Congresswoman Kaptur Votes Against Automatic Pay Raise for Congress

CONGRESSWOMAN KAPTUR VOTES AGAINST AUTOMATIC PAY RAISE FOR CONGRESS

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) on Tuesday night voted to stop an effort that would give Members of Congress a pay raise. Kaptur, the House's Senior Democratic woman and 167 other members of the House supported a procedural measure, that was eventually defeated, that would have required a direct vote on a cost of living increase for members of Congress. Kaptur has long opposed Congressional pay raises hikes and has regularly passed them to charitable causes in her Ohio District.

Without the opportunity for an up or down vote on the pay raise, final passage is expected today on the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, which contains the automatic cost of living increase for Congress.

Congresswoman Kaptur said Members of Congress should forego the increases at a time of great hardship for millions of Americans who are out of work or possibly serving in the armed forces. "If that slight were not enough, the nation is running record budget deficits with red ink as far as the eye can see," said Kaptur.

"This is the same Congress that approved cuts to funding for veterans' health care by $6 billion over the next five years, despite increasing demand," said Kaptur. "Congress shouldn't be rewarded with a $3,300.00 pay hike for cutting services to our returning military."

Members of Congress next year will make approximately $168,500 a year. The bill also includes raises of 2.7 percent for civil servants.

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http://www.kaptur.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1520