Barrett to donate pay raise to charity

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett will donate his $4,700 annual pay raise to an Upstate charity, the Oconee lawmaker announced in a news release.

Members of the U.S. Congress earn $169,300 in base pay. Those in leadership earn more. Each member receives automatic pay raises, or a cost of living adjustment, unless the body votes not to receive them.

Barrett said the Congress should have taken a vote to freeze pay for its members given the difficulty many Americans are having holding on to their jobs.

“Many Americans are receiving their last paycheck as businesses across the country close and cut back," Barrett said in a news release. "Today, more Americans are looking for work than at any point in over a decade. Our economy is struggling because some businesses were not accountable to or transparent with their customers, suppliers, and shareholders. Just as businesses have a responsibility to be accountable and transparent, so does Congress." 

DeMint urges Bush to not to bailout carmakers

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., joined six other Republicans from the South and Midwest in urging President Bush not to divert to embattled carmakers money Congress approved to rescue the financial services industry.

DeMint and his GOP colleagues sent a letter to Bush, who pledged to send aid to domestic automakers after lawmakers in the Senate failed to approved the aid last week. 

Graham, Wilson oppose auto bailout plan

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, both issued statements today opposing the plan passed by the U.S. House that would extend billions of dollars in loans to the failing auto industry.

The plan is scheduled to come before the Senate in the next few days.

"I oppose the current auto bailout plan," Graham said. "Simply put, the model Detroit has created will not sustain itself in the global economy."

Said Wilson: "While I am sympathetic to the situation facing the Big Three automakers, I do not believe that the circumstances warrant such a massive taxpayer funded bailout -- particularly when there are other existing avenues of relief and restructuring they have yet to pursue."