Senate Votes To Block Pay Raise for Lawmakers in 2011
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20100422/pl_cq_politics/politics3646789
The Senate voted Thursday to block the annual cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress in 2011.
The measure (S 3244), sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., passed by voice vote. It would continue a congressional pay freeze in place for 2010. According to Feingold, the normal cost-of-living adjustment would give senators a $1,600 raise in the 2011 calendar year.
"Not many Americans have the power to give themselves a raise whenever they want, no matter how they are performing," Feingold said, "Yet Congress has set up a system whereby every year members automatically get a pay increase without having to lift a finger."
Senators standing on the floor when Feingold called up his bill quickly asked to added as cosponsors of the measure. With the nation's unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent, few want to be seen as reaching for a pay increase.
President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal 2011 would allow a $2 million increase in spending on salaries for lawmakers, but House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., indicated shortly after the budget came out that his chamber was likely to retain the current pay freeze for 2011.
Rank-and-file members receive annual salaries of $174,000. Top leaders get more.
Feingold pledged Thursday to push the House to consider his measure, while indicating that his long-term goal remains ending the automatic increases permanently.
"I'll keep fighting so that in the future the burden will be on those who want a pay raise, not on those who want to block one, to pass legislation," he said.
The measure (S 3244), sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., passed by voice vote. It would continue a congressional pay freeze in place for 2010. According to Feingold, the normal cost-of-living adjustment would give senators a $1,600 raise in the 2011 calendar year.
"Not many Americans have the power to give themselves a raise whenever they want, no matter how they are performing," Feingold said, "Yet Congress has set up a system whereby every year members automatically get a pay increase without having to lift a finger."
Senators standing on the floor when Feingold called up his bill quickly asked to added as cosponsors of the measure. With the nation's unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent, few want to be seen as reaching for a pay increase.
President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal 2011 would allow a $2 million increase in spending on salaries for lawmakers, but House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., indicated shortly after the budget came out that his chamber was likely to retain the current pay freeze for 2011.
Rank-and-file members receive annual salaries of $174,000. Top leaders get more.
Feingold pledged Thursday to push the House to consider his measure, while indicating that his long-term goal remains ending the automatic increases permanently.
"I'll keep fighting so that in the future the burden will be on those who want a pay raise, not on those who want to block one, to pass legislation," he said.
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HowdyDo
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I never thought I would see this happen! How refreshing!!
- 2 years ago
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HowdyDo
