Pay Raise: How's it Playing?

Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brazaitis: "Rush Limbaugh and other critics of pay raises past are not likely to expend much air time on a salary adjustment for a Republican-controlled Congress. And we, the taxpayers, can only applaud the newfound spirit of cooperation between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill" (9/21).

Racine (WI) Journal Times: "Why is it in this day and age our congressional representatives haven't caught on to the idea that the public doesn't like to see officeholders try to slip something by? ... For senators and representatives who want to make a statement against the chicanery of last week, we suggest they decline the pay boost and have it refunded to the federal treasury" (9/23).

Salt Lake City Deseret News: "The House of Representatives provided another example last week of why so many Americans lack trust in their government ... By being secretive the only thing they accomplished was shining a spotlight on their petty act. They didn't need to be underhanded. They could have made a very strong case they deserved the raise" (9/22).

Washington Post: "A vote in favor [of a COLA] is defensible. It's avoiding such a vote that's not" (9/24).