Baker pushes for no pay increase in House until deficit reduced

Posted to Politics Watch by Greg Young at 10:28 p.m., Sept. 10, 2008

In a move designed to emphasize State Rep. Judy Baker's theme of reform throughout her campaign, Baker today said that House of Representative members should not push for a pay increase until the budget deficit is reduced. Baker, a Democrat, is running for the 9th Congressional District seat left open by Republican Kenny Hulshof's bid for governor.

"The national deficit has crippled our economy, weakened our national security and created a legacy of debt for our children and grandchildren,” Baker said in a news release issued by the campaign. “I will not take a pay raise while government continues to spend beyond its means and burdens the American people. Only by changing our budget priorities can we enact the real change it will take to create jobs in Missouri and in America.”

Baker has also called on her opponent, Blaine Luetkemeyer, to support her proposal.

This announcement comes as the Congressional Budget Office released their deficit total, which was $438 billion.

Although not increasing the pay of House members is a primarily symbolic move and wouldn't dramatically alter the budget deficit, Baker proposed some ideas that are already being considered by Democrats, such as opening price negotiations for Medicare Part D and holding the Iraqi government fiscally accountable. About 2 months ago, the U.S. government revealed that the Iraqi government had a four-year surplus of up to $80 billion, due mainly to oil revenues.