Congressman Childers Helps Block Congressional Pay Raise
House leadership yesterday heeded calls from Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) and fellow Members to forego the congressional pay raise. Responding to legislative initiatives and protests from Members that a cost-of-living increase in salaries for 2010 would be irresponsible and unethical under the current economic crisis, leadership has decided to ask the Appropriations Committee to leave out this provision.
"Both symbolically and practically, this is not an appropriate time for those of us working for the government to take a raise, and I commend leadership for making this necessary decision," said Congressman Childers. "Millions of hard working Americans have lost their jobs in the past year and have unwillingly gone without pay. As servants of the public, my colleagues and I cannot morally accept a salary increase while the good people we work for are struggling in the face of rising unemployment and worsening economic conditions. It would also be fiscally irresponsible to institute such a pay raise when our country is suffering from mounting debt and a soaring deficit. I was proud to cosponsor legislation last month to block the congressional pay raise, and am pleased that leadership has listened to our calls."