U.S. President Barack Obama. Credit: Getty Images
President Barack Obama’s newest executive order put an end to the pay freeze on federal employees, giving some federal workers a raise, including Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden will earn $231,900 beginning March 2013, a roughly $6,000 bump from the previous year, The Weekly Standard reports, citing official disclosure forms.
Members of the House and Senate will also get a small pay increase of $900 as annual compensation for members of Congress will jump to $174,900 in 2013.
President Obama’s executive order lays out the new pay schedule:
They may not be huge pay increases, but the timing of the executive order is interesting as Obama and Congress are currently trying to avoid going over the so-called “fiscal cliff. Meanwhile, Americans are tightening their belts and preparing for potentially higher taxes.
Finally, a pay raise seems to indicate that Congress and other federal employees have been doing a good enough job to warrant one. Do you think Congress and federal employees like Joe Biden deserve a raise?
(H/T: Drudge)
Featured image via AFP/Getty
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Comments (248)
RedMage
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:44pmSo doesn’t Congress have anything to do anymore, now that Obama owns this country and just executive orders everything? Does he even have that power? He just takes what power he wants and lets Congress play at their jobs. Remind you of anything?
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The-Monk
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:47pmI wonder how much does Valerie Jarret makes?
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Cavallo
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:52pmThats what I was wondering, I thought congress had to vote for raises? Eh, Oh well.. it is the New America so we must get used to one man rule.
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RJJinGadsden
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:53pmHi MONK, I’m sure that is classified!
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Zipit
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:56pmMonk! All she can guzzle! If you catch my drift!
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DougHuffman
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:08pmValerie Jarrett’s sinecure is buried in a 161 page budget request that I didn’t have the stomach to read. Here –
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/2012-eop-budget.pdf
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2013-eop-budget1.pdf
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DRsnapper
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:31pmLooks like just enough to cover the new taxes
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DJR
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:39pmI haven’t had a raise in 4 years, but I have to have my tax money go toward their raises. I can see how they relate to Americans.
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Keatonc33
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:43pmRedmage! you kind of an idiot… if what you said was at all true we would be having a fiscal cliff scare. Taxes would already be on the rise.. Turn on any news channel right now and you’ll see your point is ridiculous!
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Zipit
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:08pmCreaton! Where have you been besides la la land? Everything in your pathetic life has gotten more expensive because of the policies and regulation that this administration has foisted upon us. Anything that the government does that costs you more money IS A TAX INCREASE! And if you pay attention, you will realize that it is just the tip of the ice berg. Wake up MORON!
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GeorgieJo
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:09pmWonder what Valerie Jarretts “security” is
well chicago is pretty bad but not compared to BENGHAZZI
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Brother Winston Smith
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:33pmIt’s a good thing republicans are going to reject their raises… right?
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turkey13
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:33pm“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no water.” – Nikita Khrushchev
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rawmilker
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:44pmShe needs to earning half of minimum wage making license plates in prison.
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jhrusky
Dec. 28, 2012 at 10:21pmAssuming all the executive orders this traitor we call ‘president’ issues are not legal, why is not a single damn person in congress doing anything about it? Is every last one of them in on it? Because, if that is the case, we as a free people are doomed. I would expect someone, somewhere to begin procedures to remove this president by force if necessary for all he has done that at least resemble traitorous activity.
The system must change if we and our children and grandchildren are continue to taste freedom. We must get back to following a Constitution that was founded on morals and principals and that would have removed any men/women that would have usurped same.
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SimpleTruths
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:01amWell DJR, you haven’t had a raise in four years?
If I’m correct your side would say that’s your own damn fault, what did you do to raise yourself? What did you do to increase your value, make me want to pay you more, deserve to be paid more?
Or are you just a taker-lite?
