Should Members of Congress get a $900 pay raise in the new year? U.S. Rep. John Barrow does not think so, and the Augusta Democrat is trying to drum up support to block a scheduled cost-of-living raise due at the end of March.
Barrow is seeking colleagues to sign a letter to House leaders asking for a vote to stop the raise, as Congress has done for the past two years.
“Little things mean a lot and Congress has no business getting a bonus in times like this,” Barrow said.
Barrow said he has gotten more than 20 colleagues to sign onto his letter, including Albany Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop. A few House Republicans have introduced bills to stop the raise, and Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, issued a statement Monday saying he opposed the pay increase.
Members of Congress make $174,000 per year, with leaders making more. They have not had a raise since 2009. President Barack Obama issued an executive order last week ending a two-year pay freeze for all federal employees, including members of Congress and Vice President Joseph Biden. Congress determines its own pay, but gets a cost-of-living raise each year — unless it votes to stop it.
Barrow said he had spoken with House leaders “off and on, just on a casual basis” about the prospect of bringing a bill to the floor. For now he is working to build support among the rank and file. “And there’s a great deal of support for this,” he said.
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