A 1,547-page spending deal was announced, providing members of Congress a pay raise. The resolution removes a provision existing since 2009 that blocked automatic pay increases for Congress. Rep. Rosa DeLauro highlighted that the "Member Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)" automatically activates unless blocked, meaning it results in a pay increase for Congress members.
Congress often changes terms for unwanted items, such as calling pay raises "congressionally directed spending. " This is not new; in the 2022 spending bill, Congress included provisions for reimbursing living expenses while working in Washington, allowing members to claim about $34,000 in the first year.
Most Congress members earn $174,000 a year, while some leaders earn more, like the Speaker of the House at $223,500 and the Senate president pro tempore at $193,400. With the removal of the pay raise block, lawmakers will get annual pay adjustments based on the government's Employment Cost Index, effective each year unless Congress blocks it again.
The House is set to vote on this resolution by Friday, after which the Senate will also need to approve it before it goes to President Joe Biden. Speaker Mike Johnson has led negotiations but faces criticism from various Republican members over the deal's timing and content, especially regarding the pay raise. The impact of this raise on support for Johnson's deal is uncertain, as Congress typically has low approval ratings, often in the teens.
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