Politics

McCain: No pay increases for members of Congress and federal workers [AUDIO]

Nicholas Ballasy Senior Video Reporter
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Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain told The Daily Caller that he supports a bill passed by the House of Representatives that would prevent pay increases for members of Congress and federal employees through 2013.

President Barack Obama recently lifted the freeze on federal salaries.

“I’ve been giving my pay raise to charity for 20 years so it doesn’t matter to me,” McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, told TheDC at the Capitol on Thursday.

McCain was asked if he thinks members of Congress and federal workers should receive a pay raise given the state of the nation’s economy.

“I don’t,” McCain responded. “I really don’t.”

Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, the sponsor of the bill, called Obama’s action “unacceptable” and urged the president to reconsider his executive order.

“Should the legislation not pass by March 27, I will not accept the funds decreed by President Obama’s executive order,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.

The Democrat-controlled Senate has yet to take up the measure.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal employees make 16 percent more than private sector workers, including benefits.

“The federal government paid 16 percent more in total compensation than it would have if average compensation had been comparable with that in the private sector, after accounting for certain observable characteristics of workers,” the CBO reported.

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