Federal lawmakers considering pay cuts
Members of Congress are presenting plans to cut their own payroll as a gesture that lawmakers need to get serious about the deficits facing the federal government. According to the news source McClatchy, a number of lawmakers are crafting bills that would cut their paychecks up to 10 percent or potentially nullify their access to congressional health benefits.
The paper reports that Washington Senator Patty Murray has proposed ending the annual pay raises members of Congress receive. Meanwhile, her in-state associate, Representative Adam Smith, says lawmakers should take a 5 percent pay cut. Colorado Representative Mike Coffman says that does not go far enough and advocates a 10 percent reduction in pay.
"At a time when so many American families are struggling, the last thing Congress should be doing is giving ourselves raises - we need to continue our focus on putting workers back on the job," said Murray, according to McClatchy. So far, the bill to reduce Congress' payroll has received bipartisan support.
Currently, members of Congress receive a base pay of at least $174,000, but that number has escalated with each passing year. According to McClatchy, the annual raises were passed in 1989 and since then the congressional payroll has nearly doubled.
The paper reports that Washington Senator Patty Murray has proposed ending the annual pay raises members of Congress receive. Meanwhile, her in-state associate, Representative Adam Smith, says lawmakers should take a 5 percent pay cut. Colorado Representative Mike Coffman says that does not go far enough and advocates a 10 percent reduction in pay.
"At a time when so many American families are struggling, the last thing Congress should be doing is giving ourselves raises - we need to continue our focus on putting workers back on the job," said Murray, according to McClatchy. So far, the bill to reduce Congress' payroll has received bipartisan support.
Currently, members of Congress receive a base pay of at least $174,000, but that number has escalated with each passing year. According to McClatchy, the annual raises were passed in 1989 and since then the congressional payroll has nearly doubled.
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