(CNN) – Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, says Congress should not a raise until the lowest paid Americans get more.
"Congress should not get a salary increase until minimum wage is raised," she said in Monday night's debate.
Does she mean another increase? The first minimum wage increase in 10 years was approved recently and takes effect Tuesday. The wage goes from $5.15 an hour to $5.85 an hour, and then over the next two years increases to $7.25.
A senator currently makes just over $165,000, and unless enough senators like Clinton vote to block it, the Senate will get a raise next year.
– CNN's Katy Byron and Craig Broffman
From CNN Politics
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The American public should vote on congressional payraises, maybe based on performance.
They don't know shame!, I dont know why the people of this country let this corrupted congress to pay themselves so much for so little work, and giving the biggest tax cut to the welthiest americans IN HISTORY!...
Members of congress are already millionaires. Do you think it REALLY matters to them whether they make an extra bit more? This issue is MOOT. Smoke and mirrors. The salary boost compared to the $400+ BILLION spent on the war is mere pocket change. It would go undetectable in relation to the money wasted on the war. It is so minuscule, greater amounts would be written off as a misc expense. I guarantee the war 'toilet paper' budget is greater than this stupid raise would be. Focus on what matters USA. You sure are quite easy to distract from the REAL issues we face. Of course, our happy-spending-war-profiteering Congress relies on this nation's inability to focus, get the real facts, and come to their senses.
I thought that i heard her next line to be and I would put that legislation in again. I thought that implied that she would vote against the raise that is on the table. and would put up another raise. I can't find a transcript yet to look it up
Why do we complain so much about senators making $165,000? They would make significantly more in the private sector. Maybe if we pay them more they wouldn't be as corrupt and take so much money/gifts from lobbyists.
Also, most politicians are already rich. They are not there for the paycheck.
Guess who put the Congress and the President that passed not one but TWO sets of tax cuts for the richest in the nation? The American people. And on top of that they reelected those people after the fact in 2004.
The American people are against their own interests, which is why we are never happy with what we have.
I've seen some interesting increase in the trend over the last 6 months with the transparent salary watch
You would have to be an idiot to believe that Clinton would vote against giving herself a pay raise. She is pandering to the low income voters. Clinton is a snake.
My employer decides when I get a pay raise and how large it is.
Congress is employed by the American people. WE should decide on their pay raises.
Let congress propose pay raises and put them on the national ballot when we elect senators and representatives. We can vote YES or NO and they can live with OUR (the employers') decision.
The debate over Congress and Senate pay is absurd. These are the most important jobs in the world and a drop in the budget bucket. Massive budget slashing is needed in Military and Social services where we spend *hundreds of billions* more than needed every year. This silly debate distracts from that important debate.
Hillary is always for what's good for Hillary. She doesn't need the raise so she's against it for others. Do your homework and see for yourself, don't take my opinion.