House Democratic Leaders Freeze Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Members-no pay increases?

[babylonsister]

:wow:

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003028873

House Democratic Leaders Freeze Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Members
By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday that House members won’t get a pay increase in fiscal 2010 — although their fellow lawmakers will have something to say about that.

“The Speaker and I have discussed it and we’ve both agreed that it would not be appropriate for us to take cost-of-living adjustments in the coming year,” Hoyer, D-Md., said after the Democratic Caucus meeting. He cited the “extraordinary pain” that economic problems are inflicting on the nation.

Under the terms of a 1989 law, members of Congress automatically get an annual cost-of-living pay increase unless they act to stop it. The annual increases are based on a formula calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which takes into consideration changes in private industry wages and salaries. Hoyer had earlier suggested that the formula may not provide a pay raise this year anyway, but it is not yet known if that would be the case.

Hoyer conceded that he and Pelosi, D‑Calif., acted in part out of fear that if the index showed the House would get a raise, the public would react angrily. “We would be much less popular if we took it,” he added.

Several members had already introduced legislation calling for a pay freeze.

Hoyer and Pelosi said they instructed the Appropriations Committee to include language in the fiscal 2010 Legislative Branch appropriations bill that would block any pay increase for House members. It’s unlikely the legislation would affect the Senate unless leaders in that chamber agree with the idea.

The annual salary for most members of Congress this year was $174,000, a 2.8 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Leaders earn more. Pelosi is paid $223,500, and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R-Ohio, makes $193,000.

[rwheeler31]

1. Good

[babylonsister]

2. Great. Sets an example, finally. If it works. nt

[babylonsister]

3. Why am I the only one surprised? nt

[Christian30]

4. I'm glad to see this...

it's both politically smart and the right thing to do.

[babylonsister]

5. No one cares? It's too late? nt