Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 6:17 a.m.
Last year around this time the federal government consulted with an economist to determine how much the cost-of-living increase should be for the elderly and disabled who are receiving Social Security checks. The economist stated that there was little inflation because gasoline prices were down (about 2 or 3 cents a gallon). Consequently, we were given an increase of 1.4 percent.
I don't know what percentage the members of Congress gave themselves, but I would say it was more than 1.4 percent.
Medicare is raising its premium for 2004 at the rate of 13 percent and cutting back on services that it used to pay for. If anyone needs a 2.2 percent cost-of-living increase, it would be those on Social Security.
How can members of Congress sleep at night? My thanks to Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who admitted this is the wrong time for Congress members to give themselves a pay raise. I also thank Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., for not voting for the pay increase.
There are people who haven't been able to find work in two years or more, money is leaving the country by the billions and we have to worry about raises of 1 percent or 2 percent in our cost-of- living allowances. It's a disgrace.
JEANETTE JARRETT
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