President Obama freezes WH staff salaries
In a symbolic and unprecedented move, President Obama today announced that he would be freezing the pay of White House employees who make over $100k a year.
President Barack Obama announced on his first day in office Wednesday that he is freezing the pay of the about a hundred White House employees who make over $100,000 a year.
The freeze would hold salaries at their current levels. It is part of a presidential memorandum being issued Wednesday when Obama attends a swearing-in for staff at the White House.
In a statement, Obama said "families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."
Aides making above $100,00 include the high-profile jobs of White House chief of staff, national security adviser and press secretary. Other aides who work in relative anonymity also fit into that cap, if Obama follows a structure similar to the one George W. Bush set up.
This is pretty cool. I probably wouldn't find it as cool if I were Rahm Emanuel, Robert Gibbs or General Jones, but it's sending an important message either way. After eight years of Bush-rule, this quote is a welcome change.
"Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this administration," Obama said in a statement to reporters.
Music to my ears.
Yo Congress how about you guys take a serious pay cut until you get this crap straightened out????
No more junkets, dinners, nothing!!!
There's no reason in hell that Nanny "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi should be pulling down $211,000 dollars.
Nevermind the fact that she and Paul Pelosi are worth $35 million.
Congressional salaries should be tied to performance and the economy.
Better yet, how about any raises in Congressional salaries be tied to an equivalent percentage increase in the minimum wage? Unless of course the Democrats are ALSO in to that "we're worth more than little people" crap that they've always (rightly) accused Republicans of championing.
Here are my simple suggestions for a start to cleaing up Congress.
1. Congressional salary raises are tied to either increases in minimum wage, or increases in the GDP, or both. Same goes for members of the executive branch.
2. Lobby groups and Political Action Committees can continue to target giving money to specific candidates, but it must always be donated to them anonymously. Lobbyists and PAC mambers are not allowed to use either promises of donations to candidates, or threats of removal of donations as a weapon to pressure politicians. Particular politicians may see an increase in campaign donations from lobby groups and PACs, but they'll have absolutely no way to find out WHO it came from. A set of records may be kept by election officials, just to keep track of who gives money to whom, but it must be kept secret by law, and will only be revealed if some law is broken etc.
3. NO CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS for ANYTHING. All money has to be spent through the front door.
There is also no way that Mr. Wall Street Telecom Immunity should be pulling down $400k either.
Obama should take a paycut himself.
"...the rule of law will be the touchstones of this administration,"
When do the Bush admin prosecutions start?
on the works right now!
I'm going to give them 100 days to begin. If nothing happens at that point we can assume the Bush administration got away with the wholesale theft of America.
With all this crap goin on, the ME, the economy, all that fun stuff BushCo engineered for Obama to get mired in after he took office, will take some time to sort through...
I think, I hope, that Obama's got a plan for indicting the Bush administration once he's got his ducks in a row.
big deal thier salaries could buy and sell you people
Shoot, in my business, that's CHEAP. I won't go for less than a network anchor's salary.
My husband is a school teacher and I'm a critical care nurse and we
easily clear that hurdle. Why so condescending?
Sadly predictable.
and start cutting out all the garbage, toys, & useless weapons programs that will never, ever see the light of day...
We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children - Native American proverb
If being cold means there's no such thing as global warming, does being full mean there's no such thing as world hunger?
Why do we need f-22 fighter jets when our nation's most dangerous enemy lives in a cave?
Military Industrial Complex, at your service.
Why do we need to send Israel a bunch of mines and bombs and guns and helicopters so they can attack the Strip where people live in man-made caves without electricity or running water?
It would be very very nice if Congress would do the same thing. They did just get a pay raise and right now they're not worth the money.
you ask them very very nicely.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
the touchstones. What are the ringtones?
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
They are now going to use a Quagmire ringtone.....diggily diggily diggily
Perot's giant sucking sound.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
.
was high on the list of Trans demands. But in their coalition they are often overshadowed by teh Gay Agenda.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Now let's see:
The Office of Faith-based Initiatives dissolved.
Stem cell research bans lifted.
Women's reproductive rights affirmed.
Stronger gun control initiatives.
Tax code simplification.
Recision of every Bush "environmental" policy.
Among a million other reactive policies.
Gun Control?
