congpay012909
On the homepage
Food shelf
Out There
Cranes
Valentine's
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | In Congress
Two Minnesota Democrats sign up to freeze their $174,000 salaries
With the economy in deep recession, Walz and Peterson supported a bill that would do away with annual automatic pay increases for House members.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from In Congress
WASHINGTON -- Minnesota Democrats Tim Walz and Collin Peterson have added their names to a small but growing contingent of U.S. House members moving to block automatic congressional pay increases.
In a call for members to share the burden in what may be the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression, Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., introduced the Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act earlier this month. The bill would halt the scheduled pay increase for 2010.
The move comes as President Obama announced a salary freeze among his top advisers in reaction to the current economic climate. The bill claims 80 cosponsors from both major parties, but Minnesota's three Republican members and its three other Democrats were not among them.
Every year, members are given a cost of living adjustment, which this year produced a $4,700 pay increase. Overall, that amounts to an additional $2.5 million taxpayers are spending on congressional salaries. As the law is written, the adjustment occurs annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.
Walz, who has returned his salary increases to the U.S. Treasury each year since he was first elected in 2006, said he realized a few thousand dollars wouldn't fix the economy or pay down the country's $10 trillion debt. "But every little bit helps," he said.
"We're all in this together and now is not the time for a pay raise," Walz said.
Freezing congressional pay is hardly a new idea. Legislators have floated similar proposals every year dating back to 1995, and at other times long before that. Last year, Mitchell introduced similar legislation, but the bill had only 34 cosponsors and failed to make it out of committee.
Currently, House members make $174,000 a year, with leadership making slightly more. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is slated to make $223,500, while the majority and minority leaders in the House will make $193,400.
Mitch Anderson • 202-408-2723
Recent In Congress stories
New stats fuel health bill debate in Senate - January 29, 2009
New stats fuel health bill debate in Senate - The proposed health care overhaul would lower prices for the self-insured and keep the status quo for most Americans, the CBO says. More
- Alabama senator releases holds on Obama nominees
- Pa. Dem Murtha remembered as military advocate
- Alabama senator releases holds on Obama nominees
- Brown's independence could face Senate test
- House signs off on $1.9 trillion more debt
- Franken speaks against Comcast-NBC deal
- House agrees to $1.9 trillion more debt
- Lawmakers pledge action to limit election spending
- Defense officials say lift military ban on gays
- Brown taking over the late Sen. Kennedy's seat
StarTribune.com: Steals + Deals & Classifieds
Open positions!
A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now!
Save $$ Every Time You Shop Online
Learn how. More than 10,000 discount codes listed in one source.
Win tickets to The Midnight Movie Society's screening of cult-classic film "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" at Red Stag Supperclub.Vita.mn and DJ Jake Rudh present the first meeting of The Midnight Movie Society at Red Stag Supperclub on Feb. 19, with drinking, dancing and a midnight screening of cult-classic film, "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls." |
Comment on this story | Read all 63 comments | Hide reader comments