Congress Votes Down 51 Percent Pay Raise

WASHINGTON--Congress voted yesterday to take away its 51 percent pay raise and rushed the legislation to President Bush, who signed the measure a few hours before a midnight deadline.

Lawmakers were anxious to end the public outcry against the $45,500 increase, which left them feeling, in the words of one representative, like "cannon fodder for trash television and talk radio."

First, the House voted to reject the raise by a vote of 380-48. Less than three hours later, the Senate followed suit by a vote of 94-6.

Although Bush had initially supported the raise, spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said his boss "will abide by the wishes of the Congress."

The congressional votes also denied large raises for top federal executives and federal judges. Some lawmakers predicted that defeating the raises would accelerate an exodus from government service.

Indeed, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said in a statement. "I deeply regret the congressional action, which has prevented the federal judges in this country from receiving a well-deserved pay raise....We will not be able to attract and retain the kind of judges we need...unless we pay our judges fairly and equitably."

Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.) said Bush told Senate Republicans yesterday he might ask Congress to approve lesser raises for the judges and executives.

With its votes, Congress rejected raises proposed by a presidential commission and endorsed by then-President Ronald W. Reagan. Senators and representatives would have seen their salaries increased from $89,500 to $135,000.

During its less than 30 minutes of debate, the Senate heard Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), a foe of the raise, proclaim that the vote shows the American people that "you can fight City Hall and you can take on the Congress of the United States with all its legerdemain and all its legislative ability."

The Senate last week voted 95-5 against the raise, but the wording of that resolution differed from the House version approved yesterday. Sen. James Jeffords (R-Vt.), who had voted against the raise, voted for it yesterday.

Jeffords said he cast his vote yesterday to make clear his view that judges are badly in need of a pay raise and because, unlike last week's measure, this one did not curtail lawmakers' rights to make speeches for fees.

The other senators voting to sustain the raise were Democrats Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Edward M. Kennedy '54-56 (D-Mass.), Spark Matsunaga (D-Hawaii), Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Despite the overwhelming House margin, members were clearly torn between their desire for a pay raise and the public scorn heaped upon them for considering the increase.

The chamber applauded loudly when Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) told colleagues in a rousing speech before the vote, "Each member of this House, Democrat and Republican, is worth a salary of $135,000 a year."

The irony of the House's dilemma was reflected when Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), a pay raise defender, introduced the resolution to reject the increase--but voted against the resolution.

"We face reality here today," Fazio said, "We're doing what has become inevitable."

Fazio chided his colleagues for not having "the courage to speak out" in their own defense. He added, "There are Supreme Court justices who make less than their clerks the day after [the clerks] retire and go into private practice."

Left dangling by Congress' action were ethics reforms that lawmakers had hoped to pass once the raise became law.