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Obama_Sham
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:26amWell Simpleton… DJR’s response still stands… What has your beloved leaders done to deserve a raise?!? Point being… NONE OF THEM DESERVE A RAISE…
But hey… Go ahead and keep making this a right/left thing… It will work out for ya…
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SimpleTruths
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:33amOBAMA_SHAM, did I ever say they deserve a raise? Why do you want to put words in my mouth?
If you want to comment about something I said to JDR then say it.
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Obama_Sham
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:53amNo Simpleton, I am not putting words in your mouth… Just using your own words to prove DJR’s response is still valid…
He said he hasn’t had a raise in 4 years and yet his tax money is going to those who are giving themselves raises… One point of view would be that he believes they don’t deserve a raise…
Your response, trying to scold him of right wing leanings, was for him to be better at his work performance to get that raise… Proving my statement of why do your beloved leaders deserve a raise?!?
See the connection Simpleton?!? Probably not…
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franklinmintjulep
Dec. 29, 2012 at 5:49amit reminds me of something…time to “storm the Bastille..”
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Wolf
Dec. 29, 2012 at 7:47amI’m not sure about federal ‘workers’, but according to the 27th amendment, pay raises for senators and congress critters won’t go into effect until after the next election for their office. So that’s about two years from now. Not that they’ll deserve them any more then than now. Which they sure haven’t earned and don’t deserve. If anything, they should be stripped of all wages higher than their lowest paid constituent, and recieve absolutely no per diem and any who accept bribes or gifts should be shyt canned from office.
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DJR
Dec. 29, 2012 at 11:24am@simpletruths &@obama_sham I haven’t had a raise because my company is trying to stay afloat without laying people off. You know, cutting back on expenses. This is what our government should be doing not giving themselves raises we can’t afford. I’ve worked for this company for 18 years. My performance has nothing to do with it.
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LIBSALWAYSLIE
Dec. 29, 2012 at 11:58amBROTHERWINSTON, talk to me about democrats you ignorant, pathetic one way street. You’re such a moron!!!
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dungli
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:48pmRetired military here. My COLA increase was app. $14.00 /month. Of course that’s considered an entitlement by those hardworking government employees in Washington.
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cish60
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:49pmYes, congress is becoming an expensive obsolete group of people, due to the all-powerful Executive Order. How sad.
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Bodacious_Boedi
Dec. 29, 2012 at 2:05pmDear Leader can scribble any Executive Order he wants……until a federal bench gets hold of it somewhere and wads it up for him. I’m in love with the Federal Courts at the moment, have been since Katrina when a federal judge told the Lousisiana governor, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin and the N.O. police chief that they WILL return the guns they confiscated unlawfully violating the Constitution.
Again, I salute the Army officers who refused to carry out this order as a Viet Nam veteran and have received shaky orders myself.
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desertspeaks
Dec. 29, 2012 at 2:33pmRAISE??? they should ALL be fired! hit the reset button, they have each and everyone of them breached their oaths of office and are all guilty of perjury, fraud etc etc!
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AugustKat
Dec. 29, 2012 at 3:49pmWhy are any of them getting raises? Especially those who have blocked any budget bills for the last three years or pushed legislation through without anyone reading it.
Why hasn’t this rule-by-executive-order ever been challenged?
Yes, I’ve tried writing my congresspeople.
One sends a form letter back (Boxer).
One sends a form letter, but at least references what I wrote about (Feinstein).
One, I think, simply disregards what I’m saying because I don’t agree with it (Waters).
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Tonto USA
Dec. 29, 2012 at 9:02pmKing Obama does whatever he wants and nobody calls him on it….this stuff is digusting!
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dmouse
Dec. 30, 2012 at 1:23amAbsolutely. These clowns have NO SHAME!! They should at the very least be taking a CUT in pay because of poor job performance. This prez is getting cockier by the day and he just may overplay his hand in the next four years. He thinks we are ALL stupid and this executive order is a deliberate slap in face to every taxpayer who will have SMALLER paychecks starting next month. He should be ashamed of himself but I don’t believe he is capable of that emotion. COCKY!!!!
