Isakson: Congress doesn’t deserve annual pay increase

ATLANTA – Saying he “can’t think of anyone less deserving of a pay raise,” a Georgia congressman said he wants to block Congress from receiving automatic cost of living pay increases during the upcoming fiscal year.

“Our economy is still recovering from one of the worst recessions in our nation’s history,” U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said in a news release announcing that is he is co-sponsoring legislation to block the annual increase.

“American families aren’t spending far and away above their means, but Congress continues to spend money at an alarming and unsustainable rate,” Isakson said. “I can’t think of anyone less deserving of a pay raise in this economy.”

Isakson said he previously voted to block the pay increases for the current fiscal year. The congressman also said he voted in 2009 in favor of legislation to repeal the automatic pay raises, a bill that is currently pending in the House of Representatives.

Isakson said he donates his monthly cost-of-living pay increase he received in 2009 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.