Monday, Congressman Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, introduced an amendment intended to block a proposed pay increase for members of Congress.
“I refuse to look the other way while Democrats attempt to sneak through a Congressional pay raise inside a massive government funding bill,” said Byrne. “With Democrats controlling the House, this Congress has been one of the least productive in memory, yet Democrats feel their endless flow of radical, liberal bills warrants a pay raise. They may think pandering to their extremist base makes good politics, but it does not make them deserving of a pay raise.”
“I call on Speaker Pelosi to allow a vote on my amendment and put all Members of the House on record on this issue.”
Byrne’s amendment to H.R. 2740, which funds the legislative branch for Fiscal Year 2020, would prevent any funds from being used to implement a cost of living adjustment for members of the House of Representatives. Language similar to Byrne’s amendment has been included in appropriations bills since 2009; but was eliminated by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives this year.
Congressman Bradley Byrne announced his opposition to the pay raise when the plans became public last year.
“The list of accomplishment by the Democrat-controlled House is next to nothing, but it seems Democrats have a new item on their agenda: giving themselves a pay raise,” said Byrne. “It is outrageous that six months into one of the least productive Congresses of all time Democrats think they deserve a raise. We have real issues on our plate like addressing the immigration crisis at our southern border, reducing high healthcare and prescription drug costs, and passing new, strong trade agreements. Let’s prioritize the security of American workers and their families before padding our own pockets.”
The average member of Congress gets paid $174,000 per year. The Speaker of the House gets $223,500 a year, while the majority and minority leaders of both the Senate and the House, along with the President Pro Tempore are paid $193,400 per year. Congress last received a pay raise in 2009, when their pay increased 2.8 percent to it’s current $174,000 per year. That pay raise occurred during the height of the Great Recession and contributed to Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives in 2010.
Congressman Bradley Byrne represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. Byrne is giving up his seat in the House in a bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Doug Jones.