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Briggsycat
Dec. 30, 2012 at 3:09amThis sickens me. A RaIse to these morons?
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gforce875
Dec. 30, 2012 at 3:32pmNo, REDMAGE, he doesn’t have the power. As usual, Domestic Enemy Obama has not only bypassed the Congress in taking their control of our Country’s purse strings, but he, who swore before our Nation to “Preserve, Protect and Defnd the Constitution of the United States” has TOTALLY bypassed the 27th Amendment, which states that NO law raising Congress’ pay shall take effect until after the election following the law’s signing.
President Obama is an out-of-control power freak who doesn’t give a damn about anything but returning all power to the Federal government, a state of affairs that hasn’t existed in this nnation since George II. (Not that Wilson and FDR didn’t try the same – after all, anti-Constitutional power is the halmark of Progressive thought – it’s the “American” version of Marxism, although no one deserves to be called an American who is Progressive. “American” is as much about Constitutional Liberty – and thus limited government – as it is citizenship, something these children of Satan don’t understand. As Desi would have said, We’ll have to ‘splain it to them again. This time we won’t need arms, just the guts and won’t-quit-till-I’m-dead determination that is endemic to the American soul.)
The LORD, Jugde of all, rebuke and destroy all Progressives – and Progressivism – from our nation, in defense of His ordinance for our Nation, the Constitution of the United States! (Rom 13, Gal 3:15)
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PaulConley
Dec. 30, 2012 at 6:17pmTO: Glen Beck, Mr. Beck, I am sure you know Mr. Darrel Issa, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee! Mr. Issa should know the law, and the Twenty Seventh Amendment is the law, not Obama!
Mr. Issa, I am sure you know the that ” No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.” (Amendment XXVII)! The following EXECUTIVE ORDER – ADJUSTMENTS OF CERTAIN RATES OF PAY is an ” illegal order,” under the Authority of the Constitution! I am sure you will correct this illegal order! God Bless you, and you will need God’s Blessings!
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Damocles
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:42pmThey don’t deserve raises. They belong in a federal prison!
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SimpleTruths
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:19amIn a way, they are in a federal prison. Try playing at that level, to most of us it would be punishment.
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ConserveUSA38
Dec. 29, 2012 at 2:57pmI agree. They obviously are so out of touch with the American people. If in fact they do get raises as we as a nation are suffering so deeply, how can they even explain that? Does Joe Biden really need a raise? What has this man done to deserve anything? Why don’t we seen Obama’s raise that he gave himself? You know he did. And this is constitutional? This does not have to bypass congress? This sounds like another corrupt government move. If they all take the raises then they are all corrupt. Period.
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ResistSocialism
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:41pmOf course and they give us the bill
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circleDwagons
Dec. 28, 2012 at 9:37pmObama is going to raise taxes on the rich. But first pay raises. Makes sense to me. Glad i can make my own money:)
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missdagnytaggart
Dec. 29, 2012 at 12:12amLet them eat cake, as the saying goes
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trueamerican40
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:40pmHas anyone seen the horror flick, “Drag me to hell”? This is what the crapper in chief is doing to all of us.
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ginger100
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:39pmA page out of the Animal Farm
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spirited
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:39pmthe payoff
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NHwinter
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:45pmThe real slap in the face is that most of them are very wealthy anyway. As if they need more money!!!! It would be honorable to turn down the raise. Think that will happen, lol.
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Advection
Dec. 29, 2012 at 8:56amTwo little words: spending problem.
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rickc34
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:38pmObama is so out of touch with the normal working family, they should be taking a pay cut and forced to go on Obamacare. No freebies either. America is sinking and the morons are in charge.
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NHwinter
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:47pmWouldn’t those on SS love to get a $900 annual raise!!! Or better yet, $6000. Those are the people that need help, not these worthless, do nothing hacks.
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SimpleTruths
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:11amCareful there NHWINTER, endorsing social programs is generally not received well in these parts. Perhaps your new in town?
