Dem seeks constitutional tweak to quickly cut congressional salaries

By Pete Kasperowicz - 03/18/13 01:05 PM ET

Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) on Monday called on the House to support his proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution so that Congress can enact laws that immediately cut the salaries of its members.

The issue of cutting member pay came up as Congress debated the No Budget, No Pay act, which was approved earlier this year and would temporarily withhold member pay if the House or Senate fail to pass a budget. It was determined that the act could not be used to immediately and permanently deny the salaries of members because of the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.

That Amendment says, "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened."

But many members argued that the Amendment was really meant to ensure that Congress doesn't immediately raise its pay. Barrow's resolution would repeal the 27th Amendment, and create a new amendment that allows Congress to pass laws that immediately cut their pay.

"The 27th Amendment to the Constitution was written to prevent members of COngress from giving themselves pay increases, but lately it's been used as a shield to prevent a congressional pay cut," Barrow said on the House floor.

"My proposal, H.J.Res. 33, would return the 27th Amendment to its original intent, and hold members of Congress to the same standard as folks back home."

Barrow's new amendment would read, "No law increasing the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

Earlier this month, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) proposed another way around the problem — by requiring congressional salaries to be cut by 8.2 percent starting in 2015. DeSantis said that would ensure members feel the bite of the sequester, which took place in March but did not affect members of Congress.