Bush to Back Congress Move to Hike Its Pay

WASHINGTON — The White House today said President Bush will support a new attempt on Capitol Hill to get a pay increase for members of Congress, federal officials and judges who saw a 51% pay hike go down in flames earlier this year.

“We’re just waiting for them to give us a package,” press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said. “We’ll be supportive if the Congress produces any reasonable proposal.”

Fitzwater said Bush would like to see any raise tied to a package of ethical standards that would prohibit lawmakers from accepting honorariums--fees for speeches, public appearances and writing.

House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) and Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) met with Bush on Wednesday to discuss pay hikes, Fitzwater said.

Foley and Michel both back a raise proposal, made by a bipartisan task force, that would phase in a 35% salary boost over two years, according to congressional aides. The plan would also include changes in Congress’ ethics rules, including new restrictions on members’ speaking honorariums.

A Democratic leadership aide said today that “no final decision has been made” on moving a pay increase this year, but the meeting with Bush was sought because “presidential support would be essential” if lawmakers go ahead with a salary plan.

“You can’t leave the implication the package is finished and agreed to,” said the aide.

A public uproar caused Congress earlier this year to kill a pay proposal that would have raised salaries by 51%.

A House task force has suggested a 10% increase in 1990 and the rest of the raise following the year after. That would give congressmen a salary of about $127,000 a year.