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Too_Far_Gone
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:38pmHere, Read It All ..
http://theseason.yolasite.com/obama-the-mongrel.php
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BODYBAG
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:50pm@TOO_FAR_GONE
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 4:38pm
Here, Read It All ..
http://theseason.yolasite.com/obama-the-mongrel.php
——————————————————-
I have had posts deleted here for calling him a MONGREL.
Pay Raises???
This is OUT-OF-CONTROL !!!!!!
Where is the OUTRAGE?
Most of these people should tried for treason or dereliction of duty and hung.
You have got to be kidding me.
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Too_Far_Gone
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:04pm@BodyBag
“Where is the OUTRAGE?”
Probably just here, A nation of idiots at this point ..
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SimpleTruths
Dec. 29, 2012 at 1:28amTOO_FAR_GONE hit the nail on the head. The outrage is pretty much just here. Where he goes wrong is who are the idiots. Idiot is a strong word, misinformed is too weak, misguided gets closer, dumber is clumsy but part of it, I still haven’t found the right word.
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DLV
Dec. 29, 2012 at 2:42pmSimple and Too far- Honestly, if you believe any of these people deserve raises both of you are too far gone.
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Cavallo
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:37pmThe Politburo NEVER stand in the bread lines with the peasants that they rule. This is the new America, more FROM your pocket, and more INTO theirs. Welcome to Oceania folks. If you wish to do well maybe we should start learning the NewSpeak.
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BODYBAG
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:41pmI couldnt agree with you more.
“If you want to know what the future looks like — its a boot stamping on a human face —- forever”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3U83QLoATU
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Too_Far_Gone
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:36pmIsaiah 3
14The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? …
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Dismayed Veteran
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:36pmIf these jackasses worked in the private sector they would all be fired for failure to perform the basic duties of their positions.
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SidneyDave
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:57pmWe just had a chance to fire these incompetent people. Most were re-elected easily. The biggest problem are the people that continue to vote them back because they don’t want to risk any government subsidies they receive. It has taken years of handing out taxpayers money to non-taxpayers and their vote counts the same as those of us that pay taxes.
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almont
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:10pmI agree and I think it’s time (with an 8% approval rating) that they be fired or resign.
In the real world, if you are not able to fire someone because of contractual concerns etc….you ask or force their resignation.
If enough of us hit the phone bangs and request resignations and keep it up until we get a resignation, we could do it.
Enough is Enough……start calling, writing and screeming.
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VMA214
Dec. 29, 2012 at 12:51pmI think you found the word SIMPLETRUTHS was looking for…
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ThePirateRagnar
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:35pmA raise? Seriously? A raise for what? Not doing anything? Sucking at their job? Are they in a union? I demand an evaluation. I cannot believe a friggin community organizer is writing checks out of my check book for these bafoons! Someone is on the crack pipe!
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FLDeb
Dec. 29, 2012 at 9:31amMade me laugh. For years I have been saying people on the left are/were substance abusers. In some cases not too many brain cells left IMHO.
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Dismayed Veteran
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:35pmIf these jackasses worked in the private sector, they would all be fired for failure to perform the basic duties of their positions.
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SamIamTwo
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:34pmMeh, and those are the ones who are Obama’s administrators…the top cats that run the farm.
They have robbed the federal retirement program 3 times so far under Obama. Before that it had been robbed a total of what, 6 times. Obama has em all beat. Soon they will be robbing your 401s, savings etc etc.
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Some1else
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:33pmThis action is deplorable! they dont deserve what they make. this used to be a part time gig and should return to that!
OBAMA LOVES AMERICA LIKE OJ LOVED NICOLE!
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almont
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:24pmAmen!
Why not make it a part time position again.
People….we have got to get control back before its too late.
