Russ Feingold: “I am pleased to re-introduce legislation that would put an end to automatic cost-of-living adjustments for Congressional…”

“I am pleased to re-introduce legislation that would put an end to automatic cost-of-living adjustments for Congressional pay. 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. Last year, the Senate initially voted down the conference report on the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. As I noted during the debate on that bill, by considering the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill as part of that conference report, shielded as it was from amendment, the Senate blocked any opportunity to force an open debate of a $3,800 pay raise for every Member of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This process of pay raises without accountability must end.”