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The U.S. Capitol in Washington is seen at dawn in December 2012. White House and congressional leaders hope to send legislation to President Obama within a day or two to avoid any impact of the fiscal cliff for taxpayers. (Associated Press / January 1, 2013) |
Legislation to prevent the government from going over the so-called fiscal cliff will also block a $900 automatic pay hike for members of Congress.
It's one more reason for lawmakers to vote for the measure extending Bush-era tax cuts on individual income up to $450,000 while increasing rates for earnings above that threshold.
Under a 1989 law, lawmakers are supposed to receive automatic cost-of-living pay hikes, but as Congress' approval ratings have fallen, lawmakers have routinely voted to reject the raise.
Lawmakers make $174,000 a year. They had already voted in September to block the pay raise through March 27, but President Obama recently issued an executive order to implement it, along with a pay increase for federal workers.
