Liberal Talk Radio

It’s so easy to go after Congress when they approve themselves a big pay raise. It’s almost not worth the effort to go through the standard shouts of outrage.

Almost.

Why? Because Marjority Leader Tom DeLay is a gift that keeps on giving (members of Congress are not allowed to receive gifts over $50, of course, but there’s nothing to prevent them from giving). Take this money quote:

“It’s not a pay raise,” said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. “It’s an adjustment so that they’re not losing their purchasing power.”

Seriously, Tom, who needs purchasing power when all your travel expenses are paid for by the Indian Gaming lobby?

Oh, and by the way, the federal minimum wage of $5.15/hr has lost about 29% of its purchasing power over the last 25 years. But no matter, Tom, in your world, those kinds of people don’t actually exist:

“Emotional appeals about working families trying to get by on $4.25 an hour [the minimum wage in 1996] are hard to resist. Fortunately, such families do not exist.” - Tom DeLay, The Congressional Record, H3706 [1996 April 23]

Damn. I did it again. I got all outraged about the Congressional pay raise without even meaning to. Sorry about that. I’m playing right into their hands.

Damn.

Let’s try this again in three years, shall we?