Congressman So Sad He Is Not Getting A Raise, Is Not So Sad About Your Stupid Minimum Wage

Looks like poor Lee Terry (R-Nebbish Rascal) is in dire straits again. Terry, you may recall, was one of several House members who explained that they really really needed their salaries during last fall's government shutdown, because they work darn hard for their money, and unlike other people, not getting paid was uncomfortable . Back in October, Terry explained he wasn't going to stop collecting a salary during the shutdown, because

"you know what? I’ve got a nice house and a kid in college, and I’ll tell you we cannot handle it. Giving our paycheck away when you still worked and earned it? That’s just not going to fly.”

And of course he eventually sang the "I'm Very" Song and agreed to have his pay withheld during the shutdown, to be delivered to him after it was over so he could still pay for his nice house. Man has obligations, after all.

So now, after his Democratic challenger, Brad Ashford, called for a Congressional pay cut, seeing as how this Congress has worked less than any other, ever, Terry is hunching over his precious salary, muttering 'Mine, Mine... they can't have it..." and also explaining that long-suffering congressmen like Lee Terry are really suffering, because it's just been AGES since they've gotten a raise:

“What he’s not telling you is that Congress hasn’t had a cost of living increase since 2008, when I led the charge for a freeze,” Terry told KMTV. Members of Congress last voted for a raise of $4,700 in 2009.

And by gosh, if Lee Terry has to get by on just $174,000 a year, then other people are going to have to tighten their belts, too: Terry has consistently voted against any increases in the minimum wage, most recently just last year. 

We know that Lee Terry is clearly having a hard time of it, getting by on that puny salary with his nice house and kids in school and investments and stuff, so maybe you all could help him out and send him some tips on how to scrimp and save on day-to-day expenses. For instance, we've managed to stretch out the time between laundry days by wearing the same "Brony" tee shirt for three days, now, and while this is more a happy accident of the "blogging lifestyle" than a conscious decision, we figure we've probably saved a couple quarters that would have otherwise gone into a washing machine, and now can go to booze instead. Send your money-saving tips to

Congressman Lee Terry

2331 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington DC 20515-2702

If you happen to live in his district, you can e-mail him, but Congressional emails tend to bounce folks from the wrong Zip codes. Besides, a letter is so much more personal, don't you think? After all, McDonalds went and closed its McMoney-saving McResource line for McSerfs, so poor ol' Lee is going to need all the help he can get from us.

Update: Or as resourceful Wonket Operative "Maman" points out, you could also tweet your money-saving tips tohttps: //twitter.com/LEETERRYNE 

[ TPM ]