Senate Dem snaps at CNN reporter over lawmaker pay raise question

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) scoffed at a question from CNN reporter Manu Raju, who asked him on Wednesday why lawmakers should get a pay raise as part of a new plan to fund the government.

"Do you guys deserve a pay raise?" Raju asked Durbin.

"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," Durbin said.

"But people look at the performance of Congress and say why should we give them more money?" Raju responded.

"What about the media ... think about that for a second," Durbin said in response.

"We're not paid by public money," Raju shot back.

"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 chided the reporter.

The back-and-forth comes a day after Congress introduced a 1,500 page continuing resolution, part of which would allow lawmakers to receive their first pay raise since 2009.

Members of Congress get $174,000 a year, while those in leadership earn more.

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