ABCNEWS.com : Senate Approves Pay Increase for Itself

”At a time when our country is facing record annual deficits, this automatic stealth pay raise system is absolutely wrong,” said [Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis]. He has a policy of returning to the Treasury any pay he receives above his salary at the beginning of his six-year term.

With the raise, lawmakers will have received five straight pay increases totaling $21,000, he said. …

”I think that our representatives of government deserve a pay raise consistent with the work that we’ve produced,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

”This is not a pay raise. This is an increase that’s required by law,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.

Stevens’ remark may win the prize for disingenuous crap. Alaskans: boot Stevens! mjh

Senators vote to raise their pay by $3,400

”How can Congress give itself a $3,400 pay raise while nearly 9 million people are unemployed, and 2 million have been out of work for more than half a year?” Feingold asked.

Senators vote to increase their pay by $3,400 Jan. 1

”In this time of out-of-control federal deficits, it is essential to put the interests of taxpayers ahead of our self-interest,” said Sen. John McCain, AZ-R, who is running for re-election next year.