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If Congress is unable to do its job and pass a federal budget, then I do not believe we should receive a salary.

I think that for the next short period of time, our No. 1 priority is Congress needs to do its work and extend the payroll tax cut.

For Members of Congress, we are saying here on the Democratic side of the aisle we are not going to vote for another pay increase for Members of Congress until the American people get an increase.

Obviously no one wants to give members of Congress a lot of money, because they barely do anything, and many of them are terrible, but a Congress that is made up of rich-but-not-super-rich people is going to be more corruptible than a Congress of really rich people.

There are bills being discussed to raise the amount that Members of Congress pay in to their benefits and I support these pieces of legislation.

If we're going to spend more money, it should go to the soldiers, Marines, and airmen to increase their salaries.

There isn't a political price to be paid yet for doing nothing. People need to get upset with President Bush. People need to get upset with their Congressmen.

If taxpayers want better results from Congress, they must stop paying their elected officials for failure. After all, you get what you pay for.

Harry Reid and the Senate haven't passed a budget. Their pay should be reduced until they do.

So, the point I'm making is, we are not going to cut spending in Washington if we think it's the job of every congressman and senator is to pave local parking lots and build local sewer plants. These parochial interests are getting in the way of the national interests.