The bill that will keep the U.S. from falling off the "fiscal cliff" also postpones a pay raise for members of the Congress.
President Barack Obama last week signed an executive order that would provide members of Congress and federal workers a pay increase in the early part of the year. This order called for salaries for rank-and-file senators and representatives to rise from $174,000 a year to $174,900 a year.
The fiscal cliff legislation included a provision barring any cost of living increase for members of Congress, at least through September, the end of the fiscal year.
Alaska's senators opposed giving members of Congress a pay raise. Hawaii Representative Mazie Hirono said members of Congress should not receive a raise while the U.S. economy "is still so fragile."
