Lawmakers Block Plan for $3,473 Congressional Pay Hike

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers voted Tuesday to block a $3,473 congressional pay increase that would have taken effect in January, 1995.

House and Senate negotiators restored language to an appropriations bill that will freeze the pay of rank-and-file lawmakers at $133,600. A small group of congressional leaders receive more.

Congress also skipped its raise for 1994.

The appropriations measure, which finances the Treasury Department and other agencies, must come before both houses for approval. But it is doubtful that lawmakers would reject the freeze and make the politically risky argument for a raise with the November election approaching.

Rep. Jim Ross Lightfoot (R-Iowa), who faces a tough reelection battle, had threatened to force a floor debate on the issue--an embarrassment that now won’t be necessary. “I am glad we raised the red flag,” he said. “In my district, nobody I know gets a pay raise as big as Congress’ automatic pay raise.”