WASHINGTON D.C. - With hard-working Missouri families strugging to make ends meet, Ninth District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer wasted no time sponsoring legislation to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress.

"At a time when Missouri families and families all across our country are struggling to make ends meet, it makes no sense for members of Congress to be receiving a pay raise,” Luetkemeyer (R-MO) said just hours after taking the oath of office. “Members of Congress must work together to ensure that the needs of our constituents are addressed first before giving ourselves another pay raise."

The Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act of 2009 sponsored by Congressmen Harry Mitchell (R-Arizona) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) will stop the next automatic pay increase for members of Congress. Last year a bipartisan group of legislators was unable to the stop the 2009 automatic pay raise for taking effect.