Yes, it's Friday, the twilight time of the week when politicians are known to release potentially damaging information. And yes, Hillary stuck her foot in her mouth again, so there's a lot of attention on her. But in a sudden and unexpected turn-around, Cindy McCain released her 2006 tax return today. She got an extension on her 2007 return, and apparently will release it when it's filed. For 2006, she had about $6 million in income and paid about $1.7 million in taxes. More below the fold.

Following a long-established tradition, our Congress gives itself a pay raise. Well, in June 2007, they "grudgingly accepted a pay raise," according to one WaPo article which explained:

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.

Members must actively vote to block the raise to stop it. As he has in the past, Democrat Jim Matheson of Utah moved to hold a direct vote to block the increase -- and his motion was defeated by a majority of both parties, as it has been in the past. The vote ends up being the only public record for members on the issue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Follow across the jump for more.