Instead of calling on his liberal party leaders – who he himself chose to run the Senate – to do their jobs and pass a fiscally responsible federal budget, liberal U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is engaging in yet another blatant act of political posturing.

As The Hill reports this morning, Manchin – who is a millionaire several times over – is promising to return his salary to the Treasury if his party bosses follow through on their threats of a government shutdown.

Despite his very public pronouncements today, Manchin had no problem pocketing his taxpayer-funded Senate paycheck in December, when he skipped crucial votes on immigration reform and “don’t-ask-don’t tell” in order to attend a Christmas party. Notably, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) participated in these key votes despite an impending prostate cancer surgery.

Meanwhile, there are thousands of federal workers in West Virginia who will pay the price for Manchin and the Democrats’ failure in the event of a government shutdown. If only they had the luxury of posturing like their multi-millionaire Senator.

“This is nothing short of pure political posturing by multi-millionaire Joe Manchin to cover up for the fact that he and his fellow Washington Democrats have failed to do their jobs,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Brian Walsh. “Instead of posturing, Joe Manchin should call on his fellow Democrats to pass a fiscally responsible bill that would keep the government open. In the meantime, if Manchin is truly serious in his belief that politicians shouldn’t take money for not doing their jobs, he should return his salary for December when he decided to skip key votes in order to attend a Christmas party.”

Notably, multi-millionaire Joe Manchin also saw fit to award himself a $55,000 raise while he was Governor – at a time when other Governors throughout the country were opposing pay raises, taking pay cuts, or even forgoing their own salaries.

Background Information:

Senator Manchin Is Worth Between $2.5 And $9.5 Million. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 4/7/11)

In 2006, Gov. Joe Manchin (D-WV) Signed A Bill Into Law Raising Executive Salaries, Including His Own

The Bill Manchin Signed Included A Pay Raise For The Governor. “The House Finance Committee also added future salary hikes for the governor and the other five executive offices elected statewide, before sending its version of the appointee pay bill (HB4500) to the full House. Its Senate counterpart tinkered with only a few of those appointee raises while increasing Manchin’s annual pay by $5,000 to $100,000 in 2007 before endorsing that chamber’s version (SB558) Friday.” (Lawrence Messina, “Lawmakers Advance Manchin’s Purchasing, Pay Raise Bills,” The Associated Press, 2/24/06)

SB558 Passed Through The West Virginia Legislature And Was Approved By Governor Manchin On April 5, 2006. (SB558, Roll Call Vote No. 654, Approved by Governor 4/5/06)

SB558 Raises The Salary Of The Governor $55,000 Between 2005 And 2009, To $150,000 Per Year.

ARTICLE 7. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES.

§6-7-2. Salaries of certain state officers.

(a) Beginning in the calendar year two thousand five, and for each calendar year after that, salaries for each of the state constitutional officers are as follows:

(1) The salary of the Governor is ninety-five thousand dollars per year; . . .

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, beginning in the calendar year two thousand nine, and for each calendar year thereafter, salaries for each of the state constitutional officers shall be as follows:

(1) The salary of the Governor shall be one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year; (SB558 2006, West Virginia Legislature, 2006)

In 2009, Manchin’s Salary “Would Rise From $95,000 To $150,000.” “The annual pay for each statewide elected office except the governor would increase to $95,000 in 2009. The governor’s would rise from $95,000 to $150,000. The governor’s eight-member cabinet would see their salaries increase by $5,000 annual increments to $95,000 a year. Other raises range from $5,000 to $32,500 for the insurance commissioner, who would get her entire raise at once.” (Lawrence Messina, “With Some Tweaking, Manchin’s Agenda Largely Approved,” The Associated Press, 3/13/06)

When Manchin’s Pay Raise Went Into Effect, He Was Criticized

Top State Employees Union Took Issue Over Manchin’s Pay Raise. “Members of the West Virginia Public Workers Union, UE Local 170, took their concerns over state worker salaries to the national airwaves Friday night. The group is particularly fired up about scheduled pay raises for Governor Joe Manchin and other state executives. As part of a legislative package passed in 2006, the Governor’s salary will jump from $95,000 a year to $150,000.” (“Governor Joe Manchin’s Pay Raise is Not Setting Well With Some” The [WV] State Journal, 3/2/09)

“While Governors Across The Nation Are Slashing Their Salaries Due To Economic Hardships, The Salary Of The West Virginia’s Top Official Jumped Almost 58 Percent To $150,000 A Year. The change took effect Jan. 1 and was a result of legislation passed in 2006 by state lawmakers who increased the salaries of the state’s top elected officials.” (Walt Williams, “Governor’s Annual Salary Jumps to $150,000,” The [WV]State Journal, 3/13/09)

• “[T]he Increase Comes At A Time When Gov. Joe Manchin Has Said He Would Not Increase The Base Salaries Of Teachers And Other State Government Employees, Citing Potential Revenue Shortages In Coming Years.” (Walt Williams, “Governor’s Annual Salary Jumps to $150,000,” The [WV]State Journal, 3/13/09)

