I’d feel a lot better about congressional pay raises if …
... the leaders of the house weren't quite so blatantly greedy about it. When a known sleazebag like Tom Delay whines piteously about "It’s an adjustment so that they’re not losing their purchasing power." (on a salary that started at $162,000/year, which isn't terribly unreasonably for the people who nominally run the United States, but which is peanuts compared to the little something extras that so many of the representatives get from their thankful, um, "constituents") while at the same time not making a move towards raising the minimum wage, which affects people who are making the sort of money where "losing their purchasing power" means that they'll lose their homes and end up living on the streets, sympathy is not the feeling that comes to mind (blind rage, yes. sympathy, no.)
The reason why the leaders of the government get these good (they used to be great, but that was before the private sector got really greedy) salaries is that they're supposed to be running the country, and part of running the country is that they help maintain things so that working people have a decent living, and don't have to apply for social services as part of the employment process at the megachain stores that donate so much money to the Evil Party. If the government is unwilling to actually govern, they should be willing to sacrifice their purchasing power and live like mortal humans.