http://giffords.house.gov/2011/01/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-wants-members-of-congress-to-cut-their-own-salaries.shtml
EXCERPT:

U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WANTS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO CUT THEIR OWN SALARIES

January 6, 2011

Congresswoman introduces legislation to cut pay of all members of Congress by 5 percent

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today introduced legislation that would cut her own salary and that of her colleagues in the House and Senate by 5 percent.

If approved, it would be the first time in nearly 78 years that members of Congress have taken a pay cut.

“The House today voted to cut the office budgets for members of Congress by 5 percent,” said Giffords. “I strongly support that cut. But our salaries should not be exempt. Members of Congress must set an example and there’s no better way to do that than by cutting our own salaries.”

Cutting the salaries of members of Congress is supported by numerous taxpayer groups, like Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Government Waste and the National Taxpayers Union.

“There has to be a visible gesture that people can immediately relate to,” Pete Sepp, the union’s executive vice president, told The Hill. “And cutting pay would be one of the best symbols, because unlike virtually anything else the federal government does, when Congress spends money on its own salaries and benefits, people can make a direct comparison to their own situation.”

Giffords’ bill has 18 cosponsors including Rep. Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas. The text of the legislation can be read here.

A bill to cut members’ salaries was introduced by then-Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona last year with bipartisan support. Giffords was one of 34 cosponsors of the bill, which did not come to the floor. Kirkpatrick no longer serves in the House, but Giffords said the idea still deserves serious consideration.

The pay cut proposed today by Giffords would cut member pay effective immediately after the November 2012 election. It is not possible to cut salaries sooner because the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not allow adjustments to pay in between election cycles. Giffords’ bill also would block all automatic pay increases to members of Congress.

The last time members of Congress took a cut in pay was in the midst of the Great Depression, on April 1, 1933. Members’ salaries at the time went from $9,000 per year to $8,500 per year, a reduction of 5.6 percent.

The base pay for House and Senate lawmakers is now $174,000, while majority and minority leaders each make $193,400 per year. Newly elected House Speaker John Boehner will receive a $30,100 pay increase this year because of his new position, making his annual salary $223,500.

Giffords introduced her legislation on the same day that House members voted to cut the budgets of their offices by 5 percent annually for two years. Giffords supported the cuts, which passed the House earlier today in a 410-to-13 vote.

The office budget cuts, which also will affect House committees and leadership, are expected to save $35.2 million this year. For Giffords, the 5 percent office budget cut represents about $78,400 of the amount that the House has allotted to her to maintain offices in Tucson, Sierra Vista and Washington.

The congressional office budgets pay salaries of House staff members as well as rent for district offices, travel, office supplies and other miscellaneous office costs.

“We are living in tough economic times,” said Giffords. “Everyone is being forced to make sacrifices. Members of Congress can’t ask any American to cut back before we are willing to make some sacrifices of our own. I’m prepared to do that and I want my colleagues to join me.”