No Vote, No Raise Act This bill eliminates automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.
Impact
If enacted, this bill would amend the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 by repealing provisions that allow for automatic salary adjustments. As a result, members of Congress would need to participate in votes for any increase in their salary to be valid. This change is expected to align the financial incentives of Congress members with their legislative responsibilities, possibly fostering more active participation in law-making processes.
Summary
House Bill 265, also known as the 'No Vote, No Raise Act', is legislation aimed at eliminating automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. The bill contends that members of Congress should not receive pay raises unless they actively vote on related legislation. This proposed change is seen as a form of accountability for elected officials, asserting that their salary adjustments should be directly tied to their performance and engagement in legislative duties. By requiring a vote, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and responsibility among elected representatives.
Contention
The bill has sparked some debate, particularly regarding whether it effectively addresses the issues of public trust and the perceived disconnect between Congress and their constituents. Supporters argue that it can serve as a deterrent for complacency among lawmakers, while critics may suggest it could lead to unintended consequences, such as a reluctance to support raises even in cases where they are justified by economic conditions. The full implications of such a change remain to be explored as it is discussed in relevant committees.
No Pay Raise for Congress Act This bill cancels the automatic adjustment to the pay of Members of Congress that is based on the employment cost index if the Congressional Budget Office determines that there was a federal budget deficit in the last fiscal year.
This bill eliminates automatic increases to pay for Members of Congress, beginning with the 120th Congress. Current law automatically increases Member pay according to a formula. The annual increase is (1) based on the percentage change in private sector wages as measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI); and (2) capped at the percentage increase to General Schedule (GS) employees' base pay. The annual adjustment automatically goes into effect unless Congress modifies the increase in legislation.
No Pay for Disarray Act This bill eliminates one day of pay for each Member of the House of Representatives for any day of a Congress during which no Speaker has been elected.
Mandating Congress Can't Accept Remuneration for Time not Helping You Act or the McCARTHY Act This bill eliminates one day of pay for each Member of the House of Representatives for any day of a Congress during which no Speaker has been elected.
Nickel Plan Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to establish and enforce new spending caps. The bill establishes an outlay cap (less net interest payments) for FY2024 of $5.953 trillion, less 5%. For each year from FY2025-FY2027, the outlay cap is 5% less than the previous year's outlay cap. For FY2028 and subsequent years, total outlays (including net interest payments) may not exceed 17.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for that year as estimated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Beginning in FY2029, total projected outlays for any year may not be less than the total projected outlays for the preceding year. The OMB must enforce the spending caps using a sequester to eliminate any excess spending through automatic cuts. The bill eliminates the existing exemptions from sequestration. If the OMB projects a sequester, the congressional budget committees may report a resolution directing congressional committees to change existing law to achieve the spending reductions necessary to meet the outlay limits. The bill also establishes procedures for Congress to enforce the outlay caps established by this bill.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.