President Obama offers Michele Bachmann a raise she doesn't want

By Aaron Rupar Wed., Jan. 2 2013 at 12:41 PM

Bachmann did something most workers in this tough economy wouldn't imagine: Refuse and denounce a raise offer.

When he signed an executive order calling for an end to a longstanding pay freeze for members of Congress and other federal employees last Thursday, President Obama essentially offered Michele Bachmann a $900-a-year raise. But Bachmann and a majority of her colleagues in the GOP-controlled House wanted nothing to do with it.

SEE ALSO: The City Pages 2012 Michele Bachmann Reader

Yesterday, Bachmann introduced legislation to overturn Obama's executive order and scrap a pay raise for a variety of federal employees, not just including members of Congress. The bill ended up being approved in the House by a 287-129 margin, though it hasn't yet been taken up by the Senate.

The Hill reports that the fiscal cliff deal approved by both the House and Senate contains a one-sentence provision blocking the raise just for Congress members.

More from the Huffington Post:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) slammed Obama for bringing "unnecessary drama" by approving a Congressional pay raise in the midst of the fiscal cliff fight.

Obama signed an executive order Thursday calling for an end to a years-long pay freeze that would give returning members of Congress, federal workers and Vice President Joe Biden a half-percent to one percent pay increase. The fiscal cliff deal blocked that pay hike for members of Congress.

Before Congress passed the fiscal cliff deal, Bachmann introduced legislation to take away the pay increase. The former GOP presidential hopeful claimed Obama "decided to take the law into his own hands and in effect become his own congress" by giving it approval...

"This is drama. Unnecessary drama," Bachmann said. "President Obama bears the responsibility for his failure to lead and his intentional effort it appears to mislead the American republic with this cynical bill."

Some might argue taking to the House floor to decry a pay raise that's been blocked the night before by the Democrat-controlled Senate constitutes "unnecessary drama" as well, but Michele's never been one to turn down an opportunity for some Obama-bashing political theater.

Patch.com transcribed the entirety of Bachmann's floor speech, and the C-SPAN footage has been uploaded to YouTube. Click to page two to check those out.

Tags:

Fiscal Cliff

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Kerry J. McCarty

Thanks To the bill Bachmann introduced... the House overturned Obama's executive order and voted to keep the federal employee pay freeze through 2013.

James Vierling

Klugherz, you are funny! Bachmann is here for us. And without her, the Stillwater Lift Bridge would never have happened ... She makes me proud to be a Minnesotan every day!

MicheleBachmann topcommenter

@James Vierling What a smart thing to say! You must be super extremely smart to think Michele Bachmann is so awesome. You know what I love to do which is so fun? Every night when I get home from work I sit in my garage with my car running listening to Michele's best speeches. You should try it sometime because you are so smart. If you start feeling light headed its just Michele's good ideas chasing out all the liberal stupidity from your head. Remember, garage door closed, car on, and about 5 hours of Michele's speeches. You will have so much fun.

Matthias Weigel

Pot, kettle. .

Sallyjos topcommenter

First elected the same year as Bachmann, Tim Walz has turned down every raise that the Class of 2006 has received. He continues to return these raises to the U.S. Treasury, year after year, and so still makes $165,200/year for his work in Washington and Southern Minnesota. He serves on the ag, veterans and transportation committees and the congressional commission on China (he speaks Mandarin). He'll likely turn down additional raises.

Bachmann on the other hand, makes $174,000, and serves on the Financial Services Select Intelligence committees. Like Walz, she could send any raises she's gotten back to the Treasury, but the added income doesn't seem to have bothered her much.

senatortombstone

@Sallyjos She could, but she still has to pay taxes on the income. Most people do not turn down pay increases, if their employer is willing to give them. Whether she or the entire House or Senate keep their raises or not, makes no difference. Not when we are 16 trillion in debt and have another 100 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Gather the golden eggs while you can.