FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 21, 2010

Isakson Seeks to Block Automatic Salary Increase for Members of Congress
‘I Can’t Think of Anyone Less Deserving of A Pay Raise in This Economy’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today joined 19 of his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., urging her to bring up for a vote legislation to permanently block the automatic cost of living increase for members of Congress.

“Our economy is still recovering from one of the worst recessions in our nation’s history, and Congress continues to spend money at an alarming and unsustainable rate,” Isakson said. “I can’t think of anyone less deserving of a pay raise in this economy. Congress needs to take immediate steps to stop out-of-control federal spending. It is an obligation that those of us in Washington owe to future generations of Americans.”

The Senate passed S. 620, which would repeal automatic pay raises altogether, by unanimous consent in 2009. That bill is still pending in the House of Representatives. Isakson joined a majority of his colleagues in voting to block the annual pay increase for fiscal year 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Isakson donates the automatic pay increase he and all members of Congress received for fiscal year 2009 by writing a check each month to the Atlanta Community Food Bank equal to the amount of his pay raise.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

We urge you to bring up for a vote legislation passed by the Senate last year, S. 620, that would end the system of automatic, annual pay raises for members of Congress.  Passing this bill would save roughly $80 million over ten years, and help demonstrate that Congress is willing to tighten its own belt as we work to reduce record deficits.

We appreciate your efforts to prevent members of Congress from receiving a pay raise in 2011.  While that was an important step, it is time to end a system that guarantees members a pay hike unless they act to block it.  The burden should be on members of Congress who believe they deserve a raise to pass legislation, not on those who want to block one.  Few of our constituents have the power to raise their own pay -- Congress should exercise this power openly, on the record.

We thank you for considering our request and hope the House will soon take up S. 620.

Sincerely,
Russell D. Feingold
Chuck Grassley
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
David Vitter
Patty Murray
Tom Coburn
Claire McCaskill
Olympia Snowe
Byron L. Dorgan
Johnny Isakson
Jeff Merkley
Susan Collins
Debbie Stabenow
Michael B. Enzi
Michael F. Bennet
John Barrasso
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
Mike Johanns
Amy Klobuchar
Sherrod Brown

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