CNN.com – Democrats vow to block pay raises until minimum wage increased – June 27, 2006: “WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Democrats ratcheted up their election-year push for an increase in the federal minimum wage Tuesday by promising to block a congressional pay hike unless some of the lowest-paid hourly workers get their first raise in nearly a decade.

‘Congress is going to have earn its raise by putting American workers first: A raise for workers before a raise for Congress,’ said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Reid refused to spell out exactly how he will block a $3,300 pay raise scheduled for January 1 for members of Congress, who currently earn $165,200 annually. He said with 40 Senate Democrats backing the maneuver, ‘We can stop anything they (Republicans) try to do with a congressional pay raise.'”

So finally someone has a bright idea…Now can we talk about that congressional health insurance? I would just love that kind of benefit…