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Congress Votes Down Pay Hike for Itself

Obama's executive order draws fire

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2013 8:57 AM CST

(Newser) – It seems lawmakers on both sides of the aisle can agree on one thing: They don't deserve a raise. The Senate's fiscal cliff bill contains a single sentence provision that will stop Congress from getting a scheduled cost-of-living salary bump, Roll Call reports. President Obama had issued an executive order raising pay for all federal employees, including a $900-a-year bump for Congress, but lawmakers in both houses had pledged to vote it down, the Hill reports, with some wanting to prevent raises for the rest of Washington as well.

"At a time when our country is facing record debt and trillion dollar deficits, the last thing Washington should do is reward itself with a pay increase," Rob Portman said in a New Year's Eve statement. Michele Bachmann took it a step further and drafted a bill preventing congressional raises in 2014.

The lights of the U.S. Capitol remain lit into the night as the House, at left, continues to work on the fiscal cliff legislation proposed by the Senate, in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.
The lights of the U.S. Capitol remain lit into the night as the House, at left, continues to work on the "fiscal cliff" legislation proposed by the Senate, in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 40 comments
justmy2cents
Jan 3, 2013 12:50 PM CST
It's about time they do something right - no matter what the motive is for doing it.
apocalypso
Jan 3, 2013 1:30 AM CST
Publicity stunt. I'd be more impressed if these worthless parasites actually did anything worthwhile to deserve the pay they already get in the first place.
jerrymac
Jan 2, 2013 2:58 PM CST
Yet another example of how little Obama understands the economy, the American people and life in general. A pay raise in the middle of budget talks? God help us all.
 

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