CNN's chief Congressional correspondent Manu Raju came under fire from angry Democratic politicians after he questioned the pay increases for lawmakers in the emergency spending bill.
Mr. Raju asked Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin whether the lawmakers deserved the raises included in the bill, and Mr. Durbin said he didn't even know if they were in the bill.
“What about the media? Just think about it!
“That's news to me. Good news!” Durbin joked. “What happened when there was nothing for 10 or 14 years?” [cost of living adjustment]no change at all. I think it's about time. ”
Mr. Raju pressed on whether Congress had gotten a raise, but Mr. Durbin tossed the question around in the media.
“People look at Congress' performance and say, 'Why do we have to give them more money?'” Raju said.
“What about the media? Just think about it!” Durbin retorted.
“We are not paid with public money,” Raju said, laughing at the comparison.
“I know it's not, but half the listeners aren't there anymore and you're still getting paid the same? What's going on?” Durbin scoffed.
Raju said on CNN that even Durbin, the second-highest ranking Democratic leader in the Senate, doesn't know the full scope of the legislation passed to avert a government shutdown.
The video of the interaction is widely distributed on social media.
Many Republicans have also sharply criticized the agreement between Democrats and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to continue funding the government without making deep budget cuts. The Christmas omnibus bill would extend the spending period by 100 days during President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
After Mr. Raju finished reporting on the exchange on CNN, network host Jim Acosta joked that Mr. Raju's income was “worth every penny.”
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