Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Raskin, Van Hollen, Cardin not on list of Congresspeople forgoing pay during federal shutdown

Jamie Raskin
UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon, January 9, 2019, Senator Chris Van Hollen announced he has instructed the Financial Clerk of the U.S. Senate to withhold his paycheck until the government shutdown has ended, and federal employees have received back pay they are owed.

"For thee, but not for me:" Congressman Jamie Raskin (D - MD-08) is all over the press lambasting the federal government shutdown, and will even be hosting a "Trump Shutdown" rally tonight in Silver Spring. But one thing Raskin isn't doing is forgoing his own Congressional paycheck during the shutdown. Many of his Democratic colleagues in Maryland and Virginia - including David Trone, Dutch Ruppersburger and Jennifer Wexton - are refusing to accept their paychecks until the shutdown ends, in solidarity with federal workers.
Chris Van Hollen
The two senators representing Montgomery County aren't declining their paychecks either. Chris Van Hollen (D) and Ben Cardin (D) will each continue to accept his $174,000 salary during the shutdown. While Raskin raged about the "shutdown nightmare" when the furloughs began, his own $174,000 salary is a dream he's determined not to wake up from.
Ben Cardin
"Americans are suffering," Cardin declared this past weekend, as he continued to accept his $3346 weekly paycheck. All three men represent a state that has the fourth-highest number of federal employees in the nation, making their failure to sacrifice even more conspicuous as the shutdown drags on.

43 comments:

Anna said...

Privately, members who are taking their regular salary say requests to withhold pay are largely symbolic. Members, who are paid once a month and have not received January checks yet, can ask for their pay to be withheld but will get it back when the shutdown is over. - Jenna Portnoy in WaPo

Are you intimating Mr. Raskin could not get a salary of $174,000 in private practice?
Surely you jest.

Anonymous said...

Lame attempt at diversion from Trump's insane paralyzing of our government.

Anonymous said...

This is the only article on the other SNN blogs this morning. LOL

Anonymous said...

First, they do not receive weekly paychecks.
Second, what a nothingburger of an issue.

Anonymous said...

Of all things to focus on regarding the shutdown, this is what you choose? Come on RD

Robert Dyer said...

5:40: If it's a nothingburger, why are their colleagues forgoing pay during the shutdown?

Anonymous said...

There are like a billion photos of Raskin out there, and you picked that one for your little "news" blog? You really are an eight-year-old, aren't you?

Robert Dyer said...

5:46: I learned that from the Washington Post. Very instructive.

Robert Dyer said...

5:52: Good to know the Montgomery County cartel is still using the "R-word" in 2019. Very enlightened.

Anonymous said...

Of course not. Doesn't apply to them. Plus, Raskin needs to save his sheckels for his hair plug treatments

Anonymous said...

Oh, Dyer. Please stop this nonsense about the "Montgomery County cartel". Just admit the reason that you keep losing elections is that you don't have any experience or achievements to your name, and that you completely lack the temperament that is necessary in a leader.

Anonymous said...

"Cardin...continued to accept his $3346 weekly paycheck"

Nope. There have been no paychecks issued to members of Congress for the month of January.

#FakeNews

Robert Dyer said...

5:59: I've served as an elected official before, and have made countless public speeches and appearances around the county since 2006, and have never had a single incident of "temperament." Meanwhile, George Leventhal was screaming at County employees, berating women about their "body language," and Hans Riemer was calling a candidate with a Latina wife and child a "racist."

Where were your tough comments then?

As far as achievements, I not only pioneered hyperlocal news in Montgomery County, but you can see a partial list of my achievements on RobertDyer.net:

http://robertdyer.net/about_robert

Anonymous said...

Dyer gets all huffy about "retard" but completely ignores the anti-Semitic dog-whistle in @ 5:59 AM (1st of 2).

Anonymous said...

Can the "anonymous" bloggers and county staffers commenting here also post their self proclaimed "accomplishments"?

And, no, the nighttime economy can't be one.

Then you can go back to giving attaboys to senator van hollen, et al

Anna said...

"the 'anonymous' bloggers and (alleged) county staffers commenting here?

Anonymous @6:43AM...let's start with you...what are your self-proclaimed "accomplishments?"

Anonymous said...

Bobbie giving himself not-so-anonymous attaboys. LOL

Anna said...

It's a feature of the authoritarian demagogue (and of those who speak for him) that he of course claims great accomplishments, but also presents himself, even when in power, as the victim of strong and nefarious forces that are frustrating his efforts on behalf of the people. - B. Kristol

Anonymous said...

When your Russian Fuhrer idol forgoes his paycheck then the congressmen and women should do the same, since this shutdown is owned and operated by him. Oh and even Congressman Raskins' photo you provided looks better than and of yours on a good day.

Anonymous said...

7:16 AM Dyer has an "about us" page right on the site. We know more about him that any other blogger or writer in the DC area.

You ask Dyer the same questions again and again.

7:12 AM Agreed! Like someone claiming the nighttime economy task force was an "accomplishment"?

7:02 AM Let those who brought up the topic of accomplishments answer the question.

