Give Congress A Raise
Give Congress a raise
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The Post’s June 6 news article “House members expensed over $5M under new program” brought to light some important new facts. However, the story glossed over the underlying problem: the annual pay cut that Congress continues to implement on itself.
?According to the Congressional Research Service, because of inflation, the pay for individual members of Congress has effectively been cut by 31 percent since 2009, when members of Congress voted to deny themselves a cost-of-living adjustment in keeping with the lack of an adjustment for Social Security recipients. The reason organizations adjust employee pay for inflation is precisely to ensure that their staffers don’t lose buying power. Congress generally has kept the value of its own staffers’ pay level during this time with cost-of-living adjustments, but has resisted adjusting their own pay lest they be accused of giving themselves a “pay raise” by demagogues and charlatans.
?Congress will find it increasingly hard to maintain its image of a “representative body” if only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress. While the $174,000 annual congressional salary is significantly higher than most American families make, it is much less than these successful public servants can pull down in the private sector. Plus, members of Congress must maintain residences both at home and in the metro D.C. area, adding to the financial burdens they face.
?Every year that Congress waits to reinstate the COLA for members will mean an additional pay cut for America’s legislature. We’re talking less than pennies from a federal budget perspective — yet diminishing this tiny investment further will have a profound effect on our nation’s leaders who make trillion-dollar decisions for our democracy.
?Bradford Fitch,?Washington
The writer is president and chief executive of the Congressional Management Foundation.
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Author, Fixing Congress; US public policy with an emphasis on leading public policy change
8 个月Yes, to the raise, but after the DC expense reimbursement is abolished. Don’t folks remember the House Banking Scandal? The expense idea is one more effort at obfuscation and undermines the credibility of an already disliked institution.
Director of Programs, The Washington Campus
9 个月Very good point. Even if Members don't get a direct pay raise, it could be framed as a housing stipend (or per diem, as Alan noted below.) Giving all members of the House and Senate something like $2000 / month for housing would not only make it easier for diverse candidates to "afford" to work in Congress, but also improve the well-being of Members. An extra housing stipend would allow lawmakers to have better quality housing in safer areas, and the added privacy would certainly be welcomed.
Passionate Pursuits. Principled Guidance.
9 个月We get what we pay for. Great editorial Brad. Representative government has to be accessible regardless of means. Whether a COLA or a per diem like most state legislators have, something must be done to strengthen the professionalism of the legislative branch or we risk an over zealous executive or overly influential lobbyists. When Members of Congress cannot afford to live in the area they are required to work that’s a problem. A 28% front end ratio on a Member’s salary is just over $4,000/mo. That prices them out of the median housing market in the DC area and requires them to get creative with rent, roommates, or sleeping in their offices. We can do better in the America I love.
Partner, Director of Government & Public Affairs at Shaw Bransford & Roth, P.C.
9 个月??