Should Congressional Pay Raises be Blocked if the Federal Government Runs a Budget Deficit? (H.R. 102)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 102?
(Updated April 15, 2020)
This bill would prohibit pay raises for members of Congress in a calendar year if the federal government ran a deficit in the previous fiscal year (i.e. the gov’t spent more than it collected in tax receipts). Congress hasn’t received a pay increase since 2009, and members currently make $174,000 annually with additional pay available for members in leadership positions.
Argument in favor
Members of Congress get paid to keep the nation’s fiscal house in order, and if the government is running a deficit then lawmakers shouldn’t get a pay raise.
Argument opposed
If members of Congress are due a pay raise under the laws they had enacted they should receive it rather than having it blocked because the government ran a deficit.
Impact
Taxpayers; and members of Congress.
Cost of H.R. 102
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) reintroduced this bill, along with six others, from the 115th Congress to "continue generating economic growth and opportunity for millions of Americans." Last Congress, Rep. Buchanan (R-FL) introduced this bill to prohibit members of Congress from getting a pay raise when the federal government runs a budget deficit:
“Successful businesses do not reward an employee who fails to do their job. This same common sense must be used in Washington. Members of Congress should not be eligible for pay raises if they cannot fulfill one of their most basic responsibilities. Forty-nine states, including Florida, are required by law to balance the budget. In Florida, passing a balanced budget is priority number one for the state legislature. Washington should not be held to a different standard.”
There are currently no cosponsors of this bill in the 116th Congress. In the last Congress, this bill has the support of one cosponsor in the House, Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN).
Media:
- Sponsoring Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Press Release (116th Congress)
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Sponsoring Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Press Release (115th Congress)
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The Blaze
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Sunshine State News
Summary by Eric Revell
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