Don Young’s History Fairbanks vs. Don Young

Don Young's automatic pay raises

Young helped establish the current congressional salary by: 1) enacting automatic pay raise schemes, 2) voting for pay raises after rejecting them, 3) supporting numerous pay raises, 4) voting to kill measures that reject automatic pay raises, and 5) rejecting small pay raises in the years following a major salary hike.

The Congressional salary for 2009 is poised to automatically increase to $174,000 per year. Whether Congress deserves this level of pay, or a raise in any given year is a valid and necessary topic for public debate. Don Young does not vote accordingly.

 

 

Bill

Don Young’s Action:

Effect

Date

Status

 

None (Verify)

N/A

Unless Congress acts, the 2009 salary will increase to $174,000/yr under their automatic pay raise scheme.

1/1/09 (projected)

No action to date on 2009 pay

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2008 salary to $169,300/yr. Young gave “under the radar” approval for this raise with his vote on H.Res. 517

1/1/08

No action to stop 2008 pay increase

 

H. Res. 517 

Voted Yes, Roll Call 580

Yes vote prevents amendments to H.R. 2829 that would reject the otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep. Jim Matheson’s proposal in the Congressional Record, page H7279

6/27/07

2008 pay raise stayed automatic

 

H.J. Res. 102

Voted Yes, Roll Call 540

Delay automatic 2007 Congressional pay raise 1-1/2 months. A plan to restore the 2007 raise was halted by political in-fighting.

12/8/06

2007 pay raise delayed to mid-Feb., then halted.

 

H. Res. 865 

Voted Yes, Roll Call 261

Yes vote prevents amendments to H.R. 5576 that would reject the otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep. Jim Matheson’s proposal in the Congressional Record, page H5820.

6/13/06

Automatic 2007 pay raise died with H.J. Res. 102

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2006 salary to $165,200/yr. Young OKd this raise with his vote on H. Res. 342. 

1/1/06

Young flip-flopped on the 2006 pay increase

 

H.R. 3058

Voted No, Roll Call 605

Support Conference Committee recommendation to restore the 2006 congressional pay raise.

11/18/05

2006 pay raise went through

 

H. Res. 342

Voted Yes, Roll Call 327

Yes vote prevents amendments to H.R. 3058 that would reject the otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep. Jim Matheson’s proposal in the Congressional Record, page H5279

6/28/05

2006 pay raise stayed automatic

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2005 salary to $162,100/yr. Young OKd this raise with his vote on H. Res. 770.

1/1/05

Young OKd the 2005 pay increase

 

H. Res. 770 

Voted Yes, Roll Call 451

Yes vote prevents amendments to H.R. 5025 that would reject the otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep. Jim Matheson’s proposal in the Congressional Record, page H7123

9/14/04

2005 pay raise stayed automatic

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2004 salary to $158,100/yr.  Young OKd the 2004 pay raise with his vote on H.R. 2403.

1/1/04

Young OK’d the 2004 pay increase

 

H.R. 2403

Voted No, Roll Call 476

 

 

Eliminate the scheduled 2004 pay raise for Congress by suspending a pay raise for federal employees, on which congressional pay raises are based.

9/29/03

2004 pay raise for federal employees suspended

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2003 salary to $154,700/yr.

1/1/03

Young OK’d the 2003 pay increase

 

H. Res. 488

Voted Yes, Roll Call 322

Yes vote prevents amendments to HR 5120 that would reject the otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep. Jim Matheson’s proposal in the Congressional Record, page H4911

7/18/02

2003 pay raise stayed automatic

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 2002 salary to $150,000/yr, due to Young’s vote on H. Res. 206.

1/1/02

Young OK’d the 2002 pay increase

 

H. Res. 206

Voted Yes, Roll Call 267

Yes vote prevents amendments to

H.R.2590 that would reject the

otherwise-automatic pay increase. Click

links for Reps. Doc Hastings’/Jim

Matheson’s proposal in the

Congressional Record, page H4551

7/25/01

2002 pay raise stayed automatic

 

None

N/A

 
Automatic pay raise scheme boosted
Congress’ 2001 salary to $145,100/yr,
due to Young’s vote on H. Res. 560.

