House leader defends congressional pay raises

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, Sunday defended new pay raises for Congress, saying lawmakers work hard and deserve more money.

Armey's comments came after the House late last week cleared the way for a 3.3 percent cost-of-living increase-translating into a raise of about $5,000 to about $155,000 for members of Congress, the fourth such increase in four years.

"I don't know why anybody in America would say, 'Mr. Big Shot, get yourself elected to Congress and then be stupid enough to deny yourself the pay and benefits that your job warrants,'" Armey, who is retiring at the end of this year, said during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

He added, "It's bizarre that people would have that kind of an unrealistic expectation of hardworking people."

Armey said the current formula gives legislators smaller cost-of-living increases than government workers.