## Congressional Pay Raise Included in Stopgap Spending Bill, Sparking Controversy
A looming government shutdown has put Congress on the brink of receiving its first pay raise since 2009. A massive stopgap spending bill, designed to avert a partial shutdown, omits a provision that previously blocked automatic cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers. This omission, first reported by Bloomberg Government, means a potential 3.8% increase, raising the base salary from $174,000 to $180,600, according to a September report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). While the CRS notes that this would partially offset a 31% effective pay decrease since 2009 due to inflation, the prospect of a raise has ignited significant political backlash.
The automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments, mandated by a 1989 law, have been consistently blocked in spending bills since 2009 due to their unpopularity with voters. This year’s 1,500-page bill, released Tuesday evening and intended to fund the government through mid-March, breaks with this precedent. This has prompted strong opposition from some members of Congress.
Maine Democrat Jared Golden, known for his populist appeal in a swing district, has announced he will vote against the continuing resolution (CR). Golden criticized the inclusion of the pay raise, along with a provision granting members access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, as “sneaking new member perks into must-pass legislation behind closed doors.” He argued that Congress should prioritize raising Americans’ wages and lowering healthcare costs instead of focusing on their own compensation. “If members can’t get by on our already generous salaries and benefits,” Golden stated, “they should find another line of work.”
The controversy surrounding the pay raise is further amplified by the context of Republican plans for significant federal spending cuts. With Republicans poised to take control of both Congress and the presidency next year, they have tasked billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with identifying $2 trillion in potential spending reductions. This initiative, which could lead to substantial job losses in the federal workforce and related sectors, adds to the criticism surrounding the proposed pay raise. Musk, in particular, criticized the raise on X (formerly Twitter), albeit misrepresenting its magnitude as a 40% increase.
Despite the controversy, the bill also includes significant funding for other initiatives. This includes $100 billion for disaster relief, full funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction in Maryland, and a provision allowing year-round sales of a gasoline blend containing up to 15% ethanol. Lawmakers face a Friday midnight deadline to pass the bill and prevent a partial government shutdown.
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