Latta-led GOP proposal would stop recurring pay raises for lawmakers in Congress

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on Jan. 24 sponsored legislation that would eliminate automatic annual pay adjustments for members of Congress.

“Most people don’t know that members of Congress receive automatic pay increases unless they vote to stop them,” Rep. Latta said last week in introducing the bill. “This can often shield members from having to take a vote to increase their own pay.”

The No Vote, No Raise Act, H.R. 751, would eliminate such automatic pay raises unless stopped by congressional legislation. Among the proposed bill’s Republican cosponsors is U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), the original lead cosponsor.

“With faith in Congress close to a record low, the No Vote, No Raise Act would ensure that U.S. representatives and senators would have to go on record to increase their salary and be accountable for their vote,” said Rep. Latta, who pointed out that federal lawmakers have voted to freeze their congressional pay during the last nine years and haven’t received a salary increase since 2009.

H.R. 751 has been referred to both the U.S. House Administration Committee and the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee for consideration.

Earlier this month, Rep. Latta also cosponsored the bipartisan House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res) 18, which proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting members of Congress from receiving compensation for any period a federal government shutdown is in effect, according to the congressional record summary.

H.J. Res 18, sponsored on Jan. 3 by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), garnered 16 other cosponsors in addition to Rep. Latta, including U.S. Reps. Bacon, Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), and Kurt Schrader (D-OR).

The joint resolution is under consideration by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.