[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CUT CONGRESSIONAL PAY

  (Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed 
a bill to stop the 2011 congressional pay hike. I am proud to cosponsor 
this effort. Member salaries come out of taxpayer dollars. Washington 
needs to know it would be unacceptable to have taxpayers who are making 
less pay us more.
  When millions of Americans are tightening their belts, folks have the 
right to expect their elected officials to do the same. Blocking the 
pay hike was a necessary first step, but it cannot be the last. 
Washington can and must do more.
  Members have not reduced their salaries for 77 years, since the Great 
Depression. I do not know anyone back in Arizona who has gone eight 
decades without a pay cut. Senators and Representatives should be no 
different. That is why I introduced legislation to cut congressional 
pay by 5 percent. This Congress needs to pass my bill now. Americans 
are tired of waiting for Washington to get it.

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