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Iam4America
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:33pmWow we continue to cut from our own personal budget so we have enough for essentials such as food, heat, gas etc and they get a raise. The “elites” in DC only care about are themselves and their lavish life style. I for one am tired of tax dollars going to the UN as well as countries who despise us and use it against us. DC is only about “me” and not American citizens.
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TEXASGRANNY73
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:50pmLook to the right of your screen. What do you see? Is it the same as mine? Excedrin? This is what I see and hear on the radio all day long day after day and now years. Do you have a headache foot ache stomach ache, arthritis, earache, thyroid, heart problems, sex problems, gall bladder, need glasses, having a stroke, dementia, see a doctor, see a doctor, see a doctor, and see a doctor or take this pill take that pill, tell your doctor the latest in new medicines, just ask for that new miracle drug and if you need help caring for the old folks and b about it we have news for you–help is on it’s way, we have you covered, birth control for the needy, and viva for the guy problems, help for the ladies. Got boobs or no boobs, there is a doctor, shiny teeth, no teeth, look like HIllary or Pelosi? get a facelift or botox, look like Biden, get botox. In short concise words we are the Hospital of the World, yep, we are. And now we got Government Care thanks to Obama and Chief Justice Roberts woo hoo, note he got a raise, how about that sports fans? What do we produce? Ah food for thought. Nanny Pelosi said foods stamps the best bang for your buck, wonder what stock she owns..Note: Judges of the court of International trade got a raise. Pray tell, does anyone know what this is? UN? Seriously? Raises? These tools can’t manage a budget but give themselves raises? And taxes are going up. Happy New Year. Am I mad? Yes.
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susan126
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:29pmPay raise for them, cut in pay for the rest of us. If that’s not a big F.U. to us I don’t know what is.
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TEXASGRANNY73
Dec. 28, 2012 at 6:55pmExactly my first thought before the raving took over. Right in our faces. The Republicans should reject the pay raises and save a little respect for self.
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FISH_BONE
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:27pmAnd again, for clarification, who is out of touch with reality?
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NHwinter
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:38pmWhen you have extravagant vacations, golf constantly, have lavish parties with the Hollywood gang, fly all over America at taxpayers expense, how could you possibly relate to people struggling to keep their homes and food on the table, or those out of work. This is exactly what dictators do while the common man slaves away to keep them in their outlandish lifestyle. How stupid are the American people really????
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FISH_BONE
Dec. 28, 2012 at 5:20pmQ: “How stupid are the American people really????”
A: Pretty damn stupid.
As proof, please refer to comments regularly posted by: DORA, MARYBETH, JORGE WASHINGTON, SIMPLETRUTHS, etc……
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neverending
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:26pmAll while millions of Americans would give anything just to have a job. What a sorry sob – but just a sign of what we have coming. The arrogant, obnoxious piece of rearend even gave all Federal workers christmas eve off with pay. I cannot say it often enough – I detest this human excriment.
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Think_4_yourself
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:26pmwow…all I can say is wow. The nerve of this guy is amazing. Guess he needs to spend all of the additional tax money coming as we go over the cliff.
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NHwinter
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:26pmNothing in government makes sense anymore. It couldn’t be more clear what Obama is doing and what he wants to happen to our country. I feel like I am living in a nightmare that just doesn’t end.
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TEXASGRANNY73
Dec. 28, 2012 at 7:33pmI have been feeling that way since an American citizen was castigated for asking a candidate for President a question. Joe, the Plumber. Never saw anything like that before.
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jowettusmc
Dec. 29, 2012 at 6:16pmAll I can say is be prepared in every way.
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gyro
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:25pmyippy yippy spend spend we go till the end !!!
new usa anthem
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MrButcher
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:24pmThey’ll pretend to work and we’ll pretend to pay them.
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eaglesview
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:23pmWTF!!!
Hey Bammy, get the he– out of my checkbook !
Crook, liar, theif !
Screw off !
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Zipit
Dec. 28, 2012 at 4:23pmLovely! Just freakin lovely!!!!
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