WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley is the cosponsor of an amendment to the financial regulation bill to permanently eliminate the automatic pay raise for senators that exists in current law.
“There should never be a pay raise for members of Congress without a yes-or-no vote by members of Congress. It’s a matter of accountability, and it’s completely out of touch for Congress to allow a situation where it gives itself an automatic pay raise,” Grassley said.
The amendment, which was introduced by Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, mirrors an amendment Grassley cosponsored last year, which was rejected by the Senate with a vote of 52 to 45 in March 2009. That amendment was introduced by Senator David Vitter of Louisiana.
In both cases, the legislation would require the Senate to have a roll-call vote on any pay raise before one would take effect. Otherwise, senators automatically receive an increase each year based on a cost-of-living-adjustment, unless the Senate takes action otherwise, as it did for 2010.
Grassley has consistently worked to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress.