More on That Pay Raise

From the Washington Times:

The increase means council members will earn more than their counterparts in cities like New York, where members will earn $112,500 next year.

"There's no question that we're near the top," said council member Phil Mendelson, an at-large Democrat who introduced the bill and amended it to include cost-of-living increases. "But there's company."

That's right folks - thats how Phil Mendelson defended this shameless, self-indulgent pay raise. Of course this pay raise isn't a done deal, the Congress could step in and shoot the pay raise down. I wouldn't, however, hold my breath waiting for Nancy Pelosi to reign in these clowns. I mean heck, if the voters of the District aren't willing to hold the Council accountable, why the heck should anyone else.

Talk About Rewarding Bad Behavior

The shameless District of Columbia City Council has voted to raise their own salaries, as well as the salary of incoming Mayor Adrian Fenty. According to the Washington Post:

In a 7-3 vote, the council supported increasing the salary for Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty to $200,000 from $152,000 annually. The council chairman will earn $190,000, up from $142,000. Council members will earn $115,000. The current salary for a council member is $92,530.

The District's elected officials will be the highest paid in the region.

Unbelievable. Talking about fleecing District residents. Does anyone in their right mind think that the District's elected officials deserve to be the highest paid in the region?

My City Council rep, Jack Evans, voted for the shameless pay raise. Indeed, only 3 members of the Council had the decency to oppose the measure:

There was no debate today, but council members Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large), Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) and Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) dissented. They also voted against the measure on Dec. 5 when the bill was approved on first reading.

Fenty and Gray recused themselves from the voting while Council member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) was absent due to illness.