Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) lashed out at CNN’s Manu Raju when pressed on the justification for lawmakers giving themselves a pay raise despite Congress’s abysmal performance.
The confrontation occurred as lawmakers are negotiating a gargantuan 1,500-page stopgap funding bill that includes a controversial provision granting Congress its first pay increase since 2009.
The irony is glaring: Congress, which has failed to secure the border, rein in runaway spending, or provide meaningful solutions for everyday Americans, is poised to reward itself with a raise while the public foots the bill.
Meanwhile, Durbin, the second-highest-ranking Senate Democrat, admitted he wasn’t even aware of the pay raise provision in the bill—a damning admission of how out-of-touch and disorganized Democrat leadership has become.
During CNN’s Newsroom with Jim Acosta, Raju confronted Durbin about the proposed raise, asking whether Congress deserved more taxpayer dollars while Americans struggle under the weight of their failures. Durbin’s response? Deflection and an attack on the media.
Jim Acosta: Understand that part of this year and spending package, the stopgap continuing resolution, as it’s called, apparently has a provision in there that gives lawmakers their first pay raise since 2009. Is that correct? What’s the latest on that?
Manu Raju: Yeah, From what we understand, this is a massive bill, roughly 1500 pages that came out just yesterday. They’re trying to jam this through Congress by the end of the week to prevent a government shutdown.
This would extend funding until mid-March, but it also includes a whole wide range of other issues, one of which is to increase the members pay for has not been increased since 2009, but the language in there would allow them to get their first pay increase since then.
Right now, members make the rank and file make about $174,000 a year. I just caught up with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin about this issue. I asked him if it was appropriate for lawmakers to give themselves a raise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Manu Raju: The members are giving themselves a pay raise. Do you guys deserve a pay raise?
Sen. Dick Durbin: Well, that’s news to me. It’s good news! (LAUGHTER) You know, what is it been ten years or 14 years and no COLA? No change at all. I think it’s about time something’s done.
Manu Raju: You support giving yourselves a pay raise.
Sen. Dick Durbin: Well I don’t know what it is. How would I not know about a pay raise–?
Manu Raju: But I mean, people look at the performance of Congress, say, why should we give them more money?
Sen. Dick Durbin: What about the media? Think about that for a second.
Manu Raju:We’re not paid by public money.
Sen. Dick Durbin: I know you’re not. But I mean, half of your listeners are not there anymore. You’re still getting the same paycheck? What’s going on?
Manu Raju: Well, I mean, you’re taxpayer money, I mean, do you guys deserve a raise?
(END VIDEO CLIP).
Manu Raju: And Durbin essentially said that, yes, they should give themselves a raise. And it also was notable, Jim. He wasn’t aware that this was in the provision and he’s the number two Senate Democrat.
Just shows you how this was negotiated among a handful of members. And they’re going to have to vote on this. And members will really want to have time to read it either, Jim.
Jim Acosta: Unreal! But Manu, I have to say, you are worth every penny! Manu Raju up on Capitol Hill.
