Every United States Senator will receive $2800 increase in their salaries come January 1st 2015. This includes the 41 Republicans who voted to block an increase in the minimum wage. Congress: Leadership Members’ Salary (2014)
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members. Majority Party Leader — .$193,400 Minority Party Leader — $193,400. Rank and file members of the Senate makes slightly less. Each year a cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect unless Congress votes to not accept it. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm .
To a struggling family earning minimum wage, $2800 is a large sum of money. In addition to Senators princely salaries, this additional increase is just another perk of office, paid for by the very tax-payers they voted should not receive an increase. Senators salaries come from the pockets of the people. An increase in the minimum wage does not come from the pocket of Senators. This is Government at it’s worst. An increase in the minimum wage will not force one legitimate business to close,It should not be a burden to any business operating in solvency to pay a living wage to their employees. Paying a living wage to hard working Americans is the right thing to do , it is the moral thing to do.
Forty one Republicans voted to deny poor people a living wage. The annual increase to the salaries of Senators and Congressmen are designed to offset cost of living increases. Where do the poor turn to get a cost of living offset?