Pay Raise for Government Leaders in the Works

by TJ Walker

The Republicans behind the push to raise presidential pay are always telling us that government should be run more like a benefit. Let's see if they walk their talk. Is the current level of pay for this job making it hard to fill the position with qualified applicants? Hmmm, that is debatable, but there is no shortage of candidates. Most Republicans who have ever gotten elected to any office higher than precinct captain are actively planning a bid for the White House.

Does the current pay of $200,000 per year, plus $50,000 expense money, a mansion to live in, personal chefs, bodyguards, and staff translate into personal hardship or a significant decrease in living standards for presidents? Not unless you are Steve Forbes.

Who would run for president if the salary were $400,000 per year, but would not run if the salary were kept at $200,000? Clinton had never earned more than $35,000 per year before running for president. Increased salary wouldn't have changed his behavior. George W. Bush, born with a 12-piece silver set perched on his head for all to see, "earned" $14 million dollars last year in a sweetheart Texas business deal. How could an extra 200K motivate him? And if Steve Forbes were walking down the street and saw $200,000 in the gutter, it's hard to imagine him even bothering to pick it up.

There is no "business" or "sound management" reason for giving the president a raise. Beyond having an excellent government retirement package as president, there is the retirement package provided by the American people. Namely, ex-presidents are given the fame and prestige to make millions, write best-sellers and be treated like royalty around the globe for the rest of their lives, even scoundrels like Nixon. Even a $95 million severance package from Disney doesn't guarantee you that.

There is only one reason why lawmakers want to raise the president's salary; they believe it will then be much easier to boost their own salaries from what they consider to be a miserly $136,700 per year.

"If the president makes $400,000, then we deserve, oh, say $320,000 per year," goes their reasoning.

If lawmakers really want to boost presidential income and net worth, then they should pass a law that would imprison the likes of Paula Jones, Judicial Watch's Larry Klayman, Landmark's Mark Levin, and the other puppets in Richard Mellon Scaife's traveling carnival who are intent on bankrupting presidents over policy.