Washingtonfacingelection-yearpressuretokeepalidontheirsalaries,lawmakersincongresshaveagreedquietlynottoincreasetheirpaynextyear.Asaresult,mostmembersofcongressnextyearwillreceive$174,000in2011underlegislationawaitingpresidentbarackobamassignature,thesameamounttheyregettingthisyear.Underthelawthatgovernscongressionalpay,senatorsandrepresentativeswereduetogetanautomaticcostoflivingincreaseonjanuary1,probablyanextra$1,600or0.9percent,unlesstheyvotedbeforehandtoturnitdown.Lastweek,theydidjustthat.Thesenaterejectedtheincreaseinavoicevote,andthehouseofrepresentativesconcurred,402to15.Eventhesmallincreasewouldhavebeenhardtoexplaininthemonthsbeforenovemberselections.Inalmosteveryprofession,salaryincreasesaredependentonperformance,experience,tenureoranynumberoffactorsotherthanreallyshowinguptoworkeveryday,saidrep.Jimmatheson,d-utah,alongtimeopponentofthepayraise.Craigholman,ethicsandcampaignfinancelobbyistforpubliccitizen,acongressionalwatchdoggroup,notedthatlawmakersprobablywontfeelmuchfinancialpainfromtheirvote.Thisisntwheremostmembersofcongressgetmostoftheirwealth.Theygotitthroughbusinessenterprisestheyhadbeforecomingtowashington,hesaid.Senatorshadamedianreportablenetworthof$1.79millionin2008,thelastyearsuchdatawereavailable,downfrom$2.27millionin2007.Housemembersmediannetworthwas$645,503in2008,downfrom$724,258thepreviousyear.Whileabout1percentofamericansareconsideredmillionaires,44percentofmembersofcongresswereinthatcategory.Fiftymembershadwealthtopping$10million.Noteveryoneagreedwiththefreeze.Itsapoliticalmaneuver,saidrep.Melwatt,d-n.C.,Whovotedagainstit.Iapplythesamestandardtomyselfthatidoforothers.Ifyouweredueforacostoflivingincrease,youshouldgetit.Wattsaidhesnevermadeasmuchinasingleyearincongresshesan18-yearincumbentasheearnedtheyearbeforehearrived,whenhewaspracticinglaw.Whilethecenterforresponsivepolitics,anindependentwatchdoggroup,foundthattheeconomicdownturnthatbeganinlate2007hitmembersofcongresshard,theystillhavemoremoneythanmost.Undera1989law,congressannualsalaryisdeterminedbyaformulatiedtoprivatesectoremploymentcosts.Lawmakerssalariesadjustautomaticallyunlesscongressbarsorrevisesthechange.Lawmakershaveblockedtheirownraiseeighttimesunderthelaw,mostlyinthemid-1990s,whentherateofinflationwaslowandcongresswasunderpressuretobalancethefederalbudget.Still,payhasclimbedfrom$6perdayin1789to$89,500ayearin1987to$141,300in2000tothecurrentamount.Inacongresspolarizedonsomanyissues,therewasclearbipartisansupportforgoingnohighernextyear.Itwouldsimplybeunconscionableforcongresstoraiseitsownpay,saidrep.Harrymitchell,d-ariz.Ontheweb:historyofcongressionalsalarieshouserollcallonpayfreezemembersofcongressnetworthrep.Mathesononthepayfreezerep.Mitchellonthepayfreezemorefrommcclatchy:budgetdeficitcommissionwillwrestlewithhardchoicesobama,congressignoretheirpledgeoffiscaldisciplineobamabudgetforeseesdeficitsforadecadeformoremcclatchypoliticscoveragevisitplanetwashingtontoaskaquestionaboutthisstoryoranyeconomicquestion,gotomcclatchyseconomyq&a Weather Operation New Dawn Archives !,Becomeafanonfacebook |4444444444444444|
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