No recession in D.C. Are they out of touch or what?

The recession and rising joblessness has millions of Americans cutting their household budgets, but times are flush for lawmakers.

The House of Representatives, with little comment or opposition, on Friday approved an 8 percent increase in the budget for members’ office expenses.

House members will get an average $1.5 million in the budget year starting in October to run their Washington and district offices and cover travel and other official expenses. Overall, the budget for what the House calls members’ representational allowances, or MRAs, will jump $51 million to $660 million.

The money is part of a $3.7 billion spending bill to run Congress and its associated agencies such as the Library of Congress and the Capitol Police the House passed Friday.

Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, said it was “more than ironic that Congress is going in the opposite direction” at a time when most businesses, including those now being run by Washington, are trying to find ways to reduce spending.

“It shows a lack of understanding of how people are getting along these days,” he said.

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