Congresswoman Calls for Congress to Take a Pay Cut

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Congress

(CBS/AP)

With so many citizens across American feeling the pinch of the recession and with a bloated budget looming over them, it's time for members of Congress to take pay cut, some House members are saying.

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) this week introduced the "Taking Responsibility for Congressional Pay Act," which would cut senators' and representatives' salaries by 5 percent starting Jan. 1, 2011. The measure would enact the first pay cut for Congress since 1933.

At least 12 other congressmen have signed onto the bill this week.

The purpose of the bill is to "make Members of Congress show a personal commitment to cutting federal spending," according to a press release.

"Families across the country are getting by on lower wages and finding ways to cut back during the downturn, and these are the folks that pay our salaries," Kirkpatrick said in a statement. "The federal government's budget is in much worse shape, so why shouldn't senators and representatives have to feel the same pinch?"

Kirkpatrick has promised to return 5 percent of her own salary this year to show her commitment to the proposal. According to the release, Kirkpatrick feels the measure should be easy for her congressional colleagues to support since it saves taxpayer dollars without cutting any valuable programs.

Most members of Congress make $174,000 per year, though leadership makes more.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by TJphoto February 14, 2011 2:22 AM EST: It is morally wrong for a government to take care of itself before it takes care of the people it is suppose to govern, Any member of Congress who wants to disagree with that - stand up and say so. Any member of Congress who feels they deserve $174,000 per year - stand up and say so. This is a free forum.; Reply to this comment


by Michael1m11976 June 29, 2010 2:35 AM EDT: Congress only needs 75k a year, and with a $75 doller per deim per day, only when not at thir home. A house should be provided by the state in DC that the congress represents, and after their term, the house shall go back to the state for the next acting congress. Our Congress, should NOT get retierment unless they serve 20 years. Welcome to the real world.; Reply to this comment


by straitforward66 March 8, 2010 10:40 AM EST: To everyone who has left a message or will leave a message here regarding this matter:

STOP ALL OF YOUR COMPLAINING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT - TODAY!!!!!!

We all can pitch a fit until the cows come home; but that will never make those on the Hill listen to our complaints.

Put it in writing people! Start a petition in your local community. Get that petition to your local politicians. MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PAY CUT MATTER!!!! MAKE THEM HEAR US!!!!!

Can the government put "all" of us in jail if we "all" decided TODAY to STOP PAYING OUR TAXES? It has to be unanimous. We all have to stick to the plan.; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso21 March 6, 2010 9:06 PM EST: What did you just say? Do YOU even know what you just said?

You said we are living in a global economy then to address that you talk about oil--how about the US reinventing its mfg base and forbidding jobs are outsourced? Or is your plan for NAFTA, CAFTA and the global economy to somehow equalize to jobs here in America.

As for oil what does that have to do with the fact that Europe, most of Asia, Canada, the UK and Australia protect their private industries and place tariffs on imported goods and force foreign investors (like the US) to give back to local economies and make sure the local goods cost less than the imported ones--but the US is the only wh.o.re who pimps out her jobs and industry requesting nothing back then is surprised when the "engine of her economy " (consumers) are out of jobs and therefore "she" runs out of money?

Stick to the point. Energy is an issue but greed and only greed and failure to make long term social commitments to our own country are why we are hurting economically. global economy my foot--We cannot compete on the level of the 3rd world until we accept salaries similar to the 3rd world. Is THAT where you want us to head? In the meantime, the outsourcing and insourcing (of illegals and visa'd immigrants)and the disenfranchising of the American worker continues.

Wonder who Ford and everyone else thinks is going to buy their goods at American prices when most of America no longer has a decent wage or job? ANYBODY THOUGHT THAT THROUGH YET?; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso21 March 6, 2010 8:45 PM EST: not only should Congress take a pay cut--they should repeal the right to grant themselves their own pay raises and should also deny themselves pensions for life if they have served less than 20 years on the job the same as it is for the average Joe. It makes no sense for people to be able to get their salary and benefits for life and determine their own pay raises--it does not work that way in real life on any job--it should NEVER have been allowed for Congress to do that.

They should also stop being able to decide if a crime any of their members commit should be prosecuted or sanctioned. Most of us do not have choices in what price to pay for crimes committed by colleagues. if Congress is not above the law--they should be held to the same standard as the rest of us.; Reply to this comment


by national1942 March 6, 2010 1:38 PM EST: The real problem here is that a 5% pay cut is not nearly big enough. A 5% cut would still not bring them in line with where their pay should be. They are WAY OVERPAID!!!!; Reply to this comment


by jimbom121 March 6, 2010 11:32 AM EST: Some of the comments here are unbelievable. A congressperson actually suggests that they take a pay cut, and people jump all over her.; Reply to this comment


by dslovejoy March 6, 2010 2:16 AM EST: Let them have a starting salary of $200,000. Then, give them the percentage of their salary as it relates to their poll ratings.
Right now, they average approval rating is what? 24%? They would earn 48,000 for the year.
This might wake them up enough to realize the time of playing games with taxpayers and constituants is over.; Reply to this comment

by JRS08 March 6, 2010 2:16 AM EST

What about the 2 million + government workers! And 55,000 Federal Workers have been added since BHO became President. We should have laid off 55,000. These workers are being added to take over health care, cap and trade and other socialistic tendicies from this guy to redistribute the wealth. What he doesn't know is that working people get the ax since the doers & innovators will shed more jobs in order to pay more taxes. BHO thinks he's doing good (or does he want the US to suffer?) but will take the US down a path to destruction.

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by jimbom121 March 6, 2010 11:32 AM EST: What are you talking about? People have been added to the federal agencies such as FDA and the SEC, which were decimated under Bush. Would you rather have more people unemployed???


by Crrla March 6, 2010 3:32 PM EST: You know, this kind of thinking is what got us into this mess. Blaming administrations instead of blaming the "stinking thinking". There are best practices and research-based methodologies for every discipline, people act like they are pulling for their favorite sports team. There are effective and rational practices for governing. Do you know what they are? Are you reading empirical research about healthcare or employment practices, or are you just enjoying besmirching the US Presidient and his party? I find it so sad that we seem more intent on blaming "the other party" and garnering agreement (even if it is with Rush Limbaugh) for our own view, that we don't seem to be interested in what will truly fix our problems and make life better in the future.

by cappidad March 5, 2010 6:33 PM EST

I don't begrudge members of Congress making $174K, or even more. Give them $200K, IF they will do the job required. God knows, they have very important positions that affect all of us. BUT, we've got to insist on having intelligent, conservative, prudent people occupying those seats. STOP riduculous spending that we can't afford, regardless of whether we'd love to have the federal government take care of us from cradle to grave. If we can't afford it.....we can't afford it! We need statesmen, not political hacks whose sole aim in life is to stay in office.

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by toldyouso21 March 6, 2010 8:55 PM EST: No one should be able to dictate their own salary and pay raises and net that salary and the benefits for life without putting in at least 20 years just like every other job--what we want are decent representatives not legacies or blue blood royals who are affordede salaries and benefits as rights with no say from the people who hired them (that would be the public) and unless each MF state plans to pay for the nightmares they keep in office then I want a say in who my taxes pay for and I don't want it going to lying, war mongering,ho'ing, spend happy, two faced, do nothing people from EITHER PARTY.

Unfortunately we have no say in who the people in other states vote for but we all pay for--some of us MORE (much more) than others.