“No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.” So reads the 27th Amendment to the US Constitution. Simply put, if Congress receives a pay raise, such an increase cannot take affect until after the next election. The idea being that voters will have a opportunity to evaluate members of Congress and determine whether they are fit to return after enacting such self-serving legislation.

The 27th Amendment, which was initially proposed in September 1789, only took affect in May 1992. Since that time Congress has enacted more pay raises than any sane person or law clerk would care to count. Each and every pay increase has been enacted to take affect virtually immediately, blatantly disregarding the 27th Amendment’s requirement of an intervening election. Just last week, Congress did it again. The House and Senate gave themselves a $3,000 raise, and while the leftist media has portrayed this a money grab by the GOP, it should be noted that the Democrats enthusiastically went along for the ride, just as they did when they controlled the Congress.

How can the United States Congress get away with such a blatant disregard for the law? In the first place, the ignorance of ordinary citizens plays a role. Most people can’t quote any amendment to the Constitution, much less the 27th and even if they could Congress has been clever enough to refer to these pay increases by a more palatable term: “cost-of-living increases.” Such cost-of-living increases are automatic, unless blocked by the Congress, making the current Congressional salary over $165,000 per year, which is about $164,999 too much. Don’t we all wish we could give ourselves a cost-of-living increase whenever it pleased us? The fact of the matter is, however, even a cost-of-living increase is an unquestionable violation of the Constitution. The 27th Amendment simply refers to variations in “compensation” which would include a cost-of-living increase.

If anything, Congress deserves a pay cut and a significant one. Their performance as legislators is a joke at best. While they drive this country into bankruptcy, each criticizing the other for record deficits, they enact raises for themselves, without so much as an inkling of debate. Our elected leaders should truly be ashamed. We at the Phalanx, encourage our readers to contact their Congressman and make them aware that such chicanery has not gone unnoticed.
Link to Washington Post article