Harry Reid: Congressional Budget Increased To Pay GOP Staffers

[Wetzelbill]

A ten percent increase in the budget for Congressional operations was needed because Senate Republicans wanted to retain previous staff levels despite having lost roughly 20 percent of their ranks in the 2008 elections, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Wednesday.

Congressional Republicans have been pouncing on any instance of wasteful spending they can find, but the congressional-operations.line item will likely remain safe from their ire.

The one-tenth hike brings the budget for Congress itself to $4.4 billion.

Reid, asked about the increase at a press conference, initially dodged the question, speaking instead about spending in general.

The unsatisfied reporter repeated the question about a ten percent raise for the congressional budget. "How is that going to help get out of the depression?" she pressed.

Don't blame us, said Reid.

"We had a situation -- you should direct that question to Senator McConnell," he said, referring to the Senate Minority Leader, "because we had trouble organizing this year. He wanted to maintain a lot of their staffing even though they had lost huge numbers. And the only way we could get it done is to do what we did. So you should direct that question to Senator McConnell."

A McConnell spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/25/reid-congressional-budget_n_169847.html

[Mari333]

1. assholes. nt

[Wetzelbill]

4. Maybe those staffers should take personal responsibility and not live off the gubmint tit?

Just a thought. :)

[Mari333]

5. big government! big government!

isnt that what Jindal said? and yet, when it comes to their own bank accounts....

[Lebam in LA]

2. another spineless answer from Reid

:cry:

[HereSince1628]

3. The real problem is that without Harry insisting that filibusters require actually filibustering

he has absolutely no power without the 60 votes required for cloture.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. Reid is such a sack of crap.

[Infomaniac]

7. Fiscal Conservatives My Butt

So if I'm reading this correctly, the budget was increased by $400 million dollars to pay for more staff for fewer Repug senators? That's more than the stimulus bill alloted for birth control measures; which the GOP screamed was wasteful spending. Hmmm. Methinks I should make sure said staffers have actual work to do by flooding Meanie Mitch's office with e-mails about these dubious expenditures. Anybody with me?

[Wetzelbill]

8. that's about it yes

How ridiculous huh? And after all that posturing about petty things in the bill as you pointed out.

[DireStrike]

9. Fucking Reid

Oh, you guys want more public funds to fight us and kick our asses, even though you lost the election and don't deserve a dime of it?

Where do I sign?


Hairless Reid.

[Wetzelbill]

10. lol

[RamboLiberal]

11. Obama's people need to get on this and publicize it

Show up the assholes for the hypocrites they are.

K&R - off to greatest with you.

[barbtries]

12. what's stopping the democrats

from just saying no? they've probably just got their "staff" working on the next campaign anyway.