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3 Legislators Are In Favor Of Forgoing Their Raises

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By BILLY HOUSE

bhouse@tampatrib.com

Published: December 25, 2008

WASHINGTON - With the economy teetering and thousands of Floridians and other Americans losing their jobs, three Florida members of Congress say they would vote to give up their automatic $4,700 pay raise next year.

The raise would boost average lawmaker salaries 2.8 percent to $174,000.

Democrats who control the House and Senate aren't saying whether they are considering whether to allow a vote to freeze salary increases for all lawmakers.

However, others say they should.

"While thousands of Americans are facing layoffs and downsizing, Congress should be mortified to accept a raise," said Tom Schatz, president of the Washington-based Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

"Members of Congress don't deserve one additional dime of taxpayer money in 2009," he said.

Some lawmakers contend these are not even pay raises, but formula-driven cost-of living-adjustments.
Members of Congress have guaranteed themselves these regular increases typically without full public debate or even votes under a 1989 law that pegs the increases to the Labor Department's Employment Cost Index.

Congress has decided to reject pay raises only six times since then. The most recent was in 2007, when the newly Democratic-controlled House and Senate majorities blocked the increase in a dispute over the whether the minimum wage should be raised before lawmakers boosted their pay.

What Florida members say:

Sen. Mel Martinez, a Republican: Says he would support blocking the increase.

He adds, however, would also hope the Congress could quickly act on a housing market stimulus and foreclosure avoidance package. Americans want more than symbolism; they want a vibrant economy and getting at the housing crisis should be job number one."

GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor: Thinks Congress should vote to block the automatic pay raise, said Dave Peluso, his spokesman.

GOP Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville: Has supported legislation in the past to eliminate the automatic pay adjustments for members of Congress.

"While I recognize that compensation for federal employees should keep pace with inflation and the private sector, members of Congress do not need to be included in the increases," Brown-Waite has told constituents in letters.

Yet to answer with position: Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Kathy Castor, both Democrats, and GOP Reps. Adam Putnam of Bartow and C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at 1 (202) 662-7673.

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