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Caught Our Eye

House and Senate vote to freeze salaries for 2011

Posted by LegiStorm on May 6, 2010
Once again, the House and Senate have voted to freeze lawmakers' pay, voting down an otherwise automatic increase. The legislation, which is waiting for President Obama's signature, means members of Congress will make $174,000 in 2011, the same level congressional salaries have been at since 2009.

Without the vote, an automatic cost of living increase would have taken effect on Jan. 1. The raise for 2011 was expected to be about $1,600.

This is the second-straight year lawmakers have foregone the pay increases. According to The Hill newspaper, the House saved taxpayers more than $1.4 million by freezing pay in 2010 instead of allowing the $2,610 increase from 2009's salary.

Congress passed a law in 1989 granting itself automatic cost of living pay raises each year. According to McClatchy, this is the eighth time members have voted to deny themselves the increase.

Read more about the history of members' salaries here.