I guarantee you they don’t think it’s enough. But their whole schtick is to appeal to their base class, 75% of which make less than them and don’t understand their jobs. Giving themselves a raise when people feel the economy is poor (statistically it is not, but feelings are what makes politics, not facts) would cost them their job. It’s all a big calculus.

So you don’t take the raise, but you take the pork spending kickback. Don’t take the raise, but use your closed door information to trade stocks that doesn’t count as insider trading. They’re getting paid one way or the other.