Maybe they’re still hung over from last night’s New Year’s drunken orgy or perhaps they didn’t want Vice President Biden to show up dressed as Baby New Year if they didn’t act on the Fiscal Cliff, but it seems that Senate Republicans slipped in a provision to impose a pay freeze on their salaries. Now, it seems that House Republicans just did the same. Is it possible that America got its New Year’s resolution of Republicans not being such dicks? Well, it seems Democrats think this is nothing but a political cover.

The Senate version of the bill included a one-sentence provision that sought to prevent a scheduled cost-of-living adjustment for representatives and senators. According to RollCall, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, (R-NH), voiced her intentions to introduce legislation to halt the Congressional salary hike. And, according to House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA), Congress just passed a Congressional pay freeze with H.R. 6726 in a 287-129 vote.

 Eric Cantor 

@GOPLeader

The House of Representatives has just passed a Congressional pay freeze with H.R. 6726 in a 287-129 vote. #TCOT

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But Democrats believe this to be yet another cynical ploy on part of Republicans; furthermore, that the vote serves as a ’political cover‘ for conservative Republicans planning to vote against the fiscal cliff bill passed early Tuesday by the Senate.

Holding the pay vote before the fiscal cliff bill is voted on, “is one of the most cynical things I’ve seen,” said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), whose district is home to hundreds of thousands of federal employees. “It’s being held purely to provide protection for House Republicans who want to vote against the fiscal cliff deal.” (Washington Post)

That the bill was co-sponsored by Darrell Issa (R-CA) should immediately tip you off sordid intentions.

 Michael is a comedian/VO artist/Columnist extraordinaire, who co-wrote an award-nominated comedy, produces a chapter of Laughing Liberally, wrote for NY Times Laugh Lines, guest-blogged for Joe Biden, and writes a column for MSNBC.com affiliated Cagle Media. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook, and like NJ Laughing Liberally Lab if you love political humor from a progressive point-of-view. Seriously, follow him or he’ll send you a photo of Rush Limbaugh bending over in a thong.

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