Paul, Mitchell Continue Efforts To Block Congressional Pay Raise

[c-rock]

Paul, Mitchell Continue Efforts To Block Congressional Pay Raise

January 8th, 2009 | by John Pape | Published in News | 4 Comments

 

U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) and Ron Paul (R-TX) announced yesterday they will continue their bipartisan efforts to block an automatic pay raise for Congress, and have introduced legislation to block the nearly $4,700 raise scheduled to take effect next year.

 

 

 

Paul, whose congressional district includes parts of Fort Bend County and much of Cinco Ranch, said turning down the raise would demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility.

 

 

 

“Turning down our automatic pay increase this year is the least Congress could do to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and solidarity with our constituents in these tough economic times,” Paul said. “Much more needs to be done to reduce the size and expense of government, but passing this legislation would be a start.”

 

 

 

Mitchell, whose district includes the eastern and northeastern suburbs of Phoenix, called the idea of Congress accepting the raise “unconscionable.”

 

 

 

“We’re in the midst of a recession, and our elected leaders need to do the right thing,” Mitchell said. “For Congress to give itself a pay raise at a time when so many hardworking Americans are suffering is unconscionable.”

 

 

 

If the Mitchell-Paul legislation becomes law, members of Congress would forgo their anticipated 2010 pay raise. That, proponents say, would save taxpayers an estimated $2.5 million.

 

 

 

Mitchell and Paul introduced similar legislation last year to block the 2009 pay raise. H.R. 5087 earned 34 bipartisan co-sponsors.

 

 

 

The new legislation, H.R. 156, introduced yesterday has already garnered 57 co-sponsors, including another Katy-area congressman, Republican Michael McCaul.

 

 

 

In 1989, Congress passed a law that provides lawmakers with an automatic pay raise every January unless they vote specifically to reject the raise.

[Buzzard]

“We’re in the midst of a recession, and our elected leaders need to do the right thing,” Mitchell said. “For Congress to give itself a pay raise at a time when so many hardworking Americans are suffering is unconscionable.”

Ya THINK??

[BShawn]

“We’re in the midst of a recession, and our elected leaders need to do the right thing,” Mitchell said. “For Congress to give itself a pay raise at a time when so many hardworking Americans are suffering is unconscionable.”

Ya THINK??