And That Is Just Insulting

President Obama will return 5 percent of his salary, retroactive to March 1, in a move intended to symbolize solidarity with federal workers being furloughed as part of the sequester, a White House official said Wednesday.

[...]

The president's salary is $400,000 per year -- a 5 percent pay cut over 10 months represents just under $17,000.

  The Hill

Who thought this was a good idea?

“The president has decided [...] to share in the sacrifice being made by public servants across the federal government that are affected by the sequester."

Sacrifice. $17,000 one time. Out of $400,000.   His share's a little lighter than theirs, I'm guessing.

Earlier this week, the White House announced that 480 staffers who work at the Office of Management and Budget have received furlough notices requiring that they take unpaid days off due to the sequester. Employees were also told to curtail travel and limit the use of office equipment and mobile wireless Internet cards.

But press secretary Jay Carney would not confirm whether members of the West Wing staff would also receive notices.

So, that’s a ‘no’, then.

Even some senators are giving up 20%. Okay, five senators.

The Senate last month passed a measure urging members of the upper chamber to forgo 20 percent of their salary during sequestration. Most senators, however, are keeping quiet on whether they will follow through.

  The Hill

So that’s a ‘no’, then.

[I]n a survey of Senate offices by The Hill, only [Lindsay] Graham [who’s idea it was] and Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) have indicated they would give up some of their take-home pay.

[...]


Senators make $174,000 annually. To fully comply with the Graham measure for a complete calendar year, members would return $34,000 to charity or the Treasury.
[...]

Several other senators said they already donate generously to charity.

Kind of misses the point, doesn’t it?

Graham mentioned the example of Ashton Carter, the deputy Defense secretary who told a Senate committee in February that he would voluntarily forgo 20 percent of his salary if his employees were subject to furloughs because of sequestration.

The Pentagon on Tuesday announced Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will also follow suit by writing a check to the Treasury.

Who advised Obama to give up only 5% when everybody else, making a good deal less than he does, seems to be forking over 20%. Sure makes him look cheap. But not as cheap as Nancy Pelosi.

“I don’t think we should do it; I think we should respect the work we do,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters in February. “I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded.”

What a twat. I’m sorry. I can’t think of a nicer name for that. And, if they were rewarded according to their dignity, they would be working for free.

And this guy is…

An aide to Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said he has never accepted a Senate salary and instead gives his pay to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, which distributes it to local charities.

As he should.

Corker is worth at least $19.6 million, according to financial reports from 2011.

Okay. But most of them are millionaires, and they take the salary anyway. Because they should be rewarded out of respect for the work they do, if you ask the twat.