Manchin’s Salary Was Disproportionate To Those Of Governors Of Other States. “For example, Manchin now makes more than Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, whose state has a population more than six times as large as West Virginia’s. Some other states are cutting governor’s salaries, the latest being Michigan, which will decrease its top executive salary from $177,000 to $159,000, according to news reports.” (Walt Williams, “Governor’s Annual Salary Jumps to $150,000,” The [WV]State Journal, 3/13/09)

“Gov. Joe Manchin — In 2009, His Annual Salary Was Raised To $150,000. But He Took In $147,061.06, According To The State Auditor.” (“Salaries Vary For State Employees: Public Workers’ Pay Examined,” The Dominion Post, 4/11/10)

Manchin’s Salary Hike Came While Governors Across The Country Skipped Raises, Took Pay Cuts, Or Declined Salaries

Governor Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) “[B]acked Up Her Words With Deeds. The Governor Has Been Voluntarily Returning 10% Of Her Salary.” (Editorial, “Delaying Pay Cuts 2 Years Is Too Long,” Times Herald [Port Huron, MI], 3/25/09)

In 2004, Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA) Refused A Pay Raise, “[S]hortly After He Negotiated A Pay Freeze For All State Workers Under His Jurisdiction.” (Charles Thompson, “State Lawmakers Await Raises,” The Patriot-News [Harrisburg, PA], 11/20/08)

2008: “Rendell Said He Would Forgo An Automatic 2.8 Percent Cost-Of-Living Adjustment – Dubbed A COLA . . . .” (Charles Thompson, “Fiscal Woes Zap 13,600 State Raises,” The Patriot-News [Harrisburg, PA], 12/4/08)

In 2009, Governor Mike Beebe (D-AR) “[A]nnounced That He Wouldn’t Take His Raise. He Cited Tough Economic Times.” (Michael R. Wickline, “Mistake Leads To 2nd Pay-Raise Measure,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/29/09)

Governor Steve Beshear (D-KY) And Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-KY) Took “[A] 10 Percent Reduction In Pay For The Calendar Year 2009.” (Gov. Steve Beshear, “Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Mongiardo To Take 10 Percent Pay Cut In 2009,” Press Release, 12/8/08)

In 2010, Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) Cut The Governor And Lieutenant Governor Salary, Saving The State $17,000. “State savings in addition to the $40 million 5% budget reductions already announced by Governor Schweitzer. . . . $17,000 in savings from Governor and Lt. Governor salary decrease.” (Gov. Brian Schweitzer, “Gov. Schweitzer Says ‘Montana Back In The Black’ – Expect Balanced Budget With No Tax Increases,” Press Release, 9/1/10)

In 2009, Governor Ted Kulongoski’s (D-OR) Took “[A] Voluntary 5 Percent Cut.” (Dennis Thompson Jr. and Peter Wong, “Deal Sought In Public Safety Dilemma,” [Salem, OR] Statesman Journal, 6/25/09)

Governor Butch Otter (R-ID) Donated Could Not Decline A 3% Raise, So He Donated The Raise To A Scholarship Fund. “So a law passed before Otter took office, which mandates that his 2008 salary of $108,727 rise by 3 percent in 2009 to $111,989, is the law – and Otter has no power to change it. ‘The governor was disappointed,’ said his budget director, Wayne Hammon. ‘We’re bound to do it, so he’s going to take the money and then donate it to the scholarship fund.’” (Betsy Z. Russell, “Idaho Governor Can’t Reject Pay Raise,” The [Spokane, WA] Spokesman-Review, 1/7/09)

2007: “Three Governors Are Donating Their Salaries Back To The State, And Others Are Fighting Against A Raise.” (Andrew Knapp, “Govs’ Salaries Range From $1 To $206,500,” Stateline.org, 5/15/07)

• At $206,500 A Year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), “[G]ets A Bigger State Paycheck Than Any Other Governor, But He Gives It Back To California.” (Andrew Knapp, “Govs’ Salaries Range From $1 To $206,500,” Stateline.org, 5/15/07)

• Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN) “[G]ives His $85,000 Paycheck Back To His Home State, Where He Accumulated Much Of His Wealth” (Andrew Knapp, “Govs’ Salaries Range From $1 To $206,500,” Stateline.org, 5/15/07)

• Former Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ), “[A]ccepts A Salary Each Year, But It’s Only $1.” (Andrew Knapp, “Govs’ Salaries Range From $1 To $206,500,” Stateline.org, 5/15/07)

Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Scott (R-FL) “[S]aid This Morning He Would Forgo The $130,000 Salary Paid To The Governor If He Wins The Election This Fall.” (Aaron Deslatte, “Scott,” Orlando Sentinel’s Political Pulse Blog, Posted 7/23/10)