Ann Kirkpatrick: “Yesterday the House passed a bill to stop the 2011 congressional pay hike. I am proud to cosponsor this effort. Member…”

“Yesterday the House passed a bill to stop the 2011 congressional pay hike. I am proud to cosponsor this effort. Member salaries come out of taxpayer dollars. Washington needs to know it would be unacceptable to have taxpayers who are making less pay us more. When millions of Americans are tightening their belts, folks have the right to expect their elected officials to do the same. Blocking the pay hike was a necessary first step, but it cannot be the last. Washington can and must do more. Members have not reduced their salaries for 77 years, since the Great Depression. I do not know anyone back in Arizona who has gone eight decades without a pay cut. Senators and Representatives should be no different. That is why I introduced legislation to cut congressional pay by 5 percent. This Congress needs to pass my bill now. Americans are tired of waiting for Washington to get it.”