Rep. Herrera Beutler Calls for Pay Cut for Congress, White House

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) intends to introduce legislation next week that would call for a 10% pay cut for Congress, the President, and Vice President.

Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) officially introduced her first bill as a Member of Congress which proposes to cut salaries of Members of Congress, the President and Vice President of the United States by 10%.  The bill is largely a symbolic gesture of shared sacrifice towards
reducing the federal deficit. It is estimated that it would save around $10 million this year
against a budget shortage of over $1 trillion.

Herrera Beutler has stated her commitment to stopping overspending by Washington, DC that has amassed a $14 trillion national debt, and harmed job creation in Southwest Washington.  While families in Southwest Washington’s counties suffer under double-digit unemployment, Congress debates higher spending that will translate to more burdensome taxes on small businesses.

“My friends and neighbors in Southwest Washington have been tightening their belts for years, and it’s time elected leaders in Washington, DC joined them,” said Herrera Beutler.  “We’ve voted to reduce our massive deficit by billions in order to create a better environment for job creators – but we haven’t cut a dime from our own paychecks.  The savings ought to start with us.”

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) today announced that she will introduce the “Savings Start With Us” Act – a proposal that will save taxpayer money by reducing salaries of Members of Congress, the President and Vice President by ten percent.  The bill is largely a symbolic gesture of shared sacrifice towards reducing the federal deficit. It would save around $10 million this year against a budget shortage of over $1 trillion.

Rep Herrera Beutler sent the following letter to her colleagues in Congress last week announcing her intentions to introduce this bill.

Savings Start With Us
Dear Colleague,

Next week I will introduce the Savings Start With Us Act to reduce the salaries of Members of Congress, the President and the Vice President of the United States by 10%, because I believe as elected leaders we need to do our share to reduce the debt.

I fully support our effort to put a stop to years of massive government overspending.  I believe that by bringing our deficit under control we can help create an environment where our employers can create jobs again.  But while we’re looking to save the taxpayers’ money we shouldn’t look past our own salaries.

I know a 10% cut in our salaries won’t make a big dent on our deficit.  But we’ve already voted to remove billions from the budget without cutting one dime from our own paychecks.  That’s not fair.  Let’s pass the Savings Start With Us Act to bring us in line with the reductions we’re asking the rest of the federal government to absorb.

Sincerely,

Jaime Herrera Beutler
Member of Congress