You're right Pat .. the numbers don't differentiate between salary increases or increases in staff per se.

But if the number of staff did not increase, the salaries surely did.  I can't imagine the costs reflect the increased number of pencils they needed.

From the link posted above:

"A recent House survey found that lawmakers doled out merit raises averaging nearly 6 percent in 2008. Most of them also gave cost-of-living adjustments of 3 or 4 percent, and one-time bonuses averaging several thousand dollars, the survey found. Most federal workers get raises of 3 or 4 percent per year."

BarbaraA

If you had read the link I posted you would have seen this:

Rising staff salaries
Although the number of staff members allowed each House and Senate member has remained fairly static for two decades, salary costs continue to rise.

Here are some of the really sharp increases in expnese from same article:

Key areas of cost
The cost trends for key areas of Congress include:

     

- Senators and representatives' salaries and benefits: $126 million, up 23.5 percent.

- Expense allowances for Senate leaders: $180,000, up 99 percent since 2000.

- Senate officers: $178.98 million, up 99 percent.

- House leadership offices: $25.88 million, up 82 percent.

- Other House officers: $198.30 million, up 120 percent.

- Senators' personal offices: $422 million, up 75 percent.

- House members' personal offices:  $660 million, up 62 percent.

- Architect of the Capitol salaries: $106.78 million, up 118 percent.

- Capitol Police salaries: $265.18 million, up 237 percent.

- Capitol Police general expenses: $63.13 million, up 860 percent.

Key areas of cost
The cost trends for key areas of Congress include:

    - Senators and representatives' salaries and benefits: $126 million, up 23.5 percent.

- Expense allowances for Senate leaders: $180,000, up 99 percent since 2000.

- Senate officers: $178.98 million, up 99 percent.

- House leadership offices: $25.88 million, up 82 percent.

- Other House officers: $198.30 million, up 120 percent.

- Senators' personal offices: $422 million, up 75 percent.

- House members' personal offices:  $660 million, up 62 percent.

- Architect of the Capitol salaries: $106.78 million, up 118 percent.

- Capitol Police salaries: $265.18 million, up 237 percent.

- Capitol Police general expenses: $63.13 million, up 860 percent.

Bren-2007

Barbara .. I didn't see the link you posted.  Was it on the old thread?

Wow .. those numbers are really high.

Bren

EDITED:  Duh, the link is on the page before this one!

Bren-2007

Barbara, I copied the para below from the link you provided.

"Rising staff salaries
Although the number of staff members allowed each House and Senate member has remained fairly static for two decades, salary costs continue to rise.

   

In 2009, House staff salaries totaled $707.98 million, a 39 percent increase since 2001."

Anonymous

The longer they are in Congress, the more staffers they are allowed.  Same at the state level.

Plus the Capitol police and other persons involved in any type of security has drastically increased since 9-11, anyone who has been to DC knows that.

I don't think you need to shed any tears over the "Poor" federal workers who only got a 4% raise.  GEEZZEE.  They seem to be able to spend quite a bit of time on their computers during the day

Are any of you concerned about the almost 2 million the Prez. has spend on his Hawwian vacation??

Does anyone have a running total for the amount of $$ vacations and "date nights" have cost us ???

I know don't answer you can't