Davis Votes Against Pay Raise
By Tony Batt
Columbia Daily Herald
September 16, 2004

WASHINGTON - Members of the House approved a $4,000 pay raise for themselves this week, with Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., opposing the increase.

House members who are not in leadership positions currently earn $158,100 per year. The 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase approved on Tuesday would boost the annual congressional salary to $162,100.

Lawmakers in recent years have not voted directly for a pay raise, but rather it is considered through a technical procedural motion that Davis voted against when it came up on Tuesday.

"I never have voted for a pay increase for me, and with such a huge federal deficit, I don't think it's right to vote for a pay increase for yourself," Davis said.

Davis, who is seeking re-election to a second term, said he will donate his raise to his alma mater, Tennessee Tech, his church and various charities.

Asked if his vote against the pay raise was to shield himself from criticism in an election year, Davis said he never has voted for a pay raise going back to his days in the Tennessee House and Senate.

"My salary is greater than most of the people in my congressional district, and there is no way I can vote for a pay raise when many of them are just getting by," Davis said.

Since 1989, the cost-of-living adjustment for Congress has been automatic to spare lawmakers the embarrassment of voting themselves a pay raise.

Congress has voted five times to reject the automatic raise, but has not done so since 1998.

On Tuesday, the House voted 235-170 for a technical procedure that included the pay raise. Ninety-one Republicans and 78 Democrats - two fifths of each party - and one independent voted against the salary increase.