From today's Washington Post In the Loop column comes word that, "House Grudgingly Accepts a Pay Raise"

Of course, writer Lois Romano, a long-time Beltway resident, did append "as usual" to the headline statement.

Romano goes on to explain the lawmakers' dilemma that their automatic 2.5 percent pay increase appears to contradict campaign promises and how they finally came to terms with the financial struggle.

As she notes, "The cost-of-living increases for Congress are automatic by permanent law, and have for years been in the fine print of an appropriations bill, which also gives civil servants a COLA increase. Having the measure lumped with other legislation insulates the members from specifically voting on a raise just for themselves."