1/1/01

Young OKd the 2001 pay increase

 

H. Res. 560

Voted Yes, Roll Call 419

Yes vote prevents amendments to

H.R.4871 that would reject the otherwise

automatic pay increase. Click links for

Rep. Lynn Rivers’ proposal in the

Congressional Record, page H4911

7/20/00

2001 pay raise stayed automatic

 

None

N/A

 
Automatic pay raise scheme boosted
Congress’ 2000 salary to $141,300/yr.
Young voted to allow this raise with his
votes on H. Res. 246,  H.R. 2490,
H. Con. Res. 67, see below

1/1/00

Young OK’d the 2000 pay increase

 

 
H.R. 2490

 

Voted Yes, Roll Call 426

 
Allows Congressional salary increase for
2000, along with doubling the salary of
the President.

9/15/99

Passed into Law.

 

 
H. Res. 246

Voted Yes, Roll Call 300

 
Yes vote prevents amendments to H.R.
2490 that would reject the otherwise
automatic pay increase. Click to see Rep.
Ernie Fletcher’s proposal in the
Congressional Record, page H5610

7/15/99

2000 pay raise stayed automatic

 

H.R. 4328

Voted Yes, Roll Call 538

Eliminate scheduled 1999 pay raise for Congress.

10/20/98

Passed into Law, 1999 pay increase stopped

 

H. Amdt. 726

Voted No, Roll Call 289

Eliminate the 1999 automatic pay raise. Amendment to H.R.4104

7/16/98

Amendment killed, 1999 pay raise still on track

 

H. Res. 498

Voted Yes, Roll Call 284

Prevent procedural challenges to the otherwise automatic pay raise for 1999 under H.R.4104.

7/15/98

Rule passed, protecting pay hike

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 1998 salary to $136,700/yr, based on Young’s voting record on H.R. 2378 and H. Con. Res. 67, see below.

1/1/98

Reversals OK the 1998 pay increase

 

H.R. 2378

Voted Yes, Roll Call 474

Restore the 1998 automatic pay raise via the Conference Committee version of this bill. The raise would have been eliminated under the Senate version of H.R. 2378.

9/30/97

Passed into Law, 1998 pay raise proceeded

 

H.R. 3610

Voted Yes, Roll Call 455

Eliminate scheduled 1997 pay raise for Congress.

9/28/96

Passed into Law, pay not increased

 

H. Amdt. 1289

Voted Yes, Roll Call 317

Eliminate the 1997 automatic pay raise. Amendment to H.R.3756

7/16/96

Amendment passed.

 

H.R. 2020

Voted Yes, Roll Call 648, Absent for final vote to eliminate pay raise, Roll Call 797

Eliminate scheduled 1996 pay raise for Congress.

9/8/95 &

11/15/95

Passed into Law, 1996 pay increase stopped

 

H. Con. Res. 67

Voted Yes, Roll Call 458

Conference Committee version of H. Con. Res. 67 that allows congressional pay increases for FY 1996 thru 2002.

6/29/95

Pay for FY 1996 to 2002 can increase

 

H.R. 4539

Voted Yes, Roll Call 441

Eliminate scheduled 1995 pay raise for Congress.

9/27/94

Passed into Law, 1995 pay increase stopped

 

H.R. 2403

Voted No, Roll Call 476

Eliminate scheduled 1994 pay raise for Congress. Measure had little effect since 1994 pay increase was already precluded under S. 382 and H.R. 920.

9/29/93

 

Passed into Law, 1994 pay raise stopped

 

H.R. 920

Missed Vote, Roll Call 54

Repeal the automatic pay raise for Congress in 1994.

3/4/93

Passed into Law, 1994 pay raise stopped

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 1992 salary to $133,600, based on Young’s/Congress’ recent “silence”.

1/1/93

Silence OKs the 1993 pay increase

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Congress’ 1992 salary to $129,500, based on Young’s/Congress’ recent “silence”.

