Bonus Hypocrisy, Anyone?

Near and dear to your memory is the recent herniating event regarding the bonuses paid to AIG -- despite the fact that the Demorats and the Obama Administration -- not to mention, specifically, Mr Geithner and Mr Dodd -- knew the bonus checks were forthcoming and helped to craft the bonuses into the stimulus package itself.

"Heresy!" the Demorats cried in unison. "You cannot have bonuses paid by government!"

Really?

Have you heard that, at the same time -- in the fourth quarter of last year -- the US government, the House of Representatives, gave bonuses to their employees?

Bad for private industry, good for government?

Heard about this in the DEM/MSM? Gosh, I'll wager not.

From LegiStorm.com:

The Wall Street Journal has reviewed the annual practice of lawmakers rewarding staff with annual bonuses - and this past year they appeared to do so in record numbers, according to the LegiStorm data that the Journal cited.

Bonuses are not unusual on Capitol Hill. But 2008 seems to have been an unusually big year for bonuses, according to the most recent House data LegiStorm analyzed. Each year, personnel compensation rises in the fourth quarter in the House of Representatives (data for the Senate is not yet available and is not as easily broken down). But in 2008, average pay per House employee spiked the most in the eight years since we have begun tracking salary data.

The Journal found that House bonuses ranged as high as $14,000. The New York Post also ran a more focused story this week about Rep. Vito Fossela's (R-N.Y.)generosity with bonuses as he served out a scandal-ridden last few months in office.

Go here for LegiStorm's graph of salaries, where an average DC Capitol Hill staffer was paid 17% more in the final quarter of 2008 than in the previous three quarters.

The Wall Street Journal wrote:

WASHINGTON -- While Congress has been flaying companies for giving out bonuses while on the government dole, lawmakers have a longstanding tradition of rewarding their own employees with extra cash -- also courtesy of taxpayers.

What do you make of this quote:

Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California handed out the largest payments, giving $14,000 apiece to three aides. Spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod said her boss is "proud of the bonuses she is able to give."

I say: these "bonuses" come from taxpayers; me and you.

PLUS, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

HARRISBURG -- Eighty of the 100 Democratic state (PA) House staffers awarded the biggest bonuses in their government paychecks last year either donated money to or worked on the political campaigns of the two powerful Democratic leaders who controlled the bonuses.

Hypocrisy rampant, anyone? Very selective hypocrisy?

Imagine this as well: a totally silent media.

Your tax dollars at work.

BZ