WASHINGTON — The recession and rising joblessness has millions of Americans cutting their household budgets, but times are flush for lawmakers.
The House of Representatives, with little comment, on Friday approved an 8 percent increase in the budget for members’ office expenses.
House members will get an average $1.5 million in the budget year starting in October to run their Washington and district offices and cover official expenses. Overall, the budget for what the House calls members’ representational allowances, or MRAs, will jump $51 million to $660 million.
The money is part of a $3.7 billion spending bill to run Congress and its associated agencies such as the Library of Congress and the Capitol Police the House passed Friday.
Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, said it was "more than ironic that Congress is going in the opposite direction” at a time when most businesses are trying to find ways to reduce spending.
The increase did have its defenders. Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., chairman of the House Administration Committee, said the demands on member offices have increased dramatically with the economic downturn, "and staff have been called on to work harder and smarter to ensure that we are meeting those growing needs.”
But Jordan Forbes, federal government affairs manager for the National Taxpayers Union, said the increase was "fiscally reckless” in the current economic atmosphere.
"Congress is losing its credibility,” she said.
by the associated press
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