Minimum wage raise: 70 cents an hour (to $5.85 per hour).

Congressional pay raise: $4,400 per year (to $170,000 per year)

Congress approved the law making its pay raises automatic in 1989, giving legislators an easy way to avoid tough votes that could hurt them during re-election campaigns. Since then, congressional salaries have nearly doubled, from $89,500 to $165,200 a year.

President Bush is paid $400,000 a year. His salary isn't affected by changes in congressional pay.

Who needs a salary? Bush can pocket $400,000 in a blink via Halliburton et al.

And according to this article, Congress still can't avoid re-election campaign concerns.

The House of Representatives already has cleared the way for such a raise in 2008, but a bipartisan coalition is out to block it, with critics saying the money could be better spent during a time of war and high deficits.

If they're smart, this bipartisan coalition won't give up until they do block it...unless they want their approval ratings to remain at or below Cheney levels.