1/1/92

Silence OKs the 1992 pay increase

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Representatives’ 1991 salary to $125,100, based on Young’s/Congress’ recent “silence

1/1/91

Silence OKs the 1991 pay increase

 

None

N/A

Automatic pay raise scheme boosted Representatives’ 1990 salary to $96,600, based on Congress’ recent “silence”

2/1/90

Silence OKs the 1990 pay increase

 

H.R. 3660

Voted Yes, Roll Call 358

Make congressional pay raises automatic. Increased pay to $96,600 on 2/1/90, and to $125,100 on 1/1/91.

11/16/89

Pay raises became  automatic

 

H.R. 2989

Voted Yes, Roll Call 291

Exempt Congress from the otherwise automatic 3.6% pay raise on 10/1/89.

10/17/89

Passed into Law, pay raise denied

 

H.J. Res. 129

Voted No, Roll Call 6

Measure rejected a 51% Congressional pay raise proposed by the President.

2/7/89

Passed into Law

 

H. Amdt. 745

Voted No, Roll Call 181

Exclude Congress from an automatic 4% pay increase. Amendment to H.R. 4775

6/14/88

Amendment Passed

 

H.J. Res. 129

Voted *, Roll Call 6

Measure rejected a 51% Congressional pay raise proposed by the President, and poised to pass. Review a Heritage Foundation account of the political trickery that enabled this pay raise.

2/7/89

Passed into Law, pay raise rejected – for a while

 

H.R. 4775

Voted Yes, Roll Call 182

Exempt Congress from the otherwise automatic 4% pay raise on 10/1/88.

6/14/88

Passed into Law, pay raise denied

 

H.J. Res. 395

Voted *, Roll Call 510

Limit size of pay increase for FY 1988

12/22/87

Passed into Law

 

H.J. Res. 102

Did not Vote, Roll Call 13, final passage voice vote

Disapprove Congressional pay raise recommended by the President. Even with multiple measures opposing it, the 1987 raise proceeded, per Section 359.

1/27/87 & 2/4/87

Passed into Law

 

H.R. 3545

Did not Vote, Roll Call 392

 

House vote allowed a 3% pay raise for members of Congress. Senate voted to eliminate the Congressional pay raise by voice vote.

10/29/87

Passed in House, raise denied in the Senate.

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $89,500 based on a presidential pay commission’s recommendation

2/4/87

Presidential pay commission recommended increase

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $77,400 based on the congressionally authorized salary commission recommendation.

1/1/87

Congressionally authorized “Pay Commission” recommended increase

 

H.J. Res. 465

Voted *, Roll Call 476 (also 427 and 461)

Automatically enacts Congressional pay raises recommended by the President, unless Congress disproves of them within 30 days.

12/4, 16, & 19/85

Passed into Law

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $75,100 based on the congressionally authorized salary commission recommendation.

1/1/85

Congressionally authorized “Pay Commission” recommended increase

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $72,600 based on the congressionally authorized salary commission recommendation.

1/1/84

Congressionally authorized “Pay Commission” recommended increase

 

*

*

Congressional pay increased to $69,800/yr based on *

12/21/82

*

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $60,660/yr based on the congressionally authorized salary commission recommendation..

10/1/79

Congressionally authorized “Pay Commission” recommended increase

 

H.R. 4800

Voted Yes, Roll Call 122

Require roll call vote for pay raises

4/4/77

Passed into Law

 

S.964

 

Voted Yes, Roll Call 388

Suspend a pay increase which otherwise would have been  automatic under the 1967 pay program

6/28/77

Passed into Law

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay increased to $57,500/yr based on a presidential pay commission’s recommendation.

3/1/77

Presidential pay commission recommended increase

 

None

N/A

Congressional pay automatically increased to $44,600/yr based on the congressionally authorized salary commission recommendation.

10/1/75

Automatic pay increase under H.R. 2559

 

H.R. 2559

House passed by Voice Vote

Automatically enacts Congressional pay raises based on surveys of “comparable jobs” in the private sector.

7/29/75

Passed into Law

 

None

N/A

Don Young entered the US House in 1973, when the Congressional salary was $42,500/yr.

3/6/73

N/A

 

 

* Data incomplete; this is a work in progress. Visit often to review Don Young voting patterns as our research is further developed.

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