Effort to Cut Congressional Pay Gains Momentum

In July, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and Our Generation released a report titled “Are Taxpayers Getting Their Money’s Worth? An Analysis of Congressional Compensation.” The report detailed the fact that members of Congress make $174,000 per year or $285,000 when benefits are included.  Considering that the country is on the verge of bankruptcy with a $14.9 trillion debt and Congress continues to bicker instead of passing spending bills, taxpayers deserve more from their elected officials.  Luckily, a bi-partisan group of members of Congress who think that a pay cut is in order and are encouraging other members to support their efforts.  Reps. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) Mike Coffman (R-Col.), Jason Altmire (D-Penn.), and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter urging members of Congress to sign onto a letter that encourages the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (aka the  Super Committee) “to reduce the deficit include savings from reductions in Member compensation.”  TPA urges you to contact your member of Congress and tell them to support this effort to cut congressional compensation.  You can find out who your member of Congress is and their phone number here.

Below is the full text of the letter:

Dear Colleague:

A bipartisan agreement to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion or more will necessarily require sacrifices by millions of Americans. Congress should not require such sacrifices without first leading by example.

Please join us in sending this straight-forward letter to members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction asking that their proposal to reduce the deficit include savings from reductions in Member compensation.

Congress last cut its own pay in 1933, during the Great Depression. With tough economic times and unsustainable budget deficits currently dominating Americans’ concerns, today’s Congress should do the same and tighten its own belt. Please contact (see below)* to sign the letter or with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

David Schweikert              Jason Altmire

Member of Congress        Member of Congress

Mike Coffman                    Chellie Pingree

Member of Congress        Member of Congress

Cutting congressional compensation is an important step for members of Congress to show that they are serious about reducing the deficit and acknowledge that they are part of the problem.  Don’t be shy, call your member of Congress today to tell them to support the effort to cut congressional compensation. You can find out who your member of Congress is and their phone number here or contact the Taxpayers Protection Alliance here to help you find your member of Congress.