Dem senator clashes with CNN reporter over Congress pay elevate: Your paycheck is identical regardless of low scores

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-In poor health., locked horns with a CNN reporter on Wednesday after he realized the “excellent news” that lawmakers would doubtlessly be getting a pay elevate.

The proposed spending invoice in Congress will give lawmakers their first pay elevate since 2009, one thing which has acquired combine response throughout the political spectrum. 

Durbin was requested in regards to the congressional pay raises by CNN host Manu Raju, who requested, “members are giving themselves a pay elevate. Do you guys deserve a pay elevate?”

“Nicely, that‘s information to me. It‘s excellent news,” Durbin responded. “You understand what has it been 10 years or 14 years and no cola, no change in any respect? I believe it‘s about time one thing‘s accomplished.”

Senator Dick Durbin turned the tables on a CNN reporter when he had been requested about lawmakers on the hill doubtlessly getting a elevate.

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When requested once more whether or not he helps the elevate, Durbin continued to specific shock on the provision, “How would I not learn about a pay elevate?”

Raju pressed the senator, suggesting that “individuals have a look at the efficiency of Congress and say, ‘Why ought to we give them extra money?'”

Nonetheless, Durbin fired again on the CNN reporter, asking him how he and his colleagues within the media receives a commission the identical when their scores are down. 

“What in regards to the media? Take into consideration that for a second,” Durbin mentioned.

“We’re not paid by public cash,” Raju replied. 

“I do know you’re not,” Durbin mentioned. “However I imply, half of your listeners will not be there anymore. You‘re nonetheless getting the identical paycheck. What‘s occurring?”

“Nicely, I imply, you’re taxpayer cash, I imply, you guys deserve a elevate?” Raju requested.

Committee chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, D-In poor health., speaks throughout a listening to of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Washington.  (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

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The change was mentioned by a CNN panel the place they defended their colleague Raju. 

“I assumed it was so attention-grabbing this morning. Dick Durbin didn’t know this was within the invoice when Manu was asking him about it this morning, and he was arguing that it was nice data for him as a result of it had been a decade,” CNN congressional correspondent Lauren Fox mentioned. 

“And he’s a type of who’s a traditional individual relating to his checking account,” CNN host Dana Bash added.

In keeping with a current Gallup ballot, the information media is the “least trusted group amongst 10 U.S. civic and political establishments,” with the U.S. Congress solely barely behind at 34%.

Liberal information networks have certainly taken successful since Trump gained the election.

MSNBC averaged 807,000 whole day viewers and CNN managed 488,000. Throughout primetime, MSNBC averaged 1.7 million viewers from 8-11 p.m. ET and CNN settled for under 700,000.

In early December, regardless of the busy information cycle, CNN’s bleak viewers was smaller than TNT, Meals Community, Freeform, Discovery, INSP, Hallmark Thriller, TLC, TBS, Historical past, HGTV, USA, MSNBC, Paramount, Hallmark Channel, ESPN and Fox Information. 

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Fox Information’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.