On the recordFebruary 2, 2012
I thank the gentleman. I think we should be willing to stand up in front of the American people and just have a clean up-or-down vote, just have a clean up-or- down vote on making the statement that we Members of Congress understand how people are struggling and we're not going to take a cost-of-living increase this year. We haven't taken it for the last couple of years. The country is still struggling and people are still struggling. My friend mentioned American families talking around the kitchen table looking at the budget. Let's show that we understand the reality that many of them are facing. Members of Congress can afford to lead by example, and I hope we will. It will be an important statement, I think, of where this Congress stands. So, again, I thank Mr. Hastings for his leadership. I know at the appropriate time he's going to call for the previous question. If you want to vote to make sure that we pass legislation to not provide cost- of-living increase raises to Members of Congress, then you should vote to defeat the previous question. Vote ``no'' on the previous question. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
