{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395011", "Loebsack, Bacon Reintroduce Legislation to Cut Member Pay", "2017-03-30", "2017", "2017-03", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Dave Loebsack", "L000565", "loebsack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) announced today that he has reintroduced legislation that would cut Member\u2019s pay for the first time since the Great Depression. Loebsack was joined by Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) in cosponsoring the legislation. The bipartisan Congressional Halt in Pay Increases (CHIP IN) and Cut Congressional Pay Act (HR 1786) would cut their pay by 10 percent and repeal automatic pay increases that currently take place.\u201cI came to Washington to fight on behalf of hard working Iowans and I strongly believe that those elected to serve shouldn\u2019t be in it to line their own pockets. That is why it is time to cut Members\u2019 pay and stop the automatic increases that come along with it,\u201d said Loebsack. \u201cAs part of my commitment, I will continue to fight to hold Members of Congress accountable and ensure they are doing the job they were sent to Washington to do. It is time to end the pay system that has prevented any cut in Congressional pay since 1933 \u2013 over eight decades ago. Now is time for action. Congress must show the American people that they are serious about restoring fiscal discipline. There is not a better place to start than with Members of Congress\u2019 own pocketbooks.\u201d\u201cAs leaders of our nation, it is incumbent upon us to lead by example, which is why I am co-sponsoring a measure to cut Congressional salaries by 10%. This demonstrates our willingness to share in the burdens we ask others to bear. I made a promise to rein in our crippling $20 trillion national debt, and this is the first of many measures to do just that. I believe this is necessary to show the American people we are serious about being good stewards of the hard-earned money they entrust us to manage for the nation,\u201d said Bacon.Since coming into office, Loebsack has consistently called for Members of Congress to be held accountable and has worked to change the culture of Washington. Starting in 2007, he worked to pass the largest ethics reform since Watergate. In addition to authoring the CHIP IN and Cut Congressional Pay Act, he has previously cosponsored legislation that would end the revolving door between lobbyists and Congress, get budgets passed on time, and hold members of Congress accountable for actually doing what they were sent to Washington to do.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395011"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3417571317404509, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}