Lummis supports bill to cut pay for members of Congress
Wyo Congressman calls on colleagues to stand with American people
by Cynthia Lummis media release
March 9, 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., is throwing her support behind bipartisan legislation which would cut salaries for senators and representatives. The bill, "Taking Responsibility for Congressional Pay Act," is sponsored by Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., and would cut salaries for members of Congress by five percent – their first pay cut since the Great Depression.
"The last time Congress approved a pay cut for themselves, FDR was president and a quart of milk cost 25 cents," Lummis said. "The time has come for members of Congress to stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people. I applaud Rep. Kirkpatrick’s efforts and I stand ready to work with her to ensure this bill’s passage."
The bill would institute a five percent pay cut for all senators and representatives starting January 1, 2011. The bill would also block any automatic congressional pay increase for 2012. If passed, the bill would reduce member salaries for the first time since April 1, 1933.
Lummis has previously co-sponsored bills to stop the automatic congressional pay increase for 2011 and to eliminate the automatic raise altogether, and was part of the successful effort to block the pay hike for 2010.
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