i got 'redistricted' a couple years ago. my old rep (boehlert) had zero spine, but at least he was green and a local. my new rep's (mchugh) home district encompasses almost the entire north country and adirondacks (and ft. drum army base) which is fairly far away. when redistricting happened, his district expanded southward like a tentacle and sucked us into a nowhere place. i doubt he's ever heard of my home town.
the congressional pay raise is automatic, and is wrapped inside an appropriations bill, which allows them to go home and deny that they ever voted for a pay raise. then they wrap their black souls around themselves like capes and fly through the summer night eating dreams and yelling 'hootie hoo' and 'i am kirok!'