House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is protesting a sequester-mandated cut in congressional pay because she fears a lower salary will undermine the dignity of her position. Basically, if we tip over the new fiscal cliff deadline, she doesn’t want to go with it.
“I think we should respect the work we do,” Pelosi said. “I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded.”
MSN reports that the debate over a congressional pay cut comes as part of the looming sequester ( AKA – Fiscal Cliff 2: Electric Boogaloo ) which will trigger across-the-board cuts affecting most federal offices.
The Hill notes that Pelosi’s husband is a big-wig real-estate developer, and that her own pay cut wouldn’t so much affect her. She’s looking out for her fellow Congress members without greater wealth who are “struggling” with their six-figure paycheck.
“It’s a hard question to ask me because most of my colleagues are the breadwinners in their families,” she said. “A pay cut to me doesn’t mean as much.”
Pelosi also remarked that Congress should make a deal to avoid the sequester entirely anyway. “A sequester should be out of the question,” she said. She’s hardly unique in espousing that perspective.
But the clock is ticking (March 1), both chambers of Congress are out of town next week, and the chances of finally reaching a deal to avoid an economic punch in the throat are slimmer and slimmer. Some lawmakers are hoping for the best, but admitted that they’re bracing for the worst.
“We are, in fact, obviously contemplating a sequester,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). “Obviously we are going to take a cut, like everybody else, and we will have to accommodate that.”
Do you think that Congress should take a pay cut if they fail to reach a sequester deal?