Russ Feingold: “there is a great sense of unity across the Nation as we begin to recover from the events of September 11. The…”

“there is a great sense of unity across the Nation as we begin to recover from the events of September 11. The President's speech last week gave both comfort and strength to the American people and to people around the globe. I have been heartened by the bipartisan unity demonstrated by Congress as it acts to respond to the human and economic devastation, and we will need to maintain that unity as we ask for the sacrifices necessary to end this business. Given all that has happened and all that will happen, it is all the more inappropriate for Congress to accept a $4,900 backdoor pay raise. Of course, I believe the automatic pay raise is never appropriate. As my colleagues are aware, it is an unusual thing to have the power to raise our own pay. Few people have that ability. Most of our constituents do not have that power. And that this power is so unusual is good reason for the Congress to exercise that power openly, and to exercise it subject to regular procedures that include debate, amendment, and a vote on the Record. This process of pay raises without accountability must end. It is offensive. It is wrong. And it is unconstitutional. In August of 1789, as part of the package of 12 amendments advocated by James Madison that included what has become our Bill of Rights, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Constitution providing that Congress could not raise its pay without an intervening election.”