FACT CHECK: Tester & His Allies’ False “Pay Raise” Attacks.
Recently, Senator Jon Tester and his special-interest allies have launched a string of false and misleading attacks against Denny Rehberg – most notably claiming that he has voted to raise his own pay several times. These claims are false.
Denny Rehberg has not “voted five times to increase his own pay” – and none of the votes cited by Tester and his special-interest allies support this claim…
“The commercial… accused Rehberg of voting himself a pay raise five times in a row. Legislative documents show that Rehberg never did that.” (Washington Examiner, 04/05/2012)
“Tester knows well that Rehberg didn’t vote for his own pay raise: It’s impossible. The law that has governed congressional pay since 1989 raises their salaries automatically, based on a private-sector measurement known as the ‘Employment Cost Index.’” (Washington Examiner, 04/05/2012)
“The ad states that Rehberg has “voted for pay raises,” when in fact pay raises for members of Congress, since 1990, have occurred automatically unless the House and Senate vote to block them.”
(Mike Dennison, Missoulian, 03/25/2012)
Denny is a consistent advocate for freezing Congressional pay…
“Rehberg did vote in 2010 to freeze congressional salaries…” (Mike Dennison, Missoulian, 03/25/2012)
“[Denny Rehberg] co-sponsored at least five bills with titles such as ‘Rescind the Congressional Pay Raise Act’ and ‘Eliminates automatic cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress.’”
(Washington Examiner, 04/05/2012)
o Denny Rehberg has Introduced Legislation To Freeze All Congressional Pay Raises Until
The Federal Budget Is Balanced. Rehberg Introduced The ‘No Pay Raise For Congress Until The Budget Is Balanced Act’ (H.R. 994), A Bill To “Require Congress To Lead By Example And Freeze Its Own Pay For A Fiscal Year Unless The Federal Government Did Not Run A Deficit In The Previous Fiscal Year.” (Thomas Library, Accessed 3/8/2012)
o Rehberg Voted “To Extend The Pay Limitation For Members Of Congress And Federal
Employees.” (HR 3835, Roll Call 19: Passed 309-117-6: R 237-2; 72-115, 2/1/12; Rehberg Voted Yea)
o Rehberg Voted To Postpone An Increase In Congressional Pay. (H J Res 102, Roll Call 540: Motion Passed
370-20-43: R 192-10; D 177-10; I 1-0, 12-08-06; Rehberg Voted Yea)
o In The 112th Congress, Rehberg Co-Sponsored H.R. 343, To Amend The Legislative
Reorganization Act Of 1946 In Order To Eliminate Automatic Pay Adjustments For
Members Of Congress.
o In The 111th Congress, Rehberg Co-Sponsored H.R.5146, To “Provide That Members Of
Congress Shall Not Receive A Cost Of Living Adjustment In Pay During Fiscal Year 2011,”
A Bill Which Became Law.
o In The 109th Congress, Rehberg Co-Sponsored H.R.4047, To Rescind The Congressional Pay Raise Act Of 2005. The Legislation Amends The Legislative Reorganization Act Of 1946 To Eliminate Automatic Pay Adjustments For Members Of Congress And Requires The Annual Rate Of Pay For Members Of Congress To Be The Rate Payable As Of December 31, 2004, Until Such Rate Is Adjusted Under The Federal Salary Act Of 1967 Or Other Law.
o In The 108th Congress, Rehberg Co-Sponsored H.R. 31, The ‘Rescind The Congressional Pay Raise Act’ To Amend The Legislative Reorganization Act Of 1946 To Eliminate Automatic Pay Adjustments For Members Of Congress And Requires The Annual Rate Of Pay For Members Of Congress To Be The Rate Payable As Of December 31, 2002, Until Such Rate Is Adjusted Under The Federal Salary Act Of 1967 Or Other Law.
Denny has returned over $600,000 from his Congressional District of Montana budget to the
Department of the Treasury since 2001. (Statement of Disbursements, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives)
Sen. Tester has not only taken several pay raises himself, but has even voted to raise his own pay…
“… Jon Tester — the man who ought to benefit from the liberal group’s attack ad — has voted several times to increase his own pay…” (Watchdog.org, 04/11/2012)
“The ad does not point out that Tester, in the Senate since 2006, has taken three pay hikes, increasing his $165,200 yearly pay by $9,800.” (Watchdog.org, 04/11/2012)
“Tester, whose campaign has latched on to the pay-raise attack line, has done more than accept automatic pay raises. On March 13, [Tester] helped block an effort to freeze the pay of all federal government employees, including senators and representatives.” (Watchdog.org, 04/11/2012)
o “A plan to freeze the pay of members of Congress along with the rest of the federal workforce was handily defeated in the Senate…” (Politico, 03/13/2012; Vote #38, 03/13/2012, Tester Voted “Nay”)
Tester voted at least once to raise his own pay in the Montana Senate. (HB 13, ‘State pay plan’)
