[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




OPPOSITION TO CURRENT SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC PAY INCREASES FOR MEMBERS OF 
                                CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2006

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the current 
system of automatic pay increases for Members of Congress. This system 
does not allow for a clear up or down vote on the annual cost-of-living 
increase in Members' salaries.
  This increase is conducted in a manner that only serves to increase 
cynicism towards the political process and confirms the feeling of many 
voters that their representatives are out of touch. The American public 
deserves better. Kansans deserve to see whether or not I support a pay 
increase. So I would like to share that my vote would be against a 
salary increase.
  The need for a cost-of-living adjustment is not limited to Members of 
Congress, it also includes the public--veterans, teachers, farmers, the 
retired. These people, who we represent, deserve responsible government 
and Congress should not receive an automatic cost-of-living increase 
during these challenging economic times.

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