I see the congress intends to give itself a nice raise.  I guess for a job well done.  WTF

my dad pointed out the same news to me with your same incredulity!

Every year since I’ve seen them do the same no matter how shitty of a job they do.

We should require that they receive a "Performance Review"  before they ever give themselves a raise.  In today's economy where people are losing their jobs due to outsourcing by our corporations and the tax breaks still given them by our senators and house representatives and the lobbying bastards in American politics, our national debt skyrocketing and our children being blown away in foreign countries for our governments power and money, I don't think they deserve a fucking raise.  In fact, they need to be fired.  Immediately.  But they will only screw us as long as "we the people" allow them to.  OMHO.

....the most unproductive Congress in history.

OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!

They are all members of the same club and they take care of each other, regardless of what political party they rep..  Its time to march on Capitol Hill with torches and pitchforks.  Throw em all out , start over.

$174,000 before the COLA raise.

From Wikipedia:

Salaries
As of January 2010, the annual salary of each Representative is $174,000.  The Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders earn more: $223,500 for the Speaker and $193,400 for their party leaders (the same as Senate leaders).  A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it. Congress sets members' salaries; however, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits a change in salary (but not COLA) from taking effect until after the next general election. Representatives are eligible for retirement benefits after serving for five years.  Outside pay is limited to 15% of congressional pay, and certain types of income involving a fiduciary responsibility or personal endorsement are prohibited.