Portman calls on Obama to rescind order increasing Congress' pay
President Barack Obama has issued an executive order to end the pay freeze on federal employees, in effect giving many federal workers a raise.
According to a report by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (see http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/2012/2013PAY_Attach.pdf), members of Congress will receive raise, from $174,000 to 174,900.
Leadership in Congress, including the speaker of the House, also will get an increase, as will Vice President Joe Biden. Biden's salary will increase from $225,521 to $231,900.
[[In-content Ad]]
One of Ohio's two U.S. senators, Republican Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, has called on Obama to rescind the executive order increasing congressional pay.
“At a time when our country is facing record debt and trillion-dollar deficits, the last thing Washington should do is reward itself with a pay increase," Portman said on New Year's Eve.
"I am calling on President Obama to withdraw his recent executive order raising federal salaries – including for members of Congress. Until a long-term deficit reduction agreement is reached, we should not consider increasing the pay for Congress.”
“It is frustrating to see Washington so close to a fiscal cliff which is avoidable," Portman added.
“It would be irresponsible, however, to avoid the fiscal cliff with higher taxes that go to higher spending and results in no deficit reduction, as the last Senate Democratic offer reportedly does. I cannot support more spending at a time of record debt and deficits.
“The American people are rightly frustrated that Washington is once again missing an opportunity to not only avoid this immediate Fiscal Cliff, but to finally address the underlying fiscal and economic problems we face as a nation.”
President Obama's executive order is available online at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or click on the link below.