Washington » Members of Congress won't receive their annual pay raises next year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday "because of the condition of our economy and the financial crisis our country is in."
The move would most likely cost each member of Congress more than $4,000 in a cost of living adjustment, known as a COLA.
Utah Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, long an opponent of what he calls a secretive pay system, applauds the move. He says Congress should take a public vote on any pay increase, which would force politicians to think about the current economic situation before giving themselves more money.
"I think it would show Congress being tone deaf if it just blindly went ahead with an automatic raise in pay," Matheson said.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer explained it to reporters on Tuesday by saying, "It would not be appropriate for us to take a COLA adjustment in the coming year."
Last month, members of Congress received a 2.8 percent pay raise, boosting their salaries to $174,000. The raises go into effect every January, unless they vote to reject it.
Matheson has long advocated a public vote on any congressional pay raise.
Matheson donates the amount of his most recent raise, which this year was $4,700, to a variety of charities in small amounts. He accepts it the next year.
Annual salary » $174,000
Pay raise they plan to forfeit » more than $4,000
