Savings Start With Us Act

A newly elected Republican congressman from the state of Washington, Jaime Herrera Beutler, earlier this month introduced her first piece of federal legislation: the "Savings Start With Us Act" that would cut the salaries of the president, the vice president, and members of Congress by 10%. Her press release is here. She explains: "My friends and neighbors in Southwest Washington have been tightening their belts for years, and it's time elected leaders in Washington, DC joined them....We've voted to reduce our massive deficit by billions in order to create a better environment for job creators – but we haven't cut a dime from our own paychecks. The savings ought to start with us."

The text of the bill is as follows:

A BILL

To provide for a 10-percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the 'Savings Start With Us Act of 2011'. (b) Findings- Congress finds the following: (1) It is important to bring the Nation's spending under control and balance the budget. (2) Taxpayers all over the Nation are making do with less money. (3) Congress has asked Federal agencies to make major cuts to their budgets. (4) Members of Congress must do their share to cut spending and reduce their salaries.

SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN PAY FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

(a) Reduction- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the annual rate of pay for each Member of Congress shall be equal to-- (1) for pay periods occurring during 2013, the applicable rate in effect for pay periods occurring during 2011 reduced by 10 percent, rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if midway between multiples of $100, to the next higher multiple of $100); and (2) for subsequent pay periods, the applicable rate during 2013, subject to adjustment under paragraph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31(2)). (b) Member of Congress Defined- For purposes of this Act, the term 'Member of Congress' means an individual serving in a position under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31).

SEC. 3. REDUCTION IN PAY FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

(a) President- (1) REDUCTION- Section 102 of title 3, United States Code, is amended by striking '$400,000' and inserting '$360,000'. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to pay periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. (b) Vice President- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the per annum rate of salary for the Vice President of the United States shall be equal to-- (1) for pay periods occurring during 2013, the applicable rate in effect for pay periods occurring during 2011 reduced by 10 percent, rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if midway between multiples of $100, to the next higher multiple of $100); and (2) for subsequent pay periods, the applicable rate during 2013, subject to adjustment under section 104(a) of title 3, United States Code.