Ariz. Congresswoman Calls for Congressional Pay Cut
Friday saw the release of unemployment figures for August, and while 67,000 private sector jobs were created, the unemployment rate increased from 9.5 percent to 9.6 percent. Whichever way you look at it, many Americans are struggling financially.
For members of Congress, though, that isn't the case. From comfortable paychecks to perks, perks and more perks, our elected representatives in Washington are living the good life. Ariz. Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, however, thinks it's high time Washington tightens its purse strings. She's introduced a bill, H.R. 4720, that would reduce congressional pay by 5 percent.
On Friday's Washington Unplugged, Kirkpatrick told CBS News Senior White House Correspondent Bill Plante, "There's nothing like asking people you work with to take a high percentage pay cut. Some people think it's a great idea, a lot of people are pretty angry at me. So, I'm not very popular with my colleagues. But the American people get it. They think this is a great idea."
According to a recent poll from Rasmussen Reports, 75 percent of likely voters want Congress to cut its own pay until the federal budget is balanced.
If H.R. 4720 does pass, it would be the first pay cut in 77 years; the last one passed in the midst of the Great Depression in 1933. So far, Kirkpatrick's measure has garnered 21 cosponsors. Right now, the base pay for a House member is $174,000, though congressional leaders earn a higher salary.
Plante asked Rep. Kirkpatrick if this pay cut would make a difference in the eyes of most Americans. Kirkpatrick responded, "Absolutely. Everywhere I go people think this a great idea... So many people are out of work, so many people have taken a 100 percent pay cut because they don't have a job. So, it's all about jobs and restoring the economy and getting folks back to work.
Kirkpatrick had a message for her fellow members in Congress, "We need to put our money where our mouth is, and we need to show leadership, we need to listen to the American people."
Watch Friday's show above, also featuring CBS News Senior Political Producer Rob Hendin and CBS News Director of Elections Anthony Salvanto kicking off Unplugged's new series, Hot Ads of the Week. And, CBS News' Christina Ruffini with a report from Baltimore's Comic-Con.
"Washington Unplugged," CBSNews.com's exclusive daily politics Webshow, appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.