If the last 8 years have taught us anything, it's that progressives need more guns.
... and put a bullet through its head. Or a stake through its heart. Whatever is needed to get our schools working and our students educated, rather than pissing away time on tests to measure their proficency in lessons they're not getting because they're taking fracking tests.
we have those totally irrelevant tests up here too! Courtesy of the Mike Harris CONservatives. Nothing like wasting millions telling you, "hey, all your children seem to be different"
Biggest Fn'g joke every perpetrated on the American public.
I assume that means we can stop buying the Neil Bush software?
Can anyone explain to me why the Repubs hate education? I'm
guessing they prefer a dumbed down public that will just absorb
their propaganda and not question their activities/directions/motives, but their hatred of public education is psychotic.
"I'm guessing they prefer a dumbed down public that will just absorb their propaganda and not question their activities/ directions/ motives, but their hatred of public education is psychotic."
Yes, you did just answer your own question. People who are poorly educated are more likely to join the military, be politically conservative, and be a religious fundamentalist. By gutting education, they grow their base.
I never could understand how or why a truly mediocre
president who started out as such a mediocre student could become such an educational whiz-kid. What credentials did that boob-a-loob ever have that made him think he could or should "fix" education?
If someone wants a job serving the public they wouldn't want to be a tax burden on that same public would you? I say the House and Sentate and Executive office would take a minimum wage salary (they say people can live on the minimum wage, should be good enough for a public servant)
You tell these crooks that they only make money if America is out of the Red and you will start to see some serious action.
a great many of them are already millionaires. Why do they need high salaries?
n/t
The old saying. You can't be too thin or have too much money.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Clearly the person who coined the saying: You can't be too thin or have too much money. had never seen Michael Jackson
Just heard something kinda interesting on Fox. Yeah I know but wait until I tell you what it was I heard. Seems some repubs are not wanting Holder to become the AG because he said during his hearing that waterboarding was torture. This reporter said that some are nervous because if waterboarding is deemed to be torture, some people might be in serious trouble along with some investigations that are going on.
Invesigations going on? Where? Who? So even if nothing ever happens, at least we know that some are sweating right now.
Bush would never allow anyone male to come into the oval office without a jacket on. I guess Pres. Obama sees the place as a place to work and not a shrine. Man, he hit the ground running. His schedule for today is amazing. He seems to be taking this president thing as a serious job with things to get done. It's going to take me some time to get used to this.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
campaigning for re-election......hahahaha
the jacket requirement. This, from a professional, serial vacationer
who pissed/crapped all over the presidency and the constitution. The man is, has been and always will be a great waste of stem cells.
Using the bully pulpit while its in its honeymoon. Pressure to financial sector, congress. Also, and trying to set the bar of "rich" at $100,000, should score points to extend the honeymoon (he'll need that).
still make Joe the Plumber's apprenctice a mere aspirant.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
This puts government branches in every state on notice. Hold the line on or reduce management spending! Corporate types, especially bankers and the greedy bunch on Wall Street, better take notice! Those CEO perks and "bonuses" corporate boards won't give up willingly, Obama is going to tax the hell out of. Here, here.
He's...he's...like a real manager!...a real leader!!...is it a mirage? Have I died and gone to that better place??
He's the decider...without the ignorance or half assed view of the world.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
No, it's not a mirage. This is the real thing, you just haven't seen it in so long that it looks strange at first. bush saw the position as a prize he won from the Supreme Court. Pres. Obama sees it as a real fu*king job with things that need to get done.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
he should have gotten the oversized stuffed animal, but those offensive twits handed him our futures. I am so thrilled we have a smart man with good intentions and managerial skills at the helm now.
The Pres amkes $400 K. His assistants between $100 and $400 K had their salaries frozen. How is he going to lure any Deputy Assistant football coaches from the Big 12 or Pac10 to join his administration?
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
What about horse judges?
Any horse judges will find no offers. Only linament judges need apply. Horse sentencing is 1) why prisons are overcrowded and 2) something I use in these posts.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
(please read in your best Arkansas redneck accent, if you don't have one - fake it)
Naw, horse judges make fine officials. We all know that the only reason Brown was bad is 'cause he was an *Arabian* horse judge. Aye-rabs are sissified, prissy, little, non-American horses, only city-folks and yer hollywood-types have 'em. What kind of fool judge does that take? That, there was yer problem.
