House Democrats propose a $ 4,500 pay raise for Congress

The House's spending leaders want to break the wage freeze for the last 10 years and give members of Congress a financial advantage that would allow them to reach their extra $ 4,500 next year.

Congressional salaries have been frozen at around US $ 174,000 since 2009, when Democrats controlled Congress and decided to suspend automatic increases in the cost of living during the 2010 election.

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Democrats in the House have announced they are moving forward with budget 2020 funding bills that will not block these pay increases, guaranteed by a 1989 federal ethics law.

"These moderate inflation adjustments have strong bipartisan support," said Evan Hollander, spokesman for the House Credit Committee, saying the panel does not have to take steps to authorize automatic raises. and that he simply renounces a wording raises.

"If members want to change or eliminate the [cost-of-living adjustment]they should do it through the licensing process – not credit bills, "Hollander said.

Under the current law, legislators would receive a salary adjustment of 2.6%, or $ 4,500, in January. Raising Congress salaries is always politically difficult.

"I think the American people would think that Congress should win it first," Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Council, told reporters this week.