Isakson Co-Sponsors Legislation to Stop Automatic Salary Increase for Members of Congress

'I Can’t Think of Anyone Less Deserving of a Pay Raise in This Economy'

Mar 08, 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would block the automatic cost of living increase for members of Congress in fiscal year 2011.

“Our economy is still recovering from one of the worst recessions in our nation’s history,” Isakson said. “American families aren’t spending far and away above their means, but Congress continues to spend money at an alarming and unsustainable rate. I can’t think of anyone less deserving of a pay raise in this economy.”

Isakson joined a majority of his colleagues in voting to block the annual increase for fiscal year 2010. Isakson also has voted for a bill to repeal automatic pay raises altogether, which passed the Senate in 2009. That bill is pending in the House of Representatives. Additionally, Isakson donates the automatic pay increase he received for fiscal year 2009 by writing a check each month to the Atlanta Community Food Bank equal to the amount of the pay raise.

Isakson has a long history of being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. For example, since he was elected to Congress in 1999, Isakson has returned over $2.2 million of his annual Congressional office budget allotment to the Treasury. Additionally, for fiscal year 2009, Isakson will return an estimated $460,000 of his Senate office budget allotment once final expenses have been completed.