Calls Tactic of Congress ‘Disgraceful’ : Sen. Wilson to Give Away Pay Hike

Sen. Pete Wilson, denouncing a roundabout congressional pay hike as “disgraceful,” announced Tuesday that he will donate his $12,100 salary increase to charity.

In a campaign-style appearance at the Capitol with Gov. George Deukmejian, Wilson (R-Calif.) repeated earlier objections to the 15.6% congressional salary hike. House members last week voted for a resolution rejecting the raise--but only after the 30-day legal deadline had passed, so the raises took effect anyway.

“Talk about having your cake and eating it too,” Wilson said, adding that he will donate his raise to several as-yet-undesignated charities.

In an interview, Wilson said he really could use the $12,100 boost in his current $77,400 annual salary. “We could all use some more money,” he said. “I’m not independently wealthy, but I knew what the job paid when I ran for it. I have sympathy with those members who have young families, but this is the wrong time, when we’re asking others to take in their belts.”

‘Favorite Son’

On another subject, Wilson said he “could be very enthusiastic about” a Deukmejian “favorite son” presidential candidacy, if the governor decides to make such a bid in 1988. The governor is being encouraged by some GOP leaders in California to run as a favorite son, because if he won he would control the largest block of delegates at the Republican National Convention and thereby give the state an important role in the process of selecting the GOP nominee.

Wilson, who is up for reelection next year, also agreed with the governor’s tough trade stance toward Japan. He particularly praised Deukmejian for trying to sell California rice to Japan while on a recent trade mission to that country, even though imported rice is banned by the Japanese.

“We can’t just preach platitudes about free trade,” the senator said. “We’re not going to engage in protectionism, that’s a terrible mistake. But we can’t be played for Uncle Sap.”

If free trade is not forthcoming, Wilson said, there ought to be “actual retaliation,” such as stiffer tariffs and quotas.

‘Want to Compete Fairly’

Wilson later insisted that his statements did not represent a move toward protectionist legislation, which some Democrats are advocating. “I’m not talking about protection of inefficiency . . . but we want to compete fairly,” he said.

Concerning Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole’s suggestion last week that Los Angeles local government find a way to pay for continued construction of the Metro Rail transit line, Wilson said that he “respectfully disagrees. I will remind the secretary that it is her agency that has declared that project the best (transit project) in the nation.”