Why Polls Don’t Matter
While it’s true that Dear Leader was forced by plummeting polls to jump through hoops last night and deliver what had to rank in the top three most deperate and uncomfortable presidential addresses ever, falling somewhere between Nixon’s resignation speech and Clinton’s denial of having sex with that woman, some of our elected representatives look at falling poll numbers and laugh:
The House agreed Tuesday that members of Congress should earn $3,100 more next year, bringing their salaries to $165,200.
By a vote of 263 to 152, the House blocked a bid by Representative Jim Matheson, Democrat of Utah, to force a vote on the increase. Instead, lawmakers will automatically receive the money as provided for in a 1989 law that barred them from accepting large speaking fees in exchange for an annual cost of living adjustment.
Nathan Newman, at the invaluable Labor Blog, points out the fact that should be keeping every member of Congress up at night:
Now, there’s nothing wrong with indexing pay to inflation, but what Congress does for itself, it refuses to do for minimum wage workers. Today’s $5.15 per hour minimum wage is 41% less in inflation-ajusted terms than the minimum wage in 1968, when it’s real value was $8.78.
Since 1997, the last time the minimum wage was raised, Congressional pay has risen from $133,600, or a 24% increase in pay. If the minimum wage had even kept up with Congressional pay increases since then, the minimum wage should be at least $6.37 per hour.
I’d go a step further and say that in the fine tradition of American captialism, Congress should be happy to forgo a salary hike to help save an employer swimming in red ink. Just as social programs need to cut back or simply be cut completely to pay for BushCo’s tax cuts and his War in Iraq - just as American auto and airline workers are expected to face stupid reality and give back on contractually-obligated benefits and wages to save their jobs, our Congress should also gladly pitch in to help save their jobs. If they can’t give back the increase legally, then they can donate the raise to charities that will be forced to fill the void created by the cuts. I’d suggest they start by supporting organizations that support rural healthcare, job training and low-income schools, which have so far suffered the biggest cuts in the House version of the budget.
I know the Republicans don’t want to hear this advice since it reflects badly on their fiscally incompetent leadership, but the Dems should take it seriously. And they would, if polls mattered.
June 29th, 2005 at 12:33 pm
If I were Howard Dean I would have put Dem Congress people on notice that I would be coming out of my tree on this one, considering the wage stagnation that working people all over the country are dealing with now. Especially wilth the hard hit on those who have to deal with rising health care costs. Especially with the refusal of Republicans to even consider revamping the minimum wage. Especially in view of our marvelously balanced tax structure. Especially in view of our deficits. This would be and interesting campaign issue to use in individual congressional races.
June 29th, 2005 at 1:16 pm
Might be a nice bit of populism to tie congressional pay to the minimum wage. If congressional pay goes up 10%, so does minimum wage. I doubt it would pass, but it would make Republicans vote ugly.
June 29th, 2005 at 2:33 pm
Any part or all of what you both suggest would have been a good idea. The Dems did nothing except cash their checks.