Anonymous said...

7:18 AM With your attaboy to Raskin, you should be a local blogger or county staff if you're not already! You'd fit in perfect.

Anonymous said...

7:51 AM You're going in circles man...lol.
All these years and you have the same grievances and repeated questions you're stuck on, like a broken record.

Anonymous said...

"Grievances" again.

Not "going in circles". Just returning to the same questions that Dyer keeps evading.

Such as, what was the last job that Robert Dyer held, for which he was paid? The answer cannot be found on the "about us" page on his blog.

Anonymous said...

8:35am Dyer has an 'about us' here

Hopefully you're being paid per comment, otherwise what a complete waste of your time

Anonymous said...

Hey, Birdbrain @ 8:39 AM - the answer to that question is not on his "About Us" page.

Anonymous said...

8:40 AM Given that isn't a factual statement, would you produce evidence to your false claim?

...

I didn't think so.

Anonymous said...

8:50 AM Dyer is the publisher of this digital network of local news sites.

You're welcome.

Anna said...

7:20, aka Unsigned Dyer?
You act as if it's one person asking all the time. It's not just one. Almost everyone is asking. The more you run from the question, the more suspicious it becomes. What's wrong with asking what jobs someone has held? Anyone else reading this blog that would duck and run when asked?

What's funny is that Riemer hasn't claimed the nighttime economy was an "accomplishment." Has he ever indicated it was a success? Nope. Not that I've read.

Mr. Van Hollen is NOT taking his salary. He's asked that it be held.


The fingerprints of a koala are so indistinguishable from humans that they have on occasion been confused at a crime scene.

Anonymous said...

$5 Billion is a pittance for a Federal Government that spends more than twice that each day - it's absurd that the government is shutdown over $5 Billion. Give Trump his $5 Billion, reopen the government and make the case to the voters that the $5 Billion was wasteful.

Anonymous said...

$5 billion here, $5 billion there, and barely any time you have an annual deficit equal to the entire national debt before 1981.

Anna said...

Yep. Especially since that "barrier" will cost $25 billion. Probably more, since it has to be made with US steel.

Anonymous said...

10:22am Dyer is publisher of this network of local news sites. What more do you want? You're just harassing at this point.

All privately owned local news sites or magazines around here have pointedly refused to disclose their financials, so Dyer is as transparent as anyone else.

Anonymous said...

11:05 AM/11:14 AM Your obsession with Dyer is weird.
Dyer has broad experience, please check his "About Us".
Yes, he is publisher of local news sites.

Apparently, you have Dyer's social security # and already know more than he does?
What did your little background check tell you?

Anonymous said...

I'm not in favor of making political points at the expense of Federal workers. $5 Billion is a pittance for a Federal Government that spends more than twice that each day - it's absurd to shutdown the government over $5 Billion. Give Trump his $5 Billion, reopen the government and make the case to the voters that the $5 Billion was wasteful and that government spending as a whole must be reduced to reduce the deficit - but don't ask Federal workers to assume the burden of an obvious political point.

Anonymous said...

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! BUILD THE WALL END THE SHUTDOWN! OR PLACE A MILITARY SHARPSHOOTER EVERY 1000 YARDS AND MAKE IT KNOWN THAT IF YOU CROSS THE LINE YOU'LL DIE!!!

Anonymous said...

11:45 AM You're the one that is paranoid. Presumably you have Dyer's financial information if you're so sure you know so much about him and obsess about it.

Anna said...

11:52 - Oh dear, what set you off today? for heaven's sake, you're making things up as you go.

I don't give a rat's patootie about Dyer. 7:16 asked an easy question. 7:20 answered a question not asked of him and chastized the other anonymous poster for asking. (why an anonymous reader would care this much...your guess is as good as mine)
I defended the asking of the question.
Next thing you know, it's me under fire. By the anonymous person.

You've got to admit...It IS peculiar the reaction when he(you) gets asked a basic question.

Anonymous said...

12:04 PM Yes, it's a wonderful question and is covered under "about us" on this very site.

Next you'll (either under your fake name or "anonymous") will claim Dyer doesn't work, while you're reading the fruits of his labor everyday. Makes no sense.

Oh my...Hopefully none of these "anonymous" comments are coming from MoCo's least paid employee who had trolled Dye for years.

Anna said...

And it always comes back not believing I'm who I say I am.

Ever since I started using my name, I post under this name, exclusively. Period.

12:09, you have an uneasy relationship with reality. Conflating info & not being able to tell the difference.

Anonymous said...

One of the many grievances that MoCo's least paid employee has had with Dyer is ironically about pay...lol

Robert Dyer said...

7:12: Did "B. Kristol" find the WMDs in Iraq yet? LOL

Has he apologized for the war crimes he helped to facilitate? He's certainly not a credible source for factual information, advice or common sense.

Anna said...

8:41AM - Whataboutism again? Pfft. Typical Dyer

Anonymous said...

Ben Cardin voted against the Iraq War.

(Chris Van Hollen and Jamie Raskin were not in Congress in 2002.)