Washington, DC – U.S. Representative John Hall (D-NY19) announced today that he will donate to a Hudson Valley charity the $4,400 pay raise that Members of Congress are slated to receive starting later this year. On Wednesday, Hall voted to block the automatic cost-of-living increase of 2.7 percent, but it passed the House of Representatives anyway. Under Federal law, the salary hike cannot be excluded from a Congressman’s actual paycheck.

 

“I was elected to serve the people of the 19th Congressional District for two years and I do not believe I should give myself a pay raise during that term,” said Hall. “After only six months in office, it’s way too soon to accept a pay raise, even if other Members of Congress voted for it. I’ll wait for the voters to decide in November 2008 whether I’ve earned another two years and a higher salary.”

 

Hall will decide this summer which charity will receive the donated pay increase.  The cost-of-living increase takes effect for the new Federal fiscal year starting Oct. 1, 2007.

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