| July 11, 1996 -- Congressman Charlie Bass introduced the grandly named R.I.G.H.T. Congress Act (Restore Integrity, Goodwill, Honesty and Trust) to target the automatic cost of living allowances (COLAs) that Members of Congress had received since 1989 (H.R. 3792, introduced July 11, 1996). Prior to that year, representatives and senators had to vote themselves a pay raise; after that date, in deference to the political costs of such ordeals, their salaries were indexed to an employment cost index unless the House and Senate explicitly voted against such a change. Bass believed this to be wrong, as he felt that elected officials should be forced to go on record before raising their own salaries. "What will this bill do?" Bass asked on the floor of the House. "It repeals automatic pay raises for Members of Congress and eliminates COLAs on Members' pensions." Only 19 of Bass' fellow Republican revolutionaries signed on as cosponsors, and the bill died a quiet death in the House Oversight Committee. (Congressional Record, "Right Congress Act: To Restore Integrity, Goodwill, Honesty, and Trust in Congress," Statement by Charles F. Bass, June 27, 1996.)
September 26, 1997 -- Bass spokesman David Leland told the Union Leader in September 1997: "As long as there's a deficit, he will not consider making adjustments to members' compensation basically until the country's out of the red." That was before the Budget Committee member presided over a deficit explosion unprecedented in American history -- and voted for pay raises every year like clockwork as the deficit kep rising. (Manchester Union Leader, "Sununu, Bass Say No to Hike," September 26, 1997)
Februray 4, 1999 -- Bass refused to endorse Republican-led legislation (H.R. 590) to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. While this bill ultimately obtained 15 cosponsors, it never made it to the House floor. Bass also failed to cosponsor legislation to reduce the special $3,000 tax deduction for the living expenses of Members of Congress to $1 (H.R. 589).
July 15, 1999 -- Bass voted against allowing a vote on a proposed $4,600 congressional pay raise. The vote was on a procedural motion to the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, the typical vehicle for enacting House and Senate COLAs. Later in the day, Bass supported final passage of this legislation, which passed by a single vote. (H.Res. 246, CQ#300, July 15, 1999; H.R. 2490, CQ#305, July 15, 1999)
"With virtually no debate and using an arcane procedure," States News Service reported, "The House quietly voted 276-147 to give representatives and senators a 3.4 percent pay boost to $141,300." This figure exceeded that of the median American family by about $100,000. (States News Service, "Raise Means Congress Will Earn $100,000 More Than U.S. Median Income," by C.J. Karamargin, July 20, 1999) Noted NBC's Andrea Mitchell: "While they can't seem to agree on tax cuts, health care or gun control, no real debate on the pay raise." (NBC News at Sunrise, "Congress Gives Itself and Next President Pay Raise," Reported by Andrea Mitchell, July 16, 1999)
Many Republican Members of Congress disagreed with Bass' view that this wasn't really a vote to raise their pay. Said likely 2012 presidential contender John Thune (R-SD): "The term 'cost-of-living adjustment' may sound more appealing than the term 'pay raise.' Despite this difference of means, the end is the same." Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) concurred, explaining that "with so many of my constituents and rural Americans across the country struggling to make ends meet, it seems to me inappropriate to support a congressional pay raise." (Congressional Record, July 15, 1999)
July 20, 2000 -- On July 20, Bass voted against allowing a vote on a proposed $3,800 congressional pay hike, one that would ultimately increased congressional salaries to $145,100 per year. There was virtually no debate on the motion. Explained The New York Times: "That vote effectively halted efforts to defeat the pay raise." Bass voted later that day for final passage of the appropriations bill, hike included. (H.Res. 560, CQ#419, July 20, 2000; The Philadelphia Inquirer, "House Votes Quietly for its Pay Raise," by Jackie Koszczuk, July 21, 2000; The New York Times, "Lazio is Assailed for Vote on Bill Including Pay Raise," by Sarah Kershaw, July 22, 2000; H.R. 4871, CQ#428, July 20, 2000)
As the not-exactly-progressive Boston Herald editorial page concluded: "This is there third pay raise in four years. . . .How do they ever make ends meet?" (Boston Herald, Editorial, July 22, 2000)
July 25, 2001 -- Bass voted against to block a vote on a proposed $4,900 pay raise, one that would ultimately boost congressional salaries to $150,000 a year. The Associated Press noted: "House members managed to dodge a vote Wednesday on an effort to stop their own cost-of-living pay raise." The month after 9/11, Bass supported the final version of the COLA-laden appropriations legislation. (H.Res. 206, CQ#267, July 25, 2001; Associated Press, "House Members Dodge Pay Raise Vote," July 25, 2001; H.R., 2590, CQ#413, October 31, 2001)
The Congressional Accountability Project statement summarized the views of working Americans aptly: "This proposed pay grab would be wrong if our nation were at peace, but it is especially undignified and tasteless during this time of trial." (Congressional Accountability Project, press release, October 30, 2001)
July 18, 2002 -- Bass - for the fourth straight year - voted to block a vote on stopping the automatic congressional pay raise. This one would hike Bass' salary by an additional $5,000 to $155,000 a year. Bass cast this vote despite wartime conditions and an astounding $6.2 trillion deficit. (H.Res. 388, CQ#322, July 18, 2002)
Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS), one of the most conservative Members of Congress, joined a bipartisan group of representatives on the floor of the House in opposition to this action. As he rightly argued, "Fiscal discipline must start with elected officials." Ann McLane Kuster echoes those words today. (Congressional Record, "Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2003," Statement by Jerry Moran, July 23, 2002)
Of course, this diary only covers half of the eight different pay raises backed by Charlie Bass. But y'all get the point. And as he mocks students seeking higher education, middle-class families wanting affordable health care, and union members fighting for the right to organize, Charlie must remember this: We won't forget your real values. Not on your life.
That's why I'm supporting Ann McLane Kuster. |
