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If a "Pay Czar" can slash the pay of private sector executives, do think a "Government Pay Czar" should also do the same for Congress?

The Obama's Administration pay czar Kenneth Feinberg announced cuts of as much as 90% to private sector executives, rationalizing it that since those companies took public money it is justified based on their past poor performance. Do you think the same process should be in place for those who work and represent us, namely congress and government bureaucrats, should there be a government pay czar as well?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/22/pay-czar-feinberg-obama-decision-slash-executive-pay/
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keepontryi...
keepontryi...
Marked as Best! October 22, 2009 06:59 PM
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I actually see both sides of this. So long as they owe the taxpayers money, I can see an argument for slashing their pay until it is paid back. Perhaps I am ignorant of the existing repayment plan. If there is a repayment plan, then as long as they are meeting the scheduled payments, they should be able to do whatever they want with the rest of their money (within the law). In the absence of a repayment plan, they leave themselves open to government interference until the money is paid back. If either side doesn't like this, my suggestion would be that they both need to stay away from this kind of nonsense in the future.

As for government pay being regulated by a government pay czar? Absolutely. Especially the pay of the czars, and it should be a private citizen like Donald Trump. Wouldn't it do my heart good to hear him say to some of these dead beats....(c'mon and say it with me)....YOU'RE FIRED!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NU5OfDi9w
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pats
pats
October 22, 2009 07:01 PM
Yes, why not?

Here is their current pay and they have benefits, which will cost more than their Salary to the Tax Payer.

Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400

House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400
Source(s):
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm
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dsaldridge
dsaldridge
October 22, 2009 11:23 PM
Congress members make most of their money from campaign contributions, not from their salaries. Everything they don't spend, they are allowed to keep.
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opher
opher
October 26, 2009 02:38 PM
When you compare the total compensation of CEOs and other high-powered executives in corporate America to the pay of our leaders, you're struck by the enormity of the difference. While some corporate executives get paid millions, or even tens of millions of dollars a year, even the president of the United States earns only $400,000/year. Thus, typically, members of Congress get paid at best less than 10%, and at worst less than 1% of the compensation of CEOs of companies their committees oversee, and who lobby them daily. Unelected officials earn even less than elected ones.

If we were to cut the salaries of our leadership, we'd further reduce the incentive for the best and brightest to run for elected office or work for the government, and we'd increase the incentive of those in power to seek and accept bribes. Neither of these outcomes would serve the public good. Thus my answer is definitely no.
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