Raises for Congress

How is it that Congress can give themselves raises? Aren't we, the taxpayers, paying their salary. Shouldn't we, the taxpayers, be able to vote on whether or not the Congress deserves a raise. While the rest of the country is in a recession and families with 2 household members working full-time and still having a hard time making ends meet are suffering, Congress gives themselves a raise. This is helping our economy? I think that everytime Congress wants a raise, we, the taxpayers, should be allowed to vote upon whether or not they should receive one. Would'nt it be nice if we could all give ourselves a raise whenever we wanted one.