A Pay Cut for Congress?

All the old hacks in Congress make a big show of wringing their hands in agony over the fate of the country, when it’s their continued employment that’s causing the real agony.

They say it’s only fair to cut the salaries of the CEOs who come looking for a bailout after running their companies into the ground. Great! Now what about cutting the salaries of the politicians who have sent our country into debt for generations to come?

Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross of the San Francisco Chronicle ran a piece (second item) earlier this week about 12 of the 80 lawmakers in the California Assembly who have voluntarily cut their $116,000 salaries and/or $400-a-month car allowances.

The sacrifices range from one legislator giving back 10 percent of his salary to others foregoing raises to one who declined his car per diem. It ain’t much, but it’s something. Thanks, guys!

Now about the little issue of our state budget…

As for their brethren in Congress giving a little back of their $165,000 salaries, even just as a symbolic gesture? So far…crickets.