Fiscal cliff… what fiscal cliff?

Barack Obama quietly authorized pay raises to Vice President Biden, members of Congress, and federal judges, reports The Weekly Standard.

The Armed Forces have been graciously granted a 1.7% pay raise as well. As an example of what this largesse translates to in dollars and sense, a Marine Corps private will receive an increase of $24 a month, up from $1,379 in 2012 to $1,403 in 2013.

To put this raise in perspective, consider that a haircut typically costs a Marine $6. To stay in compliance with Corps grooming regulations most leathernecks have their hair cut at least one a week. The new authorized pay raise will thus offset the cost of a month’s worth of haircuts.

For The Head Honchos, Not So Much…

Raising questions about Obama’s seriousness in cutting federal spending, a senior Republican congressional aide is quoted as saying that pay raise will cost the American taxpayer $11 billion over the next 10 years.

The postings at the federal government’s official website for the Office of Personnel Management are as follows:

SCHEDULE 6–VICE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

(Effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after March 27, 2013)

Vice President . . . $231,900

Senators . . . 174,900

Members of the House of Representatives. . . 174,900

Delegates to the House of Representatives. . . 174,900

Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico . . . 174,900

President pro tempore of the Senate. . . . 194,400

Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate. . . 194,400

Majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives . . . 194,400

Speaker of the House of Representatives. . . 224,600

SCHEDULE 7–JUDICIAL SALARIES

(Effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after March 27, 2013)

Chief Justice of the United States . . . $223,500

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. . . 213,900

Circuit Judges . . . 184,500

District Judges. . . 174,000

Judges of the Court of International Trade. . . 174,000