The 1,547-page spending deal released Tuesday night provides raises for members of Congress.
The lame-duck Continuing Resolution (CR), announced just three days before a potential government shutdown, removes a provision that has been in spending bills since 2009 that blocks Congress from giving automatic raises, effectively This allows for salary increases.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said: explained In 2023, the so-called “member cost of living adjustment” (COLA) will automatically take effect unless blocked.
“Newsflash: COLA is a pay raise for members of Congress,” she stated flatly.
Congress often cleverly rebrands politically toxic items, such as congressional pay raises, as when it began referring to spending lines as “Congressionally Directed Spending.”
This is not the first time in recent memory that Congress has used a last-minute lame-duck spending bill to its own advantage.
In the 2022 lame-duck spending bill, Congress sneakily regulations Allows reimbursement of many living expenses, including room, board, and travel expenses, while working in Washington, DC.
According to new york timesthe individual members are refunded Up to about $34,000 for the first year.
Most members of Congress earn $174,000 a year, but some in leadership positions earn more. The House speaker will receive $223,500 and the Senate president pro tempore will receive $193,400.
Lawmakers will receive annual salary adjustments after provisions blocking pay increases are removed. equal Changes in the government's employment cost index for the fourth quarter of the previous calendar year and the prior year.
The adjustments would be made annually unless Congress blocks another raise.
The House is expected to vote on the CR by Friday at the latest. It then needs to pass the Senate before going to President Joe Biden's desk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) spearheaded negotiations on the bill for Republicans, but the timing, content, and process of any agreement were unclear across ideological lines before the pay increases became clear. It faced severe opposition from Republican lawmakers.
It remains to be seen whether the pay rise will undermine Mr Johnson's support for the deal or help him.
Congress has consistently maintained its approval rating among teenagers, According to to Gallup.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News' Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
