Congress has been failing to do their job to efficiently fund the federal government for more than several months at a time. Every single year rolls around and there’s anxiety that the government will have to endure yet another semi-shutdown because Congress can’t get its act together and come together on a reasonable spending bill for the long-term as opposed to just kicking the can down the road.

Not only that, but the spending bills they’ve been passing are far too expensive for the American taxpayers to pay for. The federal government’s debt just keeps increasing at a faster and faster rate, and while the President does have a duty to sign good spending bills, they can only sign that which reaches the Oval Office desk. Every spending bill that Congress is producing is too expensive and adding debt to the federal government.

Congress has had to deal with another government spending deadline coming up, so negotiations have been going between the two major political parties in the lower and upper chambers of Congress in the Washington, D.C. legislative branch. No surprise, they’ve been proposing severely unbalanced budgets that will continue to add debt for the federal government. The shocker, though, is what the incompetent legislators are doing for themselves.

Congress Pay Raise Raises Eyebrows Across The Nation

In a deeply controversial move, members of Congress are set to receive another pay raise, should the massive spending bill released by House leaders on Tuesday evening pass both chambers and receive President Joe Biden’s signature. The bill, a 1,574-page continuing resolution (CR), contains a provision for a cost of living adjustment (COLA), meaning Congress members will see their salaries increase to inch closer to nearly $200,000 a year.

However, this decision to provide a pay raise to lawmakers is hard to justify, especially considering the dire economic circumstances facing the American public. As inflation continues to soar under President Biden’s administration, many American families are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, members of Congress, who already earn an annual base salary of $174,000 — with leadership members earning even more — are poised to receive a $6,600 raise. This pay increase is due to a 3.8% COLA adjustment slated for 2025. If the bill is signed into law, lawmakers will see their salaries increase despite the fact that their constituents face significant financial hardships.

While some have defended the pay raise on the grounds that it is necessary due to the high cost of living in Washington, D.C., this argument fails to account for the bigger picture. As inflation under Biden has surged, Americans across the country have struggled to afford basic necessities, including food, shelter, and healthcare. This economic hardship is particularly evident in the rising cost of living, with many families now paying more for rent, groceries, and other essentials than ever before. Yet, despite this widespread economic pain, Congress is giving itself a raise — an action that feels tone-deaf and disconnected from the struggles faced by the American people.

Some lawmakers, like Rep. Jared Golden from Maine, have voiced their opposition to the pay raise. Golden’s response to the provision was firm and clear: “Congress should be working to raise Americans’ wages and lower their health care costs, not sneaking new member perks into must-pass legislation behind closed doors.” He added, “If members can’t get by on our already generous salaries and benefits, they should find another line of work. As long as these provisions are in the CR, I will vote against it.” Golden’s stance reflects a growing frustration among both conservative and progressive lawmakers who view this pay raise as an unnecessary and inappropriate use of taxpayer money.

Some Democrats Defend Congressional Pay Raise, Conservatives Deride The Raises

Golden’s opposition to the pay raise provision is not isolated. Republican lawmakers have also expressed their discontent, condemning the move as yet another example of Congress failing to represent the interests of the American people. Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona wrote in a post on X, “So Congress is failing the American people AGAIN and giving themselves a raise in the process? Can’t make this stuff up. I will be voting NO.”

So Congress is failing the American people AGAIN and giving themselves a raise in the process?

Can’t make this stuff up.

I will be voting NO. https://t.co/qKB5SQyTPk

— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) December 18, 2024

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went a step further, criticizing the pay raise and proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit lawmakers from giving themselves pay increases. DeSantis’s proposed amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting the citizens of the United States that does not also apply to members of Congress themselves.” His suggestion aims to hold Congress accountable by ensuring that any laws affecting the American public would also apply to those making the laws.

In addition to the pay raise, the CR also includes provisions that would allow lawmakers to opt out of Obamacare, further fueling the perception that Congress is prioritizing its own benefits over the needs of the American people. Some proponents of the pay raise argue that it is a necessary adjustment due to the rising cost of living in Washington, D.C., but this argument is not without its flaws. Many of the policies passed by Congress in recent years, including the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, are widely cited as contributing to the inflationary pressures that are harming Americans today.

Senator Dick Durbin, a prominent Democrat from Illinois, argued that the pay raise was overdue. “It’s good news,” he said during an interview with CNN. “I think it’s about time something’s done.” But it’s hard to imagine how lawmakers can claim a pay raise is justified while so many Americans continue to struggle with inflation and rising costs. Durbin’s comments, while supportive of the pay raise, fail to address the broader economic context, leaving many to wonder whether Congress is out of touch with the realities faced by the average citizen.

As the CR continues to make its way through Congress, with lawmakers set to vote on the bill in the coming days, the question remains: Does Congress truly deserve a pay raise? In the face of rising inflation and widespread financial hardship across the nation, lawmakers must carefully consider whether this increase is an appropriate response to the current economic climate. The American people are struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living, and to see Congress granting itself a raise at a time like this feels unjustifiable and out of touch.

As Rep. Jared Golden aptly put it, “Until the pay freeze is reinstated, I will not vote for this CR.” Lawmakers should take note: They have a responsibility to lead by example, to act in the best interests of their constituents, and to avoid enriching themselves at the expense of the public they serve. Until Congress is willing to put the needs of the American people above their own, they remain undeserving of a pay raise.

What do you think of Congress-members getting a raise? Is it deserving? Let us know what you think in the comments below.