Tightening Fiscal Belt

Floor Speech

Tightening Fiscal Belt

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, during these tough economic times, American families have been forced to cut back and tighten their financial belts. It is time that Congress do the same and set an example for the rest of the Federal Government.

That is why I have introduced the Congressional Belt Tightening Act of 2010, which would cut our salaries as Members of Congress and our office budgets by 5 percent next year. Last year, my office tightened its financial belt and returned more than 8 percent of our official office budget to the Treasury for deficit reduction.

Additionally, we should pass legislation that requires votes on pay raises every year, no more automatic pay raises. My bill would require an up-or-down vote on all salary increases indefinitely. If Members think they are deserving of a pay raise, they will have to vote on it or answer to the American people.

Congress cannot seriously talk about reining in spending in Washington and working to decrease our Nation's debt if we are not willing to do it ourselves.

Source