Austerity pain? Not for Congress

They'll be collecting their pay next month. Three guesses who won't be subject to deep budget cuts when sequestration hits Friday.

The across-the-board reductions set to begin tomorrow might eventually close air-traffic control towers, reduce the number of nutrition vouchers for low-income children and lead to unpaid leave at the Pentagon and other agencies.

The cuts, known as sequestration, will have no impact on the president, U.S. lawmakers and other top government officials. It is especially ironic that Congress, which has the power to avert the reductions, has nothing to lose in the negotiations, said Dan Gordon, former head of federal procurement in the Obama administration.

'The members of Congress are damaging our country by their refusal to repeal sequestration, and I think the American public would like them to personally feel some of the pain they are imposing,' said Gordon, an associate dean at GeorgeWashington University law school in Washington.

Yeah, given the relative popularity of Congress, I think it's safe to say the public would like to see some pain inflicted in that quarter. They could start with having to actually show up to work. Instead, they'll still be getting their paychecks.(Boehner's is $223,500). No wonder it's so easy for the GOP to say "fuck the military, education, FAA, Meals on Wheels." Then they leave for another long weekend.