Now if he'd been a good old-fashioned patriotic American Quarter Horse judge. Yep, now that would have made all the difference.
(My in-laws in NOLA will hit me for that one).
down here a horse judge only handles transport theft cases and theys under strick sentencing guidelines. One rope, thirteen knots.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
No need, I will do any1 of there jobs for 50k a year and a paid place to live, easy. You can make the 100k a year a permanent cap for me, where do I sign up?
Waving this around like some carrot on a stick. What's the big deal? It's freezing their CURRENT salaries at that level. They already make far more than the average wage earner. So they won't get a raise this year, from their brand new job? Oh the horrors.
added to a $50 K salary gets you into freeze warning territory.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
live on the streets? Do without food? Lose their medical coverage? Most are already rich, so, it's just a gesture, nothing more.
Lol, I was thinking that. 800 dollars a month for a small apartment, is all I need, I will pay my own gas and buy my own car. Even 1200 a month I would still be way below the freeze.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/10...
910/1025 a month, no problems.
a night on somebody's futon in DC.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Um ricky, I actually was looking for a job and place to live down there recently, my parents lived there to man.
is torture. We ain't gonna do that no more.
We used to rent out our three bedroom/two bath house with a large screened in patio and a two car garage for $800 a month. It was about 1500 square feet. Cute as hell house that my husband and I used to live in before we bought the house we live in now.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Do they have Bring Your Kids to Work Day in the War Dept?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
No, they bring other people's kids.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
a girl with no damn BB gun.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I did have a little pocket knife when I was a little girl and I have a wee scar above my eye to prove it. God only knows what would have happened if I had gotten hold of a BB gun. Probably really would have shot out my eye.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
and my wife warned me not to buy those damn electronic games.
He still beats me in that damn tennis. Why did they give it a French name?
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Send Your Kids to War Today there.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
i would take a counter position: the salaries for those in congress should be increased, a lot. and, in conjunction with that, i would ban any corporate/industry donations they are allowed to accept. zero, zip, zilch funny-money from the quid-pro-quo'ers. only donations from indiv citizens (and no "santa clara county" decision backdoor, either) would be legal.
then i would slash the pentagon's budget by about half. or more.
and the DEA? fuck them, shut down the DEA. cut the drug war out of the federal budget.
i think this is another nice gesture by obama. but, really it is merely symbolic.
these things makes him look like he is really working hard. The only thing over his head right now though is re-election. Everybody knows impeachment is off the table so he doesn't have to worry about that.
You don't think that maybe, just maybe, he really does want to do something to make this world and country a better place? Not everyone does everything just because it's all about them. Some people refuse to be cynical all the time and aim to improve things for others. They really do.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I don't buy it completely. Maybe I am just a cynic, but find good intentions sadly lacking in politics. Hey, I could be wrong. And if I am, I can admit it. Let's hope I am!!
Yep, I do hope you're wrong. I believe you will happily find that out in the next four years.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Ya think. You mean getting your salary frozen on your first day of work isn't painful and sacrificey?
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
ricky....
Not really taking anything away from them.
you mean they actually are only going to get the salary they expected theyd get? jesus thats COMMUNISM!
And it's got to stop now.
Raises and trebles all around!!!
me-oww!
About freezes. But I know my transparency shit, and when its frozen it sometimes obscures the sarcasm.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
If memory serves correctly, Tony Snowjob, Ari Fleischer and Dana Perino all made more than 100 grand/year.
The word is made, and thank fucking god for the past tense of it all!
:P
me-oww!
I couldn't agree more Miss Kitty, but I would think the incoming administration will be paid basically the same.
or did I need to add a rim shot so you'd see I was joking. Whatever salary most of them are going to get will probably represent a raise. And for those that won't be getting one, the prestige of the job and future opportunities ( with the Alberto exception noted) are worth the sacrifice.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
to the individuals that have had their salaries 'frozen' it is, as u write, "sacrificey", no doubt.
but, for the country, of course it is symbolic, as obama says: "families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington"
linguistic conjugal bliss as truthiness.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
The correct conjugation would be "Sacrification".
I sacrificate, you sacrificate, they sacrificationalize.
Pres. Obama kept the oval office pretty much the way is was when bush was there. I think he's trying to set an example. Sort of, if it isn't broke, why fix it.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I think taking out the hobby horse and coloring table wouldn't be objectionable.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I did say pretty much the same. Yeah those things are gone along with the potty chair in the rest room.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Don't worry about that poor little DLC turd Rahm, he made a cool 6 million in the market during his time at one of those fannie/freddie debacles.
Generally speaking I don't trust anyone making over 150K a year.
I'm not seeing many others doing it - not my CEO, not our Governor or state legislators, not congress, etc. etc.
and you don't hear about department heads doing the same either. Howz about it Hillary? Do you really need the wage a SoS makes? How about you Rahm? You are already loaded.
http://www.doubletake-media.com/movie_of_the_...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
like that, Billy would have been way more faithful!!!
just got a shot in the arm!
...or admit that their prognostications of business as usual might not be correct. Lol.
This is good! Now if he could only get Congress to forgo their recent "automatic" pay increase!!
The people in each state should get to vote on whether or not their congress man or woman should get a raise. In what other business does the employee get to give themselves a raise?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
a rhetorical question? If not, then no other business. What do I win??? I sure hope it's money! I am really hurtin' financially right now.
No. Sorry no prizes as we are cutting back on prizes.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
a raise equal to half what we saved by keeping Hillary unemployed for a day. What courage and ewffectiveness!!!
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
decreasing congressional salaries would:
a) make it more likely that they 'pad' their salary with corporate funds
b) make it more likely that only the uber-wealthy can afford to hold office
c) have no effect on corruption
d) only be a symbolic gesture
no E) all of the above?
Hey Cynics!
See what happens when you give Obama a chance to work a couple of days? Lol.
I know. President Obama seems to take this whole president thing seriously, doesn't he. I mean he has spent a full day actually getting shit done. WTF?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Up there, in DC, presidentin his ass off!
Hell in his first day, he's done more than bushy did in his first month.
You know what LNM, even when the guy eventually fucks up(like any of us) I get the feeling he'll care enough to feel bad about it.
Well we need to get him a "ranch" where he can go about every other week and clear brush or something. We don't want him getin' all serious on our asses about this changing things and presiditin stuff.
One thing is for sure, he did more good stuff today than bush did in eight years.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
If it were Bubba, he'd just turn up the air-conditioning.
It makes the nipples stick through the blouses.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Monica got his attention.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
No she brought him pizza. Bill was a fool for a woman with full lips and a pizza.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
And lots of junk in the trunk.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
don't like him. Bet he goes to any event Michelle does.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Who would have been press secretary for Bush if there wasn't a big salary? Many people will work for Obama just to have done it, especially here at the start.
breaking news from cnn hillary clinton has been approved for sos , we now have our own kinda sleezy rice as sos!
Kos has a list of other things President Obama did today. Yeah right, same old same old. NOT!
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
"O's" off of the keyboards.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
It looks good to the masses and maybe it's time for Washington to set an example, but I see two problems with it: (1) Only the already well-heeled and less talented might be attracted to public service, and we know what that brings, and (2) $100K isn't that much in the DC area since it's hard to find a decent townhouse for a family under $500K.
If we can't make "transparency and the rule of law" absolutely required qualifications for all future administrations, we deserve more like George Bush and Dick Cheney.
on reproductive education?
that shoulda already happened
I believe the technical term for that is "walking the walk." As opposed to three generations of Republican politicians, both in the White House and in Congress who go on and on with rhetoric about how bloated and expensive government is, without once passing up an opportunity to give themselves a fat pay raise.
Now, let's see if Congress has the guts to pass a bill linking any Congressional salary increases to an equivalent percentage increase in the minimum wage! PLEASE, somebody do SOMETHING to prove that you're not all hypocrites.
Love this new "responsibility" thing, but HATE the fact that good, intelligent newcomers must pay the price for eight years of idiots at the helm. Frankly, I'd like to see these guys get paid double what Bush paid his bozos.
Have cake...appetite growing...
Color me confused, or stupid, or a true skeptic.
How does freezing Rahm Emanuels' pay help people who are losing their jobs, or homes? Or end the illegal BushCo. wars? Or close Gitmo?
Does this mean that Obama will let us see is real birth certificate?
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