Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln today joined 13 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to promptly bring up Senate-passed legislation that would prevent Members of Congress from receiving a pay increase in 2011.
“We hope you will agree that, with so many Americans still looking for work or struggling to pay their bills, now is not the time for Members of Congress to give themselves a $1,600 pay increase,” the letter reads. “We appreciate your efforts to prevent Members of Congress from receiving a pay raise in 2010, and we urge you to ensure the same is true for 2011.”
Last week, Senator Lincoln helped pass Senate legislation that would prevent Members of Congress from receiving a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2011. She supported a similar bill that prevented a pay raise in 2010. Lincoln also supports legislation to repeal current law, which makes cost of living increases for Members of Congress automatic each year, unless Congress passes legislation to deny the annual pay adjustment. This legislation has passed the U.S. Senate and is awaiting consideration in the House of Representatives.
