Legal Commentary

Reid Adds Judicial Pay Raise To Auto Bailout

By Big Tent Democrat

Good for Harry Reid:

If the $14 billion bailout plan for U.S. automakers passes, it will help more than just Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. Federal judges would get a pay raise, as well. The raise — an annual cost of living adjustment, or COLA — would bring U.S. District court judges up to par with members of Congress, who will receive an almost $5,000 boost on Jan. 1. District judges and lawmakers now earn $169,300 a year but are expected to be awarded a 2.8 percent raise next year, said Dick Carelli, a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., insisted that the judicial pay raise go into the automaker loan measure, which is the only item of business on Congress' lame-duck agenda.

Federal judges are underpaid as it is. This COLA is only fair.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 11, 2008 (boomark / email).