Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) snapped at a CNN reporter after he was asked about pay raises in the massive spending bill.
A stop-gap spending bill to fund the government through March 14 was unveiled by lawmakers on Tuesday evening.
If it passes, it would give members of Congress their first pay raise since 2009. Lawmakers currently make $174,000 a year, with those in leadership making more.
Durbin was confronted by CNN reporter Manu Raju, who asked him, “Do you guys deserve a pay raise?” The Democrat senator seemed surprised.
He responded, “Well, that’s news to me, that’s good news. What’s it been, 10 years, 14 years, no COLA raise, no change at all, I think it’s about time something’s done.”
“But people look at the performance of Congress and say why should we give them more money?” Raju then said.
Durbin reacted, “What about the media … think about that for a second,” to which Raju pushed back, “We’re not paid by public money.”
“I know you’re not but half your listeners aren’t there anymore and you’re still getting the same paycheck, what’s going on,” Durbin said.
Watch the video below:
Per CNN, “Multiple GOP lawmakers and senior aides privately predict Johnson won’t get a majority of his conference to back the bill in the end.”
