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Sole Congressman Argues A Pay Raise for Federal Bureaucrats No Good While Budget in the Red
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) was not the only congressman to speak out about a procedural measure (H. Res. 865) that blocked open debate on H.R. 5576, a massive appropriations bill funding multiple federal agencies and the Washington, D.C. government.
Matheson, however, was the sole lawmaker to direct his comments squarely at the automatic 2% cost-of-living pay raise legislators and other agency heads will be getting in fiscal year 2007.
Matheson’s comments are provided below.
I do not think it is appropriate to let this bill go through without an up-or-down vote on whether or not Congress should have an increase in its own pay. The effect of this legislation is that is exactly what is going to happen.
Here we are in a circumstance where we continue to swim in a lake of red ink, $8 trillion now. Our debt is above that now. We just voted on a $94 billion supplemental earlier today. I don’t think it is appropriate to have this cost increase, this increase in salary for members of Congress go through without an up-or-down vote. That is why I encourage my colleagues to oppose the [measure], because a “no” vote on the previous question will give members the opportunity to vote up or down on the automatic cost-of-living pay raise for members of Congress.
If the previous question is defeated, I will offer an amendment to this rule. My amendment will block the fiscal year 2007 cost-of-living pay raise for members of Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote “no” on the previous question so that we can have a debate and vote on this issue in the light of day.
(Issue #27, July 3, 2006)
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