Ban in Congress on Honoraria Proposed

A senior House Democrat on Thursday proposed a new congressional salary system that would prohibit lawmakers from keeping honoraria earned from making speeches and writing articles.

Under the legislation, members would select their own salaries in a range from the current level of $89,500 up to as much as $135,000, the amount recommended by a presidential pay commission.

The proposal by Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, came two days after the House voted to reject a 4% cost-of-living increase for next year. Rostenkowski said that while he defends the current system, which lets House members accept up to $2,000 per speech up to an annual limit of 30% of their salaries, “we are well advised to guard against even the appearance of a conflict of interest.”