Legislators Blasted for Staff Raises

Dozens of outgoing members of Congress increased the salaries of staff members during the last quarter of 1996--weeks before they left their jobs, a private taxpayers group said. And seven House members apparently exceeded office or postage spending limits, said a report by the National Taxpayers Union. “A shocking number of departing congressmen . . . apparently used our tax dollars as a consolation prize for their soon-to-be-unemployed staffs,” said spokesman David Keating. “Fifty-one representatives increased personnel compensation by at least $40,000 in the last quarter,” the report said.