Costa Rica congress draws ire by voting itself 60 percent pay raise after only month in office

Costa Rica congress votes itself 60% pay raise

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s unicameral congress is drawing criticism by voting itself a 60 percent pay raise less than a month after legislators took office.

Congress members’ salaries will rise to about $8,400 a month if the bill is enacted.

President Laura Chinchilla said Tuesday she will veto the pay bill unless congress finds days to offset the cost in other areas.

The bill passed in a first preliminary vote Monday and goes to a final vote Wednesday.

Dozens of people showed up outside congress Tuesday to protest the measure, and the Central American country’s leading business federation said the raise was inappropriate at a time the economy is just starting to recover from a downturn.