No pay raise for Congress in 2011
By Jordy Yager - 05/14/10 03:12 PM ET
A bill nixing Congress' automatic 2011 pay raise was signed into law on Friday by President Barack Obama.
The move marks the third consecutive year lawmakers have voted to halt their automatic cost-of-living increase. The law governing congressional pay raises requires members to vote against getting a raise. Otherwise, the increase takes effect automatically.
With Congress’ approval ratings stuck in the trenches, criticism of government bailouts running rampant and unemployment hovering at around 10 percent, a cost-of-living pay increase for lawmakers has become largely unpopular. Many members have pushed for more long-term halts to their pay, with some actually wanting to cut their salaries.
Last month the House passed Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) and Jim Matheson’s (D-Utah) bill, while Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) led the charge to halt the pay increase in the upper chamber.
“To raise congressional pay at a time when so many families are still struggling to make ends meet would be unconscionable and glaringly out of touch,” said Mitchell in a statement on Friday after the measure was signed into law.
“This sends an important message,” he said. “The American people are not getting a raise this year and neither should Congress.”
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http://thehill.com/homenews/house/97971-obama-signs-law-blocking-congress-pay-raise