Editorial: House should address compensation in open

Sunday, March 21, 1999 | 10:05 a.m.

Here's how Thomas' scheme would work: Lawmakers could claim a living allowance of $125 a day to offset their day-to-day expenses in Washington. To pay for the per diem, a House member could divert funds that were instead designated for office expenses -- such as staff salaries, equipment and rent. Since members of Congress currently can't claim living expenses, Thomas proposed that the House Administration Committee, which he heads, could make the change administratively within the committee.

Near the end of the week, though, Thomas was backpedaling and said he would consider it only if the leadership from both parties endorsed the plan. So far, both Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., have given Thomas' proposal a decidedly chilly reception.

Elected officials are wary of raising their pay because they fear an increase might generate a voter backlash. So they hunt for ways to increase their compensation without having to cast votes that opponents could use against them in future campaigns. What some of these officials don't comprehend, however, is that these maneuvers fuel even more cynicism, since lawmakers fail to assume responsibility and discuss openly why a compensation hike is needed. Thomas' backdoor proposal deserves to be junked.