From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

December 9, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Bill Rescinds Congressional Pay Raise Would Prevent Automatic Annual Increases

Washington DC- Congressman Jim Matheson, together with Pennsylvania Republican Todd Platts, has introduced a bill that would rescind the $3,100 Congressional pay raise scheduled to take effect January 1, 2006.

The measure-HR 4494-- would also strike the mechanism in the law that allows for the automatic adjustment of congressional pay.

"For five years I have asked for an up-or-down vote on whether we should increase our salaries and this bill would provide for that," said Matheson.  "I'm not saying Congress should never get a pay raise.  But the question should be addressed in an open way, not hidden in some obscure technicality.  It's about shared sacrifice and Congress should do its part."

Congressman Platts said, "This will be the seventh straight year in which Republican and Democratic House leaders have not allowed the congressional pay raise to be openly debated or provided an up or down vote.  Given the many fiscal challenges facing the federal government and the critical need for responsible fiscal restraint, Congress should lead by example and forgo its 2006 cost-of-living increase."

Matheson said the bill would restore congressional pay to its 2005 level of $162,100.

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)