Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

All of us watching the “fiscal cliff” circus (or as much of it as we’ve been allowed to watch) who are potentially faced with paying higher taxes next year while the country is set to hit the debt limit on New Year’s Eve have only one question on our minds: When will President Obama lift the pay freeze on federal employees?

Well lose sleep no more, America, because that day is today:

President Barack Obama issued an executive order to end the pay freeze on federal employees, in effect giving some federal workers a raise. One federal worker now to receive a pay increase is Vice President Joe Biden.

According to disclosure forms, Biden made a cool $225,521 last year. After the pay increase, he’ll now make $231,900 per year.

Members of Congress, from the House and Senate, also will receive a little bump, as their annual salary will go from $174,000 to 174,900. Leadership in Congress, including the speaker of the House, will likewise get an increase.

Biden’s contract called for an additional performance bonus if he hit more than 100 gaffes during the 2012 election season — a goal he eclipsed easily.

Here’s a good question:

Shouldn’t the senate pass a budget before getting a pay raise? weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-or…

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 28, 2012

They could be thinking that if they pass a budget there might not be enough wiggle room for a pay raise, so it’s best to do it the other way around.

Still no fiscal cliff deal to announce. There are reports of a “mini deal” in the works, which often turn out to be one giant horrible idea chopped into smaller bite-size pieces.

(h/t Twitchy)

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe