**Headline: Congress Wants a Raise? Good Luck with That!**
So, a federal court just told Congress it can’t keep canceling its own cost-of-living adjustments. The ruling suggests lawmakers have been playing a bit fast and loose with the Constitution, specifically the 27th Amendment, which says any pay changes for Congress don’t kick in until after an election.
But don’t get too excited, Congress — your paycheck isn’t going to get a sudden boost. You see, even though some lawmakers have been whining about their stagnant salaries of $174,000 (which is still nearly $100,000 more than the median American household income), they’ve voted to block pay increases over 20 times since 2009. Apparently, the fear of political backlash from giving themselves a raise is more potent than their desire for a little financial relief.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, one of the whiners — I mean, plaintiffs — is celebrating this ruling, claiming it shows their previous actions weren’t exactly constitutional. But here’s the kicker: while they’re high-fiving each other over a potential victory, the actual process of figuring out any back pay could drag on for months or even years. Good luck cashing in those checks, folks.
Experts are saying that while the ruling might finally give Congress some legal cover to justify a pay bump, they’re still stuck in a political quagmire. Legislation is already in the works to block any cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. Because, of course, why would you want to make your job more appealing when you can keep complaining about it?
And let’s not forget Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who somehow thinks it’s a bad idea to raise congressional salaries while the average American struggles to make ends meet. It’s almost as if she’s trying to play the hero while simultaneously ignoring the irony of Congress whining about low pay while sitting pretty compared to the rest of the country.
So, will Congress finally give themselves a raise? Don’t hold your breath. They might just keep repeating the same old refrain: “We’re working hard for the American people!” while still sitting on a mountain of unspent salary.
When it comes to Congress, it seems the only thing that’s guaranteed to rise is the absurdity of their excuses.
By Admin | Published: May 26, 2026 